Location & Venue: Abadía Retuerta, Valladolid, Spain
Guest Experience: Multi-day luxury destination wedding in a historic Spanish monastery
Design Narrative: Refined gothic elegance inspired by medieval architecture and cinematic romance
Key Features: Candlelit abbey ceremony, black calla lily styling, draped tables with candelabras

HIGHLIGHTS

A Candlelit Gothic-Inspired Wedding at Abadía Retuerta in Spain

Stella Banderas and Alex Gruzynki celebrated their wedding with a luxury destination wedding in Spain at the historic Abadía Retuerta in Valladolid. Set within a centuries-old monastery, the celebration combined cinematic romance, gothic elegance, and fashion-led design, creating an immersive experience rooted in the atmosphere of the venue itself.

Guests travelled from across Europe and the United States, arriving through candlelit courtyards and softly illuminated cloisters before gathering inside the ancient abbey for the ceremony. Hundreds of candles lined the stone interiors, creating a warm and intimate setting that highlighted the monastery’s dramatic architecture. Stella’s entrance alongside her father, Antonio Banderas, brought a deeply personal and cinematic moment to the ceremony.

Fashion played a defining role throughout the celebration. Stella wore a custom Rodarte Chantilly lace gown with off-the-shoulder sleeves and a cathedral-length veil, paired with a bouquet of black calla lilies that introduced a modern interpretation of gothic wedding styling. Bridesmaids, including Dakota Johnson, wore black velvet devoré Rodarte gowns, reinforcing the monochromatic palette and couture-inspired aesthetic.

Dinner at La Abadía Retuerta continued the layered, romantic design narrative. Draped silver tablescapes were styled with deep red roses, cascading grapes, glowing candelabras, and embroidered lace details, while hand-illustrated menus and bespoke monogrammed touches added a sense of refinement and personalisation.

As the evening progressed, the celebration evolved into a dramatic candlelit party centred around music and storytelling. A two-metre cake topped with cream and raspberries became a focal point before guests gathered for emotional dances and live performances. A 32-piece orchestra welcomed guests into the chapel later in the evening, while curated vintage film scenes projected across the space created a cinematic backdrop for the final celebrations.

This wedding at Abadía Retuerta showcased a modern approach to luxury destination weddings in Spain, combining historic architecture, couture fashion, and immersive guest experience to create a celebration that felt timeless, editorial, and deeply personal.

AS SEEN IN

— Stella Banderas

Not only did they deliver, they exceeded every expectation. Every detail was thoughtful, personal, and magical. Our guests still tell us it was the most beautiful and unforgettable wedding they have ever attended. The team created the perfect environment for us to be fully present and make the most beautiful memories.

“From the very first call with Alice, I knew she completely understood my creative vision.”

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A luxury wedding in Spain requires careful coordination across venue teams, local suppliers, guest travel, production and design. Alice Wilkes Design manages the full process for international clients, creating destination weddings that feel atmospheric, refined and seamlessly delivered.

Yes. Alice Wilkes Design plans and designs luxury weddings at Abadía Retuerta, working with the venue’s historic architecture, vineyard setting and deeply atmospheric interiors to create celebrations that feel personal, cinematic and highly considered.

Abadía Retuerta offers a distinctive setting for a Spanish destination wedding, combining a restored monastery, stone courtyards, cloisters, chapel spaces and a luxury hospitality experience. It is particularly suited to couples who want a wedding rooted in history, atmosphere and a strong sense of place.

A candlelit abbey wedding needs restraint, proportion and careful production. We use lighting, florals, tablescape design, music and guest movement to enhance the existing architecture, allowing the stone interiors and historic details to remain central to the experience.

We design the guest journey from arrival through to the final celebration, considering courtyards, ceremony spaces, dining rooms, music, lighting and late-night transitions. The result is a destination wedding that feels immersive rather than simply decorative.

If you’re envisioning a wedding that feels thoughtful, beautifully designed, and unrivaled in detail, we would love to hear more about your celebration and explore how we can bring it to life.

Plan Your Wedding with Alice Wilkes Design