Photographs
from reverend Don Spence & professional photographer Adam Chandler www.adam-c.com

Following retirement from 30 years in book printing, Don Spence studied a
Theological degree and was ordained as a minister in 1997. Moving to the Costa
del Sol from South Africa in 1994 with wife Glynn, Don Spence is also the founder
and minister of the Calahonda Baptist Church, as well as being Chaplain of
an interdenominational church at Fuengirola Park Hotel, Torreblanca.

Why are weddings such an important part of your work?
I am a specialist in wedding ceremonies, as the wedding forms a big part of
the minister’s calling. Marriage involves faith, trust and faithfulness -
and is based on the vows that couples make before God.

How does your involvement affect the wedding ceremony?
It is always my desire to make the ceremony as meaningful and memorable as possible.
I have different orders of service to choose from, and recommend that couples
personalize their vows, and decide on the songs, music and special touches
such as readings from the Bible or poetry – which can be read by family
and friends. Although a civil marriage certificate must be provided before
the blessing, I also have a commemorative register signed by the couple and
witnesses.

Are couples opting for increasingly unusual venues?
I have carried out marriage ceremonies on the beach, in restaurants, gardens,
hotels, villas –and churches of course… The most unusual was
for a couple from a British film company – they got married in a ramshackle
Spanish farmhouse they had used as a film set… It was totally derelict,
with chickens running around everywhere… The ceremony was up some rickety
wooden stairs, and with the bridal party of six bridesmaids, five groomsmen
and a best man, as well as the couple and myself, it is amazing it didn’t
fall down…

What is the most important piece of advice you can give couples planning a
wedding?
Make the arrangements with the minister sooner rather than later – book up
at least three months before the ceremony. And if you can budget for a wedding
planner to handle the reception, catering, flowers, all the better. The more
time you have, the less stress.

For more information about your wedding ceremony, contact Don or Glynn Spence
on Tel. 00 34 952 930 458 or 686 258 448 email glynn.spence@gmail.com

If you think Marbella could be the place for you, then there are a plethora
of things to keep you occupied. Hen Party Organizer Jade Thompson of Hens in
Marbella takes you through some of the most popular and interesting options
to give you some inspiration:

Day Time Fun
Beach Club
No trip to Marbella would be complete without a day at the beach and thanks to
the great all year round weather it’s an option no matter when you go.
Scattered along Marbella’s beautiful beaches are fantastic beach clubs
offering food, drink and lots of fun right on the sand. There are different beach
clubs to suit all tastes and budgets; from relaxed places with sun loungers for
hire, to exclusive, boutique clubs where you can enjoy the VIP experience. These
are fantastic places to while away a lazy afternoon, soak up some sun and catch
up with your friends.

Boat Charter
Puerto Banus is famed for its stunning marina and is a magnet for power boat
enthusiasts. You can join the jet set and charter a boat from Puerto Banus
for an afternoon on the waves. The boat comes with cava, beer, soft drinks
and nibbles to keep you fed and watered during the 4 hour trip. There is
even fishing equipment and an instructor on board giving you the opportunity
to catch your own supper!

Outdoor adventures
For girls in search of adventure and adrenaline there are lots of options to
choose from. You can head out into the beautiful countryside to experience
the thrill of quad biking through a national park. If you want something
a bit more central then go-karting on a track right by the beach is a great
option. There is also horse riding, paint balling, water-skiing and even
Sphering (rolling down a hill in a big ball) to get your heart pumping and
they are all within easy reach of Marbella centre.

Top Night Time Activities
Dancing Divas
You need to have a boogie on your hen night and Marbella has a range of dance
classes to practice your moves, have fun and dance the night away. Choose from
Salsa Dancing, Belly Dancing or even Lap and Pole Dancing to delight your fiancé when
you go home! Then you can head out to one of the many fantastic night clubs and
light up the dance floor.

Cocktail making
Everyone downs a few cocktails on holiday, but how about learning how to make
them? A great hen night activity is Cocktail Making Classes where you will
be told all about the cocktails, how to make and shake them and how they
should taste. You’ll have a chance to make some of the most popular
classic and contemporary cocktails, such as a Mojito, Strawberry Daiquiri
and Cosmopolitan, and of course the chance to taste them!!

