Benahavis Wedding Villa | Secret wedding venue in southern Spain

Imagine the magic of saying “I do” in a hidden secret wedding venue in the south of Spain, nestled in an area famed for its rural beauty.

Join us for today’s bridal story as we explore perhaps one of the most secluded and picturesque wedding venues in southern Spain. A sublime Spanish wedding venue favoured for its rustic elegance located within a private estate less than a 15 minutes drive from the bright lights of Marbella’s Puerto Banus where the delightful bridal couple Lauren and Jay tied the knot last summer.

A walk through their wedding day will reveal all the delights that this wedding villa in Benahavis has to offer, from the wonderfully blended Moorish and Mediterranean elements the estate retains, to a sneak peek at the secluded ambiance to be found in this unspoilt and stunning countryside setting. The ideal venue for bridal couples looking for a wedding venue with a casual and rustic yet elegant vibe.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at what happened on that sun filled day last September, the first Saturday of the month, where the bride and groom, surrounded by friends and family, were joined in a magical ceremony in the middle of the picturesque grounds of this fairy-tale location.

After a welcome drink of Sangria, water and soft drinks offered to all the guests, the ceremony began with Ellie Goulding’s “How long will I love you.” as the entrance song.

The bride looked simply stunning in her textured lace bodice, that fit snugly to her waistline, extenuating her femenine hour-glass silhouette, a beautiful gown with a low-back and train as she made her way up the aisle. There by the outdoor altar she was joined with the dashing groom, dressed in a classic tartan waistcoat with navy blue trousers, by wedding officiant Jeff who led a merry and inspiring ceremony.

A moment made all the more magical when the bride’s very own sister, who had formed part of the bridal procession, was handed the microphone, and, with an incredible voice, led the singing throughout the ceremony.

In this magnificent setting, surrounded by picturesque landscaping bursting with Andalusian colours, the emotive vows were said, the rings exchanged and the marriage contract signed, beautifully captured by the talented Agata, who did a fantastic job snapping all the magical moments of the day.

Now as husband and wife, Lauren and Jay walked back down the aisle to the Beatles classic “Here comes the sun” where they joined their guests, who had thrown delicate rose petals over them during the wedding recessional, on the luscious green lawn for a first drink of cava for all, followed by beers, wines, Sangria and refreshments, as well as an array of hot, cold and vegan-friendly canapes. A moment which allowed the guests to mix and mingle in the verdant gardens as Lauren’s sister did a fabulous one hour set on vocals and guitar and family photos of the special moment were taken.

The main course, with a gluten free option for three of the guests, was held in a large outdoor lawn which had been decorated with rectangular rustic-styling tablescapes, whimsical, fairy-tale vibes and beige parasols with the personalised flower arrangements at the hands of the wonderful florist Karen. There the wedding guests were offered a fantastic wedding breakfast of: Fillets of sea bream with lemon and parsley, whole entrecote crusted in herbs and sea salt thinly sliced served with bearnaise sauce or chermoula spiced chicken skewers with a yoghurt dressing as the mains and trio of chocolate truffle cake, mojito fruit salad and mini crème brulee for dessert.

A meal that was shortly followed by what was quite literally the cherry on the cake, as the wedding cake was brought out and cut by the newlyweds, creating more cherished moments for Agata to capture through her lens.

As the sun set and the whimsical, fairy-tale vibes came into play, adding a touch of magic to the evening, the grounds became the perfect romantic setting for the newlyweds’ first dance to Elbow’s “One day like this”, follow straight after with “Kings of tomorrow” by Finally, cue for the party to really kick off with five hours of open bar, followed up with late night snacks including cake of cheeses, crackers and chutneys buffet style.

A wedding celebrated on the back end of a string of covid restrictions became a memorable day and fantastic party for all.

A huge thank you to Agata for the use of these incredible images. And a huge thank you to Lauren and Jay for sharing their magical day with us. Wishing you well as you embark on this next chapter of life.