A Contemporary Spanish Romance: Alexandra & Duncan's Elegant Wedding at Finca Marques de Montemolar

Love Story

The path to true love often takes unexpected turns, and for Alexandra and Duncan, it was a tale of two chapters. Their story began at the University of Lincoln,where fate played a delightful game of near-misses. "I remember searching him on Facebook (sad I know!) and thinking WOW HE’S HOT!" Alexandra recalls with charming candor, though at the time, their paths were destined to remain parallel but separate.

Years later, a serendipitous Facebook message changed everything. "Are you on a train to London, I’m sure I have just seen you," Duncan wrote, mistaking someone else for Alexandra. This fortuitous case of mistaken identity sparked a conversation that would lead to one of the most spontaneous first dates imaginable. “I remember feeling at ease with him, he was so easy to talk to, very attractive and we had so much fun,” Alexandra recalls. “They say when you know, you know and I knew that he was my perfect match.”

Seven and a half years later, Duncan orchestrated an elaborate proposal in Altea, Spain, his second home. Through a comedy of errors involving boat troubles and seasickness, he finally found the perfect moment against the backdrop of Calpe Rock. Alexandra remembers the surreal moment with crystal clarity: "I remember saying ‘Are you being serious?’ multiple times as I wasn’t sure whether what I thought was happening was actually happening!"

When envisioning their perfect day, Alexandra and Duncan knew their hearts belonged to Spain. "The vision for the wedding was always to have it abroad in Spain as Duncan spent part of his childhood living there," the couple shares. Their choice of Altea wasn't merely geographical – it was deeply personal, marking the spot where their engagement story unfolded against the Mediterranean horizon.

The stunning Finca Marques de Montemolar would become their canvas for creating an intimate celebration with 75 of their closest loved ones. Their aesthetic vision was crystal clear from the start: "minimalist, contemporary and elegant. Think black and white with a hint of pearls," Alexandra describes, her eyes lighting up as she recalls the planning process that began almost immediately after their August 2022 engagement.

Drawing inspiration from countless hours of Pinterest exploration, Alexandra channeled her creative energy into crafting detailed mood boards for each element of their celebration. The result was a sophisticated fusion of modern minimalism and timeless romance,where every element told a story.

Morning details

The delicate artistry of their wedding day began long before the sun rose over Altea, woven into every carefully crafted detail that would tell their story. Alexandra, with her natural creative flair, took on the role of designer for their entire wedding suite.

The symbolism of their chosen rings speaks volumes about their individual styles merging into one unified vision. Alexandra selected a band of understated elegance – a delicate circle of gold designed to dance in perfect harmony with her bespoke engagement ring, a stunning creation from London Diamonds that Duncan had thoughtfully designed himself. Duncan's choice of wedding band reveals the depth of meaning they invested in every detail. Though not typically one to wear jewelry, he sought something extraordinary to mark this momentous occasion. His selection of the iconic Cartier LOVE ring wasn't just about matching Alexandra's gold band – it was a statement of permanence, a tangible symbol of their enduring commitment.

Each piece of stationery that emerged from Alexandra's creative process was infused with their signature style of minimalist elegance. These weren't mere paper goods; they were the first glimpses their guests would have of the sophisticated celebration to come, each piece a chapter in the story of their day.

Bride getting ready

On the morning of her wedding, Alexandra was a vision of bridal bliss, surrounded by the women who meant the most to her. The preparation took place in the serene surroundings of Cap Negret, Altea,where the gentle morning light complemented the excited buzz of the room.

Alexandra's wedding dress, a breathtaking creation by Enzoani named Raissa, was the centerpiece of her bridal ensemble. After visiting three bridal shops and trying on about thirty dresses, she found 'the one' at The White Boutique in Warwick, England. "When I tried on Raissa I knew straight away that she was the one!" Alexandra shared, her eyes lighting up at the memory.

The dress itself came with a cape, but wanting to personalize her look, Alexandra worked with her seamstress to remove the lace from the cape and intricately hand-stitch it onto her veil, creating a unique piece that spoke to her creative spirit. To further personalize her attire, she hand-stitched pearls onto the front of her shoes, bought from Asos, following a specific pattern she envisioned. Her earrings, delicate and elegant, were chosen from Etsy.

Her bouquet was an artful arrangement of roses, peonies, and gypsophila, crafted by Esencia Floral, adding a floral exclamation point to her bridal look. In the company of her mother, Maid of Honor, her five bridesmaids, and two makeup artists, Alexandra's getting ready phase was not just about dressing up but a cherished ritual of bonding and beauty. The bridesmaids, dressed by Asos Design, complemented the elegance and style of the day.

Groom getting ready

Duncan prepared for the day at Cap Negret alongside his groomsmen, cutting a dashing figure in his Hugo Boss tuxedo. The morning was made especially poignant by the presence of his mother, Kathleen Barry, and the meaningful detail of wearing his late father's engraved wedding ring.

