Guests Danced, Bowled, and Ice Skated Until Sunrise at This Beauty Entrepreneur's Modern Wedding in Miami

Friday Night Vibes

Dianna and Alexander hosted a welcome cocktail party for their guests at Soho Beach House in Miami. She wore a white Zimmerman mini dress with lace butterfly appliqués and grosgrain trim, Eliou earrings, and Chanel mules, while he donned a custom suit from Michael Andrews Bespoke. The couple booked the entire eighth floor for the event, treating their friends and family to picantes and caviar. "We wanted all of our friends and family to experience what Friday evening is like down here for us," says Dianna, "drinking picantes or mezcal and at Soho House. It was so special to share a little piece of our life here with our friends and family."

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Special Edition

The pair chose The Miami Beach Edition for their nuptials—a meaningful selection, considering Dianna, Alex, and their families visit Miami every year.

A Perfect Fit

Dianna had two requirements for her wedding dress: "I was looking for a gown that felt like me when I put it on—almost a second skin," she says, and "I knew I wanted long sleeves, which isn't the easiest thing to tackle when your location is Miami...in June." After trying on traditional silhouettes from Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, and Oscar de la Renta (among others) that didn't quite fit her vision for the day, she turned to gowns from Inbal Dror. "The second I tried the Inbal options, I felt like myself again," she says. "This specific style hit all the right notes I wanted to achieve for a Miami wedding—whimsical yet classic."

Overlay

Her ivory mermaid gown included a blush-colored underlay with netted lace and tulle detailing, and reminded her of a family heirloom: "My mom wore a beautiful silk hand-crocheted dress on her wedding day, and this felt like a more contemporary, beaded version," says Dianna.

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Everyday, Elevated

Dianna describes her everyday beauty routine as "'no-makeup makeup'—I like everything to feel effortless and like an enhanced version of me," she says. "For the weekend though, I knew I had to take it up at least one notch and have a little fun with it." She traded her daily hairstyle—locks worn down and loose, air-dried with Crown Affair products—for a low, deconstructed chignon with loose waves that framed her face, and makeup from Marco Artistry that included bronzing body shimmer for a full-coverage glow and individual lash extensions. "Something I did that I highly recommend is doing hair and makeup trials early in the day," says Dianna. "It's really helpful to see how everything wears, especially in the Miami humidity. For fragrance, I layered my day-to-day Byredo Gypsy Water with I Don't Know What by D.S & Durga—both work so well together to create this elegant radiance that is fresh but not overpowering." Drop earrings from Eliou, founded by friends of the bride, were a gift.

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Metal Winners

Jewelry designer Jade Trau, a longtime friend of the groom, created Dianna's engagement ring. "I've gotten to know her very well over the years, so when she designed my ring, she totally got me," says Dianna. "We've actually been going to the same hairstylist for over a decade—there's no better sign of someone getting you than having the same hair stylist." She also created the bride's and groom's wedding bands. "To have her make his ring, [which mirrors mine], was really special," says Dianna.

Well-Suited

Alexander turned to his go-to tailor, Michael Andrews Bespoke, who frequently provides his business looks, for a navy tuxedo with black lapels. "Given he's been working from home this last year, his suits haven't seen as much love," says Dianna. "Working with their team on these two bespoke looks was really fun, especially knowing it would be his first suiting since the beginning of the pandemic. Alex went with his brother and our best man for the fitting—they had bespoke tuxedos made as well—and lots of whiskey was involved in the day." The groom added a Charvet bow tie, Saint Laurent shoes, Louis Vuitton cuff links, and a Movado watch.

So Happy Together

A spacious room flooded in natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows created a sleek background for the couple's first look. "I was really excited to see him and vice versa," says Dianna. "We're so comfortable together and best friends, so it felt fun and incredibly joyful in that moment."

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Other pre-ceremony portrait backgrounds included an off-white 1971 Mercedes 280SL—"my dream getaway and Miami car," says Dianna. The bride carried a bouquet of cloud-like baby's breath from Xquisite Events.

Nearest and Dearest

In lieu of official bridesmaids and groomsmen, Dianna and Alex invited her sister, his brother, and three of their closest friends to help them get ready and process down the aisle before sitting with the other guests. "The women wore a black dress of their choice with Jennifer Behr hair accessories," says Dianna. "The men were all in Michael Andrews Bespoke tuxedos."

A Memorable Ceremony

Alex and Dianna each walked down the aisle to the altar with their parents as Marischen Strings performed "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra and, for the bride, Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know."

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Under the Chuppah

Their officiant and close friend, Roy Klabin, created a "personal and contemporary" ceremony—held under a mirrored chuppah edged with baby's breath—that incorporated traditional Jewish elements. "Roy is one of our best friends who we've traveled the world and go to Burning Man with, so it wasn't the officiant 'Mad Libs' you sometimes feel like during ceremonies," says Dianna. "Roy knows us better than most."

