2019 is now up and running with, once again, lots of weddings in the pipeline. Skypes now seem to happen daily and information is coming through from the couples to make their wedding not only unique but also very much all about them ... all  set for another busy year so watch this space as it happens ...

It rained in the morning, it rained in the afternoon ... and then they got married and the sun came out! Meaghan shivered a bit, and Evan might have had watery-eye-syndrome but they made it. Fabulous first wedding of the year in the Parc del Laberint d'Horta ... all happy! Accompanied once again by Veronica the wonderful photographer.

Yeh, wedding number 2 of the year, what a great day! Beautiful day, and Kate and James' wasn't bad either. Lots of fun, lots of laughs and lots of emotion. I only hope that this couple can continue to live in the same country/city ... if they can do that I reckon that this looks very very good! Congrats!

James, aka Jim, and Kate were married on a day that didn't look too promising weatherise but ended up perfectly. All was great, they seemed happy and the guests too ... what more can you ask for?

Sinead and Bradley tied the knot with Eidie looking on! It was glorious, the day was prefect and everyone seemed very happy, Bradley might have been a tad nervous but he kept it together as well he could ... I enjoyed the paparazzi photo! Val, my planner extraordinaire, turned the tables at the top of the Almiral de la Font, their venue, and it looked great facing the forest rather than the coast.

Never have I had such a joyous wedding with the rain falling behind us! We were meant to go down to the beach in Sant Feliu for the ceremony but today the weather was not going to let us so we did it on their apartment balcony with Melinda's two kids very much there (Gabi and Miller). This was a truly family affair and an honour to be part of, a lovely couple and, I think, a lovely ceremony! 

Wow .. it was meant to rain, it was going to rain, but, as I discovered when I met Alice purely by chance in the Hotel de Castell d'Empordá, she brings the sun! It was glorious, as were she and Phil, altogether a wonderful day. Phil's father played the keyboards beautifully to set the scene and then we all did our stuff. A lovely couple and a great day!

Novia multada novia afortunada ... the end of May can bring so many changes as did this wedding wonderfully organised by A Spanish Do. At the last minute all was held inside, by which time the sun was shining outside ... what can you do? Nonetheless both Jessica and Damian seemed hugely happy with everything in beautiful Mas Cabanyes. A success ... even though the elements were against us! 

As it always seems to do here in Catalunya, one day it is spring and the next summer ... today was the most glorious day and Carly and Jonathan really deserved it. Yesterday they had their suitcases stolen from their hire car while in Barcelona but everyone stepped up to the job, new suits, Pronovias made Carly a new dress in 12 hours and the ceremony was very much enjoyed, not least by Jonathan and Carly. 

What a glorious day, maybe even too hot, I was certainly jealous of the kilt wearers ... much airier. Zoe and Jamie had a glorious time, Zoe almost not getting her vows out but made it in the end. For the first time we included something called the Quaich ... great stuff for whisky lovers! Val planned and Gau did the catering in a whole new spot just opened up by Jane at Casa Felix. All excellent!

What a blast, great fun people who decided to have a great fun time. They held their wedding in El Principal ... a perfect venue right in the centre of Barcelona. Mike and Steph are larger than life, as was their wedding which, from feedback I got afterwards, was enormously enjoyed! Beautifully organised by Mireia.

It is obvious that you are never quite as comfortable in your second language as your first but today was great. Aïda and Ivan married in Hotel Can Darder with 50 or so friends and family. La Titon sang and Sergi and Marc read and all was relaxed and lots of fun! Their two children brought the rings perfectly and the day couldn't have been better. A totally Catalan affair.

Jess and Jack wanted fun and they had it. Casa Felix was perfect, Africa (who I will be marrying on 28/6/19) was at the helm while Val is having a baby and did a wonderful job, Dani played his guitar ... sometimes weddings are more like a reunion for me. All was perfect and there were lots of laughs and smiles ... as there should be, might even have seen a tear!

A great Irish wedding all prepared very much at the last minute after they changed celebrant 10 days ago but we made it! Shane and Cara told me they loved it all ...  as did many of their guests. A beautiful day but the weather is on the turn ... next week promises to be a heat wave ... watch this space. 

