Some weddings stay with you long after you've delivered the gallery. Ruben and Lucinde's did. Three days in the south of Spain, the scent of lemons in the warm April air, and a love that was impossible not to photograph.
Karl and I arrived a week early — partly to prepare, partly because Alicante in spring deserves more than a rushed arrival. Good food, golden sunshine, and the kind of slow mornings that remind you why you love this work. By the time the wedding weekend began, we were ready. Karl joined as second shooter, which meant more angles, more moments, and nothing slipping through the cracks.
The first time I met Ruben and Lucinde in real life was a love shoot through the streets of Elx. Historic, beautiful, and surprisingly easy. They were natural together from the first frame — the kind of couple who don't need direction, just a little space to be themselves.
That evening we all gathered at Finca La Vuelta, where the couple was staying with their closest family and friends. A poolside get-together, no swimming, the water was still too cold for that, but plenty of sunshine, paella, and a Flamenco workshop that had everyone moving and laughing. And then, somewhere between the speeches, Ruben and Lucinde shared some news. A baby on the way. The kind of announcement that turns a lovely evening into something nobody will forget for a very long time.
The morning was warm, just right. We started with the details — jewellery, dress, the quiet moments before everything begins. Getting ready happened in separate rooms, each with its own atmosphere and light.
The first look took place at the pool, surrounded by their closest people. Everyone cried. Everyone cheered. They both looked stunning, and that moment — the way they saw each other — is one I won't forget.
From there we made our way to a harbour nearby and down toward the beach for portraits. The light was generous, the locations were beautiful, and Ruben and Lucinde made it effortless.
The ceremony took place beneath a canopy of lemon trees, with that full Spanish sun doing exactly what it wanted. Officiating was René of Things of Love, whose words carried exactly the kind of warmth this couple deserved: personal, unhurried, and real. The rings came from Rings of Love, a gift from Lucinde's mother, and carried to the couple by their little niece. Small hands, big moment. By the time those rings were exchanged, there wasn't a dry eye under those trees.
Agnes of Cake Queen flew all the way from the Netherlands for this, and the moment guests spotted her sweet table, they understood why. The cake was stunning, the sweets were extraordinary, and everything had been crafted with the kind of care that turns dessert into an experience. It was one of those tables people circled back to, more than once, without apology.
The dinner setting was something else entirely. Long tables dressed with intention, personalised oyster shells, fresh lemons, and flowers that felt gathered rather than arranged. The food was delicious, the evening light was golden, and the speeches were the kind that stop the room. Emotional, honest, funny in all the right places. The sort of words you write down later because you don't want to forget them.
Then came the dancing. Their opening dance set the tone immediately, choreographed, joyful, completely them. And the singer? He owned that room. Song after song, he kept the energy exactly where it needed to be, and nobody wanted to sit down. The kind of party that runs long and feels too short.
The next morning we headed to Armonia Beach Club in Murcia for an after-wedding shoot, and Lucinde came prepared with a second dress. The wind had other ideas. It was relentless, dramatic, and honestly perfect. They laughed through every gust, and when the moment came to wade into the ocean, they didn't hesitate for a second. Cold water, wild hair, pure joy. They looked absolutely stunning, and these frames might be some of my favourites from the entire trip. A beautiful, unscripted ending to an unforgettable week.
If you're dreaming of a place that takes your breath away, I would love to be the one to capture it.
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