Category: Civil Weddings

Sergio, I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done. You made our entire wedding experience unforgettable.
Of course we knew you were a fantastic photographer but working with you was better than I could have ever imagined.
You made us feel so comfortable, confident and special.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you
These photos are stunning. We can’t stop looking at them.
I will never forget how incredible our day was because of you.
Sincerely,
Jenn

Being a wedding photographer at Jenn & Ivan’s wedding.

Jennifer and Ivan got engaged two years ago and they met about seven years ago when Jennifer went to buy a car from the dealership where Ivan worked. As soon as he saw her, Ivan was sure about one thing: he was willing to sacrifice his commission by offering her all of the discounts that existed in exchange for one date with her. And not only did he get the date, but the story culminated in a wedding and a beautiful little girl.

It was a simple and unpretentious wedding that was also beautiful with everyone’s emotions running high, where Jennifer and Ivan’s daughter Mila had a very important role, or better put, she was the star of the show. They got married in Seville, at the Hacienda de San Rafael, a spectacular place accessible from five international airports, two hours in a car, including Seville, Jerez, Gibraltar, Malaga and Faro. This was very important to them because Ivan and Jennifer live in Canada.

If you ever see the Hacienda, you will undoubtedly come to the same conclusion as they did, which is that it’s the perfect hideaway for getting married. But in addition to the location’s charm, how did they decide that it was best to get married in Seville? The answer’s simple, the best thing about a wedding is being close to loved ones. Ivan’s parents moved with the family to Toronto 24 years ago, but the rest of the family still lives in Seville. Also Jennifer, who is Canadian, loved the city when she came four years ago. So it was well worth making the 9 and a half hour trip to say “I do”.

When you’re a little girl and you imagine your wedding, you never know who you are going to marry but you envision your parents being there. Jennifer lost her parents years ago, and even though they were greatly missed on such a special day, the wedding was a celebration prepared with such beauty and love that my camera could only capture emotion, happiness and joy.

No matter how close or far they were from home, it was obvious that their only concern was that people had a good time and remembered their day as being unique and special. What’s clear to me is that the best thing about the whole wedding was their eagerness to enjoy spending time with their guests. They had a band from Seville that they had hired to play live, but among friends and family there were many musicians, including Victoria (the mother of the groom) and the fantastic Bely Lasarte (performer of the Spanish version of the main song from the Beauty and the Beast remake).

The result was a party in which the band shared the microphone and the stage with many of the guests.

Seldom do you have the opportunity to photograph the wedding of a friend. And this is a double-edged sword: on the one hand, trust and communication with the couple are won; on the other hand there is added pressure to give the best of yourself. The level of self-demand, already quite high, is fired to infinity.

If I had to define Ester and Berni’s wedding with a single word, it would be “atypical.”

Atypical is a winter wedding, a bride in a gold sequined dress and a groom in plaid vest and bow tie. It is atypical that the mother of the groom design part of the costumes of the couple. When you are from Madrid, it is atypical to travel 150 km to have a wedding in Aldea Tejera Negra, (but when you see the surroundings of Campillo de Ranas and the beautiful venue you understand that it is totally worth it).

The typical thing is that a close relative is an amateur photographer and he takes the camera to make his “alternative report”. And the atypical thing is that the father of the groom is a great and experienced photojournalist of Europa Press and Agencia Efe (so incidentally a little more pressure is added to what I already had).

It is atypical that the groom tries to film his own wedding, Metallica to be part of the wedding vows, to bring a (amazing) DJ from France, to have the ceremony officiated by the brother of the groom, the son of the couple who takes the bride to the altar and make a speech…

The wedding of Ester and Berni was atypical because they are totally atypical (and I hope that they continue being always). They are those kind of people you give thanks that the Universe has put them into your life.

Ceremony & reception: Aldea Tejera Negra | Bridal Accessories: Irene García Designer | DJ: Music Paul

“The greatest thing that can happen to you is to love and be loved in return. For me, you are my Silmaril, the most precious star that illuminates me in the dark places, when the other lights go out.
If with my life, or with my death I can protect you, I will… You can rely on my sword and my heart.“

I still remember when I met a couple crazy about fantastic literature and role-playing games, and they told me (I think with a little remorse) that they were going to hold a medieval wedding… They did not imagine that I spent hundreds of hours playing Dungeons & Dragons, The Lord of the Rings and almost any role-playing game that fell into our hands. Photographing a Tolkien themed wedding was something of a dream come true for me.

The wedding day was even better than I had imagined (and I have a lot of imagination).

A funny as well as exciting ceremony with all the guests (including us the photographers) wore our finest medieval dresses to accompany Lady Wilwerin and Lord Fëanor of the Burton House: bride on horseback, sword fights, medieval dances; even a band of ruffians tried to kidnap the bride! Fortunate that Lord Fëanor drew his sword ready to undone the affront.

