The Guadalest Valley sits an 2 hours south of Valencia and half an hour inland from Benidorm, ringed by the Aitana, Serrella and Xortà mountains. Here the coast feels far away until you turn around and see a strip of the Mediterranean on the horizon. Masos is a working winery in Benimantell, in the heart of the valley, built around a centuries-old masía with its own small chapel and surrounded by its own vineyards. It's one of the few places where a wedding can have mountains behind the ceremony and the sea behind the dinner. If you're planning a celebration here and looking for a wedding photographer on the Costa Blanca, here's what we learned on the day.
Imagining your vows with the valley behind you and a glass of the estate's own wine waiting after? Tell us your date and let's plan your Masos story together.
Getting Ready Down the Road
The bride got ready at Viwood, a hotel in the same valley a few minutes' drive from the winery. It's an easy pairing: the hotel gives you calm, bright rooms for the morning, and the short drive means nobody spends the afternoon in a car. We photographed the dress, the details and the last quiet minutes before the ceremony there, then went ahead to the winery to be in place before the guests arrived.
At the couple's request, this story focuses on the bride and the details of the day.
A Ceremony Under an Old Olive Tree
The estate has a small chapel, but this couple chose to say their vows outdoors, in front of an old olive tree that the decorators dressed in flowers. It's an intimate spot rather than a grand one, with the valley opening up behind it, and it suits a guest list where everyone can stand close enough to hear the vows without a microphone.
The White Smoke Moment, From Three Angles
The moment the couple was pronounced married, white smoke went up around them. It looks effortless in photos, and it is one of the hardest seconds of the day to photograph: the smoke lasts only moments, drifts with the wind, and there is no second take.
That is exactly why we work as a duo. One of us shot from one side, the other from the opposite angle, and the drone was already in the air above the ceremony. Three positions meant that wherever the smoke went, one of us had the clean frame.
Drone Over the Valley
Masos allows drone flights, and that changes what the gallery can show. From the air you see what a guest standing on the lawn can't: vineyards running down the slope, the mountains closing the valley, and the sea on the horizon. We flew over the ceremony, the setup and the estate at golden hour, when the light runs low across the vines.
A Lawn Made for Guests
Beyond the ceremony there is a wide green lawn, which gave the evening room to breathe. Between the cocktail hour and dinner it turned into a playground: a football match between the bride's team and the groom's, a table football game with the little players dressed as the couple, and a round of drinking checkers where every captured piece had to be finished. Guests tasted the winery's own wines and left with a wine gift set at the end of the night.
PLANNING YOUR VENUE SEARCH? SEE THE FULL LIST
Weighing a mountain winery against the estates closer to Valencia? See how Masos sits alongside the other fincas, villas and historic houses we photograph across the region.
What to Know Before Booking Masos
- Distance: about an 2 hours from Valencia and 30 minutes from Benidorm. Most guests stay on the coast or in the valley, so plan evening transport.
- Size: comfortable for around 100 guests, better for an intimate or mid-sized wedding than a very large one.
- Food and wine: the winery runs its own kitchen, and the estate's wines are poured at dinner and in the tasting room overlooking the valley.
- Ceremony options: the small chapel on the estate, or outdoors under the olive trees with the valley behind you.
- Getting ready: a hotel in the valley, such as Viwood, keeps the morning close to the venue.
From Our Lens: A Photographer's Insight
The best light here comes late. As the sun drops, it runs low across the rows of vines and warms the stone of the old masía, and the mountains turn soft and blue behind the couple. We plan portraits for that last hour rather than straight after the ceremony.
On the ground, the olive tree does the framing for you: its branches give the vows a natural arch, so the ceremony needs very little extra decor to look finished. And because the valley is quiet and far from any town, there's no traffic noise, no neighbors and no rush, which shows in how relaxed the guests look in every frame.
Is Your Date Still Free?
The estate takes only a handful of weddings each season, and Saturdays in spring and early fall go first. If a smaller wedding with a view on both sides is what you're picturing, let's check that your date is still open.
A Note on Budget
Photography pricing for a venue this far out depends on your coverage hours, whether you book us as a duo, and add-ons like aerial coverage or film. Travel within Spain is included, so the distance from Valencia doesn't add to your quote. If you're still setting your budget, our guide to how much wedding photographers cost in Spain compares typical price ranges across the country, so you know what to expect before you reach out.
Your Masos de Guadalest Wedding Photographers
We are Yuri and Darina, an editorial wedding photography duo based in Valencia. Darina leads the portraits, light and styling; Yuri covers the day as it unfolds, with raw, unscripted reportage of the guests and the moments in between.
Having photographed a full wedding at Masos, from the morning at Viwood to the white smoke over the olive tree, we already know where the light falls in the valley and where to stand when the moment comes.
FAQ: Getting Married at Masos de Guadalest
Can guests taste the estate's wine?
Yes. Masos produces its own wines from the vineyards around the estate, and a tasting can be part of the cocktail hour or the evening.
How many guests does the venue suit?
It's most comfortable for weddings of around 100 guests. For larger celebrations we'd suggest looking at the bigger estates in our venue guide.
How far is Masos from Valencia and Benidorm?
About an 2 hours from Valencia and around 30 minutes from Benidorm. We recommend arranging a shuttle for guests staying on the coast.
Where can we get ready before the ceremony?
Many couples choose a hotel in the Guadalest Valley, such as Viwood, a few minutes' drive from the winery, so the morning stays relaxed and close to the venue.
Masos de Guadalest, Benimantell
More Wedding Locations Nearby
