The bride and groom were joined by six guests as they tied the knot in Florida on July 17
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/alexa-santamaria-lino-troisi-wedding-tout-071926-01596816698b4548b713d134ab018a4c.jpg "Alexa Santamaria and Lino Troisi")
Credit: Patricia Silverio
NEED TO KNOW
- Temptation Island alums Alexa Santamaria and Lino Troisi got married in a courthouse ceremony in Florida on July 17 ahead of their October wedding celebration in Italy
- The pair were joined by just six relatives to keep the day “simple, meaningful, and focused on marriage”
- “It gave us the chance to slow down, soak in every moment, and celebrate this milestone with the people who have been by our sides from the very beginning,” the bride tells PEOPLE
Netflix stars Alexa Santamaria and Pasqualino “Lino” Massimo Troisi are married!
Just a few years ago, the couple tested their bond while filming the first season of the Netflix reality reboot of Temptation Island. They remained true to each other no matter what the singles threw their way, and got engaged at the end of the installment. Now, Troisi and Santamaria are officially husband and wife.
The couple exchanged traditional vows in a “timeless and elegant” courthouse wedding ceremony in Winter Park, Florida, on Friday, July 17, just one day before Santamaria’s 31st birthday and three months before their larger wedding celebration in Sorrento, Italy.
Credit: Patricia Silverio
“When we started planning our wedding, we always envisioned it in two parts,” Santamaria tells PEOPLE. “We wanted an intimate ceremony where we could be fully present with our immediate families, followed by a larger, multi-day celebration in Italy where we could celebrate with all of our friends and extended family.”
“For this courthouse wedding, what mattered most was keeping the day simple, meaningful, and focused on our marriage,” she continues. “We wanted our family to be there as we officially became husband and wife, and to spend quality time together without the excitement and schedule of a large wedding. It gave us the chance to slow down, soak in every moment, and celebrate this milestone with the people who have been by our sides from the very beginning.”
The bride and groom were joined by just six guests: Santamaria’s mother, stepfather and brother, as well as Troisi’s parents and 94-year-old nonna (grandmother). As the last living grandparent between the couple, Nonna’s presence was something Troisi will “cherish forever” and it fulfilled a longtime dream for her.
“Being able to share such an intimate moment with the people who have supported us from the very beginning means everything to us,” Troisi tells PEOPLE. “I honestly couldn’t think of a more meaningful place to officially start this next chapter of our lives before celebrating with everyone in Italy this October.”
The couple chose to wed in Winter Park not only because it’s where their families reside, but also because it’s where their love story began in 2020. The two first crossed paths at their local gym and quickly developed crushes on each other. They started showing up at the same time and often caught each other stealing glances from across the room. However, it wasn’t until weeks after Troisi suffered a bench press injury from dropping a 275-pound barbell on himself that he realized “life’s too short” and “worked up the courage” to make a move.
“He was whisked away in a stretcher and disappeared from the gym for weeks, and I kept showing up every day at 3 p.m. exactly, hoping he’d come back,” Santamaria remembers. “One day he finally did, he walked right up to me and said, ‘I was distracted that day by you.’ He asked for my name and number, and we’ve been together ever since!”
The duo got engaged in Hawaii on June 2, 2024, following weeks of separation while filming the season 1 finale of Temptation Island, which didn’t release until the following year. Santamaria says the experience “truly felt like something out of a movie” while Troisi says “it’s one of the proudest moments of [his] life.” They were the only couple who remained completely faithful, and they sometimes replay the episode to relive the happy moment.
Troisi proposed to Santamaria with a solitaire emerald-cut diamond set on an 18k gold band from Icing on the Ring after receiving her father’s blessing over FaceTime. He later did a second more “private, intimate proposal” after cameras stopped rolling.
The couple worked with the same Los Angeles jewelers for their custom wedding bands.
As they marked the beginning of forever, Santamaria wore the “Valencia Mini” dress from Rosie Etienne Bridal, paired with a handmade elbow-length pearl veil. Her hair and makeup were done by Dorka Jones, who applied soft glam makeup and styled simple soft waves for a “timeless” look.
“I instantly fell in love with [my dress’] unique design,” Santamaria says. “The long-sleeve lace silhouette paired with the structured corset overlay feels so timeless and elegant, while the corset adds a modern, fashion-forward touch that makes it feel really special.”
Meanwhile, Troisi sported a Todd Snyder Italian linen black striped Wythe suit with a pearl brooch to complement Santamaria’s look. He says, “Since it’s summer in Florida, linen was a must. I wanted something that felt timeless and appropriate for a courthouse wedding while still reflecting my personal style.”
Saying “I do” symbolizes “finding your teammate for life” to Troisi and Santamaria.
“It’s choosing the person you’ll walk through every season with, celebrating the highs, getting through the lows, and knowing you’re never facing this life alone,” Santamaria tells PEOPLE. “Marriage is one of the most selfless commitments you can ever make! It’s choosing to put your partner first over everything because you know they’ll do the same for you. It’s about building a partnership rooted in love, trust, respect, and always showing up for each other. At the end of the day, it’s not just about the wedding or the vows, it’s about making a lifelong promise to choose each other, every single day.”
Troisi adds, “For me, there’s no decision in life more important than the person you choose to spend it with. It’s the person you’ll build a family with, celebrate life’s biggest moments with, lean on during the hardest ones, and continue choosing every day through every season of life. To me, that’s the most important decision anyone can make, and I feel incredibly fortunate that Alexa is that person for me.”
“One of the most fulfilling parts of loving someone is getting to pour into them, believe in them, and watch them grow while they do the same for you,” he continues. “We’ve grown so much together already, and I know we’re only getting started. Marriage is one of the greatest gifts two people in love can give each other, and I’m so honored and excited to begin this next chapter with my best friend.”
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Once October arrives, Troisi and Santamaria will celebrate their commitment again with even more loved ones at one of their favorite places in the world. Until then, they’re soaking in every second of newlywed life as they finalize their wedding plans.
Credit: Patricia Silverio
“Life moves so fast, and I think one of the most important things is remembering to be present and enjoy every stage of it together. It’s easy to get caught up in what’s next, but I never want to lose sight of how special each chapter is while we’re living it,” Troisi says. “Looking ahead, we have so many dreams. We want to travel the world, build a family, eventually move to Italy, and one day start a business together. Those goals are exciting, but what I’m looking forward to most is building that life side by side with Alexa and enjoying every moment along the way.”
Additional Credits:
Wedding Planning and Design: Logan Paradiso at Paradiso Events
Photographer: Patricia Silverio
Content Creator: Julious Daughters
Florals: TFW Design
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