The former Newport Grand property finally has a new future. NYC-based startup Perfect Day Ventures announced that it has signed an agreement to redevelop the vacant site into WeddingPlex™, a 250,000-square-foot immersive indoor wedding complex that company executives say will “redefine the luxury wedding experience.”
Unlike traditional venues, WeddingPlex™ would use massive wraparound LED screens featuring technology developed by Industrial Light & Magic for major Hollywood productions. The immersive digital environments would recreate officially licensed Newport venues including Castle Hill, Belle Mer, Rosecliff, Glen Manor, and more, allowing couples to exchange vows under perfect conditions year-round. The $425 million project would include a 250-room hotel, six ceremony stages, eight reception halls, bridal suites, a commercial kitchen capable of serving multiple receptions simultaneously, and a centralized post-production studio.
“The demand for Newport wedding venues far exceeds the supply,” said Perfect Day Ventures CEO Jaxon “Jax” Mercer. “We’re making the Newport wedding experience scalable and accessible.” The company believes its model also addresses one of the region’s biggest wedding challenges: unpredictable weather. “At WeddingPlex, we control the weather, not God,” said Mercer.
Every WeddingPlex™ package includes professional editing, allowing mishaps, poor toasts, and tantrums to be corrected during post-production. “If the groom flubs his vows during the ceremony, we fix it in post,” Mercer said. Optional upgrades include an Attractive Guests Package ($2,500), which digitally adds photogenic attendees throughout the ceremony and reception. Celebrity guests are also available for an additional fee.
The project would create approximately 280 permanent positions, including hospitality staff,, virtual production specialists, AI post-production editors, and digital florists.
Asked whether the virtual settings might feel inauthentic, Mercer dismissed the concern. “Our research shows couples aren’t really purchasing a perfect wedding,” he said. “They’re purchasing the appearance of a perfect wedding to share on social media.”