While some couples find it a nerve-racking proposition to commit to a wedding venue, Blake Gellin and Gregg Solomon had zero reservations. “My family always vacationed at The Breakers when I was growing up, so it holds a special place in my heart,” Blake admits. “If given the opportunity, there was no doubt that the property was where I wanted to get married.” The celebrated Palm Beach resort offered a variety of glamorous venues, and the bride and groom confidently signed on for three distinctive spaces for their formal winter nuptials. “Having a wedding at The Breakers is something you dream of,” emphasizes Gregg. “It’s truly a special place that can’t be duplicated anywhere in the country.”

The ceremony took place in the hotel’s dazzling Circle Ballroom, where elaborate frescos overhead framed the couple’s snowy wedding décor. An aisle patterned with rose petals led to a raised platform where a chuppah wrapped in flowers and draped with prayer shawls awaited the proceedings. “The tallits belonging to both of our fathers were incorporated into the chuppah,” reveals the bride. Resplendent in a white lace gown, Blake held a luxuriant cascade of catteleya orchids paired with lovely stephanotis blossoms, while her maids carried “glamelia” bouquets fashioned from vanilla rose petals. Each member of the wedding party’s female contigent – from the mothers of the bride and groom to the diminutive flower girl – was exquisitely turned out in white, while Gregg and his attendants were attired in smart black tuxedos.

Although the Jewish ceremony focused primarily on tradition, the couple incorporated unique aspects of their own. “I walked down the aisle to the theme song from Rudy, one of my favorite movies,” says the groom. “It reflects my determination to succeed in all aspects of life… and of course, to never quite [reach perfection].” The modern ritual of blending sand of different colors to signify the joining together of two families augmented the time-honored Judiac customs the couple observed; in fact, the importance of family was strongly emphasized throughout the service. “We used my grandparents’ wedding rings in the ceremony and the kiddush cup from the bar mitzvah of Gregg’s father,” Blake shares. The meaningful vow exchange was sealed with a kiss, and not a moment too soon for the groom. “After what seemed like forever, I finally got to kiss my bride,” he says. “It was long and given with a lot of enthusiasm!”

Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails were served beneath the stars in The Breakers’ Mediterranean Courtyard followed by a formal reception in the grand Mediterranean Ballroom. Enormous candelabras blanketed in flowers alternated with delicate white floral arrangements buoyed by crystal pedestals and silver candleholders. Embroidered linens added a graceful touch to tabletops featuring subtle accents of gold. “Everything from the abundance of flowers to the detail of the stemware reflected my personality,” says Blake, who is an interior designer. “I am extremely detail oriented and made sure every last item in the room had purpose.” Forgoing a sweetheart’s table, the couple dined with their immediate relatives – all of them. “There were 14 of us, and it was so nice sitting together as one family,” asserts the bride. A three-course supper was concluded with the cutting of the couple’s elaborate wedding cake. Iced in white buttercream and hidden by a riot of sugar flowers, the top and bottom tiers of the cake were linked by a cascading garland of intricate blooms.

For the remainder of the evening, guests packed the dance floor. “The most important aspect of the celebration was being surrounded by an amazing group of family and friends,” avows the groom. “It was so fulfilling to see everyone having such a great time and celebrating all night.” For her part, the bride advises that couples focus less on the details of the day and more on the people that are sharing their joy. “Enjoy every minute,” she affirms, “and be thankful for the love that surrounds you.”