Holly + Kreg
(March 22, 2021 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)
Renewing wedding vows is a special moment for any couple, and for this couple, it was no exception. After being married for 13 years, they decided to renew their vows and have a small and intimate ceremony. They chose the Dominican Republic as their destination, a warm and tropical location, where they said "I do" all over again on the beach. With the help of a wedding planner, they were able to enjoy their day stress-free and just be in the moment, reminiscing about their 18 years together. Read on to learn more about their special day and the #1 tip they have for future brides.
Our real bride Holly looked beautiful in our Essie gown by Essense of Australia. This dress is a gorgeous mermaid fit with lace appliques and a little bit of sequin and beading for a subtle sparkle. The appliques are ivory and the lining of the dress is a beautiful rum color. Side cutouts help accentuate curves and jersey lining ensures comfort all day long. This gown also has delicate beaded straps, an open back with a belt detail, buttons, and a little bit of booty ruching; not to mention the absolutely stunning train.
By our real bride, Holly:
What was the vision for your wedding?
Having been married to my husband for 13 years we wanted to renew our vows. We met in high school, so in total we've been together for 18 years. When we got married we had a very large traditional wedding and so when we decided to renew our vows we knew we wanted it to be just us, small and intimate. We chose to go to the Dominican Republic because we wanted somewhere warm, tropical and to have the ceremony on the beach.
How did it go the day-of?
The day of went just as planned. We woke up, met with our wedding planner and hit the beach for the day until it was time to say I do all over again. We spent all day just in the company of each other just enjoying the sun and our beautiful surroundings. We had never been to such a beautiful place let alone out of the country so we really wanted to make the most of the day. When it was time to get ready I was actually nervous! I had Kreg get himself together while I did my makeup, and then i called in the bridal team to get me into my dress while Kreg made his way down to the beach for the ceremony. As I got into my dress i started to get a little emotional. I started remembering the last 18 years together, and how far we've come as a couple. We've been through a lot, and I was so excited to reaffirm my love to my husband. When it was time for me to head down we made our way through the winding pathways of the resort. As I arrived on the beach Kreg had his back turned towards me. The officiant let Kreg know it was time to turn around, and when he did I could see the tears forming in his eyes as I walked towards him. We recommitted ourselves to one another and this time with our own vows. That made it just that more special for us since we didn't do that 13 years ago. When it was time to kiss the bride we were overjoyed with laughter as we heard the hoots and hollers of all the people watching us on the beach. We immediately embraced each other and couldn't stop smiling at one another as we toasted with champagne. We ended the night with a romantic candlelit dinner on the beach.
What is your #1 tip to future brides?
Hire a wedding planner. I did it the first time we got married and I did it for our vow renewal. The last thing I wanted to do on either of our special days is be stressed out. Hiring someone to handle all of the details made it a breeze and I never had to worry about anything. It was money well spent.
