Blog - Weddings and Events by Natalia Ortiz

Tips for choosing the right Wedding Planner

04.09.201805.09.2018Leona BryanBlogLeave a comment

Organising a wedding can be a stressful experience for couples, however hiring a wedding planner is now becoming an increasingly popular choice, as it takes away potential stress and allows you to relax and enjoy the period running up to your wedding. If you are newly engaged and are looking to hire a wedding planner to organise your big day, read this post for useful tips on choosing the right one!

Tip number 1: Ensure that your wedding planner has advanced knowledge of the place where you want to get married:

It is a good idea to ensure that the planner has extensive knowledge of the country where you want to get married. A planner with this knowledge will know all the best locations and vendors for your wedding to suit your needs!

If you are interested in getting married in Spain, our wedding planner has many years’ experience planning fantastic weddings here. You can see our extensive knowledge of the best locations for weddings in Spain by reading our blogs such as Celebrate your wedding in North of Spain : the charm of the Basque Country & The most breathtaking churches to get married in Spain – and many more!

wedding in Asturias — Photographs: Buenas Photos / Organisation: Natalia Ortiz

Tip number 2: Check out the wedding planner online

Research the wedding planner on various online platforms, such as a company website and instagram. If they can be trusted, they will include examples of weddings they have previously planned. You can look at these images to see if you like them before you commit to their services!

Another advantage of this is that you can be sure that the wedding planner is reputable and trustworthy. You can also check that they carry out their projects from start to finish.

Here is a link to our portfolio which shows all the images of previous weddings we have planned, take a look! https://nataliaortizevents.com/portfolio_category/wedding/

Wedding in medieval castle Buen Amor — Photograph: Buenas Photos / Organisation: Natalia Ortiz

Tip number 3: Make sure they speak your language

It is extremely advisable that your potential wedding planning company can communicate with you in your preferred language. This way you can be sure there will not be any misunderstandings during the organisation of your big day. At Weddings and Events by Natalia Ortiz, we have a selection of multilingual employees.

wedding planner — Photograph: Tanya Vasiliuk

Tip number 4: Ensure that the wedding planning company is genuine

This may seem like an obvious point but it is VERY important! To be sure it is not a scam, ensure that contact details are authentic and clearly displayed on the company website. Contact details may include their email address, telephone address and fiscal address. You can find the contact details for our wedding planner here: https://nataliaortizevents.com/contact/.

Here are 4 important tips for choosing a wedding planner. If you are unsure on the advantages of hiring a wedding planner (be sure, there are many!) visit this blog 10 reasons why should hire a wedding planner. It gives a detailed analysis of why you should hire a wedding planner. If you are interested in our services, you can write to us at: info@svadbavispanii.ru.

An open-air wedding in Buen Amor Castle – Tatiana y Thomy

21.08.201830.10.2018Leona BryanBlogLeave a comment

We organized a wedding which took place on the 31st of May in Salamanca for the beautiful couple Tatiana and Thomy. Tatiana is from Russia and she works in finance business and Thomy, from Peru is working as a chef. They live in the United States but decided to marry in Spain near to their closest ones so they contacted our office and asked for help in creating the wedding of their dreams.

It was a wedding in castle Buen Amor which is a magnificent building with towers and wide gardens where the ceremony took place. The castle has beautiful iron constructions which we decorated with white flowers and it turned out to be perfect for the romantic ceremony. We also had iron chairs decorated in the same way as the altar and it suited the castle’s medieval style well.

Tatiana was dressed up in the castle and, as you can see from the video, this moment was peaceful and full of happiness; she was like a real princess from a fairytale castle. Her wedding dress was light with a beautiful heart shaped neckline and some transparent fabric in it. She also had a belt with decorations and sleeves. It was amazing! She chose a romantic white and silver hair piece and her wedding bouquet had flowers in pink and mauve colors. Thomy was wearing a black and blue tuxedo with a white shirt and a bow tie. So the guests knew where the ceremony was, we had wooden signs with white characters. Wooden signs also acted as a beautiful decorations. The couple couldn’t have been happier at the end of their wedding in castle Buen Amor, it was exactly what they had been dreaming of.

