Just to prove that not all our wedding couples come from the British Isles, Anne Susanne and Bert came over from Berlin for a dream wedding in the sun. They chose Gibraltar, not the Costa del Sol, as the venue for their wedding ceremony, and picked a particularly beautiful spot, the botanical gardens.

Known locally as the Alameda Gardens, it is a little patch of paradise within this tightly packed garrison town on the Rock. Just beyond the famous high street, where the cable car station is. Needless to say the views over the bay and sea are wonderful, but with all that gorgeous greenery around you, you’ll probably forget all about the sea views.

Within the botanical gardens there is a section called The Dell, originally laid out in classical Italian style by a Genoese landscaper in 1842 and restored in 1992. With its beautiful paths leading through exotic trees, plants and flowers and along ponds and waterfalls, this is not surprisingly a popular place to get married.

The couple, along with their nine-month old baby son, had picked a perfect spot and with an April booking also the perfect time for it. It was a simple but very elegant and romantic ceremony and they looked serene and happy. A beautiful bride, a beaming groom and a bouncing baby – quite the perfect picture.

Philippa and Ross made a delightful pair as they entered the El Salvador church in the old heart of Nerja last July. A sizeable gathering of friends and family were there to witness the event and share in their joy, and after an emotional wedding ceremony with an exchange of rings on the main paseo, the couple and their entourage headed over to the reception at the Hotel Toboso.

Well, not before I captured their radiant happiness, and the pretty town square in the afternoon light provided just the perfect backdrop for these wedding photos. Next they joined the others at the Toboso, which had laid on a fantastic outdoor dinner at Cochran’s Terrace overlooking the sea.

With a view of the setting sun, they enjoyed a wonderful time, spreading good cheer as only the Irish can. Philippa, Ross and the people that came over from Dublin with them are great folk, and their joyous wedding day will soon be featured in the Irish Confetti Magazine, so look out for that.

This beautiful country town just over half an hour inland from Marbella somehow forms the perfect backdrop for a wedding. Not surprisingly, it’s a popular wedding destination, and not just with local couples. Luke and Marie Clare chose Ronda as the setting for their spring wedding, and the friends and family who travelled with them soon saw why.

Picture this: crowds gathering outside a pretty old whitewash and stone church in the gorgeous historic quarter of Ronda. The spring weather is sunny but not too hot to wilt the flowers in the groomsmen’s buttonholes or the glow on the ladies’ faces. Bright colours abound and offset the clear white of the bride’s dress as she enters the scene. Needless to say, it was a beautiful moment, and one where I was hard-pressed to keep up with all the fantastical visuals that were coming my way – but I think I managed.

After the wedding ceremony in the cooling air of that very pretty church the party set off for the reception venue, while the couple strolled through the cobbled streets towards the famous mirador, or outlook point that offers a fantastic view of the surrounding fields and hills that lie below the rock outcrop that Ronda is built on. They made a particularly attractive picture and I was in my element photographing them against what is a truly memorable backdrop.

Next we were off to the wedding reception, held at the lovely Cortijo Molino de Arco down in the green valley. From this charming rustic venue in its rural setting we now looked up to Ronda, enjoying a reverse view that is actually just as impressive. Here I have to mention Scott Gibbons of Sunshine Weddings Spain, who always manages to mix creativity with efficiency so that all the couple have to worry about it looking good and having fun, and they did.

Marie Clare looked lovely, her hair had been done by celebrity stylist Barbara, and under the charge of DJ Rob Humphriesthe tone was set for a party that lasted till late.

The Costa del Sol offers a great variety of top-notch wedding venues, but one of the big stars is undoubtedly the Hotel Villa Padierna. This fantastic spot is not the cheapest option, but with its space, facilities, elegance and sheer luxury it is very much a five-star choice.

Who wouldn’t want to be married in a luxurious resort hotel that looks like a classical palace surrounded by a golf course resembling the rolling green hills of Tuscany? Another strong point is the tremendous variety of venues and possibilities at Villa Padierna, come rain or shine. You can, for instance, get married in a charming private chapel on the estate or opt for a marble amphitheatre in classical Greek style.

Set in gorgeous gardens, it is one of many photogenic spots, and as a photographer you’re spoilt for choice. There’re the tropical gardens, fountains, the sumptuous pools and the grand façade of the hotel, all just made for stunning photography. As for reception and catering facilities, once again you can opt for either grand, impressive ballrooms, a private piazza decked out for a glamorous al fresco party, or choose a small and intimate room with lavish décor.

This being a luxury five-star resort with a number of fine dining restaurants, the service and culinary offering is up there with the best, and the hotel’s events team have a lot experience at creating amazing décor and entertainment. Keeping it all in one venue like this opens up the options and means you don’t have to drive around. Just arrive and relax, and if the couple and their entourage are staying at the hotel they will be able to make the most of the opulent suites, the restaurants, golf and a real-life health and beauty spa.

Just the thing to turn a wedding into an unforgettable event.

When young Sue and Gary chose Nerja as the setting for their wedding, it was in the first instance to honour the wish of Sue’s father, who had died several years before. As a result, this was an emotional as well as joyous occasion, but the bride’s dad had known his stuff, because Nerja is a wonderfully romantic spot that is becoming more and more popular among foreign couples.