I remember myself with the smile on all day of the wedding. And even months later, I keep smiling whenever I remember or review the photographs. I feel tremendously fortunate, not only for having been able to photograph a wedding as cool as it was, but also for having entered into the lives of Alicia and Sebas (and that they have entered into mine). They are a very special people, able to make your day just by chatting with you for a while.

Long live the Burton House!

Venue: Manjar de Talamanca | Costumes: Maty, Menkes | Flowers: Badana | Bridal shoes: Manuel Sánchez | Theater group: Siglo XIII Teatro

This trip experience has been wonderful: great hosts in a city full of surprises and photogenic locations. This was my first time in England, and I’m sure it won’t be the last one… I want more of it!

Sonsoles and Marco story is the one of a Spanish girl who meets an Italian-Argentinean boy in London, they live together in London and end up marrying in… London, of course.

Sonsoles is a perfectionist, detail-oriented and a great organizer. In her own words, a little bit of a “control freak”.

Marco is a determined man: one week after arriving in London he got a new job, a new car and a girlfriend. No more to add to that 🙂

This story proves that there are no borders to love… And it also proves that to celebrate a wedding you only need two people in love, a couple of witnesses, a (friendly) civil servant to make it official (and a photographer to inmortalize it all!).

To tell you the truth, this wedding in London was only the first part. The (big) second part will take place in a few days at a lovely typical venue in Toledo (Spain).

I can’t wait to photograph that second wedding, which will almost be like an UN meeting.

See you soon!

“We love your work and would like you to be part of a very important day for us.”

These were the first words I read from Sandra and Vicente.

“We have decided to celebrate our wedding in Punta Cana, our little paradise, not because we were born there but because it has been amazing what we have always lived there.”

A couple of emails and calls later made me feel a great connection with this ¿crazy? couple, and I felt the desire to tell their story.

The plan was much more than a wedding. It was sharing a week with family and closest friends. A trip to an semi-desert island, a party catamaran (neither the tropical rains could turn it off), walks on the beach, laughter and cocktails in the pool, a trash-the-dress session that became a trip to the authentic Dominican Republic … ah, and the wedding, of course.

The whole wedding day was a succession of emotions. After the getting ready in the villa resort we ran to the place agreed for the “first look”, where a nervous Vicente waited to see Sandra dressed as a bride. The civil ceremony was in a beautiful gazebo overlooking the Caribbean Sea, so emotional that all we drop a tear or two.

Vicente proposed Sandra two years ago, in the same place after a romantic dinner by the sea. The wedding banquet was the same menu as then, under the same stars and by the same sea.

This has been my first destination wedding in the Caribbean and I have no words to describe this experience. What I do have are words of gratitude to all the people involved in this adventure, especially for Yoli, Mª José and Vicente, who made us feel part of the family from the begining.

Ceremony and Celebration: Catalonia Royal Bavaro Hotel | Gown: Berta Bridal | Rings: Tiffany’s | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Groom suit: Calvin Klein |  Groom shoes: Hugo Boss.

This year I started the season in a very special way: with a destination wedding in France, at the charming Ile d’Oleron.

Lepus and Arnaud hired me for a pre-wedding session in Seville in mid-March, and when I sent a preview of the pictures his response was “are you available for our wedding in France?” 🙂

We enjoyed a great weekend on the beautiful Island of Oleron, which is full of small fishing villages where you can taste some delicious oysters with a good wine.

The getting ready took place in a beautiful guest house full of antiques and oriental details (I do not know whether they were already there or the owner put them to honor the couple). I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere … even Lepus helped Arnaud to get dressed (something rare in Spain).

The ceremony was officiated by the mother of Arnaud herself! How many grooms can say that his mother married them? Lovely!

During the portrait session an Atlantic cold wind blew, but Lepus always held with a great smile.

The reception followed with funny speeches, slideshows, delivering gifts and even an exhibition of kung-fu. DJ Paul put the icing on the cake: his lighting and the music selection made a legendary party.

However, for me the best part of the wedding was the lovely connection between Arnaud and Lepus, their good humor and the way they show the love for each other.

Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.

Mario Puzo.

When a couple is able to bring together people from Italy, Brazil, France, England, Greece (among others) for their wedding, it means that are truly special. Not only they have friends from all over the world, but because they did not care to travel thousands of kilometers to share with Sonsoles and Marco such a special day.

The decision to celebrate the wedding in Toledo, at the Cigarral de las Mercedes, was perfect: spectacular views of the city, beautiful facilities and exquisite cuisine. As in their “other wedding” in London, they prepared a party which was personally designed and cared for every detail (I must admit that I loved seeing a whole table decorated with framed photographs from the session we did in London).

Ceremony & Reception: Cigarral de las Mercedes | Bridal Gown: Maggie Sottero | Shoes: Christian Dior & Barker | Rings: Tiffany