A Colorful Joia Beach Miami Wedding Inspired by St. Barths

There are destination weddings, and then there are weddings that make an entire guest list forget about real life for a few blissful days. For New Yorkers Jackie and Chase, Miami has always been their happy place, so when it came time to choose where to celebrate, a private island in the middle of Biscayne Bay felt just right.

The couple invited their friends and family south for a full weekend of sunshine, poolside celebrations, and one seriously unforgettable wedding at Joia Beach. Inspired by a favorite day spent partying with friends at Nikki Beach in St. Barths, they dreamed up a colorful, transportive beach club celebration filled with vibrant florals, playful textiles, thoughtful guest experiences, and plenty of reasons to stay on the dance floor.

And stay they did. See all the colorful photos by our photography Vendor Guide member, Eclectic Elegance.

A St. Barths-Inspired Joia Beach Miami Wedding

As one of the last couples in their friend group to get married, Jackie and Chase had attended their fair share of beautiful ballroom weddings. For their own celebration, they wanted to create something entirely different.

The goal was to make their guests feel as though they were truly on vacation, without having to worry about relieving a babysitter, getting home early, or waking up for work the next morning. With most of the guest list traveling from the Northeast, a May wedding in Miami offered the perfect escape.

The festivities began with a rehearsal dinner and welcome drinks at Giselle, giving everyone a glamorous introduction to the city. The morning after the wedding, guests reconvened at The National for a recovery pool party complete with a buffet—and unlike most pool parties, nearly everyone actually ended up in the water.

Getting Ready at Casa Ishi

Rather than getting ready in a traditional hotel suite or conference room, Jackie and her wedding party spent the morning at Casa Ishi, a beautifully designed private space from Lumi Collection.

The relaxed setting felt more like a luxurious Miami home than a standard bridal suite, allowing everyone to settle in, get comfortable, and enjoy the morning together. Its warm light, sculptural interiors, and thoughtful design also created the prettiest backdrop for portraits before the celebration began.

Jackie wore a romantic Wona Bridal gown paired with a handmade mantilla veil she discovered on Etsy for under $200—a find she recommends to any bride considering spending thousands on a veil.

The Ceremony by the Water

With the Miami skyline in the distance and the water just steps away, Jackie and Chase exchanged vows in an intimate waterfront ceremony at Joia Beach.

The colorful floral arrangements brought a sense of movement and personality to the natural setting, creating a ceremony that felt elevated while still embracing the relaxed atmosphere of the island.

The couple also incorporated a custom ketubah by Caraeve Designs, adding a meaningful and beautifully designed element to the day.

A Guest Book Made for Displaying

Instead of choosing a traditional guest book that might eventually be tucked away on a shelf, Jackie and Chase asked each guest to “sign in” by drawing a cartoon version of their own face.

The activity became a fun part of the reception and resulted in a completely original piece of art filled with caricatures of their favorite people.

Jackie and Chase plan to display it in their home, where friends will be able to find their illustrated selves every time they visit. It is not only a reminder of the wedding, but a snapshot of the community that surrounded the couple on such an important day.

Kat Sanez Productions transformed Joia Beach into a vibrant St. Barths-inspired escape, layering saturated florals with colorful textiles and playful details that felt sophisticated without losing the fun.

The venue’s existing swing was completely redecorated to complement the wedding design, while a custom dance floor created a colorful focal point along the sand. Every element felt connected to its surroundings: breezy, bold, and made for a party that would carry on well after sunset

Cocktail Hour Experiences

Jackie and Chase placed just as much emphasis on their guests’ experience as they did on the visual details—and cocktail hour was only the beginning.

“Chackie,” a combination of Chase and Jackie, appeared throughout the stationery and wedding details as the couple’s unofficial slogan. Personal, playful, and unmistakably them, it became a recurring thread throughout the entire weekend.

A custom coffee bar served flavored lattes and Miami-style cortados, providing the perfect boost before the reception officially got underway.

Every experience was interactive, unexpected, and designed to keep guests engaged in the celebration.

Dinner on the Beach

As the sun began to set over Biscayne Bay, guests gathered for an open-air dinner that felt equal parts destination wedding and glamorous beach club escape.

Vibrant florals, colorful textiles, and layered place settings brought the couple’s St. Barths-inspired vision to life, while the waterfront setting kept the atmosphere relaxed and transportive. The design felt polished without becoming overly formal, allowing guests to settle in, enjoy the view, and feel as though they had been whisked away on vacation for the evening.

The Dance Reception

As the sun set over Biscayne Bay, the celebration shifted from dreamy beach dinner to full-fledged dance party.

Guests gathered around the custom dance floor, where trendy sunglasses were handed out as the evening picked up. Jackie brings playful sunglasses to almost every party she hosts because, as she puts it, people seem to adopt an entirely new personality the moment they put on a fun pair.

One of the most personal moments of the reception came courtesy of Jackie’s father, a devoted Blues Brothers fan. He and his friends have performed “Soul Man” at each of the family’s biggest milestones, including his own wedding and Jackie’s Bat Mitzvah.

The Final Surprise

The night closed with one final unforgettable performance: a fire dancer who lit up the beach and gave the celebration a dramatic Miami finale.

They created a getaway—one where their guests could let loose, stay up late, and experience a little of the magic the couple had felt together in St. Barths.

And really, what could be better than gathering everyone you love on a private island and throwing the beach club party of your dreams?