With a lovely mixed bag of people from the States and Mexico Nancy and Ken married at Villa Mas Sant Jordi. A semi bi-lingual ceremony which went down really well. Nancy threatened not to do her vows as a result of nerves, she didn't want to be the centre of attention. What can you say to a bride who doesn't want to be the centre of attention? But she did them and they were great, as were Ken's, both written by themselves. All very very good.

Sara claimed she took so long to find the right man to marry that by the time she found him he was a Grandfather ... that is Peter. Smashing wedding, great crowd, incredible day ... summer, now arrived, is in full swing and everything was pretty much perfect though Sara might have mentioned that she certainly couldn't sit in her stunning dress and that eating and drinking might be difficult.  

Kristina and Frank got married at 42º ... the hottest day so far this year, possibly the hottest we will have this summer (it turned out hotter the following day though fortunately the nest wedding was at 6pm not 4.30pm!). It was fabulous but the iPad gave out half way through with the horrible black screen and the temperature gauge saying that it wouldn't work any more, fortunately I had it on the phone too so made it to the end OK. Their 3 girls were brilliant, as were they, a very Norwegian affair with fab music throughout thanks to Tina and Joe.

Africa did it ... and so did Rafa, finally, after 9 years together. I often work with Africa, she works with Val and worked with Mireia, both wedding planners and both working together on Africa's wedding yesterday. To tell you the truth I was nervous, and I am almost never nervous, but Africa is a pro. It was a great ceremony in the beautiful Ca L'Iborra on what will almost certainly be the hottest day of the year carried out in Spanish and Catalan ... a great day and, as you will see below, the couple were stunning! I even got to stay for a canapé or two (thank you Gau) and a glass of bubbly.

What a day, and what a couple. Laughs from beginning to end but I always knew this was going to be like that. We met a few months ago in their airbnb near Girona and spent a morning getting to know one another, always a plus. Their input was lots of fun and it was very clear what they wanted and how they wanted it ... I reckon that they got just that, especially after all the comments whilst having a beer with them after the ceremony. The ceremony was up fun the woods of the lovely Mas Terrats, somewhere I haven't been for 4 years or so but would highly recommend.

Yeh ... another wedding that kept me on my toes, some French, some translations, some Spanish and the rest ... English. Aurelie and Joan, France meets Portugal, are a fun coupled and they really made it happen ... the whole afternoon, though hot hot hot, was great. Lots of good feedback, Joan's father came up to me afterwards and said ... "didn't understand  a thing but that was fabulous" and then laughed ... long and loud. All good, much enjoyed!

Great couple, lovely day ... maybe that simply sums it up, but it is never enough. Ashleigh and Liam married at the beautiful Far de Tossa de Mar, an idyllic spot once you make it up the hill and at 3.30pm and that is quite a feat, but we made it. There were lots of laughs and lots of tears throughout ... just the right balance I think ... a joy!

What a wedding and what a beautiful day. How many couples can claim to have 40 guests who are neighbours, I would love to live on their street. I was accompanied by my son, Biel, on piano, who played them in, out and about and then at their reception. Quite simply days don't get much better than this. Since I had to stay on to bring him home I was forced to enjoy their hospitality and chat with their guests and things just go better and better. To top it all off I even made contacts ... as I said earlier ... quite simply days don't get much better than this!

So ... another heat wave arrives in Catalunya and another wedding, but not just any old wedding, Tracey-Lee and Luke, Ireland meets Australia via South Africa. Tracey's daughter, Jazzy, was on hand to give her mother away and she did it with relish. By the looks and from the comments a very good time was had by all.

Meto and Kyle married in the beautiful Antigua Biblioteca Almirall at the top of Tibidabo and that really is a fabulous venue where I have been before. They were still sending me information the day before and vows minutes before the ceremony ... these guys were looking forward to their party which I am sure they enjoyed.

They were lovely, lots of fun and happy people in the beautiful Parc Samà, unfortunately it is a couple of hours away from home but ... have car will travel. Cooling off slightly here but fear the heat will be back. Had great feedback from Vicky, check it out here.

