A Scottish bride abroad: Antonia and Craig’s glamorous wedding in Marbella

When Scottish couple Antonia and Craig began planning their wedding, they knew it had to be a true reflection of their relationship – full of laughter, love and unforgettable moments.

After an intimate legal ceremony at 23 Montrose Street in Glasgow, the pair jetted off to Marbella for a spectacular destination wedding at Finca Amalur, surrounded by 100 friends and family.

With two bespoke gowns by Opus Couture, a white-tuxedo moment from Suited & Booted, and personal touches that honoured loved ones, this Scottish-Spanish celebration was a perfect blend of heartfelt emotion and party-ready glamour – a destination wedding dream come true.

Wedding highlights at a glance

Wedding venues | 23 Montrose Street, Glasgow and Finca Amalur, Marbella
Date | 28th June 2025
Photography | Anna Beth Photography and Belle Lumiere Photography 
Theme | Abroad wedding in Marbella preceded by a legal ceremony in Glasgow
Ceremony | Civil ceremony followed by personal vows abroad
Entertainment | Three talented singers, a saxophone player, a violinist and a DJ

Read on for the full story...

A love story full of laughter

They say that all you need in life is love and laughter, and that’s exactly what Antonia found in Craig.

“We have this running joke that I end up crying because of how much Craig makes me laugh,” says the happy bride. “It’s one of my favourite things about him.”

From the minute they got engaged, the couple (who have been together since they were teenagers) knew that their wedding would be all about the party vibes, with everyone on the dancefloor until the wee hours.

An intimate Scottish ceremony

Heartfelt personal vows were also deeply important to them, so Antonia and Craig eventually settled on a quiet legal ceremony in Scotland first, followed by a unforgettable celebration in Marbella with 100 of their nearest and dearest.

Modern and traditional readings for your wedding ceremony

“We went back and forth a lot on what to do for our ceremony on 22nd May,” says Antonia.

“I wanted a small celebration with a few friends and family, but the numbers quickly mounted up and it started to feel like it was turning into another wedding.

"It was Craig who said, ‘Antonia, can this day be just the two of us? It’s the one thing I’ll ask for.’ And I’m so glad he did. He wanted to pick two witnesses off the street, though,” laughs the bride.

“Thankfully, we compromised and asked my maid of honour and Craig’s best man to be our witnesses.

"I got ready at my sister’s house, then we made our way to 23 Montrose Street at the City Chambers, followed by drinks at The Corinthian.”

Bespoke bridal style by Opus Couture

Finding the right dress was always going to be a key moment for the model and fitness instructor.

“The team at Opus Couture were amazing every step of the way and created two bespoke dresses for me,” she says.

“For my ‘home’ one, the original dress was floor-length with a detachable skirt, but it felt similar to a dress I’d worn previously and I wanted to make it different. Susan, the store manager, messaged me a few days later: ‘Let’s cut it, make it a mini, add a bow and a veil-like train,’ she said.

Inside the wedding dress shopping experience at Opus Couture 

“My ‘away’ dress was the third gown I’d ever tried on, and I made personal touches to that too. The lace was originally quite sheer so I added an ivory bodice underneath, fanned the lace out around my hands and altered the buttons at the neck.

"It was everything I’d dreamed of. I wore my sister’s veil as my ‘something borrowed’.”

The groom’s personalised suit

Craig’s outfit was less complicated but just as personal. The professional footballer and coach put his trust in Glasgow’s Suited & Booted.

This handy grooms timeline will help you start the wedding prep

“Craig opted for a white tuxedo for our ‘away’ wedding, and made it completely his own,” recalls his wife.

“He added my mum and dad’s initials alongside those of his own parents, as well as the date we started going out 14 years ago. My name was also embroidered on the sleeve. They’re tiny things but they just made it so special.” 

A destination wedding at Finca Amalur

With everything ticked off the list, the couple couldn’t wait for their wedding at Finca Amalur in Marbella, a stunning venue with glorious terraces overlooking the Mediterranean.

“I arrived in Spain 20 days before the big day, along with Adam, my right-hand man and one of my best friends. I’m so glad we did – it gave me time to feel organised and to relax a little.

“I had multiple meetings with my planner at Sunshine Weddings. I’m so glad I hired one; they answered all my questions and took any stress away – handy, as the villa we stayed in wasn’t even built when we booked it!

