Location: Palafrugell, Girona, Spain
Setting: Villa
Season: Spring
How long did the couple plan the event: 1 year
Number of guests: 55
Wedding theme/style: Chic, garden party, classic.
Rachel, a cognitive neuroscientist, and Jason, an accountant, met in November 2017 in Philadelphia. Their first date was in the restaurant Jason picked to celebrate their shared love of food and sour beers. Soon, the couple realized, they had much more in common, and they stayed out talking until the place closed and were the last to leave.
Their relationship bloomed, and Jason proposed on a vacation to Maui, Hawaii. After an unforgettable sunset cruise, where sweethearts had fun drinking cocktails and singing along to the music, they took a stroll back to their hotel along the beach, enjoying the scenery. During this intimate moment, Jason got on one knee and proposed. Surely, this was an immediate “YES”! From that moment on, the couple associated traveling with romance, and hoped their wedding could also take place somewhere special.
THE VENUE
Together with the planner, the couple found this amazing 14th Century Catalan Villa, Mas Torroella, near the historic center of Palafrugell, which is an amazing destination for outdoor activities and exploration featuring gardens, castles, beaches, cuisine, historical attractions, city life and so much more. It is also a short and convenient drive from Barcelona.
Serious planning had to be done, as Rachel’s family was traveling from abroad, and Jason’s from the US. The villa was a perfect fit to accommodate all the beloved guests. The couple hosted their immediate family and wedding party at the villa to stay with the newlyweds throughout the long weekend and make the festivities even more memorable.
"The inspiration was that Rachel and Jason are big foodies. They wanted to go to a location, known for its food."
BRIDE & GROOM'S FASHION
The couple opted for classic looks with a few personal touches. Custom-made leather vow books with hand-written words of love will become a heartfelt keepsake. Elegant wedding stationery matched with pastel floral decisions and powder pink bridal shoes by Badgley Mischka with jewels over the toes and ankles. The stunning floor-grazing dress by Moonlight Bridal with sparkly details and leafy lace appliques complimented the setting perfectly. The groom’s fashion was a black tux from Suit Shop with a black bowtie. The vintage pocket watch is a family heirloom that belonged to Jason’s grandfather.
On their wedding day, Rachel spent the morning with her mother and her bridesmaids. The old room with a hand-painted dome was filled with joy and anticipation. All bridesmaids wore dresses that matched the bridal bouquet.
Juliana Aponte did Rachel’s hair and makeup. Soft pastel colors and hair waves highlighted the natural beauty of the bride. The main accent of the look was Rachel’s big eyes, and the citrusy scent of D&G Light Blue perfume was the final touch.
Meanwhile, Jason spent his morning with his groomsmen in the Villa’s pool room. All men were dressed in sharp black tuxedos. They relaxed together, playing pool sharing laughs and sour beers. The groomsman wore boutonnieres that matched Jason’s and added an elegant unity to the overall look.
THE FIRST LOOK
For their first look, Rachel and Jason met in the garden. The wait for this deeply personal moment was worth it, as soon as the sweethearts saw one atoner, the air was filled with genuine joy.
After the first look, the couple took time for a photographic walk though the villa’s rich green surroundings before the ceremony.
CEREMONY
"The ceremony originally was supposed to be outside of the venue in the sun, however, on the day of the wedding it was incredibly windy, so we decided to have the ceremony inside the atrium of the villa"
The atrium turned out to be an even better place for the ceremony. Live violin music sounded perfect and crystal clear in the room with beautiful stone and brick walls. Warm lights, candles, and rich bushy florals created a perfectly intimate atmosphere. Due to the new location of the ceremony, everyone could hear clearly every precious word said.
"The guests' feedback was that it was one of the most intimate ceremonies they had been to!"
After the ceremony, everyone celebrated the newlyweds by blowing bubbles on the couple. This is a fun and modern way to embrace the old tradition.
COCKTAIL HOUR
The cocktail hour took place by the villa’s pool. The appetizers were set up in several separate stations, so guests could walk around the garden and try different foods around all the territory.
One creative touch for the cocktail hour was the floating Oyster shucker, who would walk around and shuck and dress fresh oysters for the guests. The newlyweds came up with the idea with the planner, as they desired to add more fun and memorable details to this part of the wedding. Besides, oysters are one of Rachel’s favorite delicacies!
DECOR & SETTING
For the reception, tables were lined up side by side creating two long banquet tables with their sweetheart table connecting the two rows, creating an intimate environment for dinner in front of the dance floor. There were strings of peachy fairy lights above the tables and long tapered candles placed along the tables to create a romantic and festive mood.
Each group of guests was welcomed with a personal invitation card with their table number, accompanied by a lovely floral composition.
THE RECEPTION
The dinner was one of the most memorable parts of the wedding, as Rachel’s and Jason’s families hadn’t met before their wedding. It was the perfect time to relax and get to know each other better while enjoying Spanish cuisine. Time passed quickly with all the laughter and tears of joy, and it was time for the cake.
"We wanted to create a spring garden feeling bringing in modern but lush and local florals but still making it feel soft and fresh."
Rachel and Jason danced to “Still Into You” by Isabella Kensington, which happened right before dinner service. Their performance was majestic. Jason carried and twirled Rachel all around the dance floor. Bright spotlights made the couple look like real movie stars. The immediate family gave heartfelt speeches that left no one’s eyes dry.
As night fell, everyone was surprised by the mindblowing flamenco show, that the planner had prepared as a gift for the couple and their guests. Then everyone continued to dine and dance, until the end of the day.
"Right after dinner and before the dancing started, we were surprised with a live flamenco show that caught everyone's attention and made the celebration feel unique and special. It is something that guests still bring up!"
"One of the highlights for Jason and Rachel was listening to their guests' travel stories afterward, creating lasting memories of their journey to Spain."
Advice from the couple:
• Hiring a knowledgeable wedding planner is a must! You’ll need someone as amazing as Musa Weddings specifically to help with logistics, local laws, and customs.
• Embrace local traditions — this made our wedding unique and more memorable for the guests.
• Consider your guests, as many may not typically travel internationally, and provide them with as much information about travel and logistics as you can ahead of time.
• And finally, it’s so easy to get swept up in the fast-paced excitement of the day, so we really appreciated the reminders we got to stay present and fully savor each moment. Take it all in!
PLANNING & DESIGN Musa Weddings | PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER ALEX & ANAÏS | VENUE Luxury Villa & Spa Mas Torroella | FLORALS Savia Bruta | MUAH Juliana Aponte | DRESS Moonlight Bridal | SHOES Badgley Mischka | SUIT Suit Shop | CATERING Moncho’s Catering | OFFICIANT The Wedding Man | CAKE LolitaBakery | RENTALS AHRental | DJ & LIGHTING Sweet Dreams Productions
