The moment I stepped foot in Cigarral de las Mercedes, I immediately had my breath taken away. There are some wedding venues where you arrive and immediately understand why the couple chose it, and this was one of those places.
I remember walking around the grounds thinking that every time I turned a corner, the venue somehow became even better. Just when I thought I’d found my favourite spot, another view opened up. Ivy-covered walls, old stone buildings, fountains, perfectly kept gardens and, almost unexpectedly, Toledo stretching out across the horizon. It felt like every direction offered another photograph waiting to happen.
But what made Natasha and Reece’s wedding unforgettable wasn’t just where it happened. It was how they chose to experience it. Rather than squeezing everything into one busy day, they turned it into a full wedding weekend where everyone had time to settle in, slow down and simply enjoy being together.
Video - By Jonas Films | www.byjonasfilms.com
Welcome drinks at Cigarral de las Mercedes
The celebrations began the evening before the wedding, in the part of the venue overlooking the lake.
To paint a picture, I walked along a path lined with tall bushes and, as I turned the corner, the view suddenly opened up. The lake, the fountain catching the light, fairy lights beginning to glow and the evening sun reflecting across the water stopped me in my tracks. It genuinely felt like one of those places that almost doesn’t seem real.
As guests slowly appeared from their rooms, drinks in hand, the whole atmosphere felt wonderfully unhurried. Nobody was checking watches or worrying about timelines just yet. Everyone was in holiday mode, and it felt that way. More than anything, it felt as if I’d been invited to join a family on their holiday, and that’s exactly the feeling you want to have. Everyone was simply happy, enjoying the food, the drinks and each other’s company.
On top of what already looked magical, acoustic guitar music drifted across the terrace while conversations carried on long after dinner, and the Spanish sun seemed determined to stay for us just a little longer.
I took Natasha and Reece away for a few portraits while everyone else continued chatting. By the time the wedding day arrived, the camera already felt familiar. They trusted me, knew what to expect and could simply enjoy each other without thinking about where I was standing. Looking back at those photographs now, I genuinely believe that little bit of time together the evening before helped everything feel so much more natural the next day.
It almost felt like a big family holiday that just happened to have a wedding in the middle, and I got to capture it for them to remember for years to come.
A relaxed wedding morning under the Toledo sun in Spain
The next morning felt like two completely different stories unfolding at the same time.
The boys headed to the golf course.
I’m not sure anyone managed to finish a hole without someone interrupting them with a bit of silly banter first. Every shot came with commentary from the rest of the group, followed almost immediately by laughter or everyone intensely watching the ball before laughing at the slightest mishap. At one point they were even asked to split into smaller groups because apparently there were simply too many of them together. They looked like trouble, not going to lie, but only in the way a group of lifelong friends usually does.
I photographed a few planned moments of them playing, but my favourite images came from everything in between. The jokes, the conversations, the reactions and the constant laughter told the story far better than any perfectly posed photograph could.
Meanwhile, the girls and a few other family members had absolutely no interest in golf.
They were by the pool with Aperol Spritzes, gin and tonics, swimsuits and nowhere they needed to be for another few hours. Feet dipped into the water, drinks balanced on the edge of the pool and plenty of laughter as we took a few relaxed photographs together before turning it into a much more playful little photoshoot.
Nobody was watching the clock just yet, and I think that’s exactly how a destination wedding morning should feel.
Those earlier hours are an important part of a wedding weekend like theirs. Before dresses, before speeches and before emotions take over, everyone is simply enjoying being exactly where they are, relaxed and surrounded by the people they love.
An outdoor wedding ceremony overlooking Toledo
The ceremony took place beneath an enormous old tree overlooking Toledo, and somehow the view managed to compete with everything else around it.
The energy around them was more beautiful than the view itself, if that is even possible. And somehow, beneath that old tree, it really was.
Natasha walked down the aisle with her dad, and it quickly became obvious that this wasn’t going to be a ceremony where people held back their emotions.
After giving Natasha away, her dad walked back to his seat with tears rolling down his face. It was one of those photographs I captured without even realising at the time, and it’s become one of the most emotional images from the whole weekend. It wasn’t a dramatic moment. In fact, many people probably missed it entirely. But those are the moments that stay with me far longer than the obvious ones.
As Reece saw Natasha, he couldn’t hold back either. I believe the emotion around everyone was simply too strong to ignore. Apparently, everyone always said Reece never cries, yet within moments he was wiping away tears.
