Ashley and Joseph met as many people do through a dating app. But little did they know that the right click would change their lives. Their chance meeting immeasurably leads them down a road of immense self-discovery and pure love all the way to a beautiful Hard Rock Punta Cana wedding. As a Punta Cana wedding photographer, I’m always telling people never to underestimate the power of a small, seemingly inconsequential move to change your existence entirely! One day Ashley was in Brooklyn, and she texted Joseph to meet, he was nearby, and they hung out over drinks and talked for hours, which is where this love story began. 

A Surprise Proposal

The engagement featured a lot of planning, and Joey described the height of his nerves to me more than once. No wonder Ashley thought he was in the middle of a hangover! A trip to Colorado was planned with the Wrecking Crew (Joey’s best friend from the Air Force). And Ashley was totally taken by surprise as Joey got up, gave a toast, and proposed while everyone was together for dinner. 

An added spark to the evening was finding out former Vice President Mike Pence was at a table nearby. The couple got a signed champagne bottle from him as an early wedding present! Everyone shed tears when Joseph was down on one knee proclaiming his love, even Mike and Karen Pence! 

Joseph proposed by saying Ashley meant the world to him. And he could even boast that everyone he loved in his life unanimously loved her too! The Wrecking Crew gave her a big thumbs up, and there were photos of all his family giving their wholehearted approval and best wishes to the couple. 

Planning An Iconic Walk Down The Aisle

Choosing the Hard Rock 5-star hotel in Punta Cana was a natural choice for Ashley and Joseph because they wanted their wedding to be more than just an event on someone’s calendar. They wanted it to be a real experience their loved ones could cherish for years. Even though destination weddings were few and far between, even after Covid, they wanted their friends and family to have a resort vacation complete with all the luxurious bells and whistles anyone could ask for. They had many facetime chats with the Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana wedding department, which helped put all the pieces together. 

Awe-Inspiring Hard Rock Punta Cana Wedding Ceremony 

As a Punta Cana wedding photographer, I’m always up for a beach wedding. There is something so romantic about the waves crashing, the beautiful blue skies, the gentle breezes, and the soft sand under your feet. There is definitely no shortage of beautiful venues for weddings in Punta Cana. But the Hard Rock Hotel makes it an unforgettable experience. And one of the photos I took of everyone on the dance floor giving it their all, cheering the couple’s surname ‘Fedak!’ while just enjoying every moment together turned out to really be a picture of a thousand words. It summed up the entire day. It is filled with so much excitement, love, and party vibes. 

Joseph recalls his favorite moment was when he first saw Ashley before she walked down the aisle. ‘Mindblowing’ was the word he used. And they stole a few precious moments for some much-needed alone time after the ceremony. They casually walked on the beach, hand in hand, just contemplating everything they had experienced that day. 

Ashley told me that Joey could make her smile no matter the situation. And that chemistry, deep understanding, and unwavering love were apparent to me and everyone there. Marrying your best friend is really the best! 

For a Punta Cana wedding photographer, this is as good as it gets. 

 

Arnaud Brichet
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