A DREAM VENUE ON A MEANINGFUL DATE
On December 16th, 2023, actors Ani Mesa and Gil Perez-Abraham celebrated their wedding at the historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami. For Ani, a Miami native who studied acting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, the venue was more than just a beautiful backdrop—it was the perfect setting for the period-inspired gala she envisioned. The date held special meaning as it fell just two days before her parents’ wedding anniversary, making it a poignant choice for their celebration.
Gil Perez-Abraham & Ani mesa
One of the many things that makes this story special is the serendipity that seemed to guide every step of the planning process. Securing Vizcaya, a venue typically booked a year in advance, was nothing short of miraculous. Another event, slated for December 16th, was canceled at the last minute, allowing them to swoop in and claim the coveted date. "Things just seemed to fall into place for us," Ani reflected, echoing the sense of fate that permeated their journey.
Catering plays a central role in wedding receptions, and for Ani and Gil, the choice of caterer was steeped in family history. Thierry’s was not just another vendor; it was part of Ani’s family tradition. Thierry Isambert and his wife, Alina, had catered Ani’s parents’ wedding years ago, in fact this event was one of the first weddings Thierry catered in Miami, and over the years, they had become a staple at family celebrations. In fact, they also catered Ani’s cousin Sofi’s wedding in October 2023, and her other cousin, Gabriela, in January 2024.
When Ani and Gil attended the tasting at Thierry’s commissary, they didn’t come with specific cuisine requests—they just wanted the food to be extraordinary. They were blown away by the dishes Thierry’s team prepared, which reflected their tastes and preferences with impeccable execution. For Ani, the experience felt like coming home. “It was so familiar,” she shared, noting how Alina, who has been involved in her family’s events for years, now felt like an extended family member. “Alina could be my aunt. She’s worked with my aunts and family throughout the years.”
Thierry Isambert’s culinary team delivered more than just food; they brought a sense of continuity and connection, linking this special day to Ani’s family traditions that had shaped her life.
Weathering the Storm
December 16th, 2023, will be remembered not just for the love that filled the day, but also for the torrential storm that swept through Florida. Heavy rains and high winds threatened to disrupt the carefully planned event, with flights being canceled and even the possibility of the wedding itself being called off. For Ani, the most significant concern was Gil’s flight from Los Angeles, where he had just finished filming a movie with Al Pacino.
Gil’s work in the film industry, particularly the project with Al Pacino, had kept him busy for months. The shoot wrapped late the day before the wedding, causing him to miss the rehearsal dinner—an inconvenience that Ani took in stride, fully understanding the demands of their shared acting careers. However, the real stress came on the day of the wedding when there was a genuine concern that Gil’s flight might not make it through the storm.
“The weather was horrible, and flights were getting canceled left and right,” Ani recalled. The uncertainty weighed heavily, but she maintained a sense of calm, somehow knowing that things would work out. “I had this deep feeling that everything was going to be okay.”
Once Gil finally arrived in Miami, the relief was palpable. All that mattered was that he was there, and everything else—whether the venue was inside or out, whether the storm raged on—became secondary. “As long as Gil was there, and we could share this moment, it was going to be beautiful,” Ani said. And so, with the couple together, everything did indeed fall into place.
An Intimate Reception Thanks to the Rain
The storm that threatened to derail the day instead added an unexpected layer of intimacy to the celebration. The winds were so strong that the tent originally planned for the outdoor reception at Vizcaya was deemed unsafe, and the event was moved indoors to the courtyard. Ani, however, didn’t learn about this change until she arrived at the venue, adding a touch of surprise to an already emotional day.
Despite what could have been a chaotic situation, they took it all in stride. Their family, especially Ani’s aunts, jumped into action, helping to move flowers and decorations inside. “My aunts showed up at the venue and were moving flowers and stuff; it was a big family effort to get it all inside,” Ani recalled. This collective effort only deepened the sense of togetherness and love that characterized the day.
The courtyard at Vizcaya, while smaller and more intimate than the original outdoor plan, turned out to be the perfect setting for their reception. The rain outside created a cozy atmosphere, and with everyone gathered in one space, there was a deep sense of connection among the guests. “Everyone was in one space and had to be present,” Ani said. “So it was kind of cool in a way. I wouldn’t change it if I could go back. I love the way it all happened.”
