With a luxury Seville hacienda as their setting, Georgie and Ed designed a relaxed summer wedding party with elegant Spanish details and a glorious fiesta atmosphere
Photography: Tara Moller
Georgie and Ed knew they wanted to marry abroad and, because Ed had lived and studied in Spain, this became their first choice. They researched venues across the country and knew they had struck gold when they found Hacienda de San Rafael. Georgie says: “We both felt it suited what we wanted for our wedding day. The wine and food, along with so many other elements, were out of this world and when we went on a recce trip we made up our minds straight away”.
“The venue had so many beautiful flowers and plants that we wanted to keep it simple”
Once an olive-growing estate, this beautiful 18th-century hacienda close to Seville has been restored as a traditional country hideaway with contemporary luxury comforts. As it’s set in five-acres of beautiful gardens, with three swimming pools and in-house chefs, it can also comfortably accommodate a wedding crowd.
Having chosen this idyllic setting, there was very little dressing required and Georgie and Ed wanted the bold palette of the Spanish summertime to be a key part of their day. Georgie says: “The venue had so many beautiful flowers and plants that we wanted to keep it simple in terms of colours and chose white flower arrangements. Our local florists – Flores Bucaro Sevilla – were fantastic”.
Georgie chose an elegant wedding gown from the Temperley London bridal collection. Featuring a drop waist and delicate white tracery pattern, with soft gold flowers on the bodice and skirt, it suited the theme perfectly. Her four bridesmaids – two in rich orange and two in pale blue – brought bolder colour to the wedding party. Simple bouquets adhered to the mainly white theme but with flashes of sunshine shades.
“Seeing how happy people are for both of you is an incredible experience”
The whole theme of the day was laid-back, but with a definite nod to local Andalusian traditions. Georgie says: “We had Spanish elements throughout the wedding – jambon, a churros and chocolate cart and tiles from Seville for table place names.”
The simple service in the sunshine concluded with a confetti shower of olive leaves for the couple – a lovely touch very much in keeping with tradition. The hacienda came into its own for the after party, offering ample space for relaxed drinks round the pool and an evening wedding feast that went on into the small hours. Twinkling lights were dotted through the trees, with olive sprigs used to decorate the white chairs and as a motif for placesettings.
For Georgie and Ed, there was no doubt that this was a magical choice for their celebration. Georgie says: “Spending time with everyone in these amazing surroundings was a highlight for me. Dancing till dawn with all my favourite people in one place is something that I will never forget”.
Having chosen Hacienda de San Rafael, the couple were able to relax and let the on-site team handle many of the fine details – which definitely made the long-distance planning process easier. Georgie says: “Anthony who owns and runs the venue is incredible and made the experience totally stress free. I do think that it’s important to keep things simple – too many people getting involved can over-complicate things”.
Georgie and Ed’s tip for other brides and grooms is to savour the whole creative journey of making your day unique. Georgie says: “Enjoy the planning part of the process, which can be easier said than done. As part of my job I plan weddings and events for clients, so loved organising our wedding day”.
The photographs by Tara Moller capture the relaxed and happy vibe and the magic of this glorious Andalusian setting. Georgie says: “Seeing how happy people are for both of you is an incredible experience and makes you realise just how lucky you are.
“Finally, do try to take a moment just the two of you during the celebration (which I know everyone says). We wish we had done that more. Time goes so quickly, so drink it all in!
