Linnette and Kurt are, without question, among the most wonderful clients we’ve had the pleasure of working with. Beyond their kindness, generosity, and excellent taste, they gave our team something we especially value: creative freedom. That trust allowed us to explore unconventional ideas and develop designs that were both original and genuinely reflective of them. Working closely with Lourdes, the mother of the bride, who was involved in every decision alongside Linnette, made the planning process all the more enjoyable.

Their three-day destination wedding celebration in Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic, began with an intimate, art-inspired rehearsal dinner at their private villa.

A Personal Beginning to a Three-Day Wedding Celebration

Although based in Miami, Linnette and Kurt share a meaningful connection to the Dominican Republic, particularly Casa de Campo, where their family owns a home and has spent many years vacationing. With the bride’s father also being Dominican, choosing Casa de Campo as the setting for their wedding weekend was as much a personal decision as it was a beautiful one.

For their rehearsal dinner, they wanted to welcome approximately 60 of their closest family members into their own private villa, creating an intimate first gathering before the larger celebrations unfolded.

The setting was familiar, but our vision was to transform it into something entirely unexpected.

A Private Villa Transformed Into a Contemporary Art Gallery

Our design concept drew inspiration from the atmosphere of a contemporary art museum, where every installation, texture, and visual composition contributes to a larger experience.

In the villa’s backyard, we constructed a custom floor beneath a temporary architectural canopy, creating an entirely new environment for the evening.

The experience began with a gallery-inspired seating display featuring three commissioned contemporary portraits of Linnette and Kurt. These original artworks, created specifically for the occasion, brought a playful and deeply personal dimension to the design, introducing guests to the artistic concept that would continue throughout the evening.

Even the culinary presentation became part of the visual narrative. Rather than traditional buffet arrangements, food stations were conceived as sculptural installations, with dishes displayed on pedestals reminiscent of those used to exhibit artwork in a museum.

Every element was intended to feel curated, intentional, and just a little unexpected.

A Study in Contrast, Color, and Texture

The dining environment was a striking interplay of graphic black-and-white patterns, layered materials, and vibrant floral compositions.

Contrasting floor treatments introduced movement and visual interest, while sleek black dining tables provided a dramatic foundation for an explosion of color through the flowers.

The tables themselves featured an unconventional configuration, with a central opening that accommodated floral arrangements and custom-made lamps, each featuring yet another distinct pattern. This deliberate layering of patterns, textures, and light turned the tables into design installations in their own right.

At each place setting, layers of carefully selected china, linens, menus, and place cards introduced additional textures and materials. Rather than relying on a single decorative statement, we wanted guests to discover new details as they settled into their seats.

The result was contemporary and expressive, balancing bold visual gestures with the warmth and intimacy of a family gathering.

An Evening of Family, Celebration, and Connection

Beyond the design, the evening was, above all, about bringing together the people closest to Linnette and Kurt.

Guests enjoyed dinner, beautifully plated desserts, heartfelt speeches, and the lively sounds of a saxophonist, setting a relaxed and celebratory tone for the days ahead.

It was the perfect opening chapter to an extraordinary wedding weekend, one that celebrated not only the couple’s impeccable sense of style, but also their generosity, their family, and their connection to the place they had chosen to celebrate their marriage.

Linnette and Kurt’s Casa de Campo wedding celebration was also featured in Vogue Latin America and ¡HOLA! República Dominicana.

And this was only the beginning.

This Casa de Campo rehearsal dinner is the first chapter of a three-part wedding weekend in the Dominican Republic.

• Part II: The Welcome Party at Minitas Beach Club
• Part III: The Wedding Day at Altos de Chavón

Credits:

Planning and Design: Claire Durán Weddings & Events
Photography: Ryan Ray
Videography: Peyton Anne Frank
Flowers: Rita Experience
Tenting, Flooring, Lighting, Sound: GB Sounds
Custom Installations: Eccentrico Studio
Rentals: Divano, Nuage Designs and Eventos del Cibao
Venue: Private Villa in Casa de Campo
Catering: Casa de Campo Resort & Villas
Stationery: Love Paper Creations
Sax Player: Sax Eventos RD
Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Glammed Up by Gabby
Setup and Tear Down Assistance: Active Montajes