Baseball Player Andrew Knizner Marries Ally Rahn in 'Romantic' Florida Wedding: 'Excited to See It All Come to Life' (Exclusive)

The bride and groom tied the knot on Dec. 20 at a venue overlooking the location of their proposal and first date

• Professional baseball player Andrew Knizner tied the knot with former Miami Dolphins cheerleader Ally Rahn at The Pelican Club in Jupiter, Florida, on Dec. 20
• The wedding venue was special to the couple because it overlooks the location of their first date and proposal
• Now, the newlyweds are looking forward to expanding their family in the future

Andrew Knizner is married! 

The professional baseball catcher, 29, tied the knot with his longtime love Ally Rahn at The Pelican Club in Jupiter, Florida, on Friday, Dec. 20. The wedding was attended by 140 of the couple's closest family and friends, including Knizner's former teammates from the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers.

The nuptials were a three-day celebration, beginning with a welcome party hosted by the bride and groom at their Jupiter home on Dec. 18. The following day, a "tropical-chic" rehearsal dinner was held on the terrace and at the covered veranda at the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa.

"Because of how much we travel, we rarely have the opportunity to spend quality time with all of those we love," Rahn tells PEOPLE. "We wanted to extend the weekend as much as we could."

The Pelican Club has sentimental value to Knizner and Rahn, who met up seven years ago at U-Tiki Beach, a waterfront restaurant and bar next door to the venue, following an exchange of flirty Instagram DMs. The pair got engaged at DuBois Park with the historic Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse as their backdrop on Dec. 27, 2023. So, it was an easy decision to have their wedding ceremony take place on the deck of The Pelican Club, which overlooks the lighthouse and starting location of their love story.

"What I admire most about Ally is her compassion, spirit and energy, and the joy she brings to every moment," Knizner tells PEOPLE. Rahn, meanwhile, admires her husband's "steadfast kindness, quiet strength and the way he loves with his whole heart."

The bride walked down the aisle in a "sophisticated, yet sexy" dress designed by Sarah Seven as a string duo from Master Musicians played Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love." Her hair and makeup was done by Paulette Castro of Makeup by Paulette. 

"I always wanted to wear the dress, and not have the dress wear me," notes Rahn, who is a marketing consultant for ESPN National Radio Network and Podcasts.

An arched meadow of white florals surrounded the bride and groom, with the Jupiter Lighthouse on display behind them. The "elegant and relaxed" ceremony was officiated by a friend of the bride and groom, Adam Wainwright.

Ahead of the big day, Rahn told PEOPLE that she was most looking forward to having everyone she and Knizner love and care about in the same place. "It is the only time in our life that all of our circles and paths will cross, and we are able to share our vows and love for each other in front of all of those friends and family," she said.

After the couple exchanged "I dos," guests enjoyed a cocktail hour on the patio. They sipped on several specialty cocktails including the "Olive You Forever" dirty martini and the "Something Old, Something Fashioned" old fashioned.

Afterward, they headed to the reception in the Sailfish Ballroom. To pay homage to Knizner's baseball career, a custom "will call" booth was constructed, in which a booth attendant gave each guest their "ticket" to the reception, along with their seating assignments.

The ballroom's gold chandeliers and modern crown molding complemented the couple's romantic black-and-white wedding theme. 

A memory table featured photographs of the couple's late loved ones. Dinner tables illuminated by candlelight were adorned with black flatware and centerpieces composed of hand-reflexed white roses, ranunculus, baby's breath and other creamy white blooms from Fleur De Marsca. A personalized oyster shell was at each place setting, along with a menu with a ribbon detail.

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Guests were served a plated dinner, which included a burrata salad and their pre-selected choice of a miso-glazed sea bass, grilled filet mignon or a garlic and rosemary butter chicken. For dessert, they had slices of a tiered wedding cake with pearl details from Earth and Sugar.

Knizner and Rahn's first dance on a checkered dance floor was choreographed to James Arthur's "Falling Like the Stars." DJ Jerren Julien from Curate Entertainment kept the party going by spinning some sweet tunes.

The bride, who changed into a getaway dress at the end of the night, planned a secret performance for Knizner. It incorporated four of her former Miami Dolphins cheerleader teammates and the groomsmen.

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Although the wedding — which was planned and designed by Ashley Shannon of Ever Ash Weddings — was "stressful" at times, the couple was "just really excited to see it all come to life" and couldn't have imagined a better day.

For their honeymoon, the newlyweds are off to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for five days, then traveling to Saint Lucia for five days. They will be celebrating Christmas and New Year's just the two of them, finally as husband and wife.

"Marriage, to us, means choosing love, partnership and unwavering support every single day," Rahn says.

They plan to "keep grinding" in their careers and hopefully have children together one day.

Additional credits:

Photo: Tiffany Maysonet @tiffanymasonetphoto

Video: Desire Films @desirephotographyandfilms

Cutting Cake: Kayla Young, Lil Cake Club @lilcakeclub

Transportation: Performance Limo

Rentals: Atlas Rental @atlaseventrental