Ceremony

The ceremony, held at the enchanting Finca Marqués de Montemolar, was a picturesque scene straight out of a dream. As Alexandra walked down the aisle, the melodic strains of "Turning Page" by Daniel Jang filled the air, setting a profoundly romantic tone for the proceedings. The couple chose not to have flower girls but designated Duncan’s best man, Nicolas Pflasterer, as the ring bearer, adding a personal touch to their special day.

One of the most touching aspects of their ceremony was the Celtic hand binding, a nod to ancient traditions symbolizing the binding together of their lives. The ribbon used for the binding was a light dusky pink, carefully selected to complement the wedding's overall color scheme and aesthetic.

Memorable moments were abundant. Alexa’s bridesmaid, Amy, delivered a heartfelt poem she had penned for the occasion. Following Amy, Duncan's sister Caroline performed a reading chosen specifically for her. “It was very emotional,” the couple admits.

Photoshoot after the ceremony

The couple's vision for editorial-style photography came to life in the ceremony area's breathtaking views. "It was very spacious and we had a picture on the stairs with our wedding party, which screamed editorial which was the exact vibe we were going for," Alexandra notes.

Wedding Venue & Decor

The venue, Finca Marques de Montemolar, was chosen with a heart full of memories and a vision of elegance. Located in Altea, the place held a special significance as it was close to where Duncan proposed, making it an undeniable choice for their wedding. "We found the venue on Instagram after searching 'Altea' due to Duncan proposing there and when we looked around it we fell in love. It was the only venue we looked at!" Alexandra explained.

The color palette was meticulously selected to reflect the couple's refined tastes—black and white with hints of pink. This choice rendered the setting both timeless and elegant. The wedding stationery adhered to this theme with sleek black-and-white designs. The bridesmaid dresses in blush pink and the floral arrangements featuring white flowers with sporadic pink blooms perfectly complemented the overall aesthetic.

Personal touches were woven throughout the decor, adding depth and sentiment to the day. Alexa's bouquet had part of her Grandma Shirley's wedding crown and her Grandma Vera's pearl earrings which meant a lot to her. Similarly, Duncan wore his late father's wedding ring, engraved with his initials, a poignant reminder of his presence on their special day.

These elements not only beautified the venue but also infused it with personal history and love, making every corner of the space deeply significant to Alexandra and Duncan.

Reception

The reception of Alexandra and Duncan’s wedding was a beautifully orchestrated celebration of their love, set against the scenic backdrop of Finca Marques de Montemolar. Their first dance was to Paramore’s “Only Exception,” a song that holds significant meaning for the couple, symbolizing their unique journey together.

The culinary experience was a highlight, carefully curated to offer guests a taste of luxury and uniqueness. “We settled on a contemporary chicken ceaser salad and prawn cocktail as two separate starters, a passion fruit sorbet, and seabass for the main followed by a vanilla swiss role with mango passion fruit sauce," Alexandra detailed. The cocktail hour featured a wide assortment of canapés, providing a perfect opportunity for guests to mingle and savor the delights. The wedding cake, a creation of Caperucita Cupcakes, was as delicious as it was visually stunning, perfectly fitting into the elegant theme of the wedding.

A particularly cinematic moment that stood out was the entrance to their banquet. Alexandra described it vividly: "We had our wedding party (groomsmen and bridesmaids) enter into the banquet which was outside, through the Finca's front doors to the song Reload by Sebastian Ingrosso, and then we came out on the balcony on the top floor of the old Finca before heading down the stairs and entering out the front of the Finca to everyone swinging their napkins, it was all very surreal and felt like a scene out of a film."

The couple had nothing but praise for their wedding vendors, who played pivotal roles in bringing their vision to life. "Everyone was amazing! We honestly couldn't have done it without Yolanda our AMAZING wedding planner, from the first video call we had with her we knew we wanted her to help us plan our wedding and she did not disappoint, she was so cool calm, and collective and if we were to do it all over again I would book her again in a heartbeat!" Alexandra gushed. "Our photographer Alex was just something else, he was so easy to work with and made our vision come to life as we wanted some editorial shots which he created perfectly! Matt our videographer was insane!! We flew him out from the UK as we fell in love with his work and had to have him capture our wedding and he did just that and more. The flowers were incredible and exactly what we asked for, Monica who is local to Altea, brought our vision to life. The DJ was just insane, Duncan was very preoccupied by finding the right DJ, as Spanish music taste is different to English, and we have quite an eclectic music taste, from Sum41 to Deadmau5 to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but Javivi managed it perfectly and kept the crowd going until 4am, we can't thank him enough."

Alexandra and Duncan’s reception was not just a celebration, but a testament to the meticulous planning and heartfelt contributions of every person involved, making it an unforgettable chapter in their love story. “All of our guests said it was the best wedding they had been to and it was all like something out of a movie.”