Two cultures, one place: a Cabo de Gata wedding
Some places you don’t have to explain. Cabo de Gata is one of them. Red earth, cacti, the sea somewhere behind the next hill — and then that stillness, just before the sun drops lower. This is where Tanaissa and Jérôme got married.
The two met in Belgium. Him: Spanish, raised in Belgium. Her: from Cameroon. Today they live in the Canary Islands. For their wedding they brought family and friends from half of Europe and Africa to Almería — a real destination wedding that pulls two worlds together in a single day.
The morning: getting ready
The day began quietly. A glass of cava, nails freshly done. Make-up under the trees while her hair was styled in the background — Tanaissa with that high, braided bun that later looked so incredibly elegant under the birdcage veil.
Her friends and bridesmaids in red and lilac, her right in the middle of it. You could tell straight away: these people go way back, and there’s a lot of laughter here.
Venue & decor at the cortijo
Two separate worlds in one day: the outdoor ceremony in the desert landscape with a view of the sea, and then the celebration in an old cortijo. White walls, wooden beams, rattan lamps, greenery everywhere. Sage green and gold ran through everything — napkins, candles, eucalyptus on the tables.
And then the little things, so typical of this couple: the perfume bottle someone simply perched on a cactus. Cake pops shaped like succulents. A seating plan with bougainvillea, „Find your place”. Details that show someone really thought this through.
The outdoor ceremony with a sea view
Jérôme stood at the flower arch, sage green suit, bow tie — and you could see just how nervous he was. Then came Tanaissa. She read her own vows, the sea behind her and the mountains all around. For a moment, everything went still.
The first kiss. Then the recessional through a shower of confetti and the cheers of guests who had travelled from so many different corners of the world.
When two cultures celebrate together
What made this day special: it didn’t belong to just one culture. Later Tanaissa slipped into a traditional dress, there were traditional dances, and on the dance floor Cameroon and Europe simply became one. Live music, people meeting for the first time and dancing together anyway. Exactly how a wedding should be.
Couple portraits between desert and sea
In between we took the two of them out. Golden hour on a eucalyptus lane, a cream vintage convertible, the light low and warm. And later Los Genoveses beach — Tanaissa in a golden dress, the sea, barely anyone around. You only get shots like these here.
What stays from this Cabo de Gata wedding
For me, that feeling that it was exactly right. Two people, two cultures, a place with soul. No stiff programme, no show — just real joy, from morning until deep into the night.
If you’re dreaming of a Cabo de Gata wedding too: get in touch. Tell me your story — we’ll figure out the rest together.
Credits
Planning & coordination: Ambrosia Wedding
Photography: Elodie Timmermanns
Location: Cabo de Gata / San José, Almería
You might also like
From London to Andalusia – A boho beach wedding by the sea on a Wednesday in May
Some places don’t really need much description — you just feel them straight away. Guardias Viejas on a May morning: the sea stretches out vast and calm, the air smells of salt and warm stone, and on the lawn right by the water stands a golden arch full of pampas...
From Switzerland to Andalusia – Shenthujan & Jenitha outdoor wedding
Some weddings go exactly as planned. And then there are those weddings — the ones that make you laugh, the ones you look back on with a broad grin on your face. Shenthujan and Jenitha definitely fall into the second category.The couple have Sri Lankan roots, live in...
Katharina & Roman: A wedding that smells of summer — Cabo de Gata in October
There are moments you don’t plan — they just happen. Katharina had tears in her eyes even before she’d taken her first step onto the sand. Behind her lay the dunes; in front of her stood Roman, the altar of white flowers, and beyond it — the sea. The distinctive rock...
