Destination Wedding in Puerto Rico Welcomed Guests with a Dreamy Ceremony Overlooking the Ocean

Kristen & Olamide welcomed guests to their destination wedding in Puerto Rico with traditional elements and a romantic evening reception.

Featured in Issue 31, pink roses and chandeliers decorated this luxurious destination wedding in Puerto Rico.

The stunning island of Puerto Rico was the dream destination wedding for Kristen and Olamide’s outdoor nuptials which featured a gorgeous welcome reception for their family and friends and a romantic wedding dinner under the stars.

“For our welcome party, we asked each side of our family and friends to dress in aso ebi (clothes of the family), to honor Ola’s Yoruba heritage,” Kristen explained.

To help them plan their unforgettable wedding day, the couple chose the Krizia Díaz Event Management Firm to design all the elements for the event. Fast forward to their outdoor ceremony overlooking the sea, the space featured light pink and white-hued florals that adorned the wedding arch and also lined the ceremony aisle. Guests were entertained by live string music as well which helped to set the intimate atmosphere.

Special touches that made the day even more incredible were the luxurious chandeliers adorning the reception which cast their soft glow filling the evening with romance and the wedding cake which had nods to the bride’s sumptuously beaded gown with its detachable train and of the moment bridal gloves.

See more photos from their charming destination wedding in Puerto Rico below!

Couple: Kristen Dozier & Olamide Williams
Location of Wedding: The St. Regis Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico
Wedding Date: October 15, 2023

Quick Facts:

Wedding flowers: Hamsell Santos
Favorite item on the menu: It was all delicious! I wish I got to eat some of our cocktail hour hors d’oeuvres
Ceremony entrance song: “Here Comes the Bride” by Wagner
First dance song: “River” by Leon Bridges
Advice for brides: The wedding day is about what you want and what means something to you and your fiance. There are a lot of voices during wedding planning and make sure you put yours first.

The Love Story:

Our love story is a tale of two high school acquaintances in Washington DC, with mutual friends, who didn’t share a close bond in their teenage years. After graduation, life led us on separate paths. Ola pursued his education, earning both his undergraduate and master’s degrees in financial and policy-related fields, eventually returning to the DC area. Kristen, on the other hand, continued her volleyball career, playing at Ohio State University and later professionally abroad, before settling in New York City to pursue her career in consulting.

We found ourselves settled in different cities, focused on building our careers. It wasn’t until a decade later, at our high school reunion, that we had the chance to reconnect.
– Kristen Dozier (The Bride)

Reconnecting at the Reunion…

We’ll typically say, “Ola was dating Kristen before Kristen was dating Ola”. We officially “remet” at our 10-year reunion and knew that there was something special.

Ola was driving to his Godson’s birthday party when a friend, Justin Williams, called Ola to tell him that I would be at the party. Ola then made the decision to turn around and come to the party to meet me.

I remember hoping and expecting to run into Ola at the reunion. Ola was a popular, and gregarious guy in high school, think of him as the funniest scholar you’ve ever met. I (Kristen) was more reserved and focused on athletics. At first, it was hard for me to separate the “Ola from high school” from the accomplished man he was as an adult. Several of his friends were at the reunion, but he was not.

When we got to the after-party we both saw each other and it was apparent that Ola wanted to “shoot his shot” with me, as he was actually doing fake jump shots in the background. That night, we took a picture together, and he put his arm around me for the first time, saying, “This will be the first of many.” As it turned out, he was absolutely right.

On finding “the one”…

I knew Ola was “the one” slowly but surely after a few months of us dating. I was traveling to DC often for work and we would go on “dates” roughly once a week, we started more as old acquaintances getting to reconnect.

After a few months of feeling Ola out, I knew for certain a few things: he was a man of depth, he was a man of sincerity, he was quick-witted, and he was a man of commitment. Those qualities were everything to me.

Our first “official” date was at the National Museum of African American History. I got held up with work on a project and was incredibly late. Ola’s nerves were wrecked, and when I showed up a receptionist told me he’d been pacing for quite a while worried I wouldn’t show up. Though I was nervous to take the turn from friends to something more, we had a great time at the museum and our dates slowly became more romantic thereafter.

On Christmas Eve we had our first kiss. By January we were seeing each other every weekend and by February I told Ola I loved him after a walk near my apartment in The Upper East Side.

Welcoming Family and Friends:

For our Welcome Party, we asked each side of our family and friends to dress in aso ebi (clothes of the family), to honor Ola’s Yoruba heritage. The event was complete with vibrant attire and heartfelt rituals and served as a bridge between our roots, both Nigerian and African-American

The Big Day:

The Dress…

My wedding dress was a custom Viero bridal gown. It was a fully beaded sheath-fit gown with a long detachable train. It was absolutely stunning, a classic! My favorite accessory was my “something old”. My mom gave me my grandmother Lena’s ring.

Wedding style…

The wedding decor was an elegant display of sophistication. Delicate light pink roses with white flowers adorned the venue, creating an atmosphere of pure enchantment. Crystal chandeliers glistened above, casting a warm and romantic glow, while the tropical greenery created the perfect background.

Tradition and Culture…

We incorporated a mix of traditions into our wedding, creating a truly unique celebration that represented our shared history and our new family. For our Welcome Party, we asked each side of our family and friends to dress in aso ebi (clothes of the family), to honor Ola’s Yoruba heritage. The event was complete with vibrant attire and heartfelt rituals and served as a bridge between our roots, both Nigerian and African-American. The ceremony was a stunning tapestry of cultures, uniting our friends and family in celebration. Our children, Levi and Caius, were in attendance and are the living embodiment of the unity of our diverse backgrounds.

Jumping the Broom…

One of the most touching moments of the day was when we jumped the broom. For us, this was rooted in honoring our ancestors who, for centuries, were unable to legally marry. This was one of our favorite parts of the day. Together we were able to jump into our future, with our children nearby. This represented not only the start of a new chapter for them but also a testament to how love and life have a way of coming full circle.

Favorite memories…

Our favorite memory from the day was saying “I do” in front of our family and friends. We were legally married the week before our wedding in Puerto Rico at the chapel at our High School, St. John’s College High School. There is something about being celebrated and supported by all of the important people in your life which makes the union even more affirming. Also, there were two photos we tried to recreate from two of Kristen’s grandparent’s weddings. This was especially special reconnecting past to present and honoring our family who came before us.

The Reception:

Advice for other engaged couples…

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Life doesn’t stop simply because you have a wedding to plan, and the amount of energy it takes can be overwhelming! It’s very tempting to try to influence and control each and every part of the day, but that isn’t always possible. Give yourself enough time to plan, and enough grace to make mistakes along the way.