Elopement wedding in Spain

The couple kissing among the vineyards of Bodegas Arzuaga in Ribera del Duero, Spain

Jasmine and Nathanial flew in from the United States to get married in Spain, just the two of them. They chose Bodegas Arzuaga, in the heart of Ribera del Duero wine country, about 40 minutes from Valladolid. Getting ready at the hotel, a first look under the pines, private vows among the vines, a glass of Ribera at sunset and dinner at the winery: a whole wedding day, without a single guest.

Getting ready at Arzuaga

The day started in their rooms at the hotel. Two small booklets, Her vows and His vows, a burgundy tuxedo, some very fun socks and a bottle of wine opened before getting dressed. Jasmine wore a dress with embroidered flowers that matched her tattoos perfectly.

Her vows and his vows booklets on a green velvet chair

The groom fastening his bow tie while getting ready

The groom's colourful socks and black shoes

The groom in a burgundy tuxedo looking out of the hotel window at Arzuaga

The bride checking her braided hair in the mirror

The bride, in a dress with embroidered flowers, opening a bottle of wine

The groom holds the bride's vows booklet and the ring box

A first look under the pines

Before the vows we arranged a first look in the gardens. Nathanial waited with his back turned while Jasmine walked up behind him, and when he turned around there were laughs, a long hug and a few tears. It is one of our favourite moments of any elopement, because it is theirs alone.

The groom waits in the garden as the bride walks up behind him for the first look

The groom turns around and sees the bride for the first time

The couple hugging after the first look under the pine trees

Vows among the vineyards

Then we walked into the vineyards. Standing between two rows of vines, they read the vows they had written for each other and exchanged rings. No altar, no chairs, no timetable: just the two of them, the landscape of Ribera del Duero and us, trying to go unnoticed.

The bride reads her vows to the groom among the vines

Ring exchange in the middle of a vineyard row

The couple standing together in the vineyards of Ribera del Duero

Close-up of the groom placing the ring on the bride's finger

The groom lifts the bride in the vineyard

Sunset with a glass of Ribera

We couldn't be in Ribera del Duero without a toast. As the sun went down, they raised two glasses of red wine among the vines, and the sky turned orange just in time.

Silhouette of the couple toasting with red wine at sunset

The couple drinking red wine among the vines in the golden light

The bride twirls on the lawn in front of the vineyard

An evening at the winery

The evening ended inside the winery, walking through a tunnel of lights, a few last portraits against the old stone walls and a quiet dinner for two.

The couple in a tunnel of lights at the winery

The couple holding hands against a stone wall at Arzuaga

The couple having dinner together at the winery restaurant

Planning an elopement in Spain?

An elopement is a wedding reduced to what really matters: the couple, a place you love and time to enjoy it. Spain, and especially the wine regions around Valladolid, is perfect for it: great light, beautiful wineries, excellent food and wine, and venues that can host small weddings. We can help you find the right place, plan the timing of the day around the best light, and tell your story in photographs.

Want to know more? Write to us and tell us about your plans. You can also see more of our work on our weddings page.

Photography: Radiga Studios · Venue: Bodegas Arzuaga, Ribera del Duero (Spain)