1. Real Weddings

A Bohemian Destination Wedding at the El Blok Hotel in Vieques, Puerto Rico

Diana Dozier (30 and a digital strategist) and Stephan Hein (36 and an innovation consultant) were friends and coworkers in New York City for three ye

Diana Dozier (30 and a digital strategist) and Stephan Hein (36 and an innovation consultant) were friends and coworkers in New York City for three years before things got romantic. “We bonded over our love of music and increasingly spent more time with each other at shows and around the city,” Diana says. For their laid-back, tropical destination wedding, the two chose the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. The event’s bright, playful, color scheme—comprising mainly pink, orange, blue and pops of yellow—also honored the island’s flora and fauna. Invites spotlighted flamingos, pineapples and a custom crest with iguanas. Diana and Stephan held their ceremony before 85 guests under a simple wooden arbor on the rooftop of the El Blok Hotel. At the on-site reception, guests enjoyed rum tastings, fresh cut coconut cocktails and photo ops with parrots and iguanas. Destination weddings can be challenging, so cultivating a reliable team of experts and vendors is key. “Work with people you trust, and understand yourselves as a couple,” Diana says. “We worked with amazing vendors who truly got us. We were able to be very hands-off with a lot of elements because we knew we were in great hands.” —Carolyn Meers

For Diana and Stephan's invites, calligrapher Natalie Soud incorporated flamingos, pineapples and a custom crest with iguanas.
Diana's neutral metallic Jimmy Choos matched her glittery gown and let her vibrant tropical blossom bouquet stand out. "Stem Events put together the wildest bouquets, complete with mini pineapples, large palms and giant proteas," Diana says.
Diana wore a shimmery gown by Karen Willis Holmes. "Some guests did say I looked like a mermaid, but that was completely unintentional," Diana says. "But now that I think about it, perhaps that was what I was subconsciously going for. I have always loved 'The Little Mermaid,' after all."
"We wanted a look that reflected not only the energy of the island but also us as individuals," Diana says. "Meaning nothing too traditional, too bridal, too formal." Stephan picked a bright, bold blue suit to match the blue waters.
Nodding to the tropical location, a white perch filled with native parrots greeted guests as they arrived at the ceremony.
Diana and Stephan said their vows on the rooftop of the El Blok Hotel under a simple wood arbor decorated with a few green palm fronds.
Calligrapher and illustrator Natalie Soud created Diana and Stephan's tropical-themed invitation suite and inscribed domino tiles for escort cards. "I grew up playing dominoes with my mom and my grandfather, so Stephan and I continue that tradition and bring a box of dominoes on every trip we take," Diana says. "That’s why we had everyone’s name drawn on the back of a domino with the reverse side’s dots indicating their table number."
The day's tropical-inspired palette was reflected in bright yellow place cards, blue hand-dyed linens, dip-dyed tablecloths and napkins. "It all went along with the watercolor-based design used throughout our stationery and other paper goods," Diana says.
"We live in New York, but we wanted to leave behind the New York attitude—and winter—and throw a laid-back party with a tropical backdrop," Diana says.