Wedding | Rosie & Xander

Tell us a little about yourselves!

Xander is a head chef at a Michelin starred restaurant and Rosie is an Interior Designer for a top 50 studio in London. We live in Southeast London with our Greyhound, Dean.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

We love Spain and got engaged here. When searching for venues we wanted somewhere that felt truly like us and would allow us to create a relaxed and fun environment for our guests. Finca La Gloria was perfect, their ethos and vibe was exactly what we were looking for – a permaculture farm where ingredients served throughout the meal were grown or sourced locally. Plus the outstanding natural beauty spoke for itself – we leant into this with minimal styling.

How many guests did you have?

Around 80 guests.

Tell us about your outfits.

Rosie's dress was created by MaisonSUZU, a bridal designer with a studio in London and Tokyo. I loved the simplicity of the dress with its fine details, it was created in a silk taffeta to give it a modern twist against what could be a quite classic shape. I wanted a veil with a bit of a difference and loved the Juliette style headdress held in place with pearl clips from AM Faulkner via The Fall Bride.

Xander's suit was created by Husbands Paris, known for their distinctive 70s influenced silhouette, made out of a dark brown gabardine wool. No ties were required and so he paired his suit with a vintage inspired shirt.

We both wanted a timeless feel that complimented each other.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

We wanted to ensure that we both, and our guests, felt relaxed, we didn't want anything to feel too stuffy. That meant styling was kept simple, flowers from the finca so that we could embrace the beautiful surrounding landscapes and architecture of the finca. Of course, the food! All food was cooked on site at Finca La Gloria and our wedding dinner was cooked over a fire pit – it was simple but delicious meats and salad. We had two long tables set amongst the trees, with tables and chairs selected to compliment the organic feel.

Lastly, a party! We wanted it to be a party that everyone remembers. Dancing in the courtyard with fairy lights and friends playing our favourite songs was so special.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

We wanted the ceremony to feel like 'us' and that meant having a close friend, Nathan, be our celebrant. He was brilliant, he had guests laughing and crying. We personalised our vows and even Dean got a mention. Another of our best friends, Tom, did a reading from one of Rosie's favourite books 'Everything I Know About Love'. The ceremony was outside, looking over the Andalusian hills.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Relax and enjoy it! Embrace the chaos but ultimately remember that the most important thing is getting married to each other and all your favourite people being in one place.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

We loved all our vendors and would work with every single one again!

Photographer: Anni M @annimphotography | Planning: Koinai Events @koinaievents | Ceremony Location: Finca La Gloria @fincalagloriajimena | Celebrant: Nathan (close friend) | Makeup: Lauren C Beauty @laurencbeauty_ | Hair: Gabriela Hair Up @gabrielahairupx | Catering & Beverages: Finca La Gloria @fincalagloriajimena | Dress: MaisonSUZU @Maisonsuzu_uk | Party Dress: Vintage via The Cirkel 

@the.cirkel | Suit: Husbands @husbandsparis | Veil & Hair Clips: AM Faulkner via The Fall Bride

@am_faulkner @thefallbride | Engagement Ring: Genevieve Schwartz Jewellery @genevieveschwartz

jewellery | Wedding Rings: Maya Magel @mayamageljewellery | Earrings: Lizzie Fortunato @lfjewels