Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort stands right on Malvarrosa Beach, on the site of a seaside bathhouse that opened in 1898 and once drew Valencia's high society to the shore. Today it is a five-star member of The Leading Hotels of the World. For international couples it solves the hardest part of a destination wedding: everyone sleeps, gets ready, celebrates and wakes up in the same place.
As wedding photographers based in Valencia, we photographed Karla and Jake's wedding here in September. He is British, she is Colombian, and more than 150 guests flew in from New Zealand, Australia and across Europe. The day held a Catholic ceremony in one of the oldest parishes by the sea and a party that ran deep into the night. This is their story, and everything we learned photographing it.
Planning a big international wedding by the sea? Tell us your date and let's map out your day at Las Arenas together.
Why Couples Choose Hotel Las Arenas for a Destination Wedding
When your guests travel from three continents, logistics become part of the guest experience. At Las Arenas, nobody needs a shuttle to the venue or a taxi home at 3 a.m. They simply take the elevator. The hotel has 253 rooms and suites, offers special accommodation rates for wedding guests, and sits a short drive from both Valencia airport and the historic center.
For Karla and Jake, this meant jet-lagged relatives were never more than an elevator ride from their rooms, and the morning after felt like a family holiday rather than a checkout. It also shaped how we photograph a day like this. When the whole wedding lives under one roof, moments happen everywhere at once: in corridors, by the pool, on balconies.
Getting Ready at Las Arenas Balneario: The Groom's Room and Lobby
Jake got ready with his groomsmen in his room, the classic scene of ties, cufflinks and nervous jokes. Standard hotel rooms are comfortable for dressing but tight for photography once six men in suits fill them. So after the candid moments inside, we moved the portraits downstairs to the lobby. Its high ceilings, clean lines and soft daylight gave us the space a group frame needs.
Yuri photographed Jake with his father and groomsmen there, then took the family outside to the hotel grounds for portraits with his parents and sister among the palms and the historic architecture of the old bathhouse.
Bridal Suite Getting Ready with Champagne and Bridesmaids
While the groom's side was busy downstairs, Karla was getting ready in a two-room suite: a bedroom, plus a living room with sofas opening onto a balcony that overlooks the sea and the hotel courtyard. That second room is what makes a suite worth booking for the bride. It gives hair and makeup their own space, keeps the bedroom free for the dress, and fills everything with soft coastal light.
Darina worked with Karla, her bridesmaids and her mother: champagne toasts, laughter on the sofas, the quiet moment of the dress going on, and group portraits by the balcony with the Mediterranean behind them. Then came the reveal, as her father and family saw her in her dress for the first time. Two rooms, two floors, the same hour: that is exactly where two photographers make the difference.
Wedding Reel: Your Day in 60 Seconds
Because two of us work every wedding, one camera can always capture motion while the other shoots stills. That is how we create a vertical reel of up to one minute with the highlights of your day: the champagne in the suite, the vintage cars, the vows, the petals, the grand entrance and the Hora Loca. Watch Karla and Jake's day below. Want the same for your wedding? We act as your wedding content creator in Spain alongside our photography.
Vintage Car Ride to the Church
From the hotel entrance, the couple left for the church in vintage cars, polished classics lined up in front of the old bathhouse facade. The ride from Las Arenas to the old port district of El Grao takes only a few minutes, which keeps the timeline relaxed. For photography, it adds a cinematic chapter between getting ready and the ceremony: chrome, white ribbons, guests waving from the pavement.
Planning a church ceremony in the city and a celebration by the sea? Let's talk through how we'd cover both parts of your day.
Catholic Ceremony at Parroquia de Santa María del Mar
Karla and Jake were married at Parroquia de Santa María del Mar, the historic parish church of El Grao, Valencia's old seafaring quarter. The church is mentioned in documents from the 14th century. In 1411, according to local tradition, the image known as the Cristo del Grao arrived here floating on the sea, tied to a ladder. The present building, with its late Baroque doorways, was completed in the 18th century, and it remains the heart of the maritime neighborhood.
The couple brought their own priests, who led the ceremony in English, and a singer who performed on behalf of the choir. All of them later joined the celebration as guests. The ceremony was long, unhurried and deeply moving. With more than 150 guests filling the nave, two photographers were essential: one stayed close to the altar for the vows, rings and reactions, while the other worked the aisle and the pews, catching parents, grandparents and friends who had crossed the world to be there.
After the ceremony, guests showered the couple with petals at the church doors, and we photographed the family group portraits inside the church itself, framed by its altar and chapels.
A Wedding Program Like a Night at the Theater
One detail we loved: every guest received a printed booklet at the church entrance, like a theater program. It explained each part of the day, introduced the people involved by name and role, and helped guests from different countries and traditions follow everything that was happening. For an international wedding, it is a small touch that makes everyone feel included, and it photographs beautifully in guests' hands.
Signing the Marriage Register in the Chapel Behind the Altar
After a Catholic wedding, the couple, their witnesses and the priest sign the marriage record. At Santa María del Mar this happens in the chapel behind the main altar, a quiet room decorated with frescoes that most visitors never see. One of us went in with the couple to document the signing, while the other stayed with the guests outside.
WHERE WILL YOUR STORY UNFOLD?
