A Birthday & Wedding Celebration at Cortijo Rosa Blanca in Marbella

Laura Charles
2 days ago
5 min read

We love celebrations and what better than a wedding and a birthday celebration rolled into one yet it wasn’t planned, it was fate!

Jade and Alex’s wedding in the hills of southern Spain was the perfect mix of romance and family with a few unexpected guests! Read on to find out more!

Let us take you behind the scenes of this beautiful wedding at the stunning Cortijo Blanca Rosa captured by Agata Jensen.

From a School Romance to a Dream Wedding in Spain

Having met at school, Jade & Alex have been together for 14 years and always imagined saying ‘I do’ somewhere sunny. Jade has been coming to Spain since her childhood and since they met they have spent many lovely holidays here so it became the obvious choice for their wedding in the sunshine. Here Jade shares all the details of planning their destination wedding in Marbella.

The Wedding Proposal

Alex had planned the ultimate surprise proposal, calling Jade’s boss to secretly book her time off work and whisking her away to their favourite spa hotel, Grantley Hall, where they’ve celebrated anniversaries and birthdays over the years.

But just before the planned proposal, Jade caught Covid over the Christmas and they had to reschedule. All Alex’s surprises had to be changed to their new date, stressful! To make the moment even more memorable, Jade also found out she was pregnant.

When they finally arrived, everything was extra special and of course now had so much more meaning. On a romantic walk through the hotel’s gardens, Alex led Jade into a little garden room lit with fairy lights and as she turned around, he was down on one knee with a ring. They spent the weekend celebrating not just their engagement but now a baby on the way too, it was a perfect weekend and they were thoroughly spoilt. Now it was time to plan their wedding.

Why Did You Choose Spain for Your Wedding?

“Spain has always been special to us,” Jade says. “I’ve been visiting since I was a child, and we’ve come here as a couple throughout our relationship. We even brought Harley here when he was just 10 months old.”

When they started searching for venues, Jade was literally in her hospital bed one week before giving birth! That’s when she found Cortijo Rosa Blanca, and it was love at first sight. “The venue was perfect. We loved that we could stay there, use the pool and gardens, and that it had an animal sanctuary. Also Rachel and the team being English really reassured us from a planning point of view.”

With only two dates left at the Cortijo Rosa Blanca for 2025, Jade had to make a quick decision choosing to get married on her birthday as she knew one of her close friends couldn’t do the other date and they didn’t want to let the last date go!

Planning the Wedding

Jade & Alex spent 18 months planning their wedding and pulled it all together with the help of their brilliant planner Rebecca and the venue’s coordinator Laura.

Some of the trickier logistics included transporting all the personal touches such as gift bags for bridesmaids, groomsmen, and children. Extra suitcases were packed with decorations and of course making sure their wedding outfits, rings, and important items never left their sight during the flight over.

“The biggest challenge was making sure our guests had a smooth experience once in Spain,” Jade says “Cortijo Rosa Blanca is in a slightly inland location, so we arranged all the guests transport with the help of Rebecca and Laura, who were amazing.”

The Wedding Theme & Details

Jade & Alex have always loved the soft natural linen look so their colour palette was a linen paired with sage green, a fresh, timeless theme and perfect for a summer wedding in the Andalusian countryside.

The bridesmaids wore sage green gowns by Pretty Lavish, and the groomsmen wore suits from Next while Alex stood out in Hugo Boss.

Jade wore a gorgeous gown by Victoria Lou and the couple kept their wedding elegant and understated, with simple florals and stationery.

The Wedding Ceremony

Guests were greeted with iced homemade lemonade and the ceremony took place outdoors beside the cocktail lawn, with live Spanish guitar music setting the mood.

Jade’s bridal party entrance song was “Can’t Help Falling in Love” followed by her entrance with her father “A Thousand Years”. Jade & Alex’s exit song was “This Will Be an Everlasting Love”.

They made the ceremony personal with their own vows, a lovely reading by Alex’s sister Vicky, and a sweet moment where they said “I do” in Spanish taught by their lovely celebrant Natasha.

But not everything went to plan! Just as the ceremony began, guests noticed a few uninvited guests, there were two wasps trapped in Jade’s dress lining! “They were flying around me as I walked down the aisle, I think they had taken a liking to my perfume!

Thankfully Natasha noticed what was going on so the ceremony was paused while everyone tried to get them out. “Luckily I didn’t get stung, but it definitely broke the ice!”

The Wedding Reception

After the ceremony, guests enjoyed canapés and drinks including two of Jade & Alex’s favourite drinks, Aperol Spritz and mojitos whilst being serenaded by the guitar.

A three-course dinner was served, followed by a cake station, and then came one of the highlights of the day.

“The champagne tower moment was magic,” Jade says. “We were pouring the champagne while everyone was singing, our saxophonist played ‘A Sky Full of Stars,’ and then the cold fireworks went off behind us. It was pure joy.”

Their first dance was “You’re Still the One” by Teddy Swims, a perfect track for a couple who’ve grown up together.

The music continued with a live DJ and saxophonist who also returned the next day for their pool party.

Do you have any Special Moments you will always Remember?

Apart from the champagne tower and fireworks, Jade’s favourite memory is when their little boy Harley walked into the bridal suite carrying her birthday and wedding gift from Alex. “It was such a sweet moment. And seeing him walk down the aisle later brought tears to Alex’s eyes.”

What is your Wedding Advice?

Planning a destination wedding with a toddler in tow is no small feat, but Jade and Alex say it was worth every second. Their advice?

“Don’t let the little things stress you out. There may have been wasps but it turned out to be a memorable moment! Also invest in a great planner, we couldn’t have done it without Rebecca and Laura.”

A huge congratulations to Jade & Alex and we wish you a lifetime of more fun memories, preferably without wasps!