Renowned for producing some of the region’s most exclusive destination weddings, Claire Durán has seen her work featured in international publications including Vogue, Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings, Style Me Pretty and so many more. Following the recent wedding of Natasha Quijano and Marco Monticciolo in Cap Cana, we spoke with the celebrated wedding and event planner about the evolution of luxury, emerging destination wedding trends, and the reasons why Cap Cana continues to attract couples from around the world.
Weddings in Cap Cana
Luxury weddings in Cap Cana have evolved far beyond visual spectacle. Today’s couples are looking for authentic, personalized celebrations capable of turning an entire weekend into an unforgettable memory for their guests.
That shift has fueled the rise of destinations that offer much more than beautiful scenery. With world-class hotels, diverse event venues, international accessibility, and infrastructure designed for multi-day celebrations, Cap Cana has established itself as one of the Caribbean’s leading destinations for luxury weddings and destination celebrations.
Recently, the destination served as the backdrop for the wedding of Natasha Quijano and Marco Monticciolo, a celebration that combined the Cap Cana Chapel with a reception at Punta Espada alongside the newly opened St. Regis Cap Cana. Behind the design and production was Claire Durán, founder of Claire Duran Weddings & Events, who shared her perspective on the future of luxury weddings, the role of hospitality in creating memorable celebrations, and the qualities that continue to position Cap Cana among the most desirable wedding destinations.
Beyond the celebration itself, the wedding also highlighted the strength of the Dominican Republic’s event industry. While Claire Durán works with an international clientele, her team is largely composed of Dominican professionals, as were many of the vendors involved in the production. From floral design and logistics to catering, operations, and event execution, the celebration brought together dozens of local specialists who contribute to positioning both the Dominican Republic and Cap Cana within the competitive global luxury wedding market.
How luxury weddings are designed here
Every wedding has a story behind it. When a couple first comes to you, what do you need to understand about them before designing their celebration?
The first thing we need to understand is who they are. Today, Instagram and Pinterest algorithms show the same content to millions of people, so many brides arrive with very similar inspiration boards. Those images are simply one variable among many.
Our real job is getting to know them as individuals and as a couple, understanding their preferences, their families, and their personalities. From there, we create a concept entirely from scratch.
One thing we make clear from the beginning is that we never replicate inspiration exactly as it is presented to us, no matter how beautiful it may be. We also avoid repeating ourselves. Even when couples show us weddings we have previously designed, we prefer to rediscover each couple and keep that creative flow alive.
Natasha Quijano and Marco Monticciolo’s wedding brought together some of Cap Cana’s most iconic venues. What made St. Regis Cap Cana and Punta Espada the ideal settings for this celebration?
The opening of St. Regis Cap Cana was exciting for us because, beyond offering spectacular event spaces, it is a brand that aligns perfectly with our clients’ expectations.
That allows us not only to work in beautiful settings but also to ensure the level of hospitality that accompanies the entire experience. A destination wedding is never just about the event itself. We are inviting hundreds of people to spend a weekend in the Dominican Republic, so we must care for every aspect of their stay.
The venues are also incredibly versatile. They provide a beautiful blank canvas for creating unique and highly personalized concepts.
You often speak about creating experiences rather than simply planning weddings. What separates a beautiful event from one guests remember for years?
I’ve always said that my company is first and foremost a customer service company.
Of course we want the event to be beautiful, but it is equally important to me that people feel cared for throughout the entire process. Sometimes I work with a couple for more than a year, and I want the entire journey to be memorable.
The same applies to guests. We want them to feel looked after from the very first interaction. That means anticipating their needs, providing useful travel information, and ensuring every detail contributes to their enjoyment.
For me, that is what transforms a wedding into an experience.
Cap Cana offers very different settings within the same destination. How do you create a cohesive wedding when each moment takes place in a different venue?
There should always be continuity between the ceremony and the reception, although that doesn’t mean the spaces should feel identical.
The ceremony is often a solemn and emotional moment, while the reception has a more celebratory energy. The lighting, music, and certain design elements may change, but there must be a common language that ties everything together.
