Lexie Merchant and Luke Mancini first met in October 2020 through mutual friends. “I texted my friends immediately after meeting him telling them, ‘I think I met my husband,’” Lexie remembers. “I guess when you know, you know.”

Three years later, while vacationing in St. Barths – Lexie’s favorite place – Luke proposed on a terrace overlooking the ocean at sunset. “It was perfect,” she shares. The couple enjoyed over a yearlong engagement before saying “I do” in Palm Beach, Florida.

“I always dreamt of getting married at The Breakers,” Lexie says, “but I didn’t picture myself celebrating in a ballroom setting. I wanted an indoor/outdoor venue, which was slightly difficult to find.” After visiting the resort, they discovered The Beach Club patio at the luxury hotel property. “It was perfect for us,” she says.

Planning was smooth from start to finish. “It was actually not stressful – thanks to the best wedding planner,” she explains. “There was no drama or loss of sleep over planning the big day.” Luke let his bride take the reins. “He’s the best and let me take the wheel on the whole process. The only thing he wanted a say in was the food choices,” Lexie laughs. “Our families also trusted me to do my thing. They wanted to help in any way possible but allowed me to have creative freedom. I truly got so lucky in this department.”

Lexie envisioned a classic, timeless design brought to fruition with the help of florals and linens by Xquisite Events: “I was always drawn to all-white weddings with accents of black: simple and elegant. I didn’t want any pops of color because I wanted all of the photos to be timeless.” Guests were asked to wear black, including the bridal party. “It was the best decision we ever made,” she confirms.

“We asked all of our guests to wear black – it was the best decision we ever made.”

The ceremony began at sunset, slightly delayed by a light rain shower that made the evening even more dreamy. “It worked out perfectly because the candles and lights looked that much better glistening against the dark sky,” Lexie recalls. “It was magical.” Luke also notes: “The ceremony was the most special by far – it was memorable.”

The bride’s vision was realized with a long white acrylic aisle lined with candles, surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped seating design. “I felt it created a more intimate setting than traditional rows,” she explains. “I loved the idea of a romantic entrance.”

In keeping with the couple’s clean and minimalist aesthetic, Lexie carried a bouquet of white roses with no greenery, while her bridesmaids held feminine white peonies. Music included Russell Dickerson songs played on violin and piano, and in a thoughtful twist, the wedding party took their seats after walking down the aisle. “We wanted them to have a clear view of us,” she explains. “As a guest at other weddings, I’ve noticed that the wedding party can sometimes become a distraction. Having everyone seated felt more comfortable and intentional.”

The reception, held at the same location, began a few hours later, at 8PM. “We did speeches but only one from each side – first my mom, followed by Luke’s brother,” says Lexie. “We wanted them to be meaningful and impactful but not drawn out.” She also decided to skip traditional moments like the bouquet toss and cake-cutting spectacle. “I felt that corralling everyone together for these two things was a waste of meaningful dancing time,” she notes.

The bride’s focus was on maximizing time with their guests. “It was really important to me that our bridesmaids, groomsmen, and family members could fully enjoy the cocktail hour instead of spending it taking endless photos,” she explains. “We chose to do a first look and took the majority of our photos before the ceremony.” Afterward, they spent just 10 minutes finishing up family shots. “It was quick, organized, and stress-free – so everyone could relax and enjoy the entire cocktail hour with us.”

Rectangular tables were decorated with 10-tier clear glass candelabras, each holding enclosed taper candles surrounded by lush white hydrangeas, roses, and peonies. “No greenery,” Lexie emphasizes. “I wanted everything to look clean and timeless.”

After the dinner service, guests enjoyed slices of the five-tier coconut cream wedding cake featuring white frosting with black accents to continue the monochrome theme. “The décor and food were where we invested the most,” Lexie shares. “I wanted everything to feel cohesive, elegant, and unforgettable.” Her favorite moment of the day came as she walked down the candlelit aisle after sunset. “It was magical,” she recalls again. “The lights glistening against the dark sky made everything glow.”

When asked if there was anything she would change, Lexie answers quickly: “Honestly, no.” Her advice to future brides is simple: “Too many opinions will taint the process. Trust your gut, and let your guests and family be surprised with a lot of your choices rather than asking for everyone’s opinions along the way.”

After their celebration, the newlyweds enjoyed a mini-moon in Turks and Caicos before taking their dream honeymoon to Italy, visiting Lake Como, Capri, and Positano. “We were incredibly lucky – my mom owns a luxury travel company and helped us plan the perfect trip,” Lexie says. “It was a dream from start to finish.”

This real wedding was originally published in the Winter 2026 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

To order a copy of the Winter 2026 issue, visit our library of Inside Weddings digital back issues available for purchase.

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