Meant to Be: Lisa and Chris' Enchanting Seaside Vows at Mondrian South Beach

Love Story

Lisa and Chris' love story is one of those serendipitous tales that makes you believe in fate. "Chris was a bouncer in our local area where I usually went out," reminisces Lisa, "and one night he took my ID and told another bouncer he was going to marry me one day." Little did they know that prophecy would come true!

Years passed before Chris, by then in the police academy, decided to slide into Lisa's DMs. "He slid into my DMs for 9 months (respectfully) before I finally said yes," Lisa shares with a smile. She was a tough nut to crack, but Chris' persistence and determination won her over. "From that moment on we never stopped talking not even for an hour," she says dreamily. “4 days after our first date Chris told me he loved me. We knew what we wanted and that was a life together so we wanted to celebrate around our one-year anniversary and we did just that.”

When it came time to make it official, Chris caught Lisa completely by surprise with his proposal on October 13th, 2023 - a fateful Friday the 13th. "He told me he had a party for his precinct and was getting an award," Lisa recounts. Dressed for a night celebrating Chris' achievement with his fellow officers, she had no idea he had something even bigger planned. With friends and family watching from behind the window, Chris popped the question upon their arrival. The newly engaged couple then joined loved ones for an impromptu engagement party dinner.

For Lisa and Chris, their wedding was a celebration of timeless romance with a modern, relaxed vibe. "Our vision was timeless, modern and romantic," explains Lisa. "We wanted our love and energy to be the focus." They envisioned a chic cocktail party vibe with plenty of dancing and a stunning waterfront view.

The couple chose the chic Mondrian Hotel in Miami's South Beach as their venue, drawn in by the breathtaking bay views. And with 58 of their nearest and dearest joining them, they made it officially official with a legal ceremony in Lisa's grandparents' kitchen. “We legally got married in my grandparents' kitchen with them as our only witnesses a year from our first date and had our wedding a year from the day he told me he loved me. We are big numbers people and these numbers just made it all that more worth it!” Lisa shares.

Morning details

As the sun gently rose above the Miami skyline, Lisa and Chris’s wedding day began, awash in golden light and brimming with anticipation. They entrusted their stationery suite to the artful hands of Tangled Words Creative Studio, who worked in harmony with their incredible planner from Micro Miami. Each piece of paper crafted was a lovingly curated invitation to the romantic festivities that awaited.

The rings, those eternal symbols of endless love and commitment, received special attention. Ever the artistic soul, Lisa was quite particular about her wedding jewelry. "As an artist myself I'm picky," she explains. But true to his persistent and devoted nature, Chris ensured her dream rings became a reality, working hand-in-hand with The Jewelry Spot to design the perfect bands. "He understood the assignment because they are literally more than perfect!" Lisa gushes.

Even the wedding invitations, typically an unglamorous task, received Lisa's artistic touch. "We designed the invitations," she shares, undoubtedly imbuing them with romantic flair befitting of the occasion.

Bride getting ready

In the tranquil bridal suite, Lisa slipped into her showstopping New & White bridal gown from Lovely Bride NY. With the expert help of Sewin Live NY, the dress was customized with a lowered back and added straps for Lisa's desired look. The stunning dress glowed with every movement, capturing the essence of grace and beauty.

Her Amazon Fashion finds—shoes, earrings, and a bracelet—completed her bridal ensemble, along with a stunning cathedral-length veil from Etsy. "I got ready with my mother, sister, nieces, and my glam squad who are my best friends," recalls Lisa. Surrounded by her nearest and dearest, she was a vision of pure bridal bliss.

Groom getting ready

Meanwhile, the dapper groom prepped on the balcony of their room, helped by his brother and Lisa's father. Chris' sleek tuxedo came from Esquire Tuxedo, perfectly complementing Lisa's timeless look.

First Look

The first look at the Mondrian's lush garden was a moment suspended in time for the couple. "How lucky I am to have the most beautiful wife in the world," Chris thought when he saw Lisa for the first time, adding "I didn't expect her to be wearing a dress with any type of train." Lisa's heart fluttered, “How handsome my forever is!”

