Jade and Aidhan’s Wedding at Miramar Hotel, Barcelona
An October Wedding with a Scottish Twist
Jade and Aidhan chose the Miramar Hotel on Montjuïc for their Barcelona wedding. Their friends and family travelled from Scotland, expecting a pleasant autumn break. Instead, they arrived during an exceptionally hot October. Several guests resorted to little battery-operated fans, which seemed a sensible investment under the circumstances.
I started the day photographing Jade and her friends as they got ready. The atmosphere was relaxed, and I soon spotted one of the children who looked likely to provide some entertainment. I wasn’t disappointed. Later, as she tossed the bouquet, her expression of absolute determination made one of my favourite images of the day. She approached the task as though the future of the family depended on it.
Colour, Dancing and a Lively Reception
The women’s dresses provided a wonderful range of colours. I knew these would work particularly well once the party got going. I had positioned several flash units around the venue, ready to mix their light with the DJ’s colourful effects.
The Miramar Hotel proved a good choice. The grounds offered attractive settings for photographs, while the layout kept everything within easy reach. The ceremony itself was brief, and everyone soon moved on to the main event: eating, drinking and letting their hair down.
Jade and Aidhan had already spent several years together and had children, so perhaps they felt less need for a grand, romantic production. Their guests certainly seemed happy to make up for any shortage of sentiment with enthusiasm. The party grew increasingly raucous until the hotel’s curfew brought proceedings towards a sensible conclusion. Or at least, that was the theory.
A Taxi Ride to Remember
The evening’s final chapter involved one of the groom’s friends attempting to commandeer my taxi. He had enjoyed himself rather too enthusiastically and was beginning to move from sentimental drunkenness towards something more aggressive. I’d noticed the warning signs earlier, along with several guests trying to keep him under control.
Rather than risk a confrontation, I let him and another guest share the cab. I sat beside the driver and listened to the increasingly grumpy conversation behind us.
The pair wanted to find some lively clubs and bars. After a brief chat with the driver in Spanish, we dropped them in an area better known for its sex clubs than its sophisticated nightlife. I hope they found what they were looking for.
The wedding itself had delivered great light, colourful photographs and plenty of memorable moments. The taxi ride simply provided an unexpected epilogue.
