Does it get any better than a boho destination wedding? We don’t think so. We’re positively obsessed with Sarah and Ian’s sophisticated boho wedding at Retiro Sambana! The couple knew planning a destination wedding would be easier with the right team, so they hired oh-so-talented Open The Door Events to help them pull off the tailor-made day of their dreams. In fact, when asked about their day, Sarah said, “the evening flowed from one magical space to the next, and it was like unboxing gift after gift all night to see what Opi had come up with.” That’s wedding planning done right if you ask us.
The couple opted to embrace the Spanish culture and landscapes, so they kept the decor minimal. Instead, the focus was on incredible red, pink, and orange floral arrangements from Andaluflor. They also included a rich traditional Spanish menu from Canela y Clavo that served as an homage to the Andalusian region. Churros with chocolate for dessert? Sign us up!
If you’ve been dreaming of a bold boho destination wedding, we can’t wait for you to see the photos that Joy Zamora captured! Keep scrolling to see a photo shoot in the cotton fields, a whimsical outdoor ceremony, and a guest book made for doodling!
The Couple:
Sarah and Ian
The Wedding:
Retiro Sambana, Jimena de la Frontera, Spain
A Memorable Welcome Dinner
One of our most memorable moments was actually the night before. We hosted a welcome reception in the main town. It was outdoors at a quirky boutique hotel that was straight out of Pinterest. We had an incredible pre-wedding photoshoot with our photographer early in the day, so we were dressed in our traditional cultural outfits. I wore a Korean hanbok, and Ian wore a Filipino barong. We were wrapping up an intimate rehearsal dinner with our families when our friends started trickling in and greeting us for the first time in Spain. It was incredibly emotional because it was in that very moment that it hit us–our amazing friends and family had flown halfway across the world to Spain to be with us, to celebrate us, and to witness and share our wedding journey.
Why Retiro Sambana
Retiro Sambana feels like a home. It is warm, cozy, stunning, and not pretentious. It has so much character–a burnt rose facade, quirky nooks, a bougainvillea laced courtyard, colorful hallways, an Instagram-worthy pool, an adorable house pup (Candela!), and best of all, the most wonderful hosts, Fenton and Franny.
The Bride’s Most Memorable Part Of The Day
My most memorable part of the day happened between cocktail hour and dinner. There was a short moment when we were alone–just the two of us–in the courtyard of the Cortijo (my favorite part of the venue). Our guests were already ushered down to dinner, and we were waiting to be introduced as Mr. and Mrs. The sun was just starting to set, and we had a quiet, intimate moment together as we simply held hands, still shaking a little, and looked at each other. We didn’t say anything, but we felt everything. It was electric, and the love we have for each other was so palpable at that moment. It was the most romantic “holy shit” moment ever!
Including The Family Pets
Our signature drinks were named after our two dogs Winston and Ollie. We had wooden drink stirrers made with their faces on them–hand-drawn and metallic foil-pressed. I also commissioned one of Ian’s favorite artists to do a portrait of us with our dogs. I was planning on surprising him with it in Spain, but he found it at home before we left!
The Wedding Team:
Photography – Joy Zamora
Event Planning – Open the Door Events
Venue – Retiro Sambana
Floral Design – Andaluflor
Catering – Canela y Clavo
Cake – Martina Cakes
Videography – Monika Frías
Makeup Artist & Hair Styling – Hae Kyung Yoo
Wedding Dress – Blush Bridal Couture
Bridal Accessories – Kendra Scott
Groom’s Apparel – Suit Supply
Rings – Mark Broumand
Rentals – Eclectic Rentals, Be Lounge
Transportation – Autocares Lara
Congratulations again to Sarah and Ian on their sophisticated Spanish boho destination wedding at Retiro Sambana, and a big thank you to Joy Zamora for capturing and sharing their special day with us! If you’re planning your own destination wedding, check out our six destination wedding etiquette tips that every couple needs to know.
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