Megan and Keith got married in the beautiful Castell d'Empordà on a perfect day, hot but not too hot, with great live music from their friend Richie and a lovely crowd. As I left them the party looked very promising. 

They married in the beautiful Far at Llafranc, looked like strikes by Ryan Air were going to ruin everything but in the end everyone was there. Gina never stopped beaming and David kept it together as well as he could ... all very very good. 

So this seafaring couple married almost on the beach, certainly close by, at the glorious Marimutra Botanical Gardens next to Blanes. It really is a spectacular place to tie the knot and the sea breeze certainly helped with the heat (we were all in black tie)! All in all the ceremony was enjoyed, especially by the couple, even if we had no-show for one of the readings! Good times and the last of the August weddings wonderfully organised by Mireia and her Coco & Carl.

A year later and we did it ... we met in Sitges in September 2018 and how time flies. Glorious day, cooler ... breezy, the couple: beautiful, lots of tears and laughs, lots of Irish and Russian, lots of everything. This was a brave couple who organised the whole thing themselves ... now it is all said and done they can enjoy the Almiral de la Font and take some time off. A joy! 

What a smashing couple. We met earlier in the year in Barcelona and have had a few Skype chats along the way. You can never know too much for a successful wedding and this was one of those. Half in Catalan and half in English the feedback was all great. The couple married in the beautiful Celler of Can Roda the music was perfect by Beats and Roll and photography impeccable as alway by Manel Tomayo, even got the card of the videographer: Sergio Bakker so looking forward to seeing his work and posting it here if I can. All in all ... a joy!

Finally Becca and Billy did it, we have been talking about their wedding/renewal since 2016, we met in 2017 and now, in 2019 they made it. Beautifully accompanied by their 3 lovely children this was a truly family affair complete with balloons to end it all off. I reckon it was something very special ... as did they!

Sooner or later it had to happen, it rained! But all was far from lost, the Almiral de la Font has a great plan B and Africa (weddings via val) made the most of it. All really good, Dani was there to play his guitar, for Darell looked a bit phased at having to do the music, but really, it was lovely.

Kimberly and Jamie married in the beautiful Mas Torroella, hadn't been back there for a while. They were wonderfully nervous though by the time we got to the end they seemed to be having fun. There was a fabulous moment when John, Jamie's father and best man, produced Kimberly's ring, then opened the box holding Jamie's and it was empty. Just the look on Kimberly's face was worth it!!!! He then took the ring out of his pocket ... fun fun fun!

Monique and Ignasi came to Annie and Alfons' wedding last year and simply decided that I had to do their international affair ... 50% English, 25% Spanish and 25% Catalan. It was brilliant, they sent me lots and lots of information and we all had a ball on the day. I think you only need to see Monique's face in the photo below to know how it all went. 

Just the three of us in a beautiful little place off the carrer Montcada in Barcelona organised by Mireia, Dani on the violin, stills and video ... did I say just the three of us ... this was a party! It turns out that Drew and Tamika didn't have the wedding they wanted or deserved all this years ago (14) and have been making up for it ever since ... Mexico, there US and now here, in Barcelona ... well they made up for it today.

What a lovely wedding, great crowd, very Irish, lots of fun and lots of laughs, all in the lovely Can Pares. What can I say ... I had a ball and from what they told me, they did too ... what more can you ask for?

"Michael row your boat ashore" ... and he did, and there was Paula. This is the extraordinary story of a couple who met on Tinder, he swiped while in BCN airport and then left the country to sail the world. A daughter and five and a years later they married in the Mirabe overlooking the city, 50/50 Spanish/English all went well with some great input from family and friends, lots of fun.  

Really and truly this ought to be in Catalan but since my blog is in English it should follow the rules. Merxe, the now wife of my brother-in-law, Guibi, married today. Their ceremony was in Catalan, as it should be. It was a joy, a privilege and a seriously stressing occasion. I only says stress because it was family and that is always something different and difficult ... in the end though it was all them; their way of being, doing and loving, and it was a joy to be part of it all. xxxx

In the picture below you will see he who said even more than me during Teresa and Simon's ceremony ... their son Roberto! It was fabulous, lots of audience participation, especially when Roberto was eating his mother's bouquet but truly a lovely time in a fabulous new venue I discovered today: Mas Vidrier, nice place and not too far from Barcelona. Altogether great, what's more it is getting cooler though felt hot inside today!

