Gigi + Gonzaga by Margarita Duenas

I always knew I wanted the décor to be very minimal.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love...

At our core, we are very similar. We are both incredibly social, extroverted, and love being around people, and find a lot of joy in the simple things we do together. We love long walks, stopping by farmers’ markets, cooking at home, and ending the day with a good movie. We also share a deep love for animals, which is why we got engaged at an animal sanctuary. It reflects a constant pull we both feel between city life, where everything is walkable, and the dream of one day living on a farm in the north of Spain, surrounded by animals.

At the same time, we complement each other in the best way. Gonzaga is more type A, organized and structured, with a thoughtful and academic side. Gigi is more type B, free-spirited, intuitive, and a little more spontaneous, always ready to go with the flow. Despite these differences, we are both playful, a little silly, and bring out a sense of lightness in each other.

How, where, and when did you meet? What were your first impressions?

We met in 2020, after two different couples had separately mentioned that they thought we would get along. It was never a very formal setup, just something that kept coming up. One of the couples even invited us on a trip together, which Gigi ended up not attending, so we still had not met.

A few weeks later, they organised a casual dinner, and we both happened to be there. That was the first time we met.

Gigi was immediately captivated by Gonzaga, but also a little intimidated by how confident and outgoing he was, so she barely spoke during the dinner. Gonzaga kept trying to get her to open up, but she was so quiet that he left, thinking she was not very interested and did not even ask for her number.

That impression did not last long. About 30 minutes after leaving, he texted Gigi’s friend to ask for my number.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

I always knew I wanted the décor to be very minimal. The venue was already so special on its own that I didn’t want to overdo it or compete with it.

More than anything, I wanted people to feel like they had really travelled somewhere different, not like they were at a typical wedding. The goal was for it to feel a bit transportive, like a place you wouldn’t normally experience.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

The best part, by far, was visiting venues and doing the food tastings. It honestly turned the whole process into little trips for us, which made it feel really special instead of stressful.

If you’re able to, I would really recommend visiting your venue and trying the food in person. I’ve heard of couples who don’t, and I can’t imagine not doing that. The day itself goes by so quickly that it almost feels like those visits let you experience it ahead of time. I went to the venue three times before the wedding, and I loved every visit.

One thing that really helped us was being clear early on about what actually mattered to each of us. There are so many decisions, and you won’t agree on everything, so knowing your non-negotiables vs. the things you’re more flexible on makes the whole process a lot easier.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

We were really lucky with our vendors, but there are a few I have to call out.

Our caterer, Boriosi, was incredible. The food was honestly some of the best I’ve ever had, and they were so generous with everything. You could really feel how much they cared about the experience for our guests.

Our wedding planner, Katia Morales, was amazing. She went above and beyond the entire time, and on the wedding day, I genuinely didn’t have to think about anything, which is probably the biggest gift.

For our pre-wedding event, Vineria del Carmine was also so special to work with. They had never hosted something that big before, but they were so open, patient, and willing to make everything work for the vision we had. I think we were all figuring it out together, which made it even more memorable.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

For the pre-wedding, I wore a custom dress made in Ecuador. I wanted something really light and flowy that would move with the wind and feel natural in the setting. I also wore a scarf that would catch the breeze, which ended up being one of my favourite details.

My wedding dress was the Moe gown by Dana Harel. I had actually been really stressed about finding a dress. I had gone to several places and hadn’t loved anything, and I was starting to feel like I was running out of time.

Then one day, I went to a boutique a friend recommended, completely on my own. I told them what I was looking for, and they said they had something in mind. The moment I tried it on, I just knew. Buying it alone felt a little scary, but I felt so good in it that I didn’t need anyone else’s opinion.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Gonzaga designed the engagement ring himself, which still feels so special to me. It has a double band, and our initials “GG” are hidden inside where the bands meet.

He spent months working on it with a jeweller in New York. In Ecuador, it’s not really common to hint at what kind of ring you want, so I had no idea what he was planning. He had just been quietly paying attention over time whenever I mentioned something I liked or didn’t like.

He didn’t even ask my sister for advice because he wanted it to be a complete surprise.

Our wedding bands are much simpler and were made by the same jeweller. We actually had to rush them because my mom organised a celebration in Ecuador where the rings would be blessed, which is a tradition there. We suddenly realised we needed them much sooner than expected, so it all came together very quickly.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

The venue was probably the most important decision for us.

The main reason was the weather. It was the only thing I was really nervous about, so I wanted to make sure that even if we had to move everything indoors, it would still feel just as special. We had so many people travelling from different places, and I didn’t want anything to take away from their experience.

The other piece was that we really wanted it to feel like more than just one day. We loved the idea of spending a full weekend with the people closest to us. The castello was perfect for that because many of our guests were able to stay there with us, so we got to have breakfast, hang out by the pool, and spend real time together. That ended up being one of the most meaningful parts.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

Walking down the aisle with my dad is something I’ll never forget. I’m his oldest daughter, so it was his first time doing it, which made it even more emotional.

The setting made it feel surreal. I was walking down the stairs of the castle, with everyone below, and my veil was blowing in the wind. I was so nervous that I walked way too fast, which I wish someone had warned me about, but it still felt like such a long and emotional moment until I reached Gonzaga. By the time I got to him, he was already crying.

The ceremony itself was in a very small chapel, which made everything feel so intimate. Even with 200 people, it still felt very personal.

What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?

To me, being married means going through life with your best friend. It’s knowing you always have someone there, no matter what, and building something together that makes both of your lives better.

It also means constantly growing. I feel like I’m always learning, about him, about myself, and about how to be a better partner. It’s made me more patient, more understanding, and more willing to see things from someone else’s perspective.