Are you dreaming of a destination wedding, the memories of which you and your guests will cherish forever? Need some inspiration? Then look no further! In this article, we present to you Michal and Lauren’s incredible celebrations in the idyllic Catalonian countryside, captured by the talented Cathy Loughran.
Few couples can boast an answer as exciting or memorable to the question “where did you first meet?” as Michal and Lauren’s. Both are passionate skydivers, and became acquainted at the birthday party of a mutual (skydiving) friend. They bonded as they jumped out of a plane together, and the rest, as they say, is history.
After such an adrenaline-fueled beginning to the relationship, Michal knew that popping the question in any old place wouldn’t suffice, so pulled out all the stops to make his proposal to Lauren an equally memorable occasion. While enjoying a three-week long trip around the world, the couple spent the night at the Hotel Metropole Suisse in Como, Italy. As they watched the sun rise over the lake and mountains from their room, Michal asked Lauren if she would be his wife.
Naturally, when it came to choosing a venue for the big day, the couple didn’t settle for the local church or town hall. Michal and Lauren point out that because they have family and friends living all over the world, their celebration would have been a destination wedding, no matter where it was held.
After a lot of deliberation, they settled on Catalonia, a familiar destination for the couple. Through further Google research of castle wedding venues in the region, Michal and Lauren stumbled upon Almiral de la Font in Sant Pere de Ribes, and immediately fell in love – so in love, in fact, that they reserved it online before seeing it in person!
Lauren followed the same gut instinct when it came to finding her dress. Since her mother and best friends live all over the world, she was left to her own devices, and was unimpressed by what she found in traditional bridal boutiques. Longing for a simple dress with clean-cut lines, Lauren snapped up a Badgley Mischka design online – a risky tactic, some may say – but her good judgement was confirmed as soon as she tried it on and knew it was the one.
Owing to the already idyllic setting of the verdant Catalonian countryside, Michal and Lauren opted to stick to a fairly minimalist theme. Philippa of Philippa Events was on hand to make sure the day ran smoothly and stylishly, taking care of flowers and décor to create the perfect subtle surroundings for an al fresco ceremony.
One personal touch they did make sure to bring with them? Personalised wedding favors. The couple constructed a number of geometric boxes which family members helped to finish in Spain. These were filled with M&Ms featuring a photo of the pair and the date of the wedding, provided by Lauren’s sister. A simple, understated, but truly personal touch.
These favors were distributed at the reception following the ceremony, during which guests enjoyed a sumptuous feast provided by Barcelona-based Gau Catering, with many (including the newly-weds) pinning this as a particular highlight of the day.
As night fell, the bride, groom, and their guests took to the dancefloor to enjoy the musical stylings of a flamenco musician, followed by DJ Jon Wedge.
You might think it would be impossible to select a favorite memory from such a spectacular celebration, but we asked the couple anyway. Both were overwhelmed by how many people had gathered in Catalonia from all over the world to enjoy not just a wedding, but a vacation. Michal was also particularly touched by seeing his mother sitting in the front row at the ceremony and taking part in the celebrations, despite suffering from stroke two months earlier.
So, there you have it – the perfect example of how to plan an elegant destination wedding. We hope you enjoy these beautiful photographs of an equally beautiful couple celebrating their love in truly stunning surroundings. Zankyou wishes Michal and Lauren all the best as they embark on this exciting new chapter of their lives!
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