Photoshoot before the ceremony

The couple embraced the enchanting array of backdrops offered by the Mondrian for their pre-ceremony photo session. Solo portraits against the sweeping bay views highlighted Lisa's radiant bridal glow and Chris' suave charm. Together, they wove a tapestry of romance in the lush garden settings, shared timeless moments on the elegant staircase, and captured playful, spirited snapshots in the whimsical hallways.

Ceremony

When it came time for Lisa and Chris to finally say "I do", the setting could not have been more perfect. Their ceremony unfolded at the luxe Mondrian hotel, the couple exchanging vows while overlooking the breathtaking bay side of South Beach. "The city skyline across the water at golden hour was absolutely breathtaking!" Lisa recounts.

In a nod to the fateful vacation where their whirlwind romance began, they had a cellist play the classic "Stand By Me" as Lisa made her way down the aisle. "On our first vacation to Miami together only 4 weeks into our relationship, I heard a cello player at our hotel," she explains. "I fell in love with the sound it actually made me get emotional it was so beautiful and said I want that at our wedding one day." The sentimental song held extra meaning as a tribute to Lisa's late uncle.

Eschewing many traditional elements, the couple opted for a more relaxed, intimate vibe with just a maid of honor and the best man joining them at the altar.

When Lisa thinks back to those heart-melting moments, two stand out most: "I remember holding Chris' hands and feeling safe and finally at home. I remember looking out and seeing everyone be so genuinely happy to be a part of our day and our love story."

Yet the most indelible memory was that suspended instance when the world seemed to dissolve away. "The most memorable moment from our wedding was standing at the ceremony holding hands and feeling like at one moment it was only me and Chris and not a single other person was there. Like it was me and him against the world but then also feeling all the emotion from our family crying with us during our vows and not feeling alone at all."

Photoshoot after the ceremony

With the newly minted Mr. and Mrs. Mercieca status, the couple celebrated with loved ones, snapping vibrant family portraits against the sparkling bay backdrop. As dinner drew near, they captured more shots near their incredibly unique tabletop decor—tables decorated "like I've never seen before," Lisa marvels.

Wedding Venue & Decor

When it came to establishing the vibe for their big day, Lisa and Chris had a clear vision in mind - a modern, unique aesthetic with an organic flair. Their color palette of black, white, and green with natural textures set a luxuriously minimalist yet warmly textured tone.

Personal touches abounded, infusing their elevated taste with sentimental meaning. "We did get personalized coconuts for all of our guests used as seating chart," describes Lisa of the tropical escort card display. Chris's cufflinks featured a customized design, while a cherished gift from Lisa's best friend were the wooden, engraved hangers keeping her gown pristine.

Perhaps the most romantically personalized element was Chris's ring, engraved with their wedding date and the words "forever and always" - lyrics from another song deeply meaningful to the couple. Every detail was a loving nod to their storybook love.

But as gorgeous as those personal decor elements were, the venue itself was the real showstopper. "We knew we wanted something modern and different. We wanted a vibe with great food and a great view," Lisa explains of their venue search. Their planner's suggestion of the Mondrian in South Beach checked every box. With the sparkling blue waters of Biscayne Bay creating a stunning waterfront backdrop, the Mondrian's modern, clean lines and luxe vibe provided the perfect canvas for the couple's big day.

Reception

The chic cocktail vibe continued into the evening's festivities. Rather than a formal, plated dinner, the newlyweds offered stations with Italian and Latin cuisine—a nod to their backgrounds. And in another non-traditional twist, they skipped the classic wedding cake! “We wanted untraditional so we decided we didn’t want the party to stop to cut a cake. We loved our decision ! We had mini desserts for our guests passed around,” the bride shares.

For their first spin as husband and wife, the couple swayed to John Legend's "Wild"—a full-circle moment as it was "a song of ours from date number one," Lisa reveals.

In Lisa's words, the day was "untraditional" and perfectly them: "If you are looking for a different type of wedding, destination is the way to go! And don’t think twice about hiring a planner because dealing with the stress is hard enough so find yourself a planner that fits your vibe and let them create magic for you!"

Thanks to their planner's passion and creativity, the magic unfolded into the timeless, romantic, and modern celebration of their dreams. "We could have not asked for a better experience with our wedding planner. Sofia was so passionate and creative and that’s what we were looking for," Lisa effuses. "She delivered more than what we even thought was possible with her team and we are forever grateful for how it all came together with all of the vendors!"