Anastasia is from Ukraine, Israel is from Venezuela, and they met here in Valencia before life took them to Miami. When they decided to get married, they came back to the city where it all started, and asked me, as their wedding planner in Valencia, to bring it all together. In the end, more than 75 guests flew in from eight different countries to celebrate with them at Finca del Canónigo.
The Venue: Finca del Canónigo
Finca del Canónigo sits in Poblados del Oeste, just outside the centre of Valencia. It has that quiet, timeless feeling you want for a wedding: old stone, open space, room for a big celebration that still feels personal. For a couple coming from abroad with guests arriving from all over the world, it worked beautifully. Easy to reach, close to the city where everyone was staying, and large enough to hold a party of this size without ever feeling crowded.
What made this venue right wasn't any single feature. It was how well it fit a wedding like theirs: a large group of guests arriving from abroad, a celebration that needed to feel warm and personal rather than formal, and a setting that looked beautiful without much added to it. Some places you have to work hard to transform. This one already had what it needed.
The estate also had quiet corners that made the day feel more intimate. Before the ceremony, Anastasia and Israel had their first look in one of them, a private moment just for the two of them, away from the guests, before everything began. Those small, tucked-away spaces are part of what makes this venue special: it's large enough for a big celebration, but it still gives you places to breathe.
How We Planned It
They came to me about ten months before the date, and from the very start Anastasia approached everything with real care. We looked at a lot of venues and, just as importantly, a lot of dates. Around nine different dates were on the table at one point, each with its own availability, pricing and conditions to weigh up, and we tracked all of it together until the right combination became clear.
Anastasia works in design, and she brought that eye to the whole wedding. She created all the printed pieces herself: the invitations, the stationery, the seating cards, every detail matched and considered. My job was to build everything around her vision and make sure it all came together on the ground here in Valencia while the two of them got on with their life in Miami.
That's usually how the best weddings come together. Not in a rush, but step by step, with someone on the ground here in Valencia checking the details while the couple gets on with their life abroad. Israel, for his part, kept it simple. He told me early on that he cared about exactly two things: that we had tequeños, the Venezuelan cheese sticks, and that there was an open bar. Everything else he happily left to Anastasia and me.
There was one small moment during the planning that stayed with me. Somewhere along the way I suggested we meet at Beverly Café here in Valencia. When Anastasia and Israel heard the name, they laughed, that little café was where they'd had their very first date. Out of all the places in the city, I'd picked the one where their story started. Some things you can't plan, they just happen.
Thinking about your own wedding in Spain?
The Wedding Day
The ceremony was symbolic, held outdoors in the finca's garden. Its most meaningful moment was led by Israel's aunt, who performed a religious blessing that mattered deeply to his family, a personal touch no hired officiant could have given. The celebration ran in three languages, which is what happens when you bring together families from Ukraine, Venezuela, Spain and beyond.
Spanish and Venezuelan guests aren't always used to a wedding with a host guiding a full programme of games and toasts, so I built the evening carefully to bring everyone in. I needn't have worried: guests threw themselves into every activity, and Israel, who'd been nervous we might overwhelm them, watched the whole room get involved. The seating was arranged so that no one felt out of place and everyone had someone interesting beside them, which for a room of 75 people from eight countries is not a small thing.
One moment I'll remember for a long time: when Anastasia threw the bouquet, it sailed up and landed straight on a ceiling beam. The bridesmaids joined forces, laughing, reaching and finally wrestling it back down between them. It was that kind of wedding. Warm, a little wild, always something happening. One of the brightest days of the season.
Planning Your Own Wedding in Valencia?
If you're reading this from another country and picturing your own wedding somewhere in Spain, this is exactly the kind of day I love helping couples create. I'm here in Valencia the whole way through: visiting the venues, working through the details, and making sure that when you finally arrive, all you have to do is enjoy it. Tell me a little about what you have in mind, and we'll take it from there.
Olga is an amazing wedding planner!
From the very beginning everything was organized so smoothly and professionally - communication, attention to detail, and support throughout the whole process. Thanks to Olga, our wedding turned out exactly how we dreamed it would be - beautiful, well-planned, and truly special.
Thank you so much for helping us bring all our ideas to life and for making this day so unforgettable. We felt calm and confident during every step of the planning process. We truly recommend Olga to anyone planning their wedding!
ISRAEL & ANASTASIA
FAQ: Planning a Wedding at Finca del Canónigo
How many guests can Finca del Canónigo hold?
The venue works beautifully for mid-sized weddings and comfortably hosts around 100 guests. It has two garden areas, one intimate corner with bougainvillea arches that's lovely for the ceremony, and a large wooden porch for the cocktail hour, plus an indoor hall for the party. For Anastasia and Israel's 75 guests from eight countries there was plenty of room, and the layout never felt crowded. Tell me your rough guest count and I'll let you know how it would work for your day.
Do we need to live in Spain to get legally married here?
For a legally binding civil marriage in Spain, at least one partner generally needs to have been a legal resident for two continuous years, which rules it out for most couples travelling from abroad. The simple and popular solution is to complete the legal marriage quietly at home, often a short registry appointment, and hold your real celebration, the symbolic ceremony, here in Spain. Your guests see no difference at all. I'll walk you through exactly how it works on our first call.
Can we have a symbolic ceremony at the venue itself?
Yes, and it's what most international couples do. Anastasia and Israel had their symbolic ceremony right there in the finca's garden, surrounded by their guests. A symbolic ceremony gives you full freedom over where, when and how you celebrate, with no Spanish paperwork involved. It's the most popular choice for couples marrying from abroad, and I handle the setup from start to finish.
When is the best time of year for a wedding at Finca del Canónigo?
Late spring and early autumn are ideal, warm enough for an outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour in the gardens, without the peak heat of high summer. Anastasia and Israel married in May, and the weather was perfect for a garden celebration. That said, the venue has shaded outdoor areas and a cool indoor hall, so summer weddings work well too. If you have a season in mind, tell me and I'll help you find the date that fits.
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