Credits

Video: Buenas Photos
Organisation: Natalia Ortiz

The cost of a destination wedding

14.08.201830.10.2018Pilar RuizBlogLeave a comment

In this next post, we want to explain and detail the cost of a destination wedding, as we know it is hard to find this type of information when couples want to celebrate their wedding in a different country.

It is a difficult topic if you don’t know the specific requisites that are necessary to establish a base budget, but once you have one, everything will be a lot more simple and you will be able to enjoy the preparations.

Wedding beach ceremony in Alicante — Myriam y Hedger. Photography: Hanna Baranava / Organisation: Natalia Ortiz

Aspects to take into account if you are going to celebrate a destination regarding costs:

Firstly it is important to forget the idea that destination weddings are more expensive than other weddings. In fact, it’s usually the opposite: think – the number of guests will be smaller (not everyone is going to travel so many kilometres for a wedding of an acquaintance), and so the costs lower considerably.
As an intimate wedding, and thus more economical, you can dedicate more money to designing the wedding of your dreams: floral decoration, details for your guests, wedding dress or the selection of an exclusive location.
More than a wedding, it is a celebration that will last for several days, at least 2 or 3, and can be extended for up to a whole week. In this time you can do a whole host of actives with your loved ones, you can stay in an exclusive villa and enjoy an authentic holiday.
In relation to the previous point, you can organise your honeymoon in the same country as the wedding. You will start your honeymoon as soon as you get married, without worrying about bags and travelling the day after your big day.

Now that we have reviewed the advantages of organising a destination wedding, what do you say if we make a list to prepare the base budget? Let’s see point by point:

Locations for weddings

The first cost which you have to keep in mind is that of the location of the wedding. There are some which offer you a complete package with ceremony, banquet and party, and for others you are simply just charged rent.

Ceremony and banquet

For the latter case of location, in which you just pay rent, you have to organise the ceremony and the banquet. The price depends on if you are inside or outdoors, if there is anything to add or no decoration, and, above anything, the price of the menu per person for the banquet. Note: don’t forget to add the price of the wedding cake. We recommend 150g of cake per guest.

Female wedding — Julia y Alina. Photography: Olya Kobruseva / Wedding Planner: Natalia Ortiz

Rent

Being a destination wedding, the guests will need some sort of accommodation. If it is a small wedding, there are more options to enjoy your stay in a villa or a boutique hotel all together.

Music

Music is the fundamental element of the wedding entertainment and will be present in several different moments: ceremony, cocktails and banquet (optional) and dancing. You must think how important this aspect is for you and hire the musicians according to the style you want and the DJ hours that you will need.

Photography and video

What is more important than the memories of your wedding day? If there is something that you can’t skimp on, it´s the photography of your wedding. Take into account whether you want a video, there are some photography studios that also offer this service.

Wedding in Girona — Angelina y Sergei. Photography: Aljosa Petric / Organisation: Natalia Ortiz

Transport

On the one hand, you should add the price of transport for guests from your country to destination country, and on the other, from the airport to the place where you will celebrate the wedding. In Natalia Ortiz Weddings and Events we can hire a private plane with space for 50 people who will arrive all together.

Stationery

Regarding stationery you have to take into account the invitations, the menu, and the seating plan. Additionally, you have to add the card with directions to the location, dress code or even thank you cards.

Wedding weekend in Madrid — Wedding Silje y Thomas. Photographs: Alla Yachkulo of Buenas Photos / Wedding Planner: Natalia Ortiz

Styling

Although the dress comes with you from your country, on the day of the wedding you should hire a stylist who will do the makeup and hair of the bride and if you wish, of some of the family.

Decoration

The decoration of a wedding is very important since it will determine the style of the event. Some locations are already very decorative and reflect your own style, while others need more work. We recommend dividing the decoration into various points in the budget, dedicating most of it to floral design.

Wedding in Valencia — Wedding Anastasia and Richard. Photographs: Buenas Photos / Wedding planner: Natalia Ortiz

Wedding planner

And last but not least, the hiring of a wedding planner who knows the country where the wedding will be in detail, and who can help you with each and every one of the previous points so you only have to enjoy yourself. In addition, they could organise activities for the days before and after the wedding, as much for the couple as for the guests.

To know in more detail about the prices of each one of these services, you can visit this page or write to use at info.svadbavispanii.ru.

