Location: Marbella, Spain

Photographer: Brett Harkness

Marbella State of Mind

Set in southern Spain, this wedding blended the relaxed energy of Marbella with the timeless elegance of a destination wedding surrounded by rolling Sotogrande landscapes. The weekend began with a high-energy beachside welcome and birthday celebration for the bride, where 200 guests gathered beneath the Spanish sun for a boho-chic evening of long wooden tables, pampas grass, flowing cocktails and music that carried late into the night.

The celebrations continued with a paddle tournament at Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort, creating a relaxed and interactive atmosphere centred around connection, competition and effortless hospitality. The wedding day itself balanced understated elegance with the warmth and vibrancy of the weekend, unfolding within an eclectic Sotogrande setting layered with soft neutral florals, candlelit dining and natural textures. Romantic yet full of energy, the celebration moved effortlessly from intimate ceremony moments into a lively evening of music, dancing and unforgettable celebration beneath the Spanish night sky.

Day One

Long outdoor dining table set for a celebration, decorated with flowers, candles, glassware, and linen napkins, under beige sunshades with palm trees in the background on a sunny beach.
A beach scene with numerous palm trees, lounge chairs, umbrellas, and a building in the background under a clear blue sky.
Grilled fish skewers cooking over a fire on a boat-shaped food stand, with a tree and greenery in the background.
A group of people at an outdoor event, with palm trees in the background, holding tambourines in the air during daytime.
Outdoor dining setup with a long table adorned with floral centerpieces, surrounded by wooden chairs, under tall palm trees and a clear blue sky.
A white ice cream cart with black wheels and orange accents, branded with the name 'NONNA'. It is situated outdoors with trees and a fence in the background, and various ice cream containers are on the cart.
Wedding reception setup outdoors on a beach with long tables decorated with white flowers, candles, and glassware, surrounded by palm trees and shade sails.
Group of people dancing and smiling at a lively party or celebration in a dimly lit indoor setting.
Night scene with tall palm trees illuminated by colored lights, and a crowd of people gathered at an outdoor event with string lights overhead.
Night scene featuring tall palm trees with a full moon in the sky, a large crowd gathered at what appears to be an outdoor event, with tables, chairs, and decorative string lights illuminating the area.

Day Two

A white sign with black text and a crown logo, mounted on a pinkish wall, partially covered by green ivy, with a chain-link fence and a clear blue sky in the background.
An outdoor tennis court enclosed by a black mesh fence, with palm trees, other greenery, and a building with several windows in the background, under a clear blue sky.
A welcome sign with floral decorations at a wedding event. It reads 'Welcome to Ely & Josh's' and mentions a 'Paddle Tournament,' with some of the text partially obscured or out of frame.
People gathered at a tennis court, standing next to a net with a Skoda banner, some holding drinks, amid greenery and a building in the background.
Group of people raising glasses of rosé wine in a toast at an outdoor gathering with blurred greenery in the background.
A tournament bracket chart on an easel, showing various rounds labeled from Silver to Gold, with matchups and some players' names and scores visible.
A young man plays a game of pickleball on an outdoor court, hitting the ball with a paddle while an older man watches, surrounded by spectators.
Group of people sitting on bleachers outdoors, enjoying a sunny day, some smiling, talking, and holding drinks at a Padel tournamanet at Anantara Villa Padierna Resort in Marbella
Two young men playing pickleball on an outdoor court, fist bumping each other, with paddle rackets in hand, wearing athletic clothing and sneakers, surrounded by trees and fencing.
A white water bottle with black lettering reading 'Game Set and a Perfect Match' sits on a pink brick ledge outdoors, with blurred objects and a person in the background.
A group of people sitting on bleachers at an outdoor event, seen through glass with reflections, some smiling, talking, and looking at a phone, dressed casually in summer clothing.
Group of people outdoors, sitting and standing, some wearing hats and sunglasses, engaged in conversation during a sunny day at Anantara Villa Padierna Resort in Marbella
Two young tennis players shaking hands at the net after a match, with their coach smiling nearby on a sunny outdoor court filled with spectators.
Group of people sitting outdoors, smiling, some wearing sunglasses and hats, engaging in a conversation during daytime at a wedding weekend at Anantara Villa Padierna Resort in Marbella

Day Three

A courtyard with a fountain running through the center, flanked by tall, green cypress trees. There is a marble statue of a woman holding a staff near the fountain. The background features a staircase with white balustrades leading up to a building w
Empty tiered outdoor seating area with cushioned benches and a small floral arrangement in the foreground, with a grassy area in the background.
A man in a tuxedo playing the violin at an outdoor wedding ceremony, with guests and floral decorations under a floral-covered archway.
A crowd of people dressed in formal attire participating in an outdoor wedding or celebration in a garden, shaded by white parasols.
A bride and groom walking down a white staircase outside a pink building at Anantara Villa Padierna Resort in Marbella with palm trees and tall cypress trees in the background, on a clear sunny day.
A wedding ceremony outdoors with a bride and groom facing an audience of guests. The bride is in a long white gown with a train and veil, and the groom is in a white suit. Guests are seated under umbrellas, watching the couple. The setting is surroun
A wedding ceremony with a bride and groom exchanging vows, surrounded by family and friends. The bride is holding a bouquet of flowers, and the groom, wearing a white jacket and a yarmulke, is leaning towards her. Guests are dressed in formal attire,
A wedding ceremony taking place outdoors with a bride and groom standing under a decorated chuppah. The scene is set on a grassy area with trees and modern white structures in the background at Anantara Villa Padierna Resort in Marbella
An outdoor wedding ceremony with guests seated on white chairs, surrounded by tall green trees and lush landscaping. The ceremony is taking place near a small water feature with flowers and greenery. Musicians are set up with a keyboard, and people a
Wedding ceremony taking place outdoors surrounded by tall trees and lush greenery, with people dressed in formal attire under a floral arch.
A bride and groom holding hands and walking outdoors during their wedding ceremony, with guests in the background taking photos and smiling, surrounded by greenery and sunny weather.
A decorative vintage mirror reflecting part of a pink menu card with Spanish and English text.
A round dining table decorated with a floral centerpiece, set with plates, napkins, silverware, and purple-tinted glassware, located outdoors with a building, trees, and additional tables in the background at Anantara Villa Padierna Resort
Outdoor event setup with round tables covered with white tablecloths, decorated with purple, orange, and pink details, surrounded by wooden chairs, under a canopy of green trees with string lights overhead, in a sunny setting with a pink wall and lar
Outdoor wedding recpetion with decorated tables, floral centerpiece, and people in the background, surrounded by lush green trees.
An elegant terracotta-colored building with arches, balconies with balustrades, and a central tower under a bright blue sky, surrounded by green trees.
Group of men in white suits celebrating outdoors, with some sitting and lifting others on their shoulders, under tall trees with a green canopy, during daytime.
People dancing and celebrating at a party, smiling and enjoying each other's company in an outdoor setting with string lights and trees.
Group of people dancing and talking at a wedding after party at Anantara Villa Padierna Resort in Marbella, smiling, wearing formal and semi-formal attire.
A man in a tuxedo playing a trumpet and a woman in a black dress singing into a microphone during a live music performance at a nighttime event.
Happy man in a tuxedo singing into a microphone while dancing at a celebration, with women in glamorous dresses dancing in the background at night.
A group of smiling men in white shirts celebrating at a party surrounded by lights and colorful smoke, with a man lifted above their heads.