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1st September 2023
Benahavis near Marbella, Spain was the gorgeous location for this absolutely amazing beautiful wedding of Sophie and Ben. High in the mountains in a private villa in the Costa Del Sol.
Wedding Planners: Sunshine Weddings
Flowers: Deseos Florist
Guitar Player: Jesus Gomez
DJ: Steve Altman Saxophone: Demian Arroyo and Electric Violin: Annya
Dress: Essense of Australia
Photographer: Rebecca Davidson Photography
Videography: Wild Love Artist
Makeup: Lorraine Romain
All About the Dress
I’m well known for being indecisive and so me and my MOH Ashleigh set off for what we thought was just a fun day out dress shopping with many more to come, but we were both very surprised when I chose my dress at the first and only shop we went to. It was the third dress I tried on and whilst I tried on a few more, I always went back to that as my favourite despite not intending to go for that style. Every alterations appointment made me fall more in love with it. Nobody else saw it until the big day, although my sister Amy got a sneak peek the night before!
All About the Suit
What we love about the suit, other than how well it went with our colour scheme, was that this was Ben’s choice from the start and it was really nice that we both had our own input on key things throughout the day and it was great when it all came together.
What was memorable about taking pictures with your bridal party?
It was really special spending the whole day with them all and getting ready in that amazing setting, but it got even more fun when the pictures started. When I was busy getting hair and make-up done, it was so nice to watch those that have a special connection to me in different ways, all getting on and having fun together. When we then got to have some time all together having pictures taken, it was so much fun and made it all feel real.
What made you choose your venue for your wedding?
The villa had such a unique and picturesque setting, with perfect spaces for all aspects of our celebrations. The accommodation was a key thing for us, with amazing rooms for close family and friends to stay, but also the space to invite more people over for additional celebrations – the meal the evening before was really a special moment for us. On to the big day, the individual areas for each part of the day were really key in us choosing this venue; the ceremony area with a gorgeous mountain backdrop, the courtyard for reception and party, the meal area in its own setting with majestic stairs, and finally the best infinity pool for the pool party the next day!
Can You Tell Us Something Cute or Unique About Your Wedding?
To begin with our vows which we wrote ourselves were really similar. We both referred to each other as “my person” and told a very similar story of how we feel about one another and the things that we value about each other.
Also referenced in the vows and speech was the bar we first met at “The Domino”. They run a competition every so often where you can win an engraved domino which gives you special perks, and whilst we have never won this, unbeknown to each other we had both got in touch with the bar to ask for one of those dominoes as a wedding gift.
We also had a few dance lessons to prepare for our first dance. That isn’t something either of us would usually do as we aren’t into dance or performance, but we thought it would be something really nice for us to do together, and although there were challenges, there were so many fun memories. It was also nice to have something that was just “us” in the run up to our big day and (most of the time) took us away from some of the more stressful planning tasks.
How did you feel during your vows or just before you walked down the aisle?
Could not believe the day was finally here. During our vows it was hard not to laugh out loud at how similar they were. But it also helped hold back the tears. It was such a lovely moment.
How Did He Pop the Question?
On an amazing holiday in Mexico on a sunset cruise. There was definitely something a bit odd when Ben didn’t finish his steak and requested a photo “before the sun goes down”. Ben loves his food and is not a fan of photos. There was a sax playing on our first date, on the boat for our engagement, and now on our wedding day.
How Did You Meet?
After we met online, we agreed to meet for our first date a little hidden bar called “The Domino”, knowing our joint love for music and rum.
What photography related advice would you offer to a couple?
Let them be the experts and listen to their guidance. Make time to get to know them before the big day. Take tips from them on timings. Just get to a place where you feel comfortable letting them guide you through everything. Ask lots of questions too.
What was the first song you danced to as husband and wife?
Our first dance was to “Here with me” by Chvrches. It’s a band Sophie loves but we also really wanted a song where the lyrics resonated with us. The whole song does but a key bit for us is…“Can I tell you something just between you and me? When I hear your voice, I know I’m finally free. Every single word is perfect as it can be and I need you here with me”. We also made sure to have some key songs throughout the night with special people.
What was your favourite moments from the wedding?
Music is a big part of our lives so we put a lot of thought into the key songs in the wedding and the playlists, as we knew they would form key parts of our memories of the day. Special moments to us with this included; walking back down the aisle to acoustic of Foo Fighters, Everlong, and later on in the night dancing together and with friends to Dermot Kennedy, Kiss me, in addition to dancing our first dance of course. Another special moment for us and again one which will be remembered by music, was just taking a moment during the meal to look around and think how lucky we are that all our loved ones were here celebrating with us.
What advice would you offer other couples planning a destination wedding?
Just don’t overthink it or feel like you have to spend lots of time doing research. Get out there and just with what feels right both in terms of the venue and then the providers. Pick a style and a vibe you want for the day and then just go with what fits well with that. With food, music, photography, hair and make up etc providers that you have been recommended or get a good gut feeling about.