Summer wedding on the Costa del Sol
Welcome to another of our featured bridal stories, where we whisk you away to Spain as we look back on another beautiful wedding celebration. This time, we’re following Eilidh and Connor, whose summer wedding on 4 July 2026 was filled with love, laughter and all the anticipation that makes a wedding day so special.
Set against the warmth and beauty of the Costa del Sol, their wedding day moved from the quiet excitement of the morning preparations through to an emotional ceremony and an evening of celebration with family and friends. It was a day filled with special moments, with each part of the celebrations bringing something different.
The setting added another beautiful layer to the day. Tucked into the Andalusian landscape near Marbella, the private estate combines the character of a traditional Spanish finca with a relaxed, contemporary feel. Outdoor terraces, gardens and open-air spaces create different areas for each stage of the wedding, while the hillside amphitheatre provided a memorable setting for the ceremony, surrounded by the natural landscape. With a villa also forming part of the estate, the setting lends itself beautifully to a wedding that feels like a complete experience, from the first preparations of the morning through to the evening celebrations.
But, of course, beautiful surroundings are only part of a wedding story. It is the people, the anticipation and the little moments throughout the day that create the memories a couple will carry with them for years to come. And Eilidh and Connor’s day had plenty of those moments. So, let’s take a closer look at how their wedding day unfolded, beginning with those first precious hours before the celebrations had even begun.
A Slow Start to the Big Day
The morning began in a wonderfully personal way: Eilidh and Connor woke up together at their hotel. For many couples, the wedding morning can feel like the beginning of two separate stories — the bride surrounded by her bridesmaids and the groom with his groomsmen. Eilidh and Connor chose to have those first hours together before the excitement really began, creating a precious pocket of calm before the day gathered pace.
Eilidh then made her way to the venue with her mother, four bridesmaids, her mother in law and her beautiful flower girls, ready to settle into the bridal suite and begin the transformation from an ordinary morning into her wedding day. The villa provided a relaxed and private base for Eilidh and her closest people, giving them space to enjoy the morning together while preparations began around them. Hair and make-up followed, with the atmosphere gradually building as the excitement of the day started to take hold.
While Eilidh and her bridesmaids enjoyed their preparations, the venue was quietly coming to life outside. The terraces, gardens and ceremony area were being prepared, with the wedding team working through all the details behind the scenes. It is a part of the day guests rarely see, but those final preparations are what allow everything to feel effortless once the celebrations begin.
As the morning progressed, the Sunshine Weddings Spain team arrived to oversee the final preparations, while the bridesmaids had a chance to run through the ceremony together. The florist also arrived with Eilidh’s bouquet and the bridesmaids’ flowers, while the buttonholes were carefully prepared for the groom and his party.
For Eilidh, it was the moment when everything started to feel real. Surrounded by her mum and bridesmaids, with her hair and make-up complete and her flowers now waiting nearby, the quiet anticipation of the morning was giving way to the excitement of what was still to come.
And while Eilidh prepared with her closest girls, Connor was getting ready for the biggest moment of his day. Surrounded by his groomsmen and family, the vibe began to shift from the relaxed preparations of the morning to the excitement of the ceremony ahead. There was time for the photographer team, Rachel and Olli from Balance Photography, to capture those all-important getting-ready moments, along with the laughter, nerves and anticipation that naturally come with the final hours before saying I do.
As Connor prepared to leave for the ceremony, his groomsmen began to gather, ready for their role in the celebrations. It was a chance to pause, take a few photographs and enjoy those final moments together before everyone took their places. Meanwhile, outside, the ceremony setting was coming together. The venue’s amphitheatre was being dressed and the seating arranged on either side of the aisle, creating an intimate setting for the ceremony while making the most of the surrounding landscape.
The final checks were made, the ceremony space was ready, and guests were beginning to arrive.
Welcome Drinks as Guests Begin to Arrive
As the final preparations came together, Connor spent some time with his groomsmen, Jordan, Chris and Braedyn, along with his nephew and best man, Caelan. Both dads joined them, as did Connor’s page boy, Alexander.
With Eilidh’s hair and make-up complete, the bridal party were also ready, and the atmosphere began to shift from preparation to celebration.
Guests started arriving to a relaxed welcome of bottled beer, sangria, water, soft drinks and alcohol-free beer, with music playing in the welcome area. It was the perfect opportunity for everyone to settle in, catch up with family and friends and take in the beautiful surroundings before the ceremony began.
Away from the gathering guests, Connor had a quiet moment of his own. Before taking his place for the ceremony, he was given some time to read a letter from Eilidh. It was a beautifully personal pause in an otherwise busy day — a moment for Connor to stop, take everything in and hear from his bride-to-be before they saw each other at the altar.
Meanwhile, Eilidh shared her own special moments with the people closest to her. First came photographs with her bridesmaids, followed by an emotional first look with her father.
With the welcome drinks drawing to a close and guests beginning to take their seats, the atmosphere changed once again. The ceremony was about to begin.
Outdoor Ceremony in the Spanish Sunshine
With the welcome drinks drawing to a close, attention turned towards the ceremony. Guests were invited to take their seats in the open-air setting, with the beautiful Spanish landscape providing a natural backdrop to the proceedings. The ceremony space had been styled with elegant white florals, creating a soft, romantic contrast against the surrounding greenery and bright summer sunshine.
The couple had also chosen to keep the ceremony wonderfully present and personal, asking guests to put their phones away and to wait before sharing photographs on social media. It meant that, for those precious moments, everyone could simply be there with Eilidh and Connor, watching their story unfold without screens between them.
