This New York City Couple Transformed The Breakers in Palm Beach Into a Moody, Luxurious Speakeasy

Yale students Jillian and Davis spent more than two years stacking up their missed connections, as they shared mutual friends but just never met—until they joined the same senior society in April 2014. For the next year, they were just friends. Then, with only a few weeks left until graduation, Davis finally worked up the courage to tell Jillian how he really felt about her. They chose an off-campus Italian restaurant for their first date, and immediately realized they might be more than friends. “Though we had shared many meals together before, it was the first one we agreed to call a date,” says the bride. “Despite our nerves, something about it felt extremely natural.”

Jillian and Davis decided to continue dating after graduation, even as she moved to New York and he started law school in Virginia. Davis made the seven-hour drive to visit Jillian multiple times each month before transferring to a law school in New York City after his first internship. During the Covid-19 lockdown, the couple spent three months living with Jillian’s family in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Davis proposed over Thanksgiving in 2021. 

When choosing a wedding venue, the couple had a few musts: “reliably warm” weather (which knocked out New York City) and ease of travel for their friends on the East Coast and Davis’s family in Tennessee. Already fans of The Breakers in Palm Beach from their many visits there with Jillian’s family, the resort immediately landed at the top of their short-list of venues. 

The couple hired Roxanne Bellamy and Birch Events to create a “moody and seductive atmosphere inspired by glamour” in the iconic hotel for their 300-guest wedding on May 13, 2023. With a rich palette of navy, gleaming gold, and opulent marble, they turned the outdoor lawn into a lavish ceremony spot and held an energetic dance party inside the majestic ballroom. “One of our favorite parts about our wedding was the numerous things that we included to try and reflect who we are as a couple,” says Jillian. Family friends officiated the ceremony and designed the bride’s bespoke gown; a string quartet played versions of the couple’s favorite pop songs during the ceremony; and the dance floor stayed full all night. “We and our families love to dance and do big group events together and so we truly wanted to emphasize our wedding as a celebration of not only us but for all of the people we care about in our lives,” says the couple. See every intentional, next-level detail in photos captured by Erika Delgado.

Jillian and Davis chose a color scheme of navy, gold, and marble, intending to “inject some New York City style and sexiness into the vibe and energy of their celebration.” The elegant, high-drama palette provided an unexpected twist on the traditional pastel hues of Palm Beach. Experts at  Funky Child Creative and Plume and Stone designed the multi-piece suite to include an acrylic invitation and a custom monogram.

For their rehearsal dinner at Galley at Hilton West Palm Beach, Jillian wore an embroidered lace dress from Paz Cornu purchased on a vacation in Uruguay, fuchsia Gianvito Rossi heels, and the Cartier Love bracelet that had belonged to her grandmother. Davis opted for a neutral aesthetic, too, donning an ivory polo, off-white pants, and a sand-colored houndstooth blazer from Suit Supply. 

The couple’s rehearsal dinner color palette of orange, peach, pink, and red was inspired by the Palm Beach sunsets they watched each evening from her parents’ home. Signature cocktails—Jamaican rum punch and a Southern whisky smash—were a nod to Jillian’s Jamaican heritage and Davis’ Tennessee roots. Ikebana-inspired florals, acacia wood tables, and personalized menus finished the tablescape. 

Jillian asked designer Laura Smalls, a close family friend, to create a bespoke wedding dress inspired by the green corseted gown Zendaya wore to the Emmys in 2019. Smalls then brought in Miro Hermes, a just-retired designer from Carolina Herrera, to join her. “I have always been fond of minimalist styles that can still make a statement, so by combining the silk corset top with the more simplistic silk bottom with a high slit, we felt they were able to capture that feel in a way that still showed wedding day elegance,” says Jillian. “I wore a Roberto Coin snake bracelet—I wear a lot of snake jewelry in my day-to-day, so it felt wrong to not have something on my special day; a Roberto Coin necklace; borrowed studs from my mother; and a Marisa Perry ring gifted by Davis that morning during the first look.”

A hairstyle from Nicole Battle and makeup artistry from Nicki Mac Brides gave Jillian the timeless look she imagined. “I did not want to look back and not recognize myself or feel like I had followed a trend that only made sense during a specific time,” says the bride. “I wanted to look like myself but extremely elevated for the occasion.” She chose her favorite hairstyle—an Ariana Grande-inspired high ponytail—which worked perfectly for the day-long event. “I figured [that] a day that would be a bit hot, maybe windy, and involve a lot of dancing would be a great day for me to try it out,” she says. “I also love the way it brough simplicity but high fashion to the look, which highlighted a lot of the key elements that I was going for.” The gold floating heel on her white Fendi pumps was a chic finishing touch.

Jillian invited two close friends to share the role of dual maids of honor, while Davis invited his two brothers to serve as best men. “We both opted to have large wedding parties as our friends in New York and from college and all over are like family to us, so we each wanted them all to be included in our special day,” says Jillian.

The women chose their own gowns in hues of gold, nude, or champagne. “I liked the look of coordination without rigidity—colors that went together but didn't look perfect or exactly the same,” says Jillian. “I also did not want to force them all to wear the same dress when each has different body types and styles and I wanted some of their personality to show through as well."

The men in the wedding party—including the groom—wore single-button navy tuxedos from Stanlion. “Davis helped his groomsmen get custom suits, given he wanted them all to be in navy and have something a lot more form fitting than a rental,” says Jillian. “Thankfully we were able to make it so this option was comparable to renting, so each could walk away with a suit they could keep!”