The wedding ceremony itself was held at the El Salvador church near the Balcón de Europa in the heart of Nerja. This picturesque 17th century church is a real delight, and its location so close to the famous Balcón is just made for stunning wedding photography. Naturally we made the most of that before going on to the reception at the Marinas de Nerja beach hotel and spa.

Another great venue and setting for a festive occasion, courtesy of the hotel and its helpful staff, and the organisational skills and attention to detail of Sue Danker. Sue is the wedding planner of Spanish Dream Weddings and publisher of the Spains Wedding Guide magazine, so she can rightly be called an expert in her field. Needless to say, the venue looked lovely and everything ran like clockwork.

All the guests had to do was focus on enjoying themselves in the lovely warmth of a Spanish September wedding. Sue has found a new gem in Amanda Rosier, a talented young singer who provided the entertainment on the night.

I’m happy for Sue and Gary that it all went so well because they are a lovely couple, and I’ve included some collages that form part of the wedding album we did for them.

Here’s to more weddings in lovely Nerja!

Claire and Ralph from Gibraltar had all their wishes come true before Christmas, with a sunny December wedding full of joy and excitement. Over 200 beautifully attired and expectant guests attended the wedding ceremony at a pretty little chapel before heading off to the after party at the stylish San Roque Club in Sotogrande.

Now this was a grand affair, but it went off smoothly, even after a little wedding dress hitch. Wedding planner Monica Coumbe of Hour Concierge had it all under control, and I think it will take more than a little last-minute wardrobe malfunction to seriously test her.

The bride absolutely glowed and was beautiful, the groom grinned from ear to ear, and their family and guests shared in the happy day. I was really impressed with Deepak Ramchandani’s professionalism and artistic ability, but then again, he is a celebrity make-up artist so what did I expect.

I like to watch people like him at work – they make what they do look so easy, but in actual fact they have raised it to an art form. The same could be said of violinist Quike Navarro, who was accompanied by a sax player, while Jo Mccafferty of Chocolate Fountain Spain created a popular attraction. The uniquely decorated cake was created by Sweet Things…by Fi, with replica moldings of the bride and groom as the cake topper.

Another memorable day, this time Gibraltarian style, reminded me how the details and some of the customs may change from culture to culture, but the underlying emotions and feelings are universal to us all.

Getting married in a romantic setting in the Andalusian countryside makes it a memory that will stay with you forever. This happy couple from the UK had it all come together beautifully on their wedding day. Friends and family surrounded them and the sun was shining as they married in a quaint little church in the lovely white village of Frigiliana, in the Axarquia region, west of Málaga.

And then something most un-Andalusian happened…it started raining. Fortunately my good friend Scott Gibbons of Sunshine Weddings Spain was the wedding organiser, because in true style this experienced pro immediately came up with an emergency plan and everything continued to run smoothly. The shower was soon over and with the sun back in its familiar place the party went on to the Hotel Cortijo Bravo.

This gorgeous cortijo makes the most of an Andalusian country setting, blending charm with the elegance of Spanish-Moorish architecture. With nature and panoramic views all around you, good service and fine food, it is a wonderful place to hold a wedding reception – and ideal for capturing great shots. Mind you, Frigiliana is pretty photogenic too, as were the couple and their party, so I had nothing to complain about.

However, a bout of rain can change everything on a wedding day, but it also offered opportunities for some stunning, moody photography that we naturally jumped on. The flower arrangements by Shona Stevenson of Bunches Florist in Fuengirola were so appealing that I had to single them out too, before capturing the atmosphere and party that wedding entertainer Ian Preston expertly helped to create. All in all a beautiful wedding in a magnificent setting…

Sue Danker of Spanish Dream Weddings organised it all beautifully, not going halfway when her compatriots said they wanted to be surrounded by the true Andalucía. An experienced and creative wedding planner, she gave them just that, a stunning country setting full of rustic ambience yet not far from the coast.

For the couple and their gathered friends and family it was a dream experience – gorgeous weather, an elegant wedding and a wonderfully exotic setting. You know that with the Irish it takes less than that for the good times to begin, and boy did they. The wine and laughter flowed and they danced under the stars until the sun came up.

It was a wedding to remember, and I later received this message from Linda and Des via Sue: “Our day would not have been complete without David Toms, who not only is the most amazing photographer; he also offered us advice throughout the day, which helped keep us both calm and smiling all day long. Thank you for recommending David, we are grateful to have had him with us on the day.”

Now we all know that marriage is a serious business, a commitment built on love and togetherness, but a wedding day is an expression of joy and happiness that infects even the most unromantic of people. So it’s hardly strange that those who come to share in your happiness want to make a fun occasion of it, as well as a memorable one.

Most weddings are therefore joyous occasions, where friends, family and of course the intended couple come together in a place of beauty that symbolises our sense of wonder at that mystical bond that unites two people. The early sense of nervous expectation soon gives way to pure joy, and if everything goes smoothly you have the makings of a wonderful party.

Beautiful decorations, a romantic setting, live music and lots of love and laughter form the background for a truly great wedding day, but now there is a new addition that has become a must-have element – Partyboothz.

The Partyboothz is essentially a photo tent that is set up outside or indoors, depending on the venue, where guests can pop in and have fun photos taken with all kinds of madcap backgrounds and props. The essence here is having fun, as well as creating great reminders of a special day. I’m very happy to add this bit of fun entertainment to my range of services, and in so doing provide a great option for a wedding favour.

So, for those people who are keen to make it a fun day we now have the Partyboothz available!