For this wedding, we worked with a timeless aesthetic infused with modern touches. The bride wanted a completely white-and-green palette, which is a challenge because it is such a traditional combination. Our goal was to reinterpret it in a way that felt fresh, elegant, and deeply personal.
Why Cap Cana Continues to Attract International Destination Weddings
You’ve produced celebrations in some of the world’s most exclusive destinations. What qualities place Cap Cana in today’s global luxury wedding conversation?
Cap Cana has several important advantages.
The first is its proximity to Punta Cana International Airport. Accessibility is essential for any destination wedding.
The second is the diversity of venues. Within Cap Cana we have hotels, a marina, golf courses, beaches, and event locations that allow us to create very different experiences within the same destination.
The third is hospitality. Properties such as St. Regis, Eden Roc, Sanctuary, and Hyatt provide multiple accommodation options while maintaining a high level of service, which is extremely valuable when working with large groups.
This wedding had to adapt to unexpected weather conditions. How important is it to work with properties and teams that can respond quickly when plans change?
It is absolutely essential.
A wedding without a backup plan is not a wedding we are willing to produce. From the beginning, we must anticipate different scenarios and prepare solutions before they are needed.
When the weather changed, we simply activated one of those alternatives. That is where St. Regis truly stood out. Their staff immediately mobilized alongside our team, and that level of coordination is what makes a transition feel seamless for guests.
Our role is always to anticipate, adapt, and solve problems creatively so that the couple and their guests only experience the celebration.
Although many of your clients come from abroad, much of your team and many of your vendors are Dominican. How has local talent evolved within the luxury events industry?
The Dominican Republic is home to extraordinary professionals across every area required to execute a wedding of this scale.
My entire team is Dominican, and we work constantly with local vendors who understand the standards required for international productions. That allows us to create celebrations at the highest level while contributing to the growth of an industry that continues to strengthen every year.
Every international wedding that comes to the country is also an opportunity to showcase the professionalism and talent that exists here and to continue positioning the Dominican Republic as a competitive destination within the global luxury events market.
“Today, luxury is about anticipation of needs, personalization, deep curation, and attention to detail. It’s not about doing more—it’s about doing things with the highest standards”
One of Cap Cana’s greatest strengths is the variety of settings it offers. How does that diversity influence the design of a multi-day celebration?
It is one of the destination’s greatest advantages.
It allows us to create distinct experiences for every moment of the weekend. The welcome party, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception can all take place in completely different environments.
That keeps the celebration exciting, dynamic, and full of surprises while allowing us to take advantage of everything Cap Cana has to offer.
The future of luxury weddings and destination celebrations
Beyond décor, gastronomy, scents, and sensory details now play a much larger role. How do they contribute to creating a memorable celebration?
Weddings no longer follow a single formula.
Food has become a design and experiential element. The same is true for scents, stationery, lighting, and presentation.
Everything communicates. Everything creates emotion. Sensory details are often what take a beautiful celebration into a level that truly engraves in a guest’s long term memory.
When couples decide to host a destination wedding, what factors matter most when choosing the location?
I always begin with the practical side.
Where are the guests coming from? How easy is it to get there? What will their accommodation experience be like?
Then we evaluate the strength of the local event industry, the diversity of venues available, and the destination’s ability to solve any challenge that may arise during the celebration.
A successful wedding must work not only for the couple but also for everyone making the journey to celebrate with them.
After so many years designing celebrations around the world, what still excites you when a wedding day finally arrives?
Hearing a client or guest say it was the best wedding they have ever attended.
I know that when someone says that, they are not talking only about the décor. They are talking about how they felt, how they were cared for, and the overall experience.
Watching an idea become reality, seeing everything unfold as planned and designed, and receiving that grateful hug at the end of the night remains one of the most rewarding parts of my work.
Wedding credits
Welcome Party and catering: St. Regis Cap Cana
Ceremony: Cap Cana Chapel
Reception: Punta Espada, alongside St. Regis Cap Cana
Bride’s Gown: Danielle Frankel
Photography: Ariel Noboa
Videography: Laguna Santa
Lighting, Sound, Tenting: GB Sounds
Hair & Makeup: Michelle Flaz
Flowers: Garden Roses
Stationery: LT Creative Co.