Watching his reaction seemed to unlock everyone else’s emotions even more. It felt like everyone was experiencing that moment with them rather than simply watching it happen.
Wedding portraits at Cigarral de las Mercedes
One thing I quickly realised about photographing a wedding in Spain is how differently the day flows compared to weddings back home in the UK.
A 6 pm ceremony leaves very little room afterwards, especially if the couple don’t see each other before the ceremony. Portraits, drinks, dinner and the evening celebrations all begin much closer together.
Preparation gave us something incredibly valuable on a wedding day: calm.
About a month before the wedding, the three of us sat down together and planned the day from start to finish. We talked through timings, must-have moments and where photography fitted into the day as a whole. Then, when I arrived at the venue the day before, I walked every part of it, matching the plan we’d already created with the locations I knew would work best.
By the time portraits started, there was no second-guessing. We simply moved from one location to the next, knowing exactly where we were going before heading back to join the celebrations. It meant Natasha and Reece could stay present with each other rather than worrying about what is happening next.
We were also incredibly lucky with the weather. The forecast had threatened rain for most of the week leading up to the wedding, but instead we were greeted by soft overcast skies. It cooled everything down, the gentle breeze brought the gardens to life and the light felt like the whole venue had been placed inside one giant softbox.
There was still that unmistakable Spanish warmth, but without the harsh sun. Instead of fighting the light, we simply enjoyed it, and we managed to photograph every location I’d hoped for with time to spare.
Champagne tower, speeches and an unforgettable wedding reception
By this point the ceremony was over, the portraits were done and there was only one thing left to do: celebrate.
A saxophone welcomed Natasha and Reece back into the celebrations as everyone gathered around the champagne tower. There were cheers, applause and smiles everywhere as the saxophonist somehow managed to keep everyone’s energy climbing even higher.
Before we walked over, I remember saying one thing to Reece. “Don’t hold back because I’m standing here.” Cameras can be wiped clean. I can always take a shower. “so, spray away and have fun with it”
He took those words to heart.
Seconds later I was covered in champagne, my cameras took a proper soaking too, and I couldn’t have cared less. The photographs were worth every single drop.
The celebration naturally flowed into dinner beneath the evening sky.
One thing I loved about Cigarral de las Mercedes was how naturally the day moved through different parts of the venue. It never felt like guests were being moved from one place to another. Every part of the venue seemed to lead effortlessly into the next.
The speeches were some of the most personal I’ve heard too. Funny one minute. Heartwarming and emotional the next.
The more time I spent around Natasha and Reece, the more I noticed the little things. They never really stayed apart for very long. Throughout the celebrations, they naturally found their way back to one another, whether they were talking to guests or walking between different parts of the venue. Reece would often glance over at Natasha and she didn’t even realise he was. Those are the moments I notice as a photographer. They don’t ask for attention, but they say everything. After hearing so many stories throughout the speeches, it wasn’t difficult to understand why everyone spoke so highly of them. They simply fit together.
As darkness arrived, everyone eventually made their way inside for the dancing, while conversations continued outside long into the evening.
Some people danced. Some stayed chatting around the tables. Others queued for the photobooth. There wasn’t one way to celebrate, and I think that made the whole evening feel even more genuine.
Looking back at why destination weddings feel so different
When I look back through Natasha and Reece’s gallery, it isn’t necessarily the biggest moments that stay with me.
It’s Natasha’s dad wiping away a tear as he walked back to his seat. Reece trying to hold back his emotions before giving up completely. Friends laughing over drinks the evening before. Feet in the pool on a slow Spanish morning. A group of lads being told they looked just a little too chaotic together on a golf course.
Those are the photographs that remind me why I’m so drawn to destination weddings. Of course, Spain gave Natasha and Reece an incredible backdrop. But every time I look back at this gallery, I’m reminded that the most memorable weddings aren’t remembered simply because they’re abroad or because the venue is beautiful. They’re remembered because people give themselves the time to simply be together.
Looking back now, it didn’t feel like I was photographing someone’s wedding. It felt like I’d been invited to spend a few days with a family on holiday who just happened to get married in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited.
And I don’t think I’ll forget that feeling anytime soon.
Supplier list:
Photographer @bykarolinaphotography
Videographer @byjonasfilms
Venue @cigarraldelasmercedes
Content Creator @yourmomentevents_
Saxophone Player @saxonara_
Groom & Groomsmen Suits @slatermenswear
Brides Dress @aliceelizabethbridal
Bridal Party Makeup @laurainfantesmk
Bridal Party Hair @almy_makeup