A Relaxed Destination Wedding in a finca close to Capdepera

A destination wedding on the beautiful island of Mallorca with a couple who are so in love – what more could I ask for?  It was obvious from the first moment I met with Carrie-Ann and Fraser at the family finca located just outside the small town of Capdepera that this was the case.  The finca’s beautiful garden was to be the venue for the wedding, so besides having a chat about the arrangements for the day it was also a great opportunity to meet the family and spend some time together on a pre-wedding shoot.  I was so looking forward to being their Mallorca wedding photographer in a few days time.

So around mid-afternoon on the following Saturday, I met up with the bridal party at the fabulous Hotel Sant Salvador in Arta, a town located about a 15 minute drive from the finca.  By then, the hair and make-up was in full swing with Carrie-Ann being pampered in front of an open window in the bathroom and the bridesmaids putting the finishing touches to their own make-up.  This gave me a great opportunity to take a few documentary shots of the preparations and the beautiful wedding dress.  

I particularly love to photograph this time as you feel the sense of excitement and anticipation build.  Everyone is so happy, particularly when the time comes to open the champagne!  But I’m also aware that these are special moments that the groom will only get to experience through those photos.

They do say that it’s the brides prerogative to arrive late but on this occasion it wasn’t planned.  By all accounts the taxi with the bridesmaids on board headed off to another part of the island with Carrie-Ann and her mum in hot pursuit in the bridal car.  As you can imagine, it took some time before they were all back on course and heading to Finca Amoyana for the ceremony but eventually the bridal car, a white Volkswagen Beetle convertible, slowly turned in to the lane.  Then everything started to happen quickly.  Within a few minutes the bridal party were walking up the garden towards the pool area with Fraser beaming as he watched his beautiful bride approaching.

The light changed so much during the service with the sun bursting through the clouds one minute and then dark storm clouds and rain the next, but I guess that just added to the drama of the occasion.  This was mirrored by the emotion you could feel during the ceremony.  There were times when you could see it was difficult for Carrie-Ann to speak, such is her love for Fraser.  Other times the bridesmaids were smiling one moment and holding back the tears the next, such was the significance of their friends marriage to them.  Those are the weddings I absolutely love.

‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ started to play as the wedding finished with Carrie-Ann and Fraser breaking in to a spontaneous dance of happiness accompanied by applause from friends and family. By now the storm clouds had scattered and blue skies appeared so everyone could now spill in to the garden for drinks and canapés.  Then a few photos of the newlyweds in the open-top Beetle before the chauffeur departed, the groups shots and then the tossing of the bouquet.  I don’t think I’ve ever since one thrown so high and far before as it practically cleared the whole assembled group of patiently waiting ladies.

With the sun now setting behind the distant rolling hills, the guests spent the rest of the evening in a marquee at the bottom of the garden where the wedding breakfast was served to the wonderful guitar playing of the Muntaner Duo.   With the speeches over, Carrie-Ann was treated to dancing with a relative appearing as an Elvis impersonator and then we were soon on to Oasis’ ‘I’m Outta Time’ for the first dance.

We left this wonderful destination wedding around 1 am. The party was still in full swing with disco sounds pumping down the valley.  It was a really fabulous day and a tremendous privilege to be a part of it.  Thank you!  

I wish Carrie-Ann and Fraser every happiness for their future together.

Please take a peek at a shortened version of Carrie-Ann and Fraser’s wedding slideshow on Vimeo – Mallorca wedding in Capdepera

If you love these photographs too and would like to consider me as your destination wedding photographer then please get in touch and let’s see if we can capture your day too…