Bar Crawl with stripper
Puerto Banus has a legendary selection of bars and night clubs guaranteed to
keep you busy all night long! The challenge can be choosing where to go,
so a bar crawl is a great way to make the most of your Puerto Banus experience.  Plus
you´ll  get your very own private strip show as part of the package
!

Cheeky Butlers
Not only can Hen Parties in Marbella choose from all these great activities
and much more, but they can also enjoy the fantastic Cheeky Butlers. Marbella’s
Cheeky Butlers are toned, handsome, charming men dressed only in a bow tie,
white collar and cuffs and bottom revealing apron! These guys will make you
feel a million dollars and can be at your beck and call whenever and wherever
you decide. They can serve you a luxurious Champagne Breakfast to start the
day the right way, top up your drinks at a beach club, provide some cheeky
entertainment whilst dining at a restaurant, or escort your group around
the top night spots Puerto Banus has to offer. Cheeky Butlers are a great
way to spoil your Hen and have great fun without going for the conventional
option of a stripper.

If you want someone to take the stress out of organizing a hen night in Marbella
contact Hens in Marbella by emailing sales@hensinmarbella.com or phoning (+34)
951 901 142. They can arrange everything for you including accommodation, transfers
and fantastic activities. Visit www.hensinmarbella.com for loads of useful
tips to make your Hen Night unforgettable.

Your wedding lasts only one day, but the photographs will be around forever, so it’s vital to capture everyone at their very best. marbellas.com spoke to Adam Chandler, wedding photography expert to find out how he achieves his perfect wedding images.

With an interest in photography for over 20 years, Adam started in his teens with shots of wildlife and landscapes. Very quickly he was roped in to photograph friends’ weddings, and it all took off from there. Shaun quickly developed a love of taking people pictures, whether they be gritty, news-style reportage shots or glamorous fashion images; enjoying watching a scene unfold and being in the right place, at the right time, to capture those seminal images.

Precise Planning
Specialising in destination wedding photography, Adam believes a beautiful location deserves beautiful photography and covers weddings across Spain, throughout Europe and even further if necessary. But getting that perfect shot isn’t just a case of pointing and clicking, Shaun plans every wedding in absolute detail. To achieve the best effects throughout the day, he plans what photographs will be taken in each part of the venue and what lighting set up is needed for each of those locations.

Talking about his own style, Adam explains, “Wedding photography was once very traditional with stiff, formal, posed shots. Then it became more relaxed, with reportage shots being the latest trend. I have taken my style of wedding photography a step further and combine a modern, reportage-style with more glamorous, fashion shoot style shots. Brides in particular want to look and feel beautiful on their big day, so I am trying to bring some glamour back into wedding photography.”

Adam’s Top Tips for Top Wedding Pics

1. Experiment with different points of view. Lay on the grass, or position
yourself up high to get a different angle.
2. Turn off the flash. Flash can ruin images by giving red-eye and making the
scene appear flat and washed out.
3. Don’t just concentrate on the bride and groom. You may capture some
great images by looking at what everyone else is up to.
4. Photographing children always makes for great images. But, make sure you
bend down to their level, towering over them is not the best view point.
5. Get close. Many photographs lack impact because although the subject matter
is great, they are taken too far away.
6. But don’t get too close. With auto focus cameras, most are unable
to focus on subjects closer than around 3/4 feet, and many pictures are spoiled
this way because they are out of focus.
7. Tilt your camera. Try tilting your camera at an angle, you may be surprised
how it can liven up a photo and create a more dynamic shot.
8. Shoot into the sun. Conventional wisdom is always to have the sun over your
shoulder. Try breaking that rule and see what happens…..
9. Get people into the shade. Normally everyone tries to stand in the sun,
but this can produce harsh shadows and make people squint. Move people to the
shade and the light will be softer and they will be able to open their eyes.
10. Delete your photographs. If you want to give the bride and groom a copy
of the photographs you have taken, try to go through them and delete the worst ones first. Having a small selection of good photographs creates more of an impression than having a large selection of poor photographs.

For further details, prices and collections of images visit www.adam-c.com

Stylish details

It is amazing what great ideas can arise out of dinner parties… as three
old friends discovered one fine day in London. Not just any old friends
it has to be said: flamboyant photographer Jeanette Jones whose erotically-charged
and sometimes edgy work has won her top advertising awards and several successful
international exhibitions, gorgeous male model, Stephen Williams, who also
happens to be a Savile Row tailor, and Rayna Angel – one of the most respected
events planners in the country, renowned for her ability to pull off the impossible
at the request of an exacting client.

