Anastasia and Maksym are from Ukraine and have built their life in Valencia, so when it came to their wedding they weren't planning from another country, but they still wanted somewhere that felt like an escape. They found it at Finca El Senyoret, a historic estate in the hills near Benidorm, where tall pines, warm evening light and a view of the mountains make the whole place feel a world away from everyday life. As their wedding planner, I helped them turn that setting into a day that was entirely their own. They married there on the 22nd of May.
The Venue: Finca El Senyoret
Finca El Senyoret is one of those places that doesn't need much to look beautiful. A historic finca set among mature pine trees just outside Benidorm, it has the kind of established, grown-in feel you can't build quickly: shade, greenery, and a sense of calm the moment you arrive. In the evenings, with festoon lights strung between the trees, the garden turns golden and intimate.
At the heart of it is a permanent stone ceremony arch, framed by the pines with the mountains rising behind it. It's a rare thing in a venue, a ceremony spot that's already perfect before you add a single flower. For Anastasia and Maksym, who wanted their day to feel natural and unforced rather than heavily styled, it was exactly right. The whole celebration unfolded outdoors, from the ceremony under the arch to dinner beneath the trees and dancing late into the warm night.
How We Planned It
Living in Valencia meant Anastasia and Maksym could see the venue easily, but a wedding is still a wedding, and there was a lot to bring together. My job was to hold all of it: the finca, the vendors, the timeline, the design, so that the couple could enjoy the run-up instead of drowning in it. We built the day around a classical, refined décor - everything the setting needed and nothing it didn't. The all-white palette let the natural beauty of the pines and evening light do the talking, and every element felt considered without ever tipping into excess. Both families also wanted certain Ukrainian traditions woven into the celebration, and we found a way to honour each one without losing the clean, modern European feel of the day.
And one of those details had four legs. Anastasia and Maksym have a dog named Sky, and Sky isn't just a pet, she's family, so it was never a question of whether she'd be part of the day, only how. We wove her through the whole celebration in small, joyful ways, the kind of personal touch that turns a beautiful wedding into unmistakably their wedding.
Picturing a wedding somewhere like this?
The Wedding Day
The ceremony took place under the stone arch, the couple framed by pines and mountains, in the soft light of a late May evening. Anastasia and Maksym wrote their own vows, and they were some of the most original I have heard: no borrowed phrases, just real stories from their relationship, inside jokes and honest words delivered with warmth and humour. Their MC matched the energy perfectly, reading the room and keeping the mood exactly where it needed to be all evening. From there the celebration moved into the garden for dinner beneath the festoon lights, all white flowers, candles and long tables under the trees.
Sky was everywhere you looked, in the best way. Guests went home with hand-decorated gingerbread paws as favours, and the cake had its own moment: a beautiful white tiered creation topped with a tiny figurine of Sky, caught mid-nibble as if she'd sneaked a bite before anyone was watching. Instead of the traditional candle-blowing, Anastasia and Maksym poured coloured glaze over the white tiers together, the two colours drawn from their wedding palette - a simple gesture that looked striking and felt completely them. Little touches like these, running through the whole day, told the couple's story better than any speech could.
There was another storyline running quietly through the weekend. Maksym is a devoted Arsenal fan, and his wedding happened to land in the most extraordinary week in the club's recent history: just days earlier, Arsenal had been crowned champions of England for the first time in twenty-two years, and they were on their way to the Champions League final. He got ready that morning in an Arsenal shirt, joking that he honestly couldn't decide which mattered more, his club finally lifting the title or his own wedding day. Anastasia had her answer ready, of course.
And she had a surprise of her own. Late in the evening, when the party was in full swing, Anastasia slipped away and reappeared behind the DJ booth, taking over the decks herself and sending the dancefloor into a roar. It was that kind of wedding: relaxed, personal, full of the couple's own character, the sort of day guests talk about long after they've flown home.
Planning Your Own Wedding at Finca El Senyoret?
If you're picturing your own wedding somewhere like this, under the pines with the mountains behind you, this is exactly the kind of day I love helping couples create. I plan weddings at Finca El Senyoret and at venues across the region, on the ground the whole way through: finding the setting that fits you, shaping the details, and making sure that on the day itself, all you have to do is enjoy it.
Get in touch and let me know what you're picturing - I'd love to hear about it
FAQ: Planning a Wedding at Finca El Senyoret
How many guests can Finca El Senyoret hold?
The finca works beautifully for mid-sized weddings, with space for the ceremony, dinner and dancing all outdoors among the pines. Let me know how many guests you're expecting and I'll talk you through the layout.
What's the best time of year for a wedding here?
The season runs from around April to October, with the sweetest spot in May and June when the evenings are warm but not too hot. Anastasia and Maksym married in late May and had perfect conditions. Popular weekends fill up fast, so it's worth planning ahead.
Where does the ceremony take place at the venue?
There's a permanent stone ceremony arch set among the pine trees, with the mountains behind it, a ready-made ceremony spot that looks stunning with very little added. The rest of the celebration flows through the garden from there.
Do you plan weddings at other venues in the area?
Yes. I work across the region and know many of its fincas and estates. If you have a venue in mind, or you'd like help finding one, just ask.
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