The best places to get married in the Costa del Sol

07.08.201830.10.2018Pilar RuizBlogLeave a comment

Spain is one of the most in-demand countries for couples to celebrate their destination wedding, and there is a definite area which is perfect for the dream wedding: the Costa del Sol. In Weddings and Events by Natalia Ortiz we have a lot of experience in this area of Spain, as we have carried out a lot of very special weddings here throughout the years, during which we have learnt a lot and gained more and more experience. As a result, although our headquarters are in Madrid, nowadays we have professional wedding planners in the Costa del Sol specialised in this area of the country who will help us with everything you need to make your wedding a success.

Wedding in Mallorca — Photograph: Sandra Mañas García / Wedding planner: Natalia Ortiz

Included in the countless advantages which the Costa del Sol offers, you will find:

A marvellous climate
A variety of beaches
Charming towns
All styles of villas and hotels for accommodation
Food

If you are thinking about celebrating your wedding in the Costa del Sol, keep reading as we will show you the best places to get married in this beautiful area of Spain:

Marbella

Marbella is a town in the province of Malaga and one of the most in-demand holiday destinations, due to its exclusive atmosphere, beautiful beaches and luxury hotels and villas. If you dream of a wedding on the beach, Marbella is the ideal place.

Malaga

One of the biggest advantages of Malaga is its international airport, so you can fly directly from nearly any part of the world. In addition, our wedding planners in the Costa del Sol have the possibility to offer you a small private plane so you and your guests can travel on the same plane.

Granada

Granada is one of the most historic cities in Andalucia, where you can find the emblematic Alhambra, a place which you won’t stop visiting, made up of palaces, gardens and fortresses, which served as accommodation for the monarch and the court of King nazari of Granada. Can you imagine celebrating your wedding with views of this special place? Our wedding planners in the Costa del Sol inform us of all of the places for weddings with views in which you can celebrate your wedding.

Additionally, Granada is a town with an infinite number of activities and sights to offer your guests, so it is an ideal place to organise the most complete weekend wedding.

Alhambra, Granada

Almeria

Pre-wedding photos are becoming more and more in fashion, because as well as being a precious memory, having them takes away any fear by knowing more about your wedding photographer, so that on your wedding day you can have fun without any type of tension. El Cabo de Gata in Almeria is a perfect place to organise a pre-wedding photoshoot.

Almeria has also been the scene of multiple Western films, and so we recommend reliving this era in a fun way: you could dress in Western clothes and take precious photos which become an original and unique memory.

Wedding planners in Costa — Cabo de Gata, Almería. Photograph: andalucia.org

And you, what place in the Costa del Sol would you choose for your wedding? Write to us at info@svadbavispanii.ru and together we can design the wedding of your dreams.

The advantages of celebrating your wedding in a hotel in Spain

31.07.201830.10.2018Pilar RuizBlogLeave a comment

When we imagine a hotel for weddings, inexplicably, a big hotel comes to mind, with hundreds of bedrooms and big lounges with a somewhat cold and impersonal atmosphere. For this reason, many couples reject this option when searching for wedding locations. However, we must not forget that in Spain there is a large number of hotels which are perfect to celebrate weddings with charm, specialised in unique weddings that are full of magic. In this post, we have given information so that you learn more about this type of hotel, and that you take them into account in the run up to your big day. I´m sure that we´re going to surprise you!

Wedding in San Sebastián — *Photography*: Buenas Photos / Wedding planner: Natalia Ortiz

To continue, let´s review the strong points and advantages that wedding hotels in Spain can offer us, which are not few and far between:

Reduction of costs:

There is a belief that open air weddings are cheaper, but this is not always the case. We must take into account the fact that open air spaces are not as well conditioned as an interior space and so it is necessary to hire other services: a tent for the sun or rain, furniture, catering, decoration… it all adds up, and in the long run increases the total cost.

Zero worries about the weather

One of the biggest worries of couples who decide to get married in the open air is the weather: will it rain? Will it be windy? Will it be too hot? None of this will cause worry if you celebrate your wedding in a hotel. Plus point!

Accommodation for guests

Another advantage of this type of hotel is that they include accommodation for guests. A big plus if we take into account that you won´t have to move at any time as the bedrooms are in the same hotel where you celebrate the wedding. It´s certain that boutique hotels have less bedrooms than tourist hotels, and in that case, your closest guests, such as family and friends, can always stay there.