Davis and Jillian took time before the ceremony to read their personalized vows privately to each other. “We have written notes and letters to each other at each of our anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, or even just when we have not seen each other in a while, so we thought writing our vows to one another—just for each other to read—was a great representation of us,” says Jillian. “It allowed us to have a moment that was truly more meaningful between us and allow us to reflect on how much we have grown up with each other. We are always so excited to be surrounded by our friends and family that we wanted to remind ourselves that this day was about us and a huge milestone for our relationship.”

They encourage other couples to set time aside to enjoy the day, too. “Everyone says it, but if you spend the whole day just worrying about others, it will fly by,” says the couple. “It’s an important day for you and your significant other to be selfish and enjoy what you planned.” 

A white-and-gold sign greeted guests at the entrance to the venue’s oceanfront lawn, where a mirrored aisle mimicked rolling waves.

Jillian and Davis chose a ceremony aesthetic that would “complement, not distract from” the “breathtaking” ocean views. The mirrored aisle and ceremony structure was adorned with roses, hydrangeas, and orchids; guests sat on acrylic chairs. 

The groom’s two nieces, four-year-old Nora and three-year-old Lucy, wore white Ralph Lauren dresses to perform their flower girl duties. “Right before going down the aisle, Lucy decided to take her shoes off,” says Jillian. “She walked down the aisle barefoot and when she got to the end proudly declared, ‘I did it!’” 

A string quartet played Beyonce’s “Halo” as Jillian’s father escorted her to the altar. Harold Ford Jr., a friend of the bride’s family (and a Tennessee native) officiated the ceremony. “We knew that Harold would highlight the important traditions of marriage while also bringing his own flair to the ceremony, something that you couldn’t script or force even if you wanted to,” says Jillian. “Harold ended the ceremony on a fun but meaningful and apt note by referencing different singers and their take on love: ‘As Al Green would say, enjoy your love and happiness. As Jay and Bey would say, you guys look so crazy in love. And as Lou Rawls will tell you, you’ll never find another love like the one you built and the one you had.’"

Jillian and Davis opted to introduce their navy blue color scheme during the cocktail hour, instead of previewing it at the ceremony. The velvet bar, towering floral installation, monogrammed ice sculpture/raw bar display, and elegant escort display “[transported] guests from the European influence and architectural flair of The Breakers to what could best be described as a portal to an exclusive, urbane speakeasy."

Navy blue draping surrounded the guests in the reception room, where recurring design elements—including ovals, navy fabrics, and gleaming gold accents—added drama and sophistication. Custom pill-shaped tables complemented the other round and mirror-topped tables in the layout, while the bridal party sat at a 40-foot-long gold-and-mirror table. 

“The custom ceiling installation, which spanned over 30 feet in diameter above the dancefloor, was the showstopper of the evening,” says Jillian. “Over a dozen lampshades, some flat and some featuring a pill-shaped applique, floated above the dancefloor, leaving guests in awe as they entered the reception area.”

On the wedding party's table, a floral runner was made from sweet peas, anthurium, and blue orchids. “Round tables had tall centerpieces with blue orchids, which I love for their structured look; other tables had a mix of vases and candlelight,” says the bride. Glass chargers, pill-shaped menus, and colorful blooms created a cohesive tablescape design. 

Custom design choices in the ballroom included navy blue lampshades that replaced the existing shades on the chandeliers, a sparkling photo backdrop of oversized disco balls, and elegant signage at the bar. “Honestly all of the vendors were incredible and Roxanne made it so easy to choose with her recommending such great and high quality people,” says Jillian. “Working with a diverse team of vendors was very important to us: It was a reflection of who we are as a couple, as well as our family and friends. We wanted our wedding to celebrate and honor the diversity that enriches our lives. It was truly wonderful to see a vendor team that showcased the variety and richness of the world, making our special day even more meaningful and inclusive.”

With help from choreographers at NY Wedding Dance, the bride and groom pulled off a memorable first dance to a remix of Paramore’s “Still Into You.” “The energy in the room was palpable when the song transitioned from slow to fast, making the experience even more exhilarating than [we] had imagined,” she says.

Jillian and her father also practiced their dance—to “Love Train” by the O’Jays—updating the moves they used when they twirled to the same song during her childhood. “It was such a joy to perform together, dancing to a song we've enjoyed for over 20 years,” says Jillian. “At the end, the entire wedding party joined us on the dance floor.”

Jillian changed into a sequined two-piece from Annie's x Clio Peppiatt before the couple cut into their sleek, five-tier chocolate buttermilk cake. “We had some difficulty cutting the cake—we didn't realize that only part of the cake was meant to be cut, so it wasn’t the most romantic or seamless process,” says Jillian. “However, it ended up being hilarious and very much ‘us,’ with lots of laughter, jokes, and finally cheering once we figured it out. The mishap resulted in some of my favorite photos from the evening, capturing our genuine joy and humor.”

The couple ended their evening on stage with their band, Soundhouse from Elan Artists, who invited the newlyweds to join them for the final songs of the night. “We requested they play ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ by Journey and ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ by Bon Jovi, both songs regularly played at Toad’s Place, a beloved bar on Yale’s campus,” says the couple. “It was thrilling to sing and dance along with the band while also seeing all the people we love gathered in one room.”