1. Real Weddings

A Modern, Tropical Wedding at the Confidante in Miami Beach, Florida

Jay Yagoda (31 and a lawyer) and Wes Pearce (27 and a marketing consultant and a real estate agent) created a retro-modern wedding for 130 at the Conf

Jay Yagoda (31 and a lawyer) and Wes Pearce (27 and a marketing consultant and a real estate agent) created a retro-modern wedding for 130 at the Confidante in Miami Beach, Florida. “We loved the midcentury aesthetic of this property,” Wes says. “We also fell in love with the various event spaces we were able to use, the privacy they offered and the amazing ocean views.” A crisp black-and-white palette was accented with warm yellows throughout the indoor ceremony and reception. “The interior of the hotel is a throwback to the heyday of Miami Beach, in the 1940s and '50s, and we wanted our wedding to complement that aesthetic,” Jay says. “Since we are two men, we wanted the style to be masculine, clean and classic.” After a ceremony on the hotel’s covered ocean-view patio, guests sipped refreshing cucumber and vodka cocktails at the on-site reception, the decor for which was inspired by retro-modern Miami. "We wanted it to look like a 1950s Miami Beach wedding reception," Wes says. "The design was sleek and modern yet with a vintage vibe.” Calla lilies sprung up again as centerpieces, adding the perfect amount of simple, elegant beauty. “Get started early, and do things your way,” Jay and Wes say. “Don’t let others’ opinions sway you.” —Carolyn Meers

"We both wore J.Crew’s cream Ludlow Dinner Jacket in Italian wool with white shirts and black J.Crew tuxedo pants," Wes says. Wes wore a solid black bow tie, and Jay wore a navy one with white polka dots. "We chose our own cuff links for a personal touch."
"We went for a vintage vibe with all print pieces," Wes says of the invites, designed on Minted.com. "We wanted the menus and signs to look like they were produced for a wedding in the 1950s."
Wes and Jay chose a pair of Lucida wedding bands in platinum. "We chose this band since we wanted something classic and timeless," Wes says.
The ceremony was held on the upper-floor patio of the Confidante in Miami Beach, Florida. "We wanted the ocean view to be the focal point, so we kept the decor simple and sleek," Wes says. "We went with a white runner down the aisle lined with vintage-inspired gold lanterns. At the altar, we had two large calla lily arrangements."
"We wanted all florals to be simple, sleek and somewhat masculine," Wes says. "All flower arrangements and the grooms’ boutonnieres were white calla lilies."
Earth and Sugar bakery crafted Wes and Jay's simple white wedding cake, which was accented with a single yellow billy ball.
At the reception at the Confidante in Miami Beach, Florida, each table was topped with a simple clean vase of calla lilies and a sleek table number.
For the on-site reception at the Confidante in Miami Beach, Florida, Wes and Jay maintained the modern yet vintage-inspired look. "We wanted it to look like a 1950s Miami Beach wedding reception," Wes says. "The design was sleek and modern yet had a vintage vibe. The centerpieces were sleek calla lily arrangements that were masculine and modern."
"Our official colors were white, mustard and gray," Wes says. "We used these colors on all our invitations, thank-you cards and signs. Our florist also wrapped each centerpiece in gray and mustard ribbon."
“The interior of the hotel is a throwback heyday of Miami Beach in the 1940s and '50s, and we wanted our wedding to complement that aesthetic,” Wes says. “Since we are two men, we wanted the overall style to be masculine, clean and classic.”
At the indoor reception, Jay and Wes were lifted for the hora. “Get started early, and do things your way,” Jay and Wes say. “Don’t let others’ opinions sway you.”