Wedding in Tenerife — *Photography*: Kseniya Bunets / Organisation: Natalia Ortiz

Nature

Although the wedding is inside, most of these hotels for weddings in Spain have very well-kept and beautiful garden areas which, if the weather permits, you can always enjoy. Have a drink calmly admiring the views, a little aperitif before the banquet, a chill out corner, etc. Just because you are not celebrating your wedding outdoors doesn´t mean you can´t enjoy nature and gardens.

Services and installations

When celebrating your wedding in a hotel, you will have all of the necessary facilities for an event of such as this: services, air conditioning, heating and its own kitchen.

Decoration

It is not the same to have a space already decorated in a style that you like as to decorate an outdoor area, because decorating an outdoor area will always be more expensive since it is a blank canvas that must be designed. Therefore, you must choose a hotel that suits your taste, whether vintage, with modern touches, industrial … the possibilities are endless!

And as a picture is worth more than a thousand words, here are two of our most special projects, both carried out in hotels with a lot of charm, but of different styles.

On one hand, the Hotel Maria Cristina. It is a very emblematic hotel in the city of San Sebastian and the favourite destination for many Hollywood celebrities who went to spend their holidays at the start of the 20th century, in total luxury.

And, in contrast, here is our work carried out in the Torre del Visco, a boutique hotel situated in Teruel, with a lot of history. It is a restricted space as it has only 16 bedrooms, but has impressive charm. Additionally, it is immersed in nature.

Spring wedding in Torre del Visco — *Photography*: Buenas Photos / Wedding planner: Natalia Ortiz

As you can see, there is a large variety of wedding hotels in Spain, capable of harbouring your dream wedding as and when you want and, of course, with all the commodities. If you want to know more about the budget, advantages and options for this type of wedding, write to us at info@svadbavispanii.ru and we will show you all the possibilities. We will wait for you!

Celebrate your wedding in the North of Spain: the charm of the Basque Country

26.07.201830.10.2018Pilar RuizBlogLeave a comment

The Basque Country has something special. And we are not the ones saying that; everyone who visits this part of Spain (or most of them) falls in love with this region of Spain, with its inhabitants and its incredible landscapes. In short, it is a perfect place to celebrate a very special wedding. If you like the North of Spain, you cannot miss this next post, a practical guide that sums up perfectly why celebrating a wedding in the Basque Country may be the ideal choice.

Wedding in Basque Country — Photographs: Buenas Photos / Wedding planner: Natalia Ortiz

Let’s start as always, with the reasons that make this place idyllic:

A different landscape

Green, green, nothing but green. This is what you will see in the Basque Country, a truly leafy landscape. And this is one of the advantages that the rain abounds; that despite being summer, the landscape is still perfect. A day of sunshine here is lived and exploited much more than in other parts of Spain which are accustomed to good weather. If you decide to celebrate your wedding here, choose the summer to do so, you´ll have more chance to enjoy the perfect weather.

The sacred art

In he Basque Country there is a long history of religious tradition, and this can be seen through the countless churches that are found in this region, each one of them unique, authentic masterpieces that shelter sacred art,

Castles and wedding venues

If castles are the most beautiful buildings that exist, imagine a stone castle contrasting against an intense green landscape. This is what the castles of the Basque Country are like; unique places with a medieval and romantic atmosphere, the ideal enclave for a wonderful day like your wedding.

In addition to castles, there are a lot of emblematic buildings, perfect to celebrate your dream wedding, like the Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian, the favorite holiday destination of many Hollywood stars during the 20th century.

Its coast

Two of the 3 provinces of the Basque Country have a coastline, another plus. Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa have spectacular beaches, different from those of the Mediterranean coast : they have large cliffs and rocks that contrast with fine sand and a sea with strong waves, perfect if you love water sports. If you are looking for a wedding on the beach or with sea views, the Basque Country also offers you this option.

Food

And last but not least, the food stands out. The Basque Country is the cradle of the great chefs of the country, and it has Michelin star restaurants such as Arzak or Mugaritz. However, it is not necessary to go to a very expensive restaurant to taste the delicious dishes and specialties of the area, since all the restaurants take care of the quality of their food.

