Actor Scott Deckert Marries Longtime Love Juliana Mesquita in ‘Modern Coastal’ Wedding (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW

• Actor Scott Deckert married Juliana Mesquita in Florida on July 7

• The couple had a multi-day, “modern coastal”-themed wedding celebration in the Florida Keys

• Deckert and Mesquita met in 2014, got engaged in 2023, and share 3-year-old son Jaxson

Scott Deckert‘s latest role? Groom!

The actor, who is best known for his appearances in Netflix’s The Waterfront and Purple Hearts, tied the knot with his longtime love, Juliana Mesquita, in a “timeless, elegant, and effortlessly welcoming” wedding on July 7 at Albury Landing, an oceanfront estate in the Florida Keys.

“It truly felt like a dream come true,” the couple exclusively tells PEOPLE of their nuptials. “Every detail reflected who we are as a couple and what we value most — family, friendship, hospitality, and creating experiences that bring people together.”

They continue, “The most memorable part of the weekend wasn’t the décor or even saying ‘I do.’ It was watching our friends and family genuinely enjoy themselves.”

Most guests traveled for the wedding, so Deckert and Mesquita wanted to make the long trip worthwhile. They share, “More than anything, we wanted our wedding to feel like an unforgettable getaway with the people we love most.”

Instead of limiting the festivities to one day, the couple expanded it into a week-long “modern coastal celebration” where “everyone could slow down, reconnect, and simply enjoy being together.” The overall vibe was “a nostalgic reunion meeting a fresh new beginning.”

“Guest experience was everything to us,” Deckert and Mesquita share. “We wanted everyone to feel cared for, welcomed, and completely present throughout the weekend. More than beautiful flowers or décor, we wanted people to leave remembering how they felt.”

Mesquita took the lead in creative direction, with Deckert supporting her decisions every step of the way. Meanwhile, Ceremonies by the Sea owner Aimee and her assistant, Casey, handled planning the big day itself so that the couple could “truly be present, soak in every moment, and simply enjoy [their] wedding day.”

The natural beauty of the Florida Keys took center stage, and a soft palette of creams, whites, taupes, natural wood tones, lush greenery, and candlelight was selected to highlight the scenery. Most statement pieces were designed by the bride and groom themselves because rental pieces didn’t fit their aesthetic. This inspired them to launch their high-end bar and cart business The Cart Haus.

“We also designed our wedding arches to echo the simple outline of a church, which made the setting feel even more meaningful,” Mesquita notes.

Because the couple only had four months to plan their wedding, Mesquita didn’t have time to order a custom gown. Instead, she visited Savvy Bridal in Fort Lauderdale and shopped off the rack. She chose a label-less dress that was “timeless, elegant, sophisticated, with just the right touch of sexy” for the ceremony, and a “playful” sequined dress by Delfi Collective for the reception.

“Looking back, it ended up being one of the biggest blessings of the entire planning process,” she says. “Without months to obsess over designers or endless appointments, I simply focused on how each dress made me feel. The moment I put on my [ceremony] gown, I knew it was the one. It felt completely like me.”

She adds of her reception dress, “It was definitely more fashion-forward than what I would normally wear, but the moment I put it on, I absolutely loved how it made me feel. It was the perfect dress to celebrate, dance, and fully embrace the party.”

Deckert sported a blue suit. The Venom actor’s hair was done by Sean Donaldson, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Sean Donaldson Hair Salon in Miami. Meanwhile, Kate Ortega, founder of Glammakers in Miami, did Mesquita’s hair and makeup.

Because it’s bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony, the couple desperately tried to avoid each other, which proved to be challenging considering they did much of the setup themselves with their families that morning.

“We spent hours trying to avoid each other, ducking around corners and yelling, ‘Babe, go away!’ ” Mesquita remembers. “At one point, Scotty even mistook my sister for me and threw himself down to avoid being seen.”

Less superstitious wedding ceremony traditions they followed were exchanging traditional vows after their handwritten vows, and incorporating a special prayer to honor their faith. However, they skipped having a wedding party because their closest friends already know they’re “bridesmaids and groomsmen at heart.”

The ceremony was officiated by the groom’s lifelong friend, Scott Szesterniak.

After the ceremony at the reception, dinner was served buffet-style. The menu featured fresh Florida fare catered by Key Largo Conch House, including churrasco steak, grilled shrimp, blackened grouper, roasted potatoes, asparagus, tropical rice, Caesar salad, and fresh tropical mango salad. For dessert were mini Key lime pies and cupcakes, along with slices of a single-tiered vanilla wedding cake filled with pistachio cream from Maggie’s Bakery.

Deckert and Mesquita had their first dance to “All of Me” by John Legend.

“DJ Mayner perfectly captured the energy we wanted throughout the day, beginning with elegant violin-driven ceremony music, transitioning into relaxed cocktail and dinner music with a Frank Sinatra-driven feel, and ending with an incredible dance party that kept everyone on the dance floor until the very end of the night,” the couple says.

At the very end of the night, after hours of dancing, many guests jumped into the pool fully dressed. Mesquita notes, “Scotty included, though maybe not entirely of his own free will. He put up a good fight, but ultimately, numbers win. It wasn’t planned, but somehow it became the perfect ending to the wedding night.”

“Looking around at all the smiling faces in such a beautiful setting, surrounded by the people we love most, we both realized that was exactly what we’d hoped to create,” she continues. “It wasn’t just a wedding — it was a weekend full of memories we’ll all carry with us forever.”

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The celebration was filled with “happy tears” and continued the next day with a “ScoJu Beach Club” pool party, named after Deckert and Mesquita’s longtime nickname as a couple.

It was love at first swipe for the newlyweds, who matched on Tinder. The couple “instantly hit it off” after meeting on April 12, 2014, in Hermosa Beach, California. Mesquita jokes that the pair “fell in love within two weeks” because they were inseparable after their first date.

Nine years later on June 24, 2023 — just a few weeks before their 3-year-old son, Jaxson, was born — Deckert proposed in front of Pierre’s Restaurant in Islamorada, where the couple would later host their rehearsal dinner for a full circle moment.

“Over the past 12 years, we’ve built an incredible life together,” Mesquita says. “We’ve traveled the world, started businesses, bought and built homes in both Los Angeles and Florida, and welcomed our greatest adventure — our son, Jaxson.”

To the couple, “marriage felt like the natural next chapter of a story [they’ve] been writing for over a decade” and they’re now excited to continue building their dream life together.

“Whether it’s raising Jaxson, growing our family, traveling, continuing to grow JBM Design & Build, starting new businesses, or simply making memories together, we’re looking forward to every chapter that’s still ahead,” Mesquita says. “I’ve loved watching Scotty’s acting career continue to grow as he takes on exciting new projects. He pours so much of himself into his work, and I’m incredibly proud to be beside him as each new opportunity unfolds.”

Read the original article on People