Design Inspiration From Mexico and India Intermingled in This Romantic Wedding in Girona, Spain
"Effortless" is the word Nicole De la Peña and Haresh Shivnani use to describe their instantaneous connection. The pair met through work and moved in together just three months after sparks first flew, "crossing the line between 'this feels right' and 'this is home' without even hesitating," the couple says. Shivnani later popped the question in Bali in a flower petal-filled private cabin, with a hidden pro photographer on hand to capture their joy incognito.
"It was intimate, emotional and completely unforgettable—the perfect beginning to our next chapter together," says the couple. And their romantic, colorful castle wedding in Girona, Spain was undoubtedly a highlight of their next phase of life.
"We chose our wedding venue because it sits almost exactly halfway between India and Mexico," says the couple. "Our families come from opposite sides of the world, and we wanted a location that felt fair, neutral and meaningful—somewhere everyone could gather without one side traveling significantly more than the other." The celebration itself leaned into the couple's rich cultural nexus, embracing the romantic elegance of Mexico along with the saturated color palettes often found at Indian weddings. The result: a joyful, warm, multicultural affair that feels fresh, personal and vibrant.
With a stone castle cloaked in climbing vines as the backdrop, the wedding mood was set with shimmery gold candelabras that held flickering tapers dripping with tendrils of wax, bright flowers displayed in scattered vases and suspended overhead, outdoor crystal chandeliers and a seating chart draped with swaths of floaty, white fabric. Though, the pièce de résistance of the design skews more whimsical and personal: The couple crafted signature cocktails named after their three cats and adorned their bar signage with custom illustrations of their feline family members (not to mention: the adorable drawing of a cat cradled in a couple glass on guests' place cards).
"It was such a fun and meaningful touch—our guests loved it and, for us, it felt like bringing a little piece of home into our celebration," says the couple. Even more illustrations decorated the dinner menus and table numbers, adding an extra dash of charm.
The couple's fashion choices augmented the wedding's breezy, sophisticated look and feel. The bride wore a custom gown by Mexican designer Vero Díaz. Made with hand-draped layers of tul de seda (a specialty tulle fabric), it aptly balanced structure and softness.
"It had no embellishment—just an elegant, sculptural silhouette that felt effortless, romantic and completely personal," says De la Peña. "It was a piece I could move in, breathe in and truly feel like myself in." And of course, it looked royal enough to wear running through the castle grounds. The groom paired a custom-tailored gray suit with a meaningful accessory: a pale-pink tie that matched the hue of the mother of the bride's dress and included a photo of the couple's proposal on its underside.
While, of course, the couple eagerly anticipated experiencing their wedding's gorgeous, immersive design, the moment that they were most excited about just involved each other, no other frills or fanfare: their first look.
"At first, we weren’t sure if we wanted to see each other before the ceremony or wait until the aisle—but in the end, choosing a first look felt right for us," says the couple. "We knew that seeing each other privately, just the two of us, would ease our nerves and let everything flow more naturally for the rest of the day." The quiet moment alone did just that, grounding the couple in their deep connection and setting the tone for the impending celebration.
The same energy of that special moment also informed their entire wedding planning process, and leads to the couple's top morsel of wedding advice: "Don’t rush through the planning—use it to connect," they say. "The wedding day goes by fast, but choosing details together, laughing through decisions and making it your project as a team is what truly brings you closer. Enjoy the journey as much as the celebration."