Leaders

Guerdy Abraira is Miami’s go-to wedding planner. See her tips for an unforgettable special day

By Evan Benn

Updated January 9, 2019 1:28 PM

Guerdy Abraira is a top Miami wedding planner who aims to give her clients a 'stop-and-awe experience.' Photograph by Nick Garcia at Faena Miami Beach.

From socialites to scions, couples searching for an exquisite wedding that will have guests reminiscing for years turn to Guerdy Abraira for her audacious personality, ingenious thinking and fierce dedication to perfection.

For more than a decade, the Haiti-born beauty has been Miami’s go-to wedding planner for glitterati like the Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh and top fashion blogger Arielle Charnas (@somethingnavy). Abraira’s outré weddings marry the traditional with a twist – like the time she positioned thousands of balloons and an industrial fog machine to create the illusion that guests were dancing on clouds.

“My goal is to create a stop-and-awe experience that is customized and reflects my bride and groom perfectly,” she said.

Here are some of her top tips for creating your own stop-and-awe wedding day.

Guerdy Abraira, photographed at the Faena Miami Beach, one of her favorite wedding venues. Photograph by Nick Garcia.

Lavish Locales

Faena Forum. “This is a one-of-a-kind venue is perfect for a modern bride who wants something original.”

Fisher Island. “The ferry sets the tone for privacy, and the property’s richness in history really makes it a world of its own, in every sense.”

Inviting Invitations

Ceci New York. “Through paper, Ceci can set the tone for a wedding and articulate a specific vision with her artistry. Put it this way: You will never throw away one of her invitations.”

Captivating Caterer

Starr Catering. “They are innovative, the quality is consistent, and the presentation is so whimsical.”

Starr Catering. Photograph by Christopher Duggan.

Fabulous Florals

Ocean Flowers & Events. “My company plans weddings, but we also are florists! I love ceiling installations, from a canopy of flowers to thousands of hanging glass globes.”

Winning Wardrobes

For a dress: Ever After Miami. “I also love what Zuhair Murad and Inbal Dror are designing right now.”

For a tux: Tom Ford. “All day. Every day.”

Bodacious Band

The Social. “We once flew in Diana Ross as a surprise. But for a more local feel, Élan Artists’ The Social is my pick. It’s an 11-piece band with extremely talented musicians.”

The Social. Photograph courtesy of Élan Artists.

Divine Desserts

“The presentation is changing. Most cakes now are faux for photos. It’s all about variety. We butler-pass donuts, churros or cookies to keep guests on the dance floor.”

Sophisticated Swag

“Most of the weddings I do are destination weddings, so the welcome bag doubles as the guest favor. My favorite items to include are wine, Jo Malone candles and S’well water bottles.”

Candid Camera

Photographer: JSP Studio. Jonathan Scott is so creative with his photo sessions, locations and styling.

Videographer: Ray Roman Films. He brings a sense of emotional truth and storytelling elements that I don’t see very often.

Guerdy Abraira’s Rules for Wedding Guests

DO give a gift. “A virtual one is best.”
DO have fun. “Get on the dance floor. Make the happy couple feel loved.”
DO arrive on time. “You should be waiting for the bride, not the other way around.”
DON’T be on your phone all night.
DON’T get sloppy drunk.
DON’T ignore the dress code.

More: What it’s like to quit social media cold-turkey.

This story was originally published July 27, 2018 at 1:07 AM.