The Morning — Getting Ready with the sea on my doorstep
It all started very calmly. Hazel was doing her make-up, the lighting was soft, and her girlfriends were gathered around her. There are those moments in the morning when the excitement is still subdued — a bit of a flutter, lots of laughter, perhaps the first glass of champagne.
Her bridesmaids in champagne-coloured satin gowns, with the words ‘Bride’ and ‘Bridesmaid’ written on the back. It’s little details like these that make the morning special. And then there’s the moment when the dress arrives: delicate lace, long sleeves, lots of helping hands.
Whilst Hazel was getting ready, Ben was looking after his little crew. The way he was tucking in one of the lads’ suits — such a calm, genuine moment. This is the sort of wedding where everyone’s just there, not just as guests.
Boho right down to the last detail
The décor was one big celebration of natural elegance. Pampas grass in shades of sand and gold, dried white flowers, wheat, rattan lanterns, bamboo chairs. Nothing looked contrived — everything blended perfectly with the light, the stone and the sea.
Before the ceremony, rows of chairs stood on the lawn, with nothing but the horizon behind them. In the centre aisle, small clumps of pampas grass swayed in the wind. Sometimes a place doesn’t need much at all — just the right thing in the right spot.
The ceremony — with the horizon as best man
Then Hazel arrived. Walking down the aisle, the sea ahead of her, her loved ones on either side. It fell silent, the kind of silence that only comes when everyone knows: this is it.
The bridesmaids with their bouquets of dried flowers, all dressed in white and beige. Hazel and Ben beneath the pampas grass arch, with the sun at their backs, the promise in their eyes. No rigid ceremony, but a relaxed wedding that reflected the couple’s personalities.
The moment — first kiss in rainbow colours
And then that moment, which I won’t forget in a hurry. First, the kiss under the arch. Then a sip from the porrón — typically Spanish, a bit silly, absolutely lovely.
And finally: a shower of rainbow-coloured powder raining down on the bride and groom. Brightly coloured, loud, full of jubilation. That’s exactly why I love this job — for couples who dare to celebrate their big day in style.
Aperitif — Salmorejo, sax and parasols
After the wedding ceremony, we moved straight on to the most relaxed part of the day. Chilled salmorejo shots, guests under striped parasols, a saxophonist who bathed the afternoon in golden light. Palm trees, fairy lights, and the sea always in the background.
The Girls & the Flowers
Hazel with her bridesmaids in flowing champagne-coloured dresses — and these five bouquets side by side, all made of dried flowers, wheat and white roses. I think this really shows just how well thought-out the whole look was.
Dinner at Golden Hour
As the sun sank lower, it became even more beautiful. Long white tables and round tables, huge pampas grass arrangements, the sea behind them bathed in warm light. On every plate, a little piece of Andalusia: olive oil from the region as a gift for guests, with ‘Thank you’ written by hand.
Ben’s speech had everyone alternately laughing and swallowing hard. Moments like that over dinner — when words falter and the glass trembles — are often the most genuine of the whole day.
Just the two of them — the portraits
In between, Hazel and Ben slipped away for a moment. Golden hour amongst bougainvillea and olive trees, the lace dress silhouetted against the light, lots of closeness, lots of laughter. I wish every couple could enjoy these quiet moments together — just the two of them, for a brief moment, amidst the hustle and bustle.
Party — cake, first dance and lots of laughter
Inside, the cake was waiting: sage-green and white, with gold and eucalyptus in a wreath, and ‘Mr & Mrs Grundman’ on top. Then came the first dance, the cutting of the cake, and after that, there was no stopping us.
In the end, this was the image that stayed with me: Hazel and Ben, laughing, nestled against each other, completely lost in the moment. That’s all a wedding day needs.
What remains
Hazel and Ben’s day was everything couples come to Andalusia for: the sea, the light, the laid-back atmosphere — and the feeling of simply being able to let go. No rigid schedule, no stress. Just a day that was a perfect reflection of the two of them.
Do you also dream of a destination wedding in Andalusia — boho, on the beach, completely relaxed? Then let’s have a chat. Tell me about yourselves via my contact page, and we’ll work out together what your day by the sea could look like.
- CreditsPlanning & Decoration: Ambrosia Wedding
- Venue: El Paraiso al Mar, Guardias Viejas (Almería)
- Photography: Eloy Muñoz
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