“Our skills complement each other really well” says Jeanette, “and
we can add a lot of style and panache to a wedding, gay or otherwise”.

Jeanette’s stylish photographs speak for themselves, taking on the subtleties
of a magazine fashion spread, far away from the typical high street, tired
family line-ups.

The Angel team claim that whoever is getting married – gay or straight – the
demands are the same, but admit that working with gay couples can be a bit
more fun and light-hearted. And whether it is men or women, girls or
boys, it makes no difference – everyone is treated as an individual with their
own unique tastes and desires. “ The most important common denominator
is making the day run smoothly and stress free for the happy couple.
Keeping to a schedule is key.

Subtle photos

Perfect Planning
When probed on the top three tips for a wedding day made in heaven, Angel Events
state; “ Planning, Elegance and Originality – making it a day to remember…”

Stephen’s attention to detail is second to none. He has so much experience
of styling and comes up with beautifully decorated rooms and table settings.
“One couple wanted a cowby themed wedding complete with bucking broncho
and line dancing,” smiles Jeanette, whatever turns you on – nothing is
too much trouble. Rayna has many capricious millionaire clients who request
things on a whim – white sofas on a beach… whatever it takes…. !
We all tend to collect props and trinkets from around the world on our travels
– this is what makes us different.

Memorable moments

In conversations with several gay couples about staging their weddings in
Marbella, the Angel team enthuse about the superb locations on offer and the
soft golden sunlight.

Nothing is too much trouble… red carpet on the lawn to protect a bride’s
heels, rose petals scattered over the marital bed… and amazing photos
to have as a lasting memento of the day. Jeanette favours paparazzi style
shots honing in on the couple from a distance and fly on the wall images of
gestures and memorable moments and expressions. “I love to individualize
the album, from pocket books to portfolio size, and often using the latest
technology to print the images directly like the pages of a book. Even if I
haven’t taken the photos, I can do a creative book for the couple.

“And importantly, it’s not all about an endless budget. We can
adapt to anything from boutique chic to the ultra lavish – that is part of
the challenge”.

For further details see www.angelevents.co.uk
Tel: 00 44 (0) 1344845966
www.jeanettejones.co.uk
www.terencetrout.net

Charlotte (centre) enlists some expert advice for her big day

Wedding caterer, Coronel

Phil and Sue Horsepool from Creative Parties

Vanessa Fielder from Edible Art with organiser Paul

The best flower creations from Deseos

Aptly, a couple of cosy rooms was the setting
for the one-day-only Wedding Fair held at the Hotel Kempinski, Estepona recently.
Small, and intimate, the fair was a friendly affair, allowing prenuptual
couples to glean ideas for their big day in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Whether big or small, everyone dreams that their wedding
will be the image of perfection. With so many details to take into consideration,
precision planning – and reliable profesionals – are the keys to a stress-free
big day.

Stylish Scene

Although small, The Wedding Fair featured the main ingredients
necessary to make a delectable wedding day. With luxurious stretch limousines,
glamorous gowns, fabulous flowers, original invitations, caring caterers,
excellent entertainers, and every last trinket to add the finishing touches.
They even had everything you could need for your love nest thanks to Imperial
Furniture!

Deseos, one of the coast’s best known florists, can
actually plan your entire wedding. And with a fabulous array of decorative
items at their fingertips, you are guaranteed a stylish scene.

Tempting Treats

Coronel Catering are proving to be one of the best companies
on the coast, with versatile menus for a wedding breakfast to remember. Imaginative
cakes were everywhere, with Edible Art and Icing on the Cake, while Kukis
make the most original iced cookies, with hearts, flowers and even photos
to tempt your guests. A chocolate fountain provided a yummie touch of indulgence.

Dress To Impress

Amazing American wedding gowns were available from La Femme
Novias, with an infinity of styles at a bride’s disposal.

To set the whole event in motion, and provide perfect entertainment,
Party People have all the experience you could ever need. Creative Parties
specialise in balloon art to place your wedding decor on a high.

Image Makers

And don’t forget the photographs. Take inspiration
from image makers Martin Wilson and Justin Curran while Memory Studios can
immortalise your day in a DVD.