Wedding | Dina & Austin

Tell us a little about yourselves! 

We met on the very first day of college and were best friends for nearly a decade before becoming a couple. Through moves cross country and  beyond, relationships, career changes, and all the chaos of our twenties, we  were always there for each other. Looking back, I think we both knew there was something deeper there, but the timing just had to align. And when it finally did, it felt super natural, kind of like we had been building toward this  the whole time. 

We’ve built a life together that’s full of adventure, laughter, curiosity, and spontaneity. We’re opposites in a lot of ways; Austin is grounded and endlessly patient, I’m impulsive and fiery, but we balance each other out in all the right ways and share the same love for life (and each other!).

Why did you decide to get married where you did? 

Austin’s from the US and I’m from Lebanon, so Spain felt like the perfect  middle ground – for us, as well as for our guests who were joining us from all over the world. We wanted somewhere that felt warm, welcoming, and  effortlessly beautiful, and Costa Brava gave us exactly that. There was no better place to kick-off the summer season and gather all of our loved ones.  

El Moli de La Torre was a fairy tale. My mother-in-law went to visit it on our behalf since we were abroad, amongst other venues, and while we already  knew it was the one, when she called and said “this place screams Dina and  Austin", we knew we had to have our wedding there. Every nook of the venue had a unique, and magical feel. We also love the history of the space  – Salvador Dalí, an artist whose work we both love, used to summer there as  a child, and even has a sketch of the building. Dali described it as “a magical place, made expressly for the continuation of my daydreaming and daydreaming.” And we couldn’t agree more.

How many guests did you have? 

155 guests who flew in from all around the world – Beirut, New York, Los  Angeles, Sao Paolo and more.

What was your budget?  

Weddings are just as expensive as people warn you they are. But, also so, so worth it! Our budget fluctuated along the way, but we worked closely with our planner Jessica to cut costs on things that didn’t matter to us and invest in what really did to create a weekend that felt personal, intentional and  unforgettable.

Tell us about your outfits. 

We kicked off the weekend with a pre-wedding beach party at El Pirata (Hotel Vistabella) in Roses, and I knew I wanted to wear something by a Lebanese designer to honor my roots. Years ago, I had saved a screenshot from a Vanina photoshoot (an image that lived rent-free in my mind ever since). When I visited their atelier in the spring, I showed them the photo and  were super excited to help me recreate the look, as they said no bride had ever combined the pieces the way they’d styled them in that shoot. 

The final outfit was a dream: a cream colored bodysuit with a dramatic cape and billowing sleeves, paired with a handmade ankle-length skirt entirely draped in pearls. I completed the look with a stunning handmade headpiece by Aura Headpieces, another Lebanese brand, crafted with incredible  artisanal detail, inspired by oriental flowers and herbs. I feel like this added  just the right touch to the outfit.  

For my wedding dress, I kept saying I wanted something simple as I began my search process. I’m usually not a picky person, and can be pretty impulsive when it comes to shopping, but this process was totally different. I visited various stores in the New York, D.C. Beirut, Barcelona, and could not find what I thought I was looking for - until I met with Lorena Panea. Her warmth, artistry, and the heritage behind her designs, rooted in her Egyptian ancestry, immediately drew me in. Her atelier is full of texture and spirit, and I truly felt at home there. I knew I wanted a simple, silk dress with a low-back, and that I wanted to add a dramatic element to the dress – which is where  the hooded-cape we designed came into play. We landed on a gorgeous, lingerie-style dress in natural silk with a cut designed to emphasize the figure, while also being effortless in style. To add some drama, we then designed a hooded cape in Chantilly lace with delicate beaded embroidery and transparent sequins that shimmered only when the light hit just right. We added floral appliqués and feather details at the base for a modern, playful twist. I think it might’ve been my favorite piece of the whole weekend.

As for Austin, he knew from the start that he didn’t want to wear a traditional black tuxedo. Green is both of our favorite color (and it brings out his eyes  beautifully as I often tell him), so he went bold with a custom forest green suit custom designed from Señor Barcelona. It was a perfect reflection of his  style, and a beautiful break from tradition.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning  your wedding? 

Creating a weekend and a space that felt deeply personal, intentional, and full of joy was our top priority. We really didn’t want a cookie-cutter wedding: no 7-tier cake, or massive bouquets that made it hard to engage with guests sitting across from you at dinner. We wanted a weekend that truly felt like us. That meant curating every detail to reflect our style, cultures, and the people we love most. 

From the venue and music to the food and outfits, we wanted it to feel intimate and most importantly, genuine. We were envisioning a beautiful, surreal, candlelit dinner that would slowly ramp up into a party, where everyone felt comfortable and could let loose. It was important to us that our guests felt included and appreciated, and that we were able to be present with them throughout the weekend. 

We imagined a surreal, candlelit dinner that would slowly dissolve into a euphoric, all-night party—where everyone felt free to let loose. 

