Cassie Parker, a regional director at Ippolita, and Derek Walin, co-founder of Super Music Group, dated for three years, before he proposed by the water near their Miami apartment with their dog, Hamilton. For their December 21st wedding, Cassie wanted an outdoor ceremony with plenty of greenery.
After looking at more than 10 locations that didn’t fit, their wedding planner, Andi Dyal of Andi Soirees, suggested the Rubell Museum in Wynwood for their event. They hadn’t reached out before because they assumed the space was too small, but the curator informed the pair that they were in the process of building a completely new 10,000-square-foot museum in Alapattah, which would be finished in December—the month of their wedding. “Derek and I went to see the construction site and signed immediately on the spot,” Cassie says. “We knew right away that it was the perfect wedding venue for us.”
To say, “I do,” the bride chose a strapless, floral appliqué Marchesa gown and white and gold, lace-up Jimmy Choos. She also put on her late grandmother’s pearl and diamond bracelet. “Wearing my grandma’s jewelry was symbolic for me and made me feel like she was with me on that day,” she says. Derek looked handsome in a dark navy Theory tuxedo with black lapels and his late grandfather’s cufflinks.
Outside in the garden of the new museum, Cassie walked down the aisle to “Our House” by Crosby, Stills & Nash. “I was just trying to stay in the moment and soak it all in,” Derek remembers. “I was feeling great. All our friends and family were there; Cassie looked incredible, it really felt perfect.”
Once the two were officially married, they walked out hand-in-hand to “Late in the Evening” by Paul Simon. “It was such a rush!” the bride expresses. Then cocktail hour began with dirty martinis, while guests toured around the galleries. Luckily, the immersive sculpture installation Infinity Mirrored Room—Let’s Survive Forever by Yayoi Kusama was on exhibit, and people were allowed to go inside and take photos.
After the seated dinner, Derek’s good friends, Adrian (DJ DZA) and Patrick (Pase Rock) deejayed the night with production by Dream Machine Entertainment. “Being in the music business, Derek has specific taste in music, and they knew what he would want to hear on his wedding night,” Cassie explains. The two had their first dance to “In My Life” by Crosby, Stills & Nash.
“My favorite part was right after our first dance, realizing that our responsibilities for the night were over, and Cassie and I could just party and have fun for the rest of the evening,” the groom says. “At the same time, everyone rushed onto the dance floor and the party really started.”
While everyone was grooving, the newlyweds also passed out chocolate and peanut butter milkshakes with homemade peanut butter cups and gold salt to keep the energy high. And to pay homage to both their South Florida roots, they served Key Lime ice cream sandwiches by Constellation Culinary.
At the close of the night, friends of the new Mr. and Mrs. went back to their penthouse room at The Betsy Hotel South Beach. “We must have had more than 50 people out on the balcony until the early hours of the next morning,” Cassie remembers. The following day, a brunch was held on the hotel’s deck overlooking the ocean. “It was beautiful and a great way to end the best weekend.”