The ceremony styling was elegant yet impactful. Tall, abundant arrangements of white roses, hydrangeas and delicate baby’s breath framed the couple on either side, while lower floral arrangements continued the look along the aisle. The crisp white palette worked beautifully against the lush green setting and gave the ceremony a timeless feel.
Eilidh looked stunning as she made her entrance, wearing a fitted, elegant white wedding gown with delicate floral lace detailing across the bodice and skirt. The dress created a beautiful silhouette while remaining effortlessly bridal in the warm Spanish setting. Her long veil flowed behind her, adding movement as she walked towards Connor and creating a particularly beautiful moment as she stood at the top of the steps.
Connor looked equally smart in a classic black tux. His buttonhole provided a subtle floral detail that tied his look beautifully into Eilidh’s white-and-green ceremony styling.
The procession began with flower girls Sienna and Romie, followed by the bridesmaids before Eilidh appeared at the top of the steps with her father. For those few moments, everything seemed to pause. Eilidh took her time before beginning her walk down the aisle, giving Connor — and everyone gathered to witness the ceremony — the chance to take in the moment. After all the preparations, planning and anticipation of the morning, this was the part that mattered most.
As Eilidh reached Connor, the couple stood together beneath the floral arrangements, surrounded by their family and friends and framed by the beautiful Andalusian landscape. Their ceremony was filled with the emotion and happiness that comes with finally reaching the moment they had been waiting for. And then, just as beautifully, it was time to celebrate.
As newlyweds, Eilidh and Connor made their way back up the steps, stopping at the top to share their first kiss as husband and wife. With the ceremony complete, the atmosphere immediately changed from anticipation to pure celebration. The guests could now raise a glass, congratulate the newlyweds and enjoy the rest of the afternoon together.
Drinks, Canapés and Family Photographs
With the ceremony complete, Eilidh and Connor joined their guests for the drinks reception. Guests could choose from cava, bottled beer, Aperol, soft drinks and water, with Eilidh’s Aperol receiving a personal touch of its own. She had prepared photographs of her dog to be used with the Aperol drinks, adding a detail that was personal to her and became part of the celebration. There were also a few family favourites, including Magners reserved especially for Eilidh’s mother-in-law, Josephine.
A particularly important part of the catering throughout the day was making sure everything was completely coeliac-friendly for Eilidh. From the drinks reception and canapés onwards, the catering team took care to ensure she could enjoy the same experience as everyone else, without having to worry about what she could and couldn’t eat. It was something that was hugely important to Eilidh and Connor when choosing their wedding team, and one they felt they could completely trust Sunshine Weddings Spain to manage.
Cold and hot canapés were served as everyone relaxed after the ceremony and caught up with friends and family. It was also a chance for the newlyweds to enjoy some time with their guests before the evening reception began, while the Balance Photography team captured the conversations, congratulations and informal moments taking place around them.
Family photographs followed, with Megan, Cara and Stephanie helping to organise everyone. Having a prepared list and people on hand to gather family members meant the photographs could be completed efficiently without taking too much time away from the drinks reception. With the formal photographs taken, everyone could then move on to the next part of the celebration.
Dinner, Wedding Speeches and Stories
As the drinks reception came to an end, guests were invited through for dinner, with a glass of cava waiting for them. Eilidh and Connor were then introduced as newlyweds, their entrance marking the start of the evening reception. Connor, Braedyn and Alexander presented gifts to the mothers of the bride and groom before the speeches began, with the first words coming from Chris, Eilidh’s father.
Dinner then got underway, with the same care around Eilidh’s dietary requirements continuing into the wedding breakfast. The entire meal was fully catered to her coeliac needs, while bottled beer and a selection of white, rosé and red wine were served alongside the meal. With dinner finished and the formalities drawing to a close, attention gradually turned towards the party, as guests prepared to let their hair down and celebrate into the evening.
Party Grooves into the Night
The open bar opened for the evening as the DJ started his set upstairs, giving guests the chance to move between the different areas of the venue and enjoy the evening at their own pace. As everyone settled into the party, the atmosphere became more relaxed and the dance floor began to fill.
The cake cutting brought everyone together again before Eilidh and Connor took to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife. The first dance was followed by Eilidh’s father-daughter dance, giving them another special moment together before the party continued.
The addition of a live saxophonist brought another element to the evening entertainment, joining the DJ and keeping guests on the dance floor as the celebrations continued.
As the evening moved towards midnight, the bar and music moved inside and the saxophone set came to an end, but there was still plenty of energy among the guests. Late-night food was brought out, with pizza and wedding cake served as the celebrations continued.
Eventually, the music came to a close and guests made their way back to their accommodation, bringing an end to a beautiful day of celebrations. Eilidh and Connor, 4 July 2026 — a Costa del Sol wedding filled with family, personality, laughter and memories made to last a lifetime.
A Special Thank You
A huge thank you to Eilidh and Connor for allowing us to share their beautiful wedding day and for trusting Sunshine Weddings Spain to be part of such an important occasion. It was a pleasure to see all the planning and personal touches come together and to help create a celebration that was truly their own.
We would also like to thank everyone involved in bringing the day together, from the venue and wedding team to the florist, entertainment, catering and all of the suppliers who worked behind the scenes. A special thank you goes to Rachel and Olli from Balance Photography for capturing the day and providing the beautiful images that allow us to share these memories with future couples.
Planning Your Own Spanish Wedding?
If Eilidh and Connor’s wedding has inspired you to start planning your own celebration in Spain, we would love to hear from you. Whether you already have a venue in mind or are still exploring ideas, the Sunshine Weddings Spain team can help you create a wedding day that reflects you as a couple, from the first plans through to the final dance.
Get in touch with Sunshine Weddings Spain and let’s start planning your Spanish wedding story.