"I’ll never forget seeing it in person for the first time and sighing with relief that it actually existed. Until that point, it wasn’t even coming up on Google Maps! But it was stunning.”

The happy couple hosted their hen and stag dos in Marbella too, making the most of their time there in the sunshine before the wedding.

“We hired a DJ and singer. The vibes were insane.

"Craig also had a day of golfing with his groomsmen, while I organised a Pilates class with my girls.”

The zen vibes extended right up to the day of the wedding, as the super-organised Antonia recalls: “I even had time to sunbathe!” she laughs. 

Family, emotion and meaningful moments

It wasn’t until she was in the car and practising her vows that everything began to feel real. She’d had some bad news too.

“Unfortunately, my dad became really unwell during the week before the wedding, which meant he couldn’t make it. He was supposed to walk me down the aisle and I was devastated he couldn’t be there. But my handsome nephew, Harry, kindly stepped in – there was no other person I would have asked.”

Technology helped save the day: “My dad was able to FaceTime during the ceremony, so it felt like he was still by my side. That was brilliant.”

Ultimately, family was at the heart of everything: Craig’s sister’s husband played the role of celebrant with a personalised script, and the couple asked nieces and nephews to read poems and prayers – one in Spanish about love, and another that mentioned the bride’s religious beliefs.

Ways to pay tribute to lost loved ones on your big day

“We’d also reserved a seat for my mum, who sadly passed away when I was younger,” says Antonia.

“I know she’d have loved to be there and watch me walk down the aisle to marry the man of my dreams.

"The week of the wedding, a white butterfly appeared everywhere we went, and in the last three days before the big day, a white feather turned up in the garden, the pool and even on the balcony – little signs she was with us. I also wore her wedding band on the wedding day and wrapped my gran’s ring into my bouquet.”

Music, the newlyweds tell us, has always been a big part of their journey, so it was important to include it throughout their wedding day.

A gospel choir sang Antonia’s favourite song, ‘A Moment Like This’ by Leona Lewis, as she walked down the aisle, and a violinist played during the drinks reception.

The wedding party of a lifetime

“We had a bread and charcuterie station plus 25 canapés per person to go with the drinks – it definitely helped soak up the flowing sangria! During dinner, we had three singers performing, plus a saxophone player. 

"It was the ultimate party. So many guests said to us they’d never been at a dinner like it.”

Antonia wore a pair of Jimmy Choo pearl earrings that her husband had given her that morning, and she had a heartfelt surprise up her sleeve for his family too.

She explains: “During the lead-up to the wedding, Craig’s mum had given me his gran’s dress to try on. I secretly got it altered in length (with the approval of his sister!) and added a lace scarf. I then wore it as my evening dress, and they were all very emotional.”

All that was left to do was pour a champagne tower, light up the pyrotechnics and get the party (re)started.

Wedding music and entertainment: the essential do's and don'ts

“The mood was high all night, and we had a DJ for later on,” recalls the beaming bride. “That feeling of dancing with our best friends and family was just amazing – we both said we wished we could bottle it up!”

Bride's top wedding planning tip

“If you’re getting married abroad, I’d recommend using a wedding planner. Ours kept stress at bay and made us think about important factors, such as if our vendors were insured.”

Scotland supplier list

Registry office 23 Montrose Street, Glasgow City Chambers 
Photography Belle Lumiere Photography 
Wedding film RHB Wedding Films
Content creator The Wedding Guy
Wedding dress Opus Couture bespoke dress
Hair Pam Doc Hair
Makeup Sam Hendry MUA
Groomswear Suited & Booted
Flowers Lucienne Luxe
Jewellery James Porter & Son
Beauty treatments Jola Aesthetics, Skinz Aesthetics, The Beauty Room and Haus of Dentistry

Marbella supplier list

Venue and catering Finca Amalur, Marbella
Photography Anna Beth Photography
Wedding film RHB Wedding Films (see teaser below)
Content creator The Wedding Guy
Wedding planner Sunshine Weddings Spain
Wedding dress Pronovias at Opus Couture
Groomswear Suited & Booted
Flowers Deseos Florist, Marbella
Hair Tremayne Hair & Beauty
Makeup Éva Gabriella – Marbella Makeup Artist  
Wedding rings James Porter & Son
Singers Mr Maph and Amaria Simone
Violinist Quike Navarro
Saxophone player Robin Hevness
Stationery B.ink Design