Sneak peek into a reportage from Gigi’s & Jeff’s wedding at Xalet de Nin plus a short interview together with some valuable tips on how to plan the perfect destination wedding in Barcelona. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this!
Gigi & Jeff’s badass wedding at Xalet de Nin – the couple “right up my street”.
2022 is behind us. It was a crazy year. Crazy good. Many great projects but most important, many great people I met on the way. Among them Gigi & Jeff which celebrated their amazing wedding at Xalet del Nin.
I met Gigi and Jeff six months before their wedding date. After just one minute with this crazy duo, I knew their wedding was going to be one for the record books! Gigi and Jeff traveled all the way from the USA to celebrate their wedding at Xalet de Nin. Let me tell you, it was a wild ride from start to finish.
“Lara, rey, Oliver, mark, Coffey, Torie, Derek are all here and I was showing pics and they all said…your photographer was the best photographer we’ve seen! Like we wanted to hang with him! So you know you’re special! Everyone noticed how amazing and special you were!!”
Gigi
…but first, the slideshow.
Why did you choose Barcelona for your destination wedding?
I (Gigi) love Spain. I always knew that I wanted a destination wedding (the only thing I knew I wanted) and because I love Spain so much I knew it had to be there. I was open to anywhere in Spain as long as it was along the coast and I love Barcelona so when I saw the options in the area I felt it was perfect.
I also have amazing memories in Barcelona (and Spain) with my cousin Wafaa, who was also my best friend and who passed away. I go to the beach/ocean every year on the anniversary of her death and her bday and I wanted to get married somewhere by the water so I could feel her next to me. When we traveled to Barcelona we made incredible memories and, actually, the year she passed away (2006) we had a trip planned to Barcelona in June. She passed away in May. I don’t know, I feel like getting married here honors her in so many ways and I know she’ll be with me.
Tell me about your proposal! When, where, and how?
We got engaged in Cinque Terre, Italy while hiking the 5 towns. We hiked the upper trail from town 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 because the lower trail was closed (it was amazing btw). Anyway, from towns 2 (Manarola) to 3 (Corniglia) on the upper trail, there’s a small town (not part of cinque terre) called Volastra. We walked around there and from that town to Corniglia is a beautiful trail with vineyards, olive trees and the ocean as our view. We stopped at this wine shack, in the middle of this trail, that sold the local wine and got a glass. We sat at one of the tables with the view of the ocean, drinking our wine and laughing and started taking selfies when Jeff suggested taking a video. I was super silly in the video at first and then He then got down on one knee and proposed, asked if I’d spend the rest of our lives together…and of course, after saying “what are you doing” as he got down on his knew I said YES. IT WAS AMAZING
We got engaged on July 1, 2021
One thing you love about your partner.
Gigi about Jeff: He finds the good in everyone and every situation out there, even when things can be pretty bad. He calms me and loves unconditionally.
Jeff about Gigi: She has the biggest heart of anyone I know.
How to plan your perfect wedding in Barcelona? – Gigi’s top tips for future bride & groom.
- If you decide to hire a wedding planner, make sure you hire one you trust and who understands your vision. I have that and it is everything. Shout out to Harel & Team from www.luxuryweddingsbarcelona.com
- Get married in the place that you love and feel will make you happy.
- Don’t listen to anyone else’s opinion about anything when it comes to your wedding day (venue, location, dress, groomsmen/bridesmaid outfits, decorations, etc) It is your day and whatever you decide is perfect.
- A tip that Jay (the hair stylist) gave me when I met him for my hair trial…only have those you want in the room with you day of, no one else.
- Delegate tasks as much as you want. Everyone wants to help and if they can, let them.
- Jeff’s advice to me: don’t let the small stuff upset you. Things are bound to go wrong or things might not turn out like you imagined but know that and go with the flow
The wedding venue which ticks all the boxes
Let me also drop few words about the venue itself. I don’t try to promote or have any interest in promoting anyone. I simply think that good job deserve to be acknowledge.
It would be very difficult for me to choose the most beautiful wedding venue around Barcelona. There are way too many. But for me personally, it’s not only about the architecture or decor. The people who run the place are the ones who really make the difference. At Xalet del Nin, everybody , from the owner Carlos to every staff member, they go above and beyond to make everyone feel at ease. From Gigi & Jeff, to their guests, to the wedding planner crew, we all felt welcome, almost like home – just bigger, better, and more luxurious. Thanks, Mr. Carlos.
Dream Team – Gigi & Jeff’s wedding providers.
Great work deserve to be acknowledge. I would like to take a moment to mention the wedding providers who helped make Gigi & Jeff’s wedding in Xalet de Nin such success. Each of them did an outstanding job, and I wholeheartedly recommend their services.
Photographers: Andrzej Witek & Nikhil Shastri
Videographer: Alessio Saveri
Venue: Xalet del Nin www.xaletdelnin.com
Planning: Harel & Caro (Luxury Weddings Barcelona), www.luxuryweddingsbarcelona.com
Bride Outfits: Bride: Made with Love, www.madewithlovebridal.com
Hair: Jay Walker, www.jaywalkerenglishhairsalon.com
Make Up Artist: Laura Sanchez of Glow Makeup Studio, www.beautyglowstudio.com
Caterers : Sensacions. www.cateringsensacions.com
Flowers & Decor: Nuria, Muguet. www.muguetflorista.com
DJ: DJ Kareem Junior www.barcelonadeejays.com
Few extra shots of beautiful wedding decor by Nuria from Muguet. www.muguetflorista.com and caterers – Sensacions. www.cateringsensacions.com.
If you look for a perfect venue for your big day, click here to read Part 1 of my list “12 Best Wedding Venues near Barcelona PART 1 – Private Villas with accommodation”. I focused there on venues where you may arrange the ceremony, the celebration and accommodation all in one place, or Part 2 villas & Castles for ceremony only.
