Norwegian couple, Kristina and Willy chose the balmy shores of Marbella, Spain to share their union with their closest family and friends. The couple chose Irish destination photographer, Owen Farrell to capture their celebrations in September this year.
Both practicing lawyers from Oslo in Norway the couple first met in 2001 when they worked for the same law firm. “Willy was a lawyer and I was a law student. We worked together on a case, and it was love at first sight. We have been together since and have two beautiful daughters together,” said Kristina.
After 15 years together Kristina had almost given up hope that Willy was ever going to propose but propose he did on New Year’s Eve in 2016. “It was a complete surprise to me whilst we were on holiday in Sierra Nevada. He went down on one knee and both our daughters were there, it was really wonderful. Then we were joined by some close friends and had a perfect new year’s celebration,” added Kristina.
Following a legal ceremony in Norway, Kristina and Willy travelled to the Costa del Sol for their wedding celebration.
“We decided to have the wedding at Puente Romano Hotel, as that is our favourite hotel on the Costa del Sol, and we have spent so much time there during the four years we have lived in Marbella. I got in contact with Tara Lorimer, who is in charge of all the weddings in the hotel. After our first meeting, it was just a joy to plan the wedding. She had so many good ideas and so much experience, and I felt secure that the wedding would turn out exactly as we wanted. We are both quite low maintenance and didn’t have any bridezilla moments. The most important thing was for our guests to have a good and memorable time. But I did spend a lot of time on Pinterest and looking in bridal magazines. After all, I had been waiting for 15 years right!” Kristina said.
Choosing colours to complement the scheme of the hotel, Kristina and Willy had a simple outdoor ceremony. Kristina wore a two piece gown that she had custom made from two different dresses, and she carried a beautiful bouquet which featured her favourite flower, lavender.
“For me the highlight was walking down the aisle, with my father, daughters and my best friend and maid of honour. We had a saxophonist playing the ‘Love Song’ from the Godfather as the entry song, which brought a smile to everyone’s faces. And the first dance, that we had been so nervous about, it went so well, and by the end of the song, all the guests were up there dancing with us,” added Kristina.
For Willy his highlight was seeing all the planning come together and seeing their guests all enjoying themselves. “It was a great mix of family and friends from Norway and Spain. Many did not know each other from before, but the mood of the party made everyone relax and talk to each other,” said Willy.
Kristina’s Advice
Do what you want to, and go with your gut feeling. We chose not to have speeches during dinner, and people thought this was a bit weird. But it turned out great, as there was no interruptions during dinner, and people could engage in the conversations around the tables more easily. And don’t stress! Keep in mind that you are getting married to the love of your life, and if some small detail goes wrong, in the end it doesn’t matter. Enjoy the day, and take lots of photos. We are so happy that we chose a good photographer and also a videographer to follow us throughout the day.
Wedding Suppliers
Photographer: Owen Farrell Photography
Venue: Hotel Puente Romano, Marbella
Dress: Christiania Glassmagasin
Flowers: Dianna Cunningham, Party People Marbella
Videographer: Antonio Perez
