Late May in Agua Amarga. The air is already warm, the sea lies pale blue and a little hazy below the hill, and down in the bay the first sailing boats are rocking on the water. This is exactly where Sarah and Tobias said yes: up on the plateau above the village, with pampas grass in the wind and the whole of Cabo de Gata in front of them. Afterwards they celebrated at a small boutique hotel in Agua Amarga, by the pool, among palm trees, cacti and hundreds of tiny lights.

A wedding in Agua Amarga always feels special to me. The village is small, white and quiet, and yet when you look out over the cliffs you feel like you are standing at the edge of the world. That is exactly what Sarah and Tobias were looking for: a day that feels easy, with lots of light, lots of sea and their favourite people around them.

Getting Ready at the Boutique Hotel

The morning started the way a wedding morning in Andalusia should: one of the first guests jumped into the pool before breakfast. Inside, Sarah’s dress was hanging on the wardrobe, lace on tulle, so delicate. On the light tiles lay the little things that suddenly become so big on a day like this: the rings, the pearl bracelet, her perfume and the bridal shoes.

The bouquet was a dream in blush and cream. Roses, dried flowers and pampas grass, a little wild and a little soft. It set the tone for the whole day right from the morning.

Tobias was relaxed. Buttoning his shirt, fixing his bow tie, one last walk through the garden with the pink bougainvillea. I don’t think he stopped smiling for a single minute that day.

Meanwhile Sarah got ready in her own time. Make-up, hair, a few laughs. Then out onto the terrace, where her bridesmaid closed the dress with the mountains and palm trees behind them. When she stood in front of us with her bouquet, everything went quiet for a moment.

The Ceremony: a Wedding in Agua Amarga Overlooking the Bay

For the outdoor ceremony we went up to the plateau above the village. Wooden chairs in two rows, a simple wooden arch with blush flowers and pampas grass, and behind it nothing but the bay of Agua Amarga. You don’t need more than that in a place like this. The landscape does the rest.

Tobias waited at the front, hands in his pockets, nervous and happy at the same time. Then the guests took their seats and it began.

There was music, personal words and vows that brought tears to more eyes than just theirs. During the ring exchange it went completely quiet, and the first kiss at the arch got so much applause that you could probably hear it all the way down on the beach.

And then the exit: confetti from every side, cheering, and in the middle of it all a groom dipping his bride for a kiss in the aisle. One of my favourite moments of the day.

Couple Portraits on the Cliffs

After the ceremony Sarah and Tobias headed to the cliffs with Eloy. Dry grass, pale rocks, sailing boats in the bay and that hazy light that makes everything a little softer. These are pictures I could look at again and again.

Venue & Decor: Dinner by the Pool among Palm Trees

Back at the boutique hotel the reception began. The couple came down the steps in the garden while the guests waited by the pool with a drink. For the decor we chose warm, natural tones: table names and place cards on terracotta, woven charger plates, linen napkins, blush menu cards and small arrangements with pampas grass.

Our team set the tables, plate by plate. There was also a postcard guest book with an instant camera, so every guest could leave a photo and a few lines for the two of them. And when Sarah came over to us at the reception and gave us a hug, I knew: everything was exactly the way she had wished for.

In the evening dinner was served under curtains of fairy lights. Long white tables, gold cutlery, candles, and above them hundreds of tiny lights that got more beautiful with every minute of dusk. The pool reflected the palm trees, and around the tables there was laughing, talking and clinking of glasses.

Cake, First Dance and a Warm May Night

Later there was a sweet table with a white cake full of roses, little tarts and strawberries. And then the first dance: right by the pool, surrounded by cacti and warm light, with their reflection in the water. After that the dance floor was open until late into the night.

What Remains

A wedding in Agua Amarga that felt exactly like the place itself: bright, wide, relaxed and full of heart. I often think of the plateau above the bay, the confetti in the wind and the first dance by the pool. Thank you, Sarah and Tobias, for letting us plan this day with you. If you are dreaming of getting married in Agua Amarga or anywhere else in Cabo de Gata, get in touch with me. I can’t wait to hear your story.

Credits

Photography: Eloy Muñoz
Venue: Boutique hotel in Agua Amarga, Cabo de Gata
Planning & decor: Ambrosia Wedding

You might also like