Raul and Ruben married in an intimate ceremony at Casa Benigalip, Alicante in July 2019. Joined by their closest friends and family, they wanted a day that was rustic, intimate and that reflected their love of food, drink and a good time – and judging by these gorgeous images, they achieved that and then some!

With a €20,000 budget, they employed Le Cocotet wedding planners to help co-ordinate from start to finish. “We didn’t hesitate to hire a wedding planner,” explained Raul, “we wanted someone to take the lead and help us make all the important decisions so there was no nasty surprises!” They used a variety of American wedding magazines and blogs to help inspire the details for their day – pulling inspiration from the local surroundings with opulent florals and rustic tableware, and Las Vegas dessert weddings with macrame and woven basket detailing.

Both their ceremony and reception was held in the grounds of Casa Benigalip, Alicante – an 18th century farmhouse in the heart of the Marina Alta region of Spain. Raul and Ruben started their day by getting ready together with a glass of local beer, before heading over to the ceremony together, hand-in-hand.

The ceremony, performed by Ruben’s sister, was heartfelt and personal – filled with laughter, dancing, tears and most importantly, so much love. They were joined by four of their closest friends as bridesmaids, whore wore matching, white floral dresses and performed readings. Raul and Ruben wrote personal vows to one another, which they read while choking back the tears. They exchanged rings, kissed, and continued dancing throughout the evening.

The reception, including dinner by candlelight and dancing under the stars, was held in a courtyard at Casa Benigalip. With a table laden with jars of rustic blooms and desserts, the couple toasted their nuptials with red wine and local beers. “My favourite part of the day was dancing with all our friends,” said Raul. “Being around all our favourite people and having such a great time was like reliving my childhood. Seeing all our ideas come to life was amazing too – as was sharing it all with my new husband!”