We also wanted the celebration to be filled with meaning and memories. From Lebanese touches in the music and dance, to personal vows and  some of the best wedding speeches from friends and family I’ve ever heard (I promise others said this as well and that I’m not biased…), we wanted it to be an event focused on love, fun, connection, and creating something unforgettable all together.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate? 

It was really important to us that the wedding felt like a celebration of all the different people, places, and cultures that shaped us. Our guests came from all over the world, and we wanted everyone to feel seen, included, and part of something shared. 

One of our favorite details that we wanted to incorporate to help achieve that was the "groove guide" we handed out during the ceremony - a playful little  booklet with key wedding and party phrases in English, Spanish, and Arabic. It was our way of bringing everyone in on the fun and reflecting the  languages and cultures that are part of our lives and our love story. 

Another non-negotiable was finding a Lebanese Zaffeh group. Zaffeh, for those that don’t know, is a traditional Lebanese wedding procession that kicks off the celebration with live drums, dancing, and incredibly high-energy  Arabic music. It was electric. It was the perfect symbol of what we wanted the whole night to be: a fusion of tradition, community, love, and  non-stop dancing (even before dinner was served!).

Any tips for couples getting married? 

It sounds cliché, but truly try to enjoy every moment, both during the planning  and on the day itself. It flies by. Try not to get caught up in the stress or  pressure to make everything perfect. Trust your vendors, stay true to what  feels right for you, and focus on the joy. Even the unexpected moments (and  there will be a few!) end up becoming part of the story, which will be perfect  no matter what happens along the way. Soak it all in - you only get to do this  once (hopefully)!

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about? 

Truly, all of our vendors went above and beyond. We feel so lucky to have  worked with such talented, thoughtful, and creative people. 

First off, Jessica from Happy Endings Barcelona was an amazing planner and  partner throughout the entire process. We picked her because she had the most chill, calmest energy, and that carried through to the day of the  wedding as well. She also really understood our vision and helped bring it to  life. 

Our photographer, Sara de Blas, completely blew us away. Not just with her dreamy, spontaneous style, and ability to capture the candid in the most unique and energetic way, but also with her warm and  fun energy throughout the weekend! Her photos make us feel like we’re reliving every moment in vivid detail (which we’ll continue to do over and over again!). 

The videographers at Nordinarios were an absolute joy - fun, imaginative, and kept surprising us with creative ideas. We haven’t even seen the final video yet but we already know we’re going to love it. 

Studio Floral, in collaboration with our planner Jessica brought the most magical decoration vision to life. We loved the use of fruits and vegetables in the décor, and the candlelit tables were straight out of a dream. 

Tanya Pashkovskaya worked makeup and hair magic. It was the first time I’ve had professional makeup and still felt  completely like myself. She made every single person in our wedding party  feel confident and beautiful. 

Caravan Made served food that even our chef friends  with Michelin backgrounds couldn’t stop raving about. The service was also  next level. They anticipated every need before we even had to voice it. 

Our close friend Madeleine San Martin designed the most beautiful stationery, fromdigital invites to menus and ceremony pamphlets. She brought so much care and creativity to every piece. We love you, Mads! 

Jana Saleh is, without question, the best  wedding DJ out there. She nailed the vibe for every crowd, no matter the age  group, or what music usually floats your boat. The afterparty was also unreal – We may still be recovering… 

Zaffé Libanaise brought the vibes. That entrance was incredible; we’ve never felt adrenaline like that before. It was exactly the  energy we hoped for, and so meaningful for both of us, and for our guests.

And finally, Lorena Panea —thank you for creating the  dress of my dreams, and for making the whole design process feel fun,  empowering, and unforgettable.

Photographer: Sara de Blas @salbedarasweddings | Planning & Styling: Happy Endings Barcelona

@happyendingsbcn | Flora: Studio Floral @studiofloral | Videographer: Nordinario @nordinarios | Ceremony & Reception Location: El Moli de la Torre @elmolidelatorre_emporda | Celebrant: Dani Sharara | Rentals: AH Rentals @ahrental | HMUA: Tanya Pashkovskaya @pashkovskaya_muah | Cake, Catering & Beverages: Caravan Made @caravan_made | Stationery: Madeleine San Martin @maddievsm | Seating Cube:  Moment  Magic Produccions @momentmagic.produccions | Entertainment: Zaffé Libanaise @beirutzaffe | DJ: Jana Saleh @usernamewiththatusername | Ceremony Dress & Veil: Lorena Panea @lorenapanea | Reception Dress: Vanina World @vanina_world | Suit: Señor | Engagement Ring: Frank Darling @frankdarling | Wedding Rings: Tufinkijian @tufenkjian | Shoes: Kate Spade @katespadeny & Anthropologie | Headpiece: Aura Headpiece @auraheadpieces | Wedding Party Attire: Custom Made