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Rain Delay

During the ceremony, the weather shifted and it started to rain. "We all looked at each other, and then everyone ran inside," says Dianna. For half an hour, the couple and their guests lingered inside the venue, waiting for the clouds to clear.

Welcome Back

When the rain stopped, the couple's friends and family returned to their seats before welcoming the couple back to the ceremony. "All of our guests connected and chatted during that 30-minute rain window, and when they came out, we were all in it together," says Dianna. "Everyone was cheering when we walked back out—you could feel the energy was different. In the moment, it's not what you dream the day will be, but in a strange way, us walking back out down the aisle together then saying our vows was so much more meaningful."

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From the Heart

The couple also invited artist Miya Ando, a close friend, to participate in the ceremony. Each guest received a bodhi leaf that matched a large-scale wishing mandala installation Ando made of leaves and displayed at the ceremony. "During the ceremony, Miya recited a beautiful Buddhist prayer and asked everyone to release their bodhi leaf into the air as a wish for the couple," says Dianna. "The energy shifted in that moment, and the rest of the evening was magic."

A New Journey Begins

Postponing their wedding allowed the end result to feel even more momentous, says the couple. "Alex and I have been together for almost eight years and we have a deep crew of friends we celebrate life with often, so having everyone in one place that entire weekend was simply the best," says Dianna. "Our wedding came at the perfect time of people safely reentering the world. The energy was truly on another level. The joy, the hugs, the connection we all felt was really unique to this moment in history."

Under the Palms

The reception space incorporated key aesthetic elements in different ways throughout the room, drawing on a 30-page art direction deck Dianna designed at the beginning of the planning process. "The reception had three unique styles for each table, with variations of baby's breath and palms for a touch of Miami," says Dianna. "I knew I wanted something slightly whimsical—hence the clouds of baby's breath—while still being simple and fresh for the location."

Setting the Mood

Silver globes and bunches of baby's breath accented the ceiling above the dance floor, where guests partied to music from Deleasa and Manu Seve. "My husband and I love music and hanging with our friends until the sunrise, so it was really important for this to be a truly epic party and not just fall in line with the cadence of a 'wedding,'" says Dianna.

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In the Clear

Décor from Xquisite Events included a custom-built acrylic table brimming with baby's breath. Floating candles in holders of different heights and shapes covered the tables, while simple folded napkins and personalized menus waited at each place setting. (The meal included salad of baby greens, tomatoes, and mozzarella; braised beef short ribs or seared grouper; and two types of donuts—maple bacon and s'mores—alongside a selection of salted chocolate chip and macadamia white chocolate cookies.)

Piece of Cake

A "simple but elegant" vanilla cake with cream cheese icing included baby's breath accents that tied into the rest of the floral elements.

Big Moves

Alex and Dianna prepared for their first dance—to "Our Song" by Elton John—by taking lessons from a local studio.

Taking the Mic

Dianna took the mic from Manu Seve during the party.

Light the Night

A tropical neon sign nodded to the event's locale and cast a festive glow on the merrymakers.

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A Dream Come True

For Dianna and Alex, creating a wedding that fit their taste was key. "We planned our wedding around being present and having fun, so whatever that means to you, find that," she says. "I didn't want a band singing covers of Bruno Mars and I didn't want to end the night with people dancing to 'Shout'. It's not our vibe as a couple. I've been to dozens of weddings that do that, and if that's what your dream party is, then it's perfect. But for us, we wanted it to be an amazing party with music we could dance to with our friends until sunrise."

The newlyweds booked the lower level of the hotel for their after-party, keeping the DJ turned up while guests bowled and ice skated. "I love the two spaces down there with the Olivia Steele neon works—the vibe was perfect," says Dianna. "It was so fun to take over the downstairs area until 5 a.m.—we didn't think people would bowl or skate that late, but people were on the rink until we shut it down! It was truly the best party and way to keep going after the reception."

Sources

Photography, Masson Liang with Karla Garcia Costa and Renee Hollingshead
Venue and Catering, The Miami Beach Edition
Event Planning, Absolute Wedding and Event Planning
Flowers, Event Design, Rentals, and Lighting, Xquisite
Videography, Senderey
Officiant, Roy Klabin
Stationery, Paper and Bows Studio
Music, Marischen Strings (ceremony); Deleasa; Manu Seve
Bride's Gown, Inbal Dror
Bride's Accessories, Dior shoes; Jennifer Behr hair comb; Eliou earrings; L'afshar bag
Hair, Cassie Tichenor, Ivy and Lace
Makeup, Jesus Marcano, Marco Artistry
Menswear, Michael Andrews Bespoke
Groom's accessories, Charvet bow tie; Saint Laurent shoes; Movado watch; Louis Vuitton cuff links
Guest Book, Smythson
Rings, Jade Trau
Sound Equipment, Frost Florida