In case you’re wondering about the sweetest wedding theme we’ve ever heard, it might just be Carlos + Alice’s. Ready? It’s *biking through the Spanish countryside*. Yup, so cute! They love biking together, and with the wedding being in the groom’s hometown of Córdoba, Spain, they let their romantic, adventurous pastime influence the whole design. Not to mention, Alice is a talented calligrapher and designer, and she created such a whimsical, blush-inspired celebration with their 265 guests while planning all the way from NYC.
Find more photos by Judy Pak Studio + their sweet story, below!
Their story… We love traveling, especially adventure traveling. Our very first trip was to Costa Rica, and we went on an off-road adventure to find a secret waterfall and the car almost broke down on the way there! Instead of turning around after getting lost and navigating the road with a broken car, we kept going and found the beautiful secret waterfall and had it all to ourselves. We always look back to that day when we’re going through a rough patch, it keeps us optimistic about life.
After 5 years of dating, Carlos proposed to Alice on Christmas morning in his hometown in Cordoba, Spain. He took her up the old church belltower to see the views of the city and proposed at the very top, which is also where his father proposed to his mother 40 years ago!
Alice’s wedding bouquet featured lots of olive branches and eucalyptus, layered with lisianthus, garden roses, tulips, hydrangeas, and gardenias.
Having explored quite a bit of Spain together already, A + C wanted their guests to get an authentic, natural feel of the Spanish countryside and all their travels. Palacio Portocarrero is a palace in a small village surrounded by olive fields, so olive branch and eucalyptus were another main theme, along with the bicycles.
In Spain, it’s traditional for the groomsmen to wear their own tuxedo tails in order to stand out from the rest of the guests.
Alice made their menu scrolls, escort wreaths, and mini scroll place cards. Love this idea!
Alice says, It took us 10 months to plan the wedding. I think the hardest part was, not only are we planning a wedding in Spain from NYC, but also the language barrier! I am not fluent in Spanish so Carlos had to get involved in the details a lot, which actually brought us closer throughout the planning process. In my case, pictures really speak a thousand words! Many times I couldn’t explain in Spanish what I wanted, so I provided so many photos and drew sketches myself of every design element, floor plan and backdrops,
How magical would it be to fly from the US to the Spanish countryside and dine here in celebration of two of your fave people? Best guest experience ever!
Fun note, at the end of the night (two am after a twelve hour reception to be exact!!!), Carlos’ friends lifted him up on their shoulders and they all sang in Spanish long after the music stopped.
See more of the beautiful details our bride included in their big day via our gallery below:
Cheers, you two! Find more inspo behind Carlos + Alice’s wedding on her Pinterest.
Photography: Judy Pak Studio / Venue: Palacio de Portocarrero in Córdoba, Spain / Church Venue: Parroquia de la Asunción / Coordination, Invitations, & Calligraphy: Alice Lu / Florist: Andaluflor / Hair & Makeup: Mac Estilistas / Cake: Martina’s Cake / Catering & Rentals: Delfin Delicatessen / Musician: Ana de Lois / Photobooth: Risbox / Bride’s Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Shoes: Madewell / Veil: Borrowed / Wedding Ring: Rory Ty Jewelry / Bridesmaid Dresses: ASOS, BCBG / Groom’s Suit: Silbon / Shoes: Cole Haan / Ring Bearer: Janie and Jack
