“Our wedding weekend was a huge collaborative effort between our friends and family. It was beyond everything we had hoped for. We got married down by a secluded pool overlooking a riverbed with the untouched Moroccan countryside as far as the eye could see. The hotel has such incredible botanical gardens and it was a perfect, clear, hot and sunny day with a gorgeous gentle breeze. We got married at 5:30pm as the sun was just beginning to drop which created a really special light. After spending the day in one of the neighbouring villas to the hotel getting ready and relaxing by the pool, my dad came to get me and we all walked across, I was then lead down to the ceremony by a traditional Moroccan Gnawa band. Our guests hearing the drumming before seeing the band, and I will never forget seeing glimpses of our most loved and cherished friends and family through the trees as I walked down the aisle.
Our dearest friend Temi married us, putting together a beautiful service written entirely from scratch with such personal references to our relationship, and a poem about the rhythm of marriage using music references that was just incredible. I felt like I had front row seats at the best show in town. Matt’s mum read a ‘lovely love story’ first, which was wonderful, then our friend Emma sung ‘Breaking the Law’ by Emelie Sande which she sung so beautifully her sublime voice filling the open space and catching on the breeze. We then asked one of my oldest friends Ben to do a reading but instead he chose to write a poem that was so insightful and funny, he’d asked us separately to describe what we loved most about one another and the way he wove those touches into the poem was pure magic, I still watch it now and it makes me well up!
We were so lucky to find Mihoci Studios who kept us laughing the whole time we had our photos taken. Arriving early in Essaouira a couple of days before we had spent the previous afternoon taking some shots in the medina and on the beach, which totally put us at ease and meant we were so much more relaxed on the wedding day, especially as neither of us like having our photo taken! The reception was then by the main pool of the hotel as the sun was setting, the rows of bougainvillea creating a brightly coloured flower wall which made everyone’s beautiful dresses and suits stand out. We had asked everyone to wear a ‘touch of colour’ and our guests did not disappoint!
We were then lead through by the Gnawa band to the front of the main house and had dinner outside under a gorgeous clear sky with candles covering the tables and hanging from the trees. It felt like 1001 nights! We found an amazing local florist Anna who used sumptuous red and pink rose bouquets for the table which looked stunning and had local Moroccan mint tea glasses as wedding favours. The menus we had printed with a hand painted Illustration of the Casablanca records album cover, the order of service and of invites also used the same picture.
Music was so important to us and we used Higher Love DJ’s. Jake was amazing and really got to know what we liked and kept everyone on the dance floor until 3am! We didn’t have a first dance but later in the evening, Jake played “I want you in my Soul” by Lovebirds, and with everyone cheering it sort of turned into a first dance that felt much more natural and true to us and how our story began.
The following day we had a BBQ brunch and then headed to the pool for more music and dancing. My dad who DJ’s Northern Soul and has an amazing collection of records started of the day by playing with everyone blissing out to the soul tunes in the sun, again such a magical moment. Our friend Hiroki also managed to bring over 30 inflatables for the pool which was a truly incredible sight! What touched us most about the whole weekend was just how much love we felt and everyone’s contributions throughout each part made it so personal and a true celebration of our life together. We both spent the days after our wedding saying how lucky we felt to have each other, our families and our amazing friends. The smiles have not left our faces!!”
Wedding planner: the bride
Wedding dress: Halfpenny
Groom’s suit: Sandro Paris
Wedding dress: Halfpenny London
Makeup artist & Hairstylist: Marian Filali
Florist: Anna Kano
Wedding venue: Jardin Des Douars, Essaouira, Morocco
This Morocco wedding was one of our favourites in 2017!
Cinematography and photography by: Mihoci.com Film Crew | Essaouira Wedding Photography Cinematography
MihociStudios.com | The Art of Photography and Videography
