This Castle Destination Wedding in Slovakia Beautifully Celebrated Multiculturalism
Sitting together at the same dinner table during a luxury wedding summit, sparks flew between strangers Arianna Grijalba and Peter Kiral. However, it wasn’t until the next day at a pool party that Arianna’s friend encouraged her to talk to Peter. The conversation quickly revealed Peter’s incredible skill as a musician, organizing classical musicians for modern events. Peter playfully suggested a date in exchange for a serenade, and soon, they found themselves kayaking in Cancun. What began as a chance meeting turned into something much more. “We were the one-night stand that kept on standing... and from the first moment, we were inseparable,” Arianna shares.
As Covid-19 hit, they found themselves together in Miami, a time that strengthened their bond. “The pandemic was the best thing ever for us; we got to know each other, and here we are.” In December 2021, amid family hardships, Peter proposed in Madrid’s main square, creating a beautiful memory during a difficult time. “He proposed with a serenade from a friend who is a violinist playing our song from Luis Miguel, ‘Si Nos Dejan.’” For the bride, the proposal was unforgettable: “It was the most beautiful moment ever!”
When the lovebirds started planning their wedding, they knew one thing for sure: it was going to be grand. Not just grand in size but in experience, blending their love for music, their cultural roots and a flair for the dramatic. “For the venues, we picked castles! Because why have one castle when in Slovakia you can have two?” Arianna laughs. But, of course, selecting castle venues meant logistics were anything but simple. The chairs had to be brought in from Prague, the china from Hungary and florals all the way from Austria. “We had to juggle multiple moving pieces,” Arianna admits. But no matter the challenges, their vision kept them focused.
The theme of their wedding reflected the essence of kings and queens, a fitting nod to the majestic venues and their personal dynamics. Friends fondly called Arianna “the queen of hearts” and Peter “her king,” a moniker they embraced wholeheartedly. “Slovakia has the highest number of castles per capita,” the bride explains, “and Peter was born there, so it was the perfect opportunity for everyone we know to come over.”
Their wedding wasn’t just about aesthetics, though; it was an immersive cultural experience, blending Peter’s Slovak roots and Arianna’s Venezuelan heritage. They wanted their friends, who came from 15 different countries, to experience the best of both worlds. “We made sure to use the best of all the local food and service and give it a twist for all our friends’ palates,” says the bride. They even created their own rosé with Peter’s first girlfriend, who owned a winery, to serve during cocktail hour. The result? A globally inspired, but deeply personal, royal celebration.
As much attention went into their fashion as everything else. Arianna’s style was equal parts regal and fun, reflective of her vibrant personality. On the Thursday before the wedding, she welcomed guests in a Zimmermann dress embroidered with the world map and pearls, symbolizing the global gathering that was about to take place. She matched this with a quirky headpiece shaped like a fried egg, while Peter wore a brooch in the same shape as an inside joke—“In Venezuela, there’s an expression: ‘to get married you need to have a pair of eggs,’ which means you have to be very brave to get married!”
For the wedding day itself, Arianna worked with the famous Slovak designer Boris Hanecka to create her perfect dress. Inspired by her love of hearts and her “queen of hearts” persona, she opted for a playful mini-dress adorned with hearts and paired with an overskirt for the ceremony. Peter’s tux matched her ensemble with embroidered hearts on his jacket.
As the wedding day arrived, guests gathered in a forest near Cerveni Kamen Castle, Slovakia’s own “red rock” castle. “Peter always wanted to get married in the middle of the forest,” details the bride, “so I decided to do the most beautiful ceremony where the protagonists of the moment were the forest, him and me!” Clear chairs were set up under the forest canopy, blending seamlessly into nature. The moment guests arrived, they were greeted with baroque music played on a 200-year-old viola da gamba, setting the tone for a magical ceremony.
Of course, no ceremony would be complete without a dramatic entrance. Arianna, true to her nature, arrived on mule-back. “I’ve always wanted to arrive at my wedding ceremony on a donkey, and my wish came true,” she explains. And in an emotional turn of events, Arianna read her vows, inspired by a letter she had written in 2009, long before meeting Peter. In it, she described her ideal partner, and as she recited the words at the altar, there wasn’t a dry eye in the forest.
After the ceremony, guests were whisked away on a vintage train from the forest to the courtyard of the medieval wedding castle for cocktail hour. They were met with live statues, body-painted in the same Pantone as the castle fountain. “We wanted to constantly surprise our guests,” Arianna shares, “so we added little twists throughout the day.” The music continued to impress, with an original Tafelmusik baroque orchestra playing, followed by mariachis who had been hidden behind a rock during the ceremony. “We had mariachis in the middle of the Slovak forest!”
As guests descended into the candlelit wine cellar for dinner, they were greeted by a 16-piece pop string orchestra playing “Bitter Sweet Symphony” live, dressed in Mozart wigs for an extra touch of drama. But the real showstopper was the dinner table. “Our dinner table was the most beautiful table I’ve ever made in my life,” the bride reveals. At 140 feet long, draped in royal blue velvet and covered in custom-made organza flowers mimicking Slovak field flowers, it was a sight to behold. Over 300 candles flickered along the table, adding to the enchanted atmosphere.
Dinner was an extravagant affair, with three courses, each served in a different style: fresh “pour and serve” for the first course, English style for the second and Russian-style platters for the main course. “I’ve studied culinary arts, etiquette and protocol,” Arianna divulges, “the dinner had to be impeccable.” After dinner, the party began in earnest, with a band playing vintage house music, followed by Arianna’s favorite DJ from Venezuela, keeping the energy high well into the night.
“Enjoy the planning because it is a part of the wedding, and it goes by too quickly,” Arianna advises other couples. They also emphasized thinking about the guest experience, ensuring everyone feels taken care of. “Show them that you care with details. Life is now, love is now, live it to the fullest and love ever so deeply!”