Dream venues to celebrate your wedding in the Basque Country

San Juan de Gastelugatxe

If you are fans of Game of Thrones, we are talking about Dragon Stone. One of the most spectacular places in Europe, an islet linked to the continent by two arches. It has a beautiful hermitage and the route to it is beautiful: a narrow path that goes from the mainland to the upper area, passing over the rocks and over a bridge. There are 241 steps, which are worth the climb to see the view.

El bosque de Oma

The artist Basauri Agustín Ibarrola turned this forest into a work of art, painting the trees and giving it a unique and incomparable atmosphere. We recommend this place to take spectacular pre-wedding photographs.

Churches

It is hard to choose, but below we recommend two of our favorite churches to celebrate a wedding in the Basque Country.

Catedral de Maria Inmaculada

This neo-gothic building is located in the city centre of Vitoria-Gasteiz, in front of a beautiful park. It is known as Catedral Nueva, inaugurated in 1969, and in this church unique weddings are celebrated, in its ship as well as in its crypt. You can see the gargoyles and the sculpture located in its interior.

Santuario de Urkiola

This sanctuary is one of the most worshipped in the region. This temple is located in an area immersed in nature, with amazing views of the Natural Park of Urkiola, and can be found in Abadino (Vizcaya).

As you can see, the Basque Country has so much to offer, incredible and original sites where you can celebrate an amazing wedding.

If you are thinking about celebrating your wedding in Basque Country, write to us at info@svadbavispanii.ru, and we will help you with everything necessary about the procedures, the best places depending on the wedding and style you are looking for, accommodation and plans for your guests.

A wedding with olive trees in Catalonia

24.07.201830.10.2018Pilar RuizBlogLeave a comment

On July 15th, the Russian couple Vladelina and Roman celebrated their dream wedding in Catalonia. Despite the fact that they have been a couple for 10 years, they decided to renew their vows with a romantic celebration in the Finca La Boella, located in Tarragona. This estate is dedicated to the production of olive oil and this inspired them. All of the wedding decoration, the bridal bouquet, the invitations, the girls´floral crowns and the boys´ boutonnieres were made out of olives leaves. The result was wonderful!

Vladelina wore a splendid dress with a vaporous fabric that she combined with a beautiful hairstyle and a veil cloak made out of lace as a unique and original detail. For her make up, the emphasis was on her eyes and her lips were natural. Roman wore a white shirt and a blue trouers. They looked so happy!

The ceremony took place in a patio with natural light, where wooden chairs were decorated with olive branches, and it was officiated by the couple´s friend, which was very emotional.

After, the guests enjoyed a cocktail and a banquet. And there was a big surprise : as a gift to the newlyweds, one of their close friends played his guitar. An emotional moment of the day! Vladelina changed for the dance and chose to wear a pink dress with floral details, very romantic.

It was a wedding that all the guests, both adults and kids, enjoyed, since the entertainers dressed in medieval costumes and prepared games such as a treasure hunt that took place in the cellar.

The fireworks were the perfect finale for this great wedding in Catalonia. We leave you with the fantastic photographs!

Credits

Photographs: Olya Kobruseva
Wedding Planner: Natalia Ortiz
Flower design: Floratelie
MUAH: Hair look style

Wedding traditions in Spain

19.07.201830.10.2018Pilar RuizBlogLeave a comment

One of the reasons why we are so passionate about weddings is that everyone is different, and their uniqueness increases even more depending on the country and culture of the person. This is something we have learnt from organizing destination and multicultural weddings, all of which have enriched us as professionals. So, it seemed an interesting idea to review for you the traditions of a wedding in Spain, for all those who wish to celebrate a destination wedding in this country. Who knows, maybe you will like one and incorporate it into your own wedding! Let’s start!

Wedding at church

In Spain getting married in church is traditional, although you can be certain that every civil wedding is made to measure and to the tastes of the bride and groom. If you are looking to celebrate a church wedding in Spain, you will easily find one that you will like since each town and village has churches, cathedrals and chapels, with a charm that will be perfect for your religious wedding.

Wedding in Madrid — Wedding of Teresa and Ernest in a church in Madrid. Photographs: Buenas Photos / Wedding Planner: Natalia Ortiz

Pre-marital courses

As we talk about church weddings, we can´t forget to mention in this post about the need, of which few are aware, when getting married religiously. You have to do a pre-marital course. It is a fundamental requirement and during which not only religious themes are mentioned but also your future life together which helps you in this commitment. Normally, classes can last several days a week, or if you prefer, all condensed into a weekend.

