NEED TO KNOW
- CNN’s Boris Sanchez married Lilly Huber in Miami Beach, Fla., on Sunday, Jan. 18
- Many of the wedding details — from the décor and food to the music — were inspired by 1950s Havana in a nod to the groom’s Cuban heritage
- Sanchez, who joined the news network in 2015, serves as co-anchor of CNN News Central
Boris Sanchez has some news of his own to report.
The CNN anchor, 40, tied the knot with Lilly Huber at The Edition Miami Beach in Florida on Sunday, Jan. 18, surrounded by 135 loved ones, including a number of Sanchez’s network colleagues.
Lilly, 31, tells PEOPLE that she and Boris have a special connection with the luxury oceanfront venue. “We spent part of our first date at the Edition bar in New York City and soon after visited the Miami location together. We’ve spent many weekend escapes there making memories,” she says, adding, “It feels like our home away from home.”
In a nod to Boris’ Cuban heritage, the couple leaned into a theme of 1950s Havana, setting the tone with their wedding décor. They emphasized tropical accents and flowers, as well as a “bold” color palette mixed with white and gold.
Initially, the bride envisioned a smaller, more intimate ceremony — but Boris says he persuaded her to reconsider. “We’ve been lucky to collect a wide, very eclectic group of friends from all over the map,” he tells PEOPLE. “I made the case that the only time they’d all ever be in the same room was either our wedding or our funerals.”
While Lilly admits the planning process was a bit “stressful” and “overwhelming” at times, Boris describes it as “a breeze” — before joking that his bride had to “gently point out how much work it actually takes to make everything happen.”
“I had no idea there were so many colors. I learned all kinds of new concepts like ‘tablescape’ and ‘plate charger,’ ” he says, before praising Lilly’s efforts. “Lilly is relentless about organizing and executing — she’s the real MVP.”
The wedding festivities kicked off on Thursday, Jan. 15, with a private room service date night for Boris and Lilly. The following night, the pair gathered with just their families for a dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab. On Saturday, Jan. 17, they hosted the bridal party for brunch at the Edition’s pool cabanas and, later that evening, had their rehearsal dinner and welcome party at Amara at Paraiso.
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On the big day, Lilly walked down the aisle in a Jenny Yoo dress, which she describes as “timeless and elegant” — after explaining the unexpected “drama” that led to the choice. She says she originally ordered a dress more than a year ago, but realized just two months before the wedding that it wasn’t going to work out.
“After a brief moment of panic, I ran over to [Anthropologie’s] BHLDN and asked to see everything that could ship in under eight weeks. That’s when I fell in love with a Jenny Yoo dress that felt even more perfect than the original,” recalls Huber, who also chose another dress by the designer for her second look.
Boris — who joined CNN in 2015 and currently serves as co-anchor of CNN News Central — wore a bespoke Ralph Lauren Purple Label tuxedo that he says is “the fanciest getup I’ve ever owned.” He swapped it for a second tux later in the night, which he planned to end with a dive into the hotel pool.
Lilly made her way to the altar as the Bridgerton instrumental version of Harry Styles’ “Sign of the Times” played. “If you know, you know,” she says of the music selection. The couple exchanged personalized vows, which they wrote in small notebooks they purchased for each other in Paris. Boris’ childhood friend, Edward Sanchez, officiated the ceremony in both English and Spanish.
“We’ve known each other since we were kids, attempting to sell each other bootleg video games,” Boris tells PEOPLE. “We grew up down the street from each other, so he’s tight with my family, too. He’s the funniest person I know.”
In a sentimental detail, the ring bearer — the groom’s nephew, Mateo — carried the couple’s wedding bands on a pillow made of fabric from a set of Boris’ grandmother’s handcrafted linens, which he says were one of the only things his family brought with them when they left Cuba.
Lilly, meanwhile, paid tribute to her father, who died several years ago, by setting up a memorial table displaying photos of him, as well as other late loved ones. “It was a nice reminder that he was there in spirit,” she notes.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests enjoyed a plated dinner with two entrée selections: rosemary-roasted chicken breast and seared snapper. Boris and Lilly chose a three-tier vanilla wedding cake with guava and cream cheese filling reminiscent of their favorite Cuban pastries. For a late-night snack, Cuban sandwiches and beef and pork empanadas were offered.
The bride and groom shared their first dance to “Cold War” by Cautious Clay, a song they connected to on one of their very first dates at a museum event in Washington, D.C. The reception music was kicked off by The Cuban Trio, who performed a blend of classic salsa, bolero and mambo.
Looking back on their wedding weekend, Lilly says it was “a dream come true,” especially having all of her and Boris’ family and friends there for the occasion.
She and the journalist first met on a dating app in 2022 and “instantly clicked over sushi and sake” on their first date. Lilly was living in New York City at the time, while Boris was in D.C., so they began a long-distance relationship that included near-weekly trips back and forth to visit each other. “It wasn’t long before the distance felt unnecessary, and she made the move to D.C. in early 2023,” Boris says.
The news anchor popped the question in August 2024 during a vacation in Xpu Há, Mexico — though his original plan for the proposal “completely fell apart.” He had intended to ask Lilly to marry him over a private moonlit dinner set up on the rooftop of their hotel suite, overlooking the ocean, but Lilly got sick and went to bed early.
“I wound up staying awake next to her until around 4 a.,m., lying sleepless with the ring beside me, waiting for the right moment. When she finally opened her eyes, I told her I wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, and she said ‘yes,’ ” Boris recalls.
Sharing what he loves most about his now-wife, he tells PEOPLE that Lilly is “playful” and makes him laugh often. “We’ve developed a kind of telepathy, like a secret, unspoken language, so often it’s not even words — it’s just a look,” he says of their connection. “We’re both somewhat reserved around strangers, but whenever we’re together, I feel like I can completely be myself. Even when I’m consumed by all kinds of stress, being around her lightens everything.”
For her part, Lilly says Boris is her “best friend,” and admires that he’s “smart, driven and passionate,” pushing her to be the “best version” of herself. “I love everything we do together, whether it’s an amazing vacation or watching the [Miami] Dolphins while cuddling our dog, Harley, on the couch,” she tells PEOPLE, adding, “I love the way we love each other.”
Now that they are married, they are looking forward to their next chapter together as husband and wife.
“Marriage is the most important step in building our home. We’re now intertwining our shared passions, values and ambitions to create something greater: A bond that you can trust completely, that will make us not only stronger as individuals, but that becomes the core of our family.”
Additional Credits:
Florist: Event Bliss
Videographer: Cody Paul Films
DJ: DJ Gary (Graingertainment)
Rings: David Yurman
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