Ronald Reagan’s granddaughter Ashley ties the knot with police officer Joe Dunster in intimate ceremony
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA: Ashley Reagan, the youngest grandchild of Ronald Reagan is married! In a stunning ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, on May 5, the beauty, 41, and Joe Dunster, a police officer, exchanged vows. She is a Catholic school principal. Ashley, the daughter of former President Reagan's eldest son, Michael, chose to honor her late grandfather by having a ceremony at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, which was followed by a reception at the Ronald Reagan Ranch Centre.
Ashley explained her choice of site saying, "We looked at a tonne of beautiful venues, but we wanted a personal connection," as per People. The Young America Foundation now owns it, and it is filled with amazing artifacts and displays that reflect President Reagan's time serving as the country's leader. From 1981 through 1989, Ronald held the White House.
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What did Ashley Reagan wear for her wedding?
Ashley's wedding attire was a lovely white Grace Loves Lace gown, which she praised for being more "elegant" and "timeless" than some other options. She stated, "I was drawn to it because all of their dresses are made of handmade lace, and they are just stunning. They are classic, understated, and basic. I was looking for something with a classic, beautiful feel."
Inside Ashley and Joe's wedding ceremony
The romantic wedding had a black, white, and burgundy color scheme and featured a few people who were very important to the bride and groom. While Ashley had two bridesmaids, Joe's 7-year-old son, Colt, served as his best man, and Cameron Reagan, Ashley's older brother, served as a groomsman. Dunster also has twins aged five, Duke and Walker. Ashley described Colt's behavior as "very sweet." She said, "He performed outstandingly while standing there."
The cuisine itself was exceptional it seems. The menu included chicken, fish, and barbeque made using chicken and chili from Chasen's in West Hollywood, a favorite of Nancy Reagan, Ashley's late grandmother. Ashley began by saying, "It's actually where my grandma and grandpa met," before mentioning that the eatery serves "world-famous chili." Also included in the welcome bags for the guests were Jelly Belly jelly beans, a McConnell's ice cream bar, and red velvet cake, which were Reagan's favorites.
How did Ashley and Joe meet?
Ashley and Joe first met when they were young and reportedly lost touch later on. But when Joe reached out in 2021, Ashley and he reconnected. Ashley explained, "He just randomly reached out to me." 'Do you want to go get a cup of coffee, meet, and catch up?' he asked." She continued, “We connected when we first met, and the rest is history."
Talking about her wedding, Ashley said that their "beautiful" day was perfect. "It was everything I dreamed of." She added, "It means a lot because he has three little boys. It feels really special to make a promise to Joe, but I'm also making a promise to the boys to be a part of their lives, to love them as if they're my own, and take care of them as if they're my own. It was the most special."