Beach
Beach clubs and coastal venues, with sand, sea and sunset.
Explore the guide →
The Journal
Wedding Blog
Planning tips, ideas and inspiration from our wedding planners, with honest advice on venues, costs, styling and the day itself.
The Journal
Wedding planning tips, ideas & inspiration
The Swish Soirées wedding blog is where we share what we have learned planning weddings and celebrations across the UK, Spain and Europe. Every article is written by our own planning team, from the questions couples ask us most: what things really cost, which details make the biggest difference on the day, and what to watch out for when planning from home.
No sponsored posts and no generic lists. Just practical advice from destination wedding planners and on-the-day wedding coordinators who are on site at weddings every season.
Looking for somewhere to marry? Browse our wedding venues in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy and beyond, or read our guides to wedding venues by style below.
Featured guide
Planning Tips · Updated
How to Plan a Destination Wedding in Spain
Our step-by-step guide to planning a destination wedding in Spain, from choosing the right region to sorting the legal paperwork.
Read the guide →
From the blog
Latest wedding articles
Planning guides, styling ideas and honest advice, newest first.
Wedding Lamps and Lighting on the Costa del Sol
Festoon, fairy lights, lanterns and uplighting, what each costs on this coast, and what your venue can actually take.
By Wes, Owner & Wedding Planner
Choosing Your Wedding Day Makeup Artist
Why SPF ruins flash photographs, what makeup actually costs abroad, and how to trial and brief an artist properly.
By Wes, Owner & Wedding Planner
The Perfect Beach Bride Hairstyle
Which styles survive wind, humidity and salt air, how to handle a veil outdoors, and what bridal hair actually costs abroad.
By Wes, Owner & Wedding Planner
The Best Wedding Entertainment Ideas for a 2027 Wedding
From ceremony musicians and mobile bar services to booths, DJs and late night food, what actually works and roughly what it costs.
By Wes, Owner & Wedding PlannerHow to Plan a Destination Wedding in Spain
Our step-by-step guide to planning a destination wedding in Spain, from choosing the right region to sorting the legal paperwork.
By Wes, Owner & Wedding Planner
New to planning?
Start here: plan your wedding in five steps
The order we take every couple through, with the guide to read at each stage.
1
Choose where
The UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy or Greece, and the region that suits your guests.
Wedding venues →2
Pick a style
Beach, hotel, villa, rustic or golf club, each with its own costs and rules.
Venue styles →4
Book suppliers
Photographer, music, flowers and entertainment, in the order they book up.
Entertainment →
Planning guides
Explore by venue style
In-depth guides to every kind of wedding venue, with costs, timings and the questions to ask before you book.
Boho
Relaxed, textured settings with olive trees, stone and warm light.
Explore the guide →
Countryside & Rustic
Fincas, masserie, quintas and barns, full of space and character.
Explore the guide →
Hotels
Guests sleep where they celebrate, with everything on site.
Explore the guide →
Private Villas
Exclusive use and a house-party feel for the whole weekend.
Explore the guide →
Sea Views
Terraces and estates with the Mediterranean on the horizon.
Explore the guide →
Mountain Views
Cooler evenings, privacy and dramatic views in the hills.
Explore the guide →
Golf Clubs
Beautiful grounds, indoor cover and golf for your guests.
Explore the guide →
Winter Weddings
Mild sunshine, better prices and more choice of dates.
Explore the guide →Compare every style side by side in our guide to the types of wedding venue.
Who writes our guides
Meet the writers
Every article and guide on this site is written or reviewed by a working Swish Soirées planner, drawing on real weddings we have planned and run.
Wes
Owner & Wedding PlannerWes leads Swish Soirées from our office in Marbella and has spent seven years planning luxury weddings, from barefoot beach ceremonies to castle celebrations in the hills. He writes most of our planning guides.
Established 2019100+ weddings plannedBased in Marbella
Miriam
Wedding Planner & CoordinatorMiriam has six years of wedding planning behind her and an eye for detail that misses nothing. She looks after suppliers, budgets and timings, and writes our guides on catering, hotels and villas.
6 years' experienceSuppliers & budgets
Vicky
Wedding Planner & CoordinatorVicky loves the design side of a wedding, from styling and colour palettes to the personal touches guests remember. She writes our guides on boho and rustic weddings.
4 years' experienceStyling & design
Vivian
Wedding Planner & CoordinatorVivian is our on-the-day coordination specialist. She runs weddings from the first supplier arrival to the last dance, and writes our entertainment and coordination advice.
2 years' experienceOn-the-day coordination
Find out more about the team on our meet the team page.
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