I can’t believe it’s been two weeks already since we had our first wedding here in the hotel; that was on Saturday 17 May, two weeks to the day already. The hotel was full of family and friends that came as far away as Amsterdam and New York City to attend the nuptials. It was a special wedding being performed by the mayor of Juzcar in Ronda at the Palacio Mondragon.
It all began with the arrival of the parents a few days before the actual day. Soon after, other family members and close friends began arriving. On Friday evening, there was a delicious paella prepared by Ivan’s mother, made by special request of the guests. On Saturday morning, after the remainder of the guests arrived from central Spain, Mojitos cocktails were prepared and quickly consumed as the group all sat on the pool terrace, children in the pool and a b-b-q in the making. There were pork brochettes, grilled big shrimp, filets of panga in tomato sauce, a huge pasta salad, grilled pork filets and more Mojitos. Ivan had decorated the terrace for the event so it was very festive with coloured lanterns and flags waving over head in the light spring breeze, bright and sunny as well.
After the meal, things quieted down as they all went to prepare for the early evening ceremony. The bus arrived at 5.15 to take the group off to Ronda. The Juzcar mayor arrived at 5.30 and then they began coming down in their fancy dress. The groom was wearing a black suit with a gold vest, cravat and shiny black shoes. The other groom (yes indeed, it was two grooms marrying) was wearing a double breasted black diner suit, burgundy hounds tooth bow tie with braces showing the Statue of Liberty; both had a white flower in their lapels. The cameras were flashing away and then they all headed into the bus which someone in the village had decorated with white and pink streamers looking very festive and wedding-like.
When they arrived at the Plaza Duquesa de Parcent in Ronda’s historic old town, there were preparations for the Romeria which was happening that evening as well; this meant girls in Sevillana dresses, horse drawn carts, bulls, and a full Spanish procession in the making. Cameras were flashing again as the group headed to Carmen la de Ronda, a Tapas bar, a for a quick drink before heading to the Palacio Mondragon for the ceremony. Upon arrival there, the photographer started doing his thing. The flowers they ordered were there on a table in front of four chairs for the bridal couple and their respective witnesses in the Patio Mujudare. The ceremony began, by Don David, the Mayor of Juzcar. He read a nice piece he had prepared and then the commitment part of the ceremony. While this was going, tourists started accumulating off to the side. And then there was the exchange of rings and the pronouncement of a wedded couple and the cheers and applauds from the invited guests and tourists was very cheerful. Again the cameras were flashing. Off to the gardens for photos and then off they went to the bus to then head to the restaurant with breathtaking views of Ronda as the backdrop.
A festive dinner ensued and then they returned to the hotel on the bus. Ivan had made the wedding cake, chocolate orange covered in white chocolate and sugar flowers. Here’s a photo:
Dancing and drinks followed until they had to go to bed at about 4AM. Some of the guests were to head out on a train from Ronda at 10Am the next morning and so wanted at least a couple of hours sleep before heading out. The others all got a good lie in. The following day was not nearly as nice in terms of the weather. Cloudy, windy, a bit wet and cool. But the next day, after another one of the guests departed, the rest of them went off to Seville for the day, a wet cloudy day to start but turned into a bright sunny day in Seville.
All in all, it was a memorable and special wedding party. All danced, ate, drank, toasted, and merrily celebrated a very festive and special event.
We have another wedding scheduled for September as well, a mixed couple, English & Spanish. Ivan is making their cake as well and they have guests coming from the UK so it should be another festive and happy event.
It all began with the arrival of the parents a few days before the actual day. Soon after, other family members and close friends began arriving. On Friday evening, there was a delicious paella prepared by Ivan’s mother, made by special request of the guests. On Saturday morning, after the remainder of the guests arrived from central Spain, Mojitos cocktails were prepared and quickly consumed as the group all sat on the pool terrace, children in the pool and a b-b-q in the making. There were pork brochettes, grilled big shrimp, filets of panga in tomato sauce, a huge pasta salad, grilled pork filets and more Mojitos. Ivan had decorated the terrace for the event so it was very festive with coloured lanterns and flags waving over head in the light spring breeze, bright and sunny as well.
After the meal, things quieted down as they all went to prepare for the early evening ceremony. The bus arrived at 5.15 to take the group off to Ronda. The Juzcar mayor arrived at 5.30 and then they began coming down in their fancy dress. The groom was wearing a black suit with a gold vest, cravat and shiny black shoes. The other groom (yes indeed, it was two grooms marrying) was wearing a double breasted black diner suit, burgundy hounds tooth bow tie with braces showing the Statue of Liberty; both had a white flower in their lapels. The cameras were flashing away and then they all headed into the bus which someone in the village had decorated with white and pink streamers looking very festive and wedding-like.
When they arrived at the Plaza Duquesa de Parcent in Ronda’s historic old town, there were preparations for the Romeria which was happening that evening as well; this meant girls in Sevillana dresses, horse drawn carts, bulls, and a full Spanish procession in the making. Cameras were flashing again as the group headed to Carmen la de Ronda, a Tapas bar, a for a quick drink before heading to the Palacio Mondragon for the ceremony. Upon arrival there, the photographer started doing his thing. The flowers they ordered were there on a table in front of four chairs for the bridal couple and their respective witnesses in the Patio Mujudare. The ceremony began, by Don David, the Mayor of Juzcar. He read a nice piece he had prepared and then the commitment part of the ceremony. While this was going, tourists started accumulating off to the side. And then there was the exchange of rings and the pronouncement of a wedded couple and the cheers and applauds from the invited guests and tourists was very cheerful. Again the cameras were flashing. Off to the gardens for photos and then off they went to the bus to then head to the restaurant with breathtaking views of Ronda as the backdrop.
A festive dinner ensued and then they returned to the hotel on the bus. Ivan had made the wedding cake, chocolate orange covered in white chocolate and sugar flowers. Here’s a photo:
Dancing and drinks followed until they had to go to bed at about 4AM. Some of the guests were to head out on a train from Ronda at 10Am the next morning and so wanted at least a couple of hours sleep before heading out. The others all got a good lie in. The following day was not nearly as nice in terms of the weather. Cloudy, windy, a bit wet and cool. But the next day, after another one of the guests departed, the rest of them went off to Seville for the day, a wet cloudy day to start but turned into a bright sunny day in Seville.
All in all, it was a memorable and special wedding party. All danced, ate, drank, toasted, and merrily celebrated a very festive and special event.
We have another wedding scheduled for September as well, a mixed couple, English & Spanish. Ivan is making their cake as well and they have guests coming from the UK so it should be another festive and happy event.
