A stunning elopement in Spain: Helen & Kevin

Meet Helen and Kevin, a beautiful couple from New Jersey, New York. This story feels like a special little fairy tale for me. The two of them reached out to find the perfect spot to tie the knot and truly committed to my advice. Let me take you on a journey full of delicious food, wonderful nature, happy tears and a little bit of magic.

Finding surfer’s paradise for your special wedding

Kevin is a passionate surfer and loves chasing a good swell, while I am convinced that Helen is a true beach babe at heart and will find her way onto a board one day. With this in mind, we scanned the many beautiful areas in the north of Spain. And let me tell you: There are SO MANY epic places! I lost my heart long ago to the beautiful little town of Mundaka in the Biscay Province in the Basque Country. The place is famous for its beautiful waves and is very special. Its river leads straight into the ocean and, therefore, the river levels are affected by the tides as well. This creates a very unique dynamic: At low tide, you find enormous sandbanks with tiny eco systems full of small shells, little crabs and weeds. At high tide, they are almost completely covered by water, creating amazing waves during the changeover. A perfect place to start their elopement day, don’t you think?

Starting the journey together: Planning in Zumaia 

Two days before the wedding day, we met in Zumaia to get to know each other. It was love at first sight. The two of them were such a fun, relaxed couple and we had an amazing time. 

We spent  the  days together, feeling each others’ vibe and getting comfortable in each others’ company. And mostly, we were finalizing the plans: A big heat wave made the planning more challenging. Most days were at least 36 degrees and we needed to factor in shady spots and places to rest from the heat. However, Helen and Kevin came with their two best friends and a relaxed open mind. They were happy to keep the plans flexible and go with the flow.

Celebrating love 

The more we planned, the more excited we felt. The big day started at Laida beach with the smell of coffee and some delicious tapas to provide energy for the day. And I can tell you, it was delicious! Then, we went for a stroll on the sandbanks. Helen wore a beautiful white dress (not her actual wedding dress but a more casual version for the start of the day). Our start of the day felt relaxing and so beautiful. Our couple got drawn in by the beautiful surroundings and started looking for little shells and other small treasures. With the joy of children, they went on their little adventure, embraced the beauty of nature, and shared their findings. It was so wonderful to watch. Of course, we used the opportunity to take some pictures. Their friend Bella also brought an analogue camera and captured beautiful memories for the two of them. 

Then the flood came in, and we had to run to get back with dry clothes (which didn’t work out perfectly). We laughed a lot and simply enjoyed being exposed to the elements. Our next stop was a beautiful restaurant named Portundo. It has the most stunning view and rightfully so, a Michelin star. We decided to get shared plates for lunch and got really taken in by the amazing food. It felt like a proper celebration of life. We completely lost our sense of time and got lost in the taste. Each dish celebrated a certain flavor and we probably spent 3 hours in this delicious place! 

A beautiful first look at the Airbnb

Afterwards, we drove back to their Airbnb, a beautiful little space in the middle of nowhere. The host did an incredible job: The place is fully self sustained, off grid, and designed with love and care. We had to drive into the hills for 45 mins with incredible views, a wonderful little break before the actual part started. 

Boys and girls got ready separately. The girls went upstairs while Kevin and Kyle stayed downstairs. While Helen wrote her vows, I got the chance to take in every little detail. Their setup was incredible. Helen designed her dress herself and got it tailored by a seamstress. The guys decided on linen shirts, a great choice for hot weather and very elegant. We decided to do some get ready pictures on the balcony together - of course, they weren’t allowed to see each other, a very fun adventure. 

We did the first look in the beautiful little garden of the Airbnb. It got very emotional very quickly. Both got the chance to soak in every moment of it, shed a few tears of happiness, and share this special moment with their best friends. It felt like a little bubble of happiness, and I shed some tears behind the camera as well. 

Time for the best view! I had prepared a little hike for the group to a wonderful view point to exchange their vows. The hike was 30 minutes and I was a little nervous that it could feel a little difficult for Helen in her dress. For no reason though, she was very relaxed and decided to wear flip flops for the hike! We walked through a whimsical forest straight out of a fairy tale which felt soothing and cooling in the heat. Lastly, we started climbing up the rocks and a breathtaking view revealed itself! I had been there before and was so excited for the two of them to see it! They absolutely loved it. We had to find a flat spot for the ceremony. Bella gave a beautiful speech while Helen and Kevin were holding hands. The sun went down and painted the sky in the most stunning colors. We all teared up a little because it was such a beautiful and tense moment. Kyle read a poem by the poet and writer Kahlil Gibran that was very touching. 

During sunset, Helen and Kevin exchanged their vows while the moon started to rise. It was very intense and personal. We all shed some more tears. After this, they exchanged their rings, which they personally designed and Helen’s brother brought their dream rings to life. It was a day after the full moon and the beautiful white disc rose high into the sky. We had a multi-course dinner waiting in the Airbnb, so soon it was time to hike back. The forest was tinted in silver light and the leaves were shimmering in the moonlight - absolutely stunning. 

The dinner  was delicious and very special. It was served by an amazing conscious private chef click here to check her out. (You should check her out, she harvests most ingredients by herself, everything else is locally grown and resourced). The fest ended with a serve of wonderful cheesecake, a perfect ending for a perfect day. 

Helen and Kevin danced in the moon light in front of the Airbnb to their song and ended the day exactly how they wanted. This is what eloping is all about, making your vision come true. Both celebrated their union on their own terms, with no third-party pressure and in beautiful nature. 

Airbnb: Lorenetxea Ekoturismo

Restaurante: Portuondo

Private Chef: Letusbefree

Earings: StvdioBrooklyn

Tailor: Alterations to go, 209 Washington St A, Jersey City, NJ 07302, United States

Shoes: Vestiaire Collective,

We’re there for you!

Let’s plan your Elopement together!

We can help you plan your dream elopement!

If you’d like some more inspiration on awesome places with a mountain view, shoot us a message and we are happy to help you plan. In the meantime, f you aren’t settled on a location yet, check out our Instagram and Pinterest for beautiful elopement locations and emotional first looks.