Giannina Gibelli + Blake Horstmann
Some love stories are written in the stars, and others are written in reality TV history! On this episode of Weddings-ish with Jove, I’m joined by newlyweds Giannina Gibelli and Blake Horstmann, two reality TV favorites who went from getting their hearts broken on Love Is Blind and The Bachelorette to finding each other and saying “I do” for real. Talk about a plot twist! Before they became a couple, Giannina and Blake each had their own very public journeys through love, heartbreak, and reality television — Giannina on the very first season of Love Is Blind and Blake on The Bachelorette, where both experienced unforgettable moments of rejection. Years later, their paths crossed on All Star Shore, where they bonded over the hilariously unlikely fact that they had both been rejected during televised wedding moments. The chemistry was instant, and what started as a little flirting in a reality-TV villa quickly became a real-life love story. From Blake asking Giannina to be his girlfriend in Spanish to a Christmas with his family that became their first official date, their journey proves that sometimes the best love stories begin when you least expect them.
Then came Croatia! Giannina had fallen in love with the country years before meeting Blake, spending two months there and instantly connecting with its food, architecture, crystal-clear waters, and slower pace. She knew it was where she wanted to get married long before she knew who she would marry, casually telling Blake on All Star Shore that she was getting married in Croatia before they were even officially a couple. When they finally got engaged in Madrid, they turned that vision into reality with a destination wedding in Croatia that was as personal as it was unforgettable. Their wedding weekend became a full European wedding experience, beginning in Venice and continuing into northern Croatia, with a canal-side welcome party, four-course dinner, opera singer, DJ, water taxis, ferries, cliffside champagne, and plenty of dancing. Their Croatia wedding day was a dream of vintage meets contemporary: all-white, chic and elegant, but still relaxed and timeless. The design honored the historic character of the wedding venue while adding a modern edge, creating a celebration that felt completely personal and intentionally removed from wedding trends. Even Giannina’s wedding dress followed that same philosophy: grand, romantic, and completely her, but classic enough to still feel beautiful decades from now. And, of course, their son Heath had his own starring role, walking down the aisle as ring bearer before spotting his mom, running into her arms, and proudly announcing “mama” from the front row.
And because this is a couple whose lives seem to move at full speed, the conversation naturally ends with everything beyond the wedding: dogs, love languages, popcorn, karaoke, and their podcast, He Said, He Said. Together, they interview people across pop culture, reality TV, music, and beyond, while also playing matchmaker for reality stars through their dating series, giving people from different reality-TV “universes” a chance at a second shot at love. It feels like the perfect extension of their own story: two people who found each other after very public heartbreak, turned an unlikely reality-TV romance into a real-life partnership, marriage, and family, and now get to help other people find a little more love and joy along the way. From reality TV and modern love stories to destination wedding planning, Croatia wedding inspiration, wedding design, and the beautiful, unexpected moments that make a celebration truly personal, this conversation is full of the stories behind the wedding and the real love story that made it all happen.
Listen to the full episode of Weddings-ish with Jove featuring Giannina Gibelli and Blake Horstmann streaming wherever you get your podcasts.
In this week’s Ask Jove, Sloan and Jove tackle the art of a bilingual wedding: how to celebrate the beauty of blending two cultures and make both languages shine without making the celebration feel twice as long.
Pre-order The Modern Wedding Planner now and start planning a wedding that celebrates your love, your story, and exactly who you are! Top Wedding Planner Jove Meyer gives you the tools, guidance, and inspiration to navigate every step of wedding planning with confidence and bring your dream celebration to life.
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