Photo:Martin Ameztoy Photography

Blair Underwood Marries Longtime Friend Josie Hart

Martin Ameztoy Photography

Blair UnderwoodandJosie Hartgot married in paradise!

The actor and his longtime friendtied the knoton Saturday atCasa de Campo Resort & Villasin the Dominican Republic — which has been a vacation hotspot for many celebrities over the years.

With the No. 1 ranked golf course in the Caribbean, the venue also specializes in destination weddings that range in “barefoot parties on the beach complete with tiki torches” to more traditional parties held in the grand ballrooms.

SplashNews.com

Casa de Campo Resort and Villas

NBA legendMichael Jordanhosted his bachelor party at the resort before he andYvette Prietowedin 2013.

Former New York YankeeDerek Jeteralso celebrated his bachelor party at Casa de Campo ahead of tying the knot withHannah Davis Jeter.

Other celebrities who have vacationed at the Carribbean resort for a destination getaway includeBeyoncéandJAY-Z,Jennifer LopezandAlex Rodriguez,Naomi Watts,Taron Egerton,Oscar de la RentaandFrank Sinatra. Former presidentsGeorge H.W. Bush,George W. BushandBill Clintonand actorDennis Quaidhave teed off on the resort’s world-renowned Teeth of the Dog golf course.

Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian with sister Kim in Dominican Republic at the Casa de Campos resort

The luxury retreat has also been the shooting location forDrake’s“Started from the Bottom”music video, a 2013 Instagram photoshoot forRihannaand two episodes ofKeeping Up with the KardashiansandThe Bachelorette.

For their wedding day, Underwood and Hart had wedding planner Theresa Calcos of Casa de Campo work with Angelica and Adriana Noriega ofCaribbean Celebrationsto create the ambience and decor for the celebration, which included a welcome party of 100 guests before the wedding.

For more exclusive wedding photos and all the details, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE on newsstands Friday.

Casa de Campo Resort and Villas

However, Underwood, 58, told PEOPLE of the couple’s destination wedding, “I’ve been very involved. I’m a Virgo and a bit of a perfectionist so I like to make sure details are taken care of.”

“It was surreal and magical,” Hart said of the day. “His vows, to hear him say the words he said to me for our forever was incredible. Between our children and all of them giving toasts, the fireworks right after our first dance, the entire day was just beyond my expectations.”

Blair Underwood Marries Longtime Friend Josie Hart in Intimate Caribbean Wedding

Underwood first met his bride when he was 16 and the two began a friendship that would span the next 43 years. “My mother loved and adored her. We lived separate lives on separate coasts. We never saw each other a lot. But when we talked, there’s always such a strong connection of just understanding each other,” he said.

Blair Underwood Marries Longtime Friend Josie Hart

They began dating after their respective divorces and Underwood proposed last fall. “It just feels so right,” he added. “I just feel like it is the next step in moving forward in my life, and doing it together in our lives together.”

“To find love and discover love in someone who’s been around in my life, in my family’s life, and as I have been in hers, for so long in an honorable, platonic way. To find each other in this space when we’re both single and looking to see how we’ll spend the rest of our lives. It’s a beautiful love story.”

source: people.com