The storm, far from being an obstacle, became a backdrop to a night filled with warmth, laughter, and dancing. The energy was electric, and the couple’s vision of a smaller, more intimate wedding was realized in the most unexpected of ways.
A Vintage-Inspired Vision
Ani’s vision for the wedding was clear from the start: she wanted it to feel like a period piece, a glamorous event that harkened back to a bygone era. She wasn’t interested in a modern wedding; instead, she wanted to lean into the traditional aspects, creating a sense of timeless elegance.
Her wedding dress, designed by Danielle Frankel, embodied this vision perfectly. The dress, though created by a modern designer, was vintage-inspired, with every detail paying homage to the past. “All her dresses are kind of like an ode to the past and really like works of art,” Ani explained. The dress, along with the historic venue and the classic décor, made guests feel as though they had stepped into a different time, fulfilling Ani’s dream of a wedding that was both stylish and steeped in tradition.
Meaningful Collaborations and Family Ties
Throughout the planning process, Ani found herself working with people who felt more like collaborators than vendors. One of the most meaningful of these collaborations was with her florist, Anna, from Volver. Not only is Anna one of Miami’s top florists, but she also had a deep personal connection to Ani’s family. Anna was Ani’s mother’s neighbor growing up, and she had known Ani’s grandmother well.
The flowers were more than just beautiful—they were a tribute to Ani’s grandmother, who had recently passed away. Ani wished her grandmother could have been part of the planning process, as she had always been involved in family events. “She was always so involved. She just had so much style herself. Everyone admired her and wanted her opinion about everything,” Ani shared. When Ani met with Anna, the florist was moved, knowing how much Ani’s grandmother meant to her. This connection added an emotional depth to the floral arrangements, making them a poignant part of the wedding.
The music, too, was carefully chosen to reflect the desire for a vintage feel. Instead of a DJ, they opted for a live jazz band that played only pre-1980s songs, allowing guests to dance to familiar tunes that evoked a sense of nostalgia. “I wanted people to know the songs and dance. I wanted it to be like a little break from our current moment in time,” Ani explained.
A Special Engagement and the Journey to the Wedding
The road to the wedding began during an equally unique and pivotal time. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gil was in London filming The Batman movie with Robert pttinson and Zoë Kravitz, while Ani was deeply immersed in her own creative projects. Over the course of nine months in London, Ani focused on promoting Superior, a film she had starred in, directed by Erin Vassilopoulos and co-starring her twin sister, Alessandra Mesa. During this period, the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and Ani was actively engaged in Q&A sessions and interviews for Sundance, managing these commitments remotely. In addition to her promotional work, Ani and Gil collaborated on writing a feature film script, which they are now working to get produced. It was also during this transformative nine-month period that they got engaged, solidifying their commitment to one another both personally and creatively.
Alessandra Mesa & Ani Mesa
“We were just kind of locked in, in a country where we didn’t know very many people,” Ani reminisced. “It was just us two for a time, and it was a really beautiful experience. These amazing things were born during that time."
From the serendipitous opening of Vizcaya on their chosen date to the storm that brought everyone closer together, Ani and Gil’s wedding was a testament to the power of fate and the beauty of family connections. Every detail, from the vintage-inspired dress to the intimate indoor reception, reflected their love for each other and their appreciation for the traditions that shaped their lives.
Their wedding wasn’t just a celebration of their union; it was a beautifully orchestrated event where every element, down to the last flower, was imbued with meaning and love. As Ani said, “We just wanted it to feel genuine. And for me, it was just like, as long as Gil was there, and we could share this moment, it was gonna be beautiful!”
And indeed, it was.
Afterword: Looking ahead, Gil Perez-Abraham has an exciting new project on the horizon with the December release of Carry On on Netflix. In this movie, produced by Amblin, Gil stars alongside Jason Bateman and Taron Egerton.
Photography: Max Krubsack & Alec Campbell | Venue: Vizcaya Museum & Gardens | Catering: Thierry Isambert | Flowers: Volvér Flowers | Rentals: Event Outfitters & Nuage Designs
