Italian-Lebanese wedding in a Spanish coastal city, at a location straight out of a movie

Almost ten years after they started dating, New York couple Angel Sinito and Sami Hawwa got engaged in April 2023. Although they had breaks in their relationship during college and went their separate ways afterward, a chance encounter in New York in 2019 led them to stay together from that point on. “The engagement happened over Easter weekend at my parents’ home in Florida. Sami flew in to surprise me, and both of our families were there, including my grandmother. It was very emotional having her there, especially since she wouldn’t have been able to travel to Spain for the wedding,” Angel recalls to Vogue Adria, adding that their engagement lasted more than two years.

The couple’s multicultural background

Although they live in Manhattan’s West Village with their two toy poodles, Angel knew from the start that she wanted a European destination wedding. “When we finally started planning in earnest and thought we had everything sorted in the U.S., Spain quickly became the obvious choice. The place means a lot to us personally, and it felt like the perfect setting for the experience we wanted to create,” Angel explains. Their main priority was to organize a weekend that felt meaningful and emotional, centered on connection, food, and togetherness, reflecting their diverse roots. Both Sami and Angel come from cultures where food and gathering are at the heart of everything. “I’m Italian, and he’s Lebanese, so it was in our DNA to prioritize that sense of abundance, warmth, and connection. We wanted the wedding to be more than just the ceremony – it was a whole weekend of shared meals, conversations, laughter, and love with our favorite people.”

Photo: Samm Blake

A cinematic experience on the Barcelona coast

Barcelona was the obvious choice because the city holds a special place in their hearts. Angel lived there in her early twenties, and she and Sami often visited together. “The culture, the energy, the food – it all felt right to share that part of our lives with the people we love,” says Angel. When selecting a venue, the old-world aesthetic and the ability for all guests to stay on-site were crucial to creating a sense of closeness. The moment she saw Hostal de la Gavina in S’Agaró, she knew it was the perfect place. Its historic charm, coastal views, and Mediterranean architecture made it ideal for their vision.

Photo: Samm Blake

The couple and the planners aimed for an experience that was cinematic, intimate, and deeply romantic. They incorporated rich colors, lush florals, and ambient lighting to create a relaxed and natural atmosphere. “We didn’t want the typical rush between the ceremony, dinner, and dancing. Instead, we built in time for guests to unwind, enjoy the food, sip their drinks, and soak in the atmosphere,” explains Angel.

Photo: Samm Blake

Food and drink were a priority for them. They served Catalan dishes such as Palamós prawns, paella, and fideuà, and included a jamón carving station, a sherry tasting, and a build-your-own gin and tonic bar. Every detail was designed to make the experience fun and unforgettable. “We couldn’t have had better planners than Julian Leaver and Sarah Kane of Julian Leaver Events to bring every detail to life. No request was too big or too small, and they perfectly realized our vision.”

Photo: Samm Blake

Photo: Samm Blake

The wedding dress as a strong, sculptural silhouette

Although she had been planning the wedding for a long time, Angel only fully engaged with the process when things picked up, and choosing the dress was a different experience for her. She started thinking about her ceremony look very early, she admits, “Honestly, probably before I even got engaged.” “When my stylist, Tara Maietta, first took me to Wiederhoeft in November 2023, I immediately fell in love with their artistry and attention to detail. Their ready-to-wear collection amazed me, and I knew right away that I wanted to collaborate on a custom gown.”

Over the course of about a year and a half, Jackson Wiederhoeft and his team helped bring her dream dress to life – which was actually a combination of a corset and two skirts. “I had always imagined something romantic and sculptural – a strong, feminine silhouette, a dramatic corset, and timeless elegance. Jackson completely understood and elevated my vision,” says Angel, who embraced the final fashion result with delight – two distinct looks that exceeded the bride’s expectations.

Photo: Samm Blake

For the rehearsal dinner, Angel wore the Horizon Haze by Sandra Mansour, “A dress I had been eyeing for a while,” she adds. It had a dreamy, coastal vibe that perfectly complemented the seaside setting of Taverna del Mar. Since Sami is Lebanese, it was especially meaningful for him to wear a designer from his cultural heritage. “Sami had all of his wedding looks custom-made by Michael Andrews in New York. His process started later than mine, which allowed us to design outfits that perfectly complemented each other.”

Photo: Samm Blake

Photo: Samm Blake

The most precious moment of the wedding

For many couples, choosing just one favorite moment from the wedding is difficult, which is understandable. As Angel says: “Having all of our favorite people in one place, sharing meals together, dancing under the stars, and celebrating late into the night was absolutely the greatest gift of the entire weekend.”

For this multicultural New York couple, Hostal de la Gavina in Barcelona was the location where the newlyweds and all their guests could stay for three days. “It felt like we were hosting a three-day holiday with our closest friends and family. The connections that were made and the energy we all shared… it was unforgettable. Seeing all the people who mean the most to us gathered in such a beautiful place is a feeling we will carry with us forever,” she concludes.