Weighing a beachfront hotel against a countryside finca? Our guide to the best wedding venues near Valencia compares capacity, menu prices and party curfews across the region.
Welcome Drink and Bridal Party Photos
The vintage cars brought the newlyweds back to the hotel, where the welcome drink was already flowing next to the banquet hall. Again, the duo split the work. One of us photographed guests mingling, hugging and catching up after the ceremony. The other took the bridal party aside for a group session.
And what a bridal party it was: seven bridesmaids in matching blush satin one-shoulder gowns, and five groomsmen in black tuxedos with blush bow ties to match. Jake stood out in a white dinner jacket with custom embroidery of the wedding date. We couldn't stop photographing it. When the couple joined the welcome drink, the guests lined up for photos with them, and we kept the camera moving so every group got its moment.
Wedding Reception at Hotel Las Arenas: Speeches, Cake and Hora Loca
The banquet hall had been transformed with elaborate decor for the evening. The bridal party made a grand entrance down the stairs: bridesmaids, parents and finally the couple, to the applause of the whole room. The bride's father gave the first speech before dinner, the best man spoke after the starters, and Jake raised a glass of champagne after the main course. Spreading the speeches between courses kept the energy high all evening.
Then came the cake, a cocktail break with espresso martinis and Agua de Valencia, and the first dance, performed with three live singers who kept the dance floor full for over an hour. At midnight, Karla changed outfits for La Hora Loca, the "crazy hour", a Latin American party tradition she brought from Colombia, with masks, props and loud music. After that, the DJ took over until 3 a.m.
A Wedding Planned by the Bride's Mother
What surprised us most: there was no professional planner. Karla's mother organized everything, from the church and the priests to the cars, the decor and the evening program. The result was seamless and personal. If you are planning a family-led wedding at Las Arenas, our advice is simple: lean on the hotel's banquet team for the venue side, keep one printed run of show for every vendor, and appoint one calm person to answer vendor questions on the day so the planner (often a parent) can be a guest too.
Hotel Las Arenas Wedding Timeline: From Church Ceremony to Party
A church ceremony plus a hotel celebration makes for a long and rich day. Here is the rough shape of Karla and Jake's wedding, which we covered for 12 hours:
- Early afternoon: bride and groom get ready in separate rooms at the hotel; groom portraits in the lobby and on the grounds
- Mid-afternoon: dress reveal with bridesmaids, dad and family; departure in vintage cars
- Late afternoon: church ceremony at Santa María del Mar (about an hour), petals, family portraits and signing of the marriage register
- Early evening: welcome drink at Las Arenas, bridal party session and couple portraits on the hotel grounds
- Evening: grand entrance down the stairs, dinner with speeches between courses, cake cutting
- Night: first dance with live singers, Hora Loca at midnight, DJ until 3 a.m.
Tips for Planning a Wedding at Hotel Las Arenas
- Book a suite for the bride. A two-room suite with a living area and a sea-view balcony gives you space, light and privacy. A standard room works for the groom if you plan portraits in the lobby or gardens.
- Plan the bride's route in advance. When most guests stay at the hotel, the lobby fills up quickly before the ceremony. If you want to stay unseen until the church, agree on a quiet route to the car with the hotel team.
- Protect time for portraits after the church. A long ceremony leaves everyone hungry. Have canapés ready at the welcome drink, and schedule at least 30 to 40 minutes for couple portraits on the hotel grounds before the entrance.
- Ask about guest rates early. The hotel offers special accommodation rates for wedding guests through its banquet department, subject to availability, so book room blocks as soon as your date is set.
- Use the free parking hours. Wedding guests get two free parking hours, which covers most local guests arriving by car for the evening.
- Bring your own photographer. The hotel does not require an exclusive photographer, so you are free to choose your own team.
About the Authors
We are Yuri and Darina, a documentary and editorial wedding photography duo based in Valencia. At a wedding as large and international as Karla and Jake's, our split is what makes full coverage possible: Darina directs the fashion-led portraits and the bride's story, while Yuri follows the groom, the families and the unscripted energy of the guests. Together we document both sides of the day, from the first glass of champagne to the last song of the night.
Planning your own celebration at Las Arenas? Book a free 15-minute call and let's talk through your timeline.
Planning Your Hotel Las Arenas Wedding
Is Las Arenas a good choice for guests traveling from abroad?
It is one of the most convenient options in Valencia. With 253 rooms, special guest rates and a beachfront location a short drive from the airport, your guests can stay where the wedding happens, with no transfers at night.
Where should we get ready if our hotel room is small?
Book a suite for the bride: the separate living room gives space for hair, makeup and group portraits. Standard rooms work well for candid getting-ready moments, and we move the group portraits to the lobby or the hotel gardens.
How late can the party go at Hotel Las Arenas?
Karla and Jake's party ran until 3 a.m., with live singers for the first dance, Hora Loca at midnight and a DJ set to close the night. The exact closing time depends on your contract and the hall, so confirm it with the hotel's banquet team.
Do we need two photographers for a wedding of 150 guests?
We strongly recommend it. With a church ceremony, separate getting-ready rooms and over 150 guests, one photographer cannot be in two places at once. A duo covers the couple and the guests at the same time, so no part of the day is lost.
Hotel Las Arenas Balneario, Valencia
Photographed and written by Yuri & Darina, wedding photographers in Valencia
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