Now this was a first, Lara's sister had translated the entire ceremony into French and Spanish so we could do everything in English. Seemed to be hugely enjoyed, right down to Dani's father's Muzzel Tov! Lots of laughs and lots of fun, some serious bit too ... a bit of everything and, though it was wedding nº2 today it didn't feel like it ... just felt good!

Now there are those couples that send you all their homework months and months before the big day and then there are Julia and Tim. They were a joy from the moment we met earlier in the year and though it might have been a worry that the info wouldn't arrive in the end it was perfect. International crowd, as always, at the beautiful Castell de Sant Marçal, perfectly organised by A Spanish Do.

As you see from the picture below it was one of those where the couple have too many too good friends to be able to stand together for a photo. We did a hand fasting today and the couple well and truly tied the knot! All good, a cool day at the Castell D'Emporda!

Yehhh ... Fei and Roger finally made it, 11th hour vows, all a bit tight timing wise but with the help of Altara translating into Chinese everything went like a dream. The planner  Jennifer, Crystal Events, was perfect throughout, and it was great to see friends: Sensacions catering, Veronica Hansen photos and Tu Música Events on violin and keyboard. Once again a pleasure and what's more I discovered a new venue: El Xalet del Nin ... quite something else, check it out. 

Nikki was always going to get the wedding she wanted, on the beach in Spain! Stuart was always going to go along with it too. 20 years on, 3 children later, this was a lovely vow renewal in the cool of the afternoon in Calella. Not only did I renew their vows ... I was also the photographer ... see below!

Selene and Yang married in the Castell de Sant Marçal ... which looked fabulous, smelled wonderful (the fig trees are bearing fruit and haven't smelt better) and was generally a hive of activity. This very international couple, met in NY then lived for a while in HK passing through SP and now live in Shanghai so the wedding was done accordingly ... a great day though a bit manic ... had another wedding immediately afterwards. Once again planned by A Spanish Do wedding, Elaine and Launen looked stressed but happy as I jumped in to my car to make it to wedding nº2.

David and I met a while back in Plaça Catalunya and chatted, Angel and I met when she got to the bottom of the aisle but it felt like we had known each other for ages. They married in the Vela (W) Hotel, BCN, and it is quite a place to marry. I think that this is only my second wedding ever where the groom has sung for the bride, the first was Guibi to Merxe last month and now David to Angel ... she loved it though did look like she was trying to hide behind her flowers very now and then. Fun!

Smashing couple, from the states with lots of Spanish going on ... Eilyn told me that I could do the wedding 40% Spanish and 60% English but Spanglish was fine too. I do not know how to speak Spanglish so did as I was told and it was all fabulous. Ray more or less kept it together even if he tried to steal a kiss before the appointed hour and was duly rebuffed by his beautiful and determined wife. Fun! Organised by A Spanish Do at Almiral de la Font and with lovely music by, among others, Marta Roma ... a good day.

So today, while Catalunya was in the midst of a general strike and a 100k march arrived in the city after 3 days and Barcelona was packed with happy, friendly, funny and sad Catalans, Alice and Olly got married. It was a great affair, we all travelled very early to avoid road blocks and inevitable delays and made it for their big day. They enjoyed it and all seemed happy. Meanwhile Barcelona filled to the hilt with people enraged by the 100 years collective prison sentences for our politicians and social activists, it was very hard to miss this march but Alice and Olly had nothing to do with it ... I won't miss any more though ... maybe this isn't the space but just as well you know ... my heart bleeds for my country!

Sometimes it is better to quote them than write anything myself, 2019 done and this was definitely going out with a bang: "Toby, what can we say? Everyone just loved the ceremony so much. They really enjoyed how personal it was and how hilarious you were 😂 you couldn't have done a better job. Just brilliant. Thank you so much Toby, it was a pleasure to have met you."