Wedding in Quinta de Illescas — Photographs: Tanya Vasiliuk / Organisation: Natalia Ortiz

Family name

A fact that might surprise you is that in Spain, unlike other countries, women do not take their husband´s family name but keep their own.

Guests

The average number of guests in Spain is between 100 and 200. If you are celebrating an intimate wedding in another country, you may find that it is a lot, but it is that it is not too many, nor too little. And you are still unsure, think of Hindu weddings, usually they have hundreds of guests! Another example of the differences between weddings depending on the country, religion and culture.

Gifts

The eternal question: what to give to the bride and groom? Will they prefer money or something more personal? What is happening more and more in Spain is to include your bank details on the invitations or on a website for your wedding in a nice way with a nice design.

But there are also other options, such as an online wedding list, where the bride and groom can display the items they would like and you can buy them (in a way it’s like giving money but in a more concrete, useful way), or gift them an experience for their honeymoon: a boat trip, a swim with dolphins, a romantic evening in a restaurant, etc.

Timing

Weddings in Spain begin with the ceremony, where the bride and groom say their vows, followed by a cocktail and a grand banquet that normally lasts for hours but, unlike other countries such as Russia, there are no shows between the dishes, nor the traditional Russian showman, the guests simply enjoy the food and converse. At most there will be toasts or small speeches from selected guests, the delivery of the cake to the newlyweds, or something similar.

In Spain, it is traditional for the couple, at lunch or dinner time, to get up and walk around the tables to greet their guests and, sometimes, offer them a gift to remember their wedding. In the post gift ideas we give you some tips to choose the right one of your wedding.

If you want to know more about the timings of a wedding in Spain, you can read this post. You will find all the details.

What do you think of these traditions of a wedding in Spain? You probably already know some but you may discover others. As always, we advise you to choose the traditions that define you the most and that adapt to your needs and tastes. We are available at info@svadbavispanii.ru to answer all your doubts about the traditions of a wedding in Spain and to give you the best advice to organize one.

Wedding weekend in Madrid

17.07.201830.10.2018Pilar RuizBlogLeave a comment

Thomas and Silje have decided to celebrate a fantastic weekend wedding in Madrid, as they love the city and in summer, it´s magical. They travelled here with 10 family members and friends to celebrate an intimate, very touching wedding, and it was two busy days.

The Friday was the wedding day, which started with a photoshoot in the beautiful rooftop of the hotel where they were staying. Silje wore a beautiful dress, with spectacular movement, a V neckline and a splendid hairdo. The back and top of the dress were decorated with delicate sparkles. She completed the look with a white bridal bouquet.

The wedding was celebrated in the Embassy of Norway, located in the center of Madrid, surrounded by their loved ones. The reception was in a restaurant and they spent the afternoon walking around the city, finishing with a supper that they really enjoyed. A very busy day!

The next day the party carried on, starting with breakfast and followed with an exploration of the city. The best part? They went to a flamenco show and a masterclass, something they had wanted to do for a very long time and they were very happy with it.

This weekend wedding in Madrid could not have been more complete, full of activities and a very special celebration. The type of wedding that lasts two or three days are becoming more trendy, think about it for your wedding!

Credits:

Photographs: Alla Yachkulo Buenas Photos
Organization: Natalia Ortiz
Flowers: L’ Atelier de las Flores

Love Story in Madrid – Raul and Yulia

12.07.201830.10.2018Pilar RuizBlogLeave a comment

Raul and Yulia are a lovely couple who will soon say “I do”. She is from Russia, works as a vet and enjoys playing the piano. Raúl is Spanish and works in the world of finance, and he is passionate about writing. They both decided to take these romantic photos before the wedding, which resulted in a beautiful Love Story in Madrid. Here are some beautiful pictures of the couple in the most emblematic streets of the city, for which they chose matching styles in black and white. Her, with a beautiful white dress and original black boots with silver studs: a very rock style. And him, with black trousers and a white shirt. We leave you with the result, their smiles say everything!

Credits:

Photography: Tanya Vasiliuk
Organisation: Natalia Ortiz