Los Monteros Opens but is it safe?

I called by La Cabane beach club at the Los Monteros hotel in Marbella two weeks ago after hearing the good news that they have re-opened after a long battle and strike which saw the workers without pay for 19 months.

Last year I was responsible for planning the very last wedding there on May 29th. As a wedding planner I like to be organised and check all details as many times as possible to make sure nothing has been overlooked. When things go wrong, we are usually equipped with a plan B and nothing really impacts on the couples day.

The week in the lead up to the wedding in Los Monteros which was due to take place on Friday May 29th was probably the most horrific of my life and I hope that I never have to experience anything like it again. I was made aware a whole month beforehand that the hotel had been sold to a new Russian owner and that although the staff had been striking due to non payment of wages that everything was now sorted out and a meeting with their new food and beverage manager set my mind at ease.

On Monday the 25th, I called to the hotel to drop off a cheque of €11000 in full and final payment for the wedding. I received a call the following day to say that I should take the cheque back as there might not be a wedding. I jumped in the car and with the foot to the floor drove like a maniac to the hotel.I couldnt find the manager but his assistant explained that the Russian owner`, who felt like he was being held to ransom due to local employment law which was preventing him from sacking long term staff who he considered "lazy and slow", had simply decided to close the hotel and this would happen within the next few days.

I went back to my office to absorb the enormity of the situation when I got a call from the manager to say that he would personally ensure that the wedding would go ahead on Friday, but that I needed to bring the cheque back which I did on Wednesday morning. At this stage I had not said anything to the bride and her preparations were in full swing. On arrival to the hotel that Wednesday I met with the manager and his assistant who were by now ashen faced. They told be that the Russian owner had refused the cheque and that we were to pay €11,000 in cash or there would be no wedding.

At this point I had to go to the brides parents who had been quite involved in the planning process. They were of course shocked, then very angry. I arranged a meeting in the hotel the following morning. Our dilemma was simple, if we paid over €11,000 in cash how could we believe that they would not shut the hotel anyway. We offered to pay by credit card but the owner refused. On the Thursday night we continued with our plans and proceeded with a rehearsal in the church. The tension was incredible but only shared with the brides parents and I. At this point the poor father of the bride shouted at me saying that I should pay the money as it was probably all my fault anyway. I knew he was only venting his anger and asked that he stay calm so that we could all work through the situation together.

I got a call late that night to say that we were allowed to pay by credit card after all and with a personal guarantee from the manager that the wedding would go ahead we got up on the Friday morning and it was all systems go.

That sounds like the end of the story, but it got worse. The staff who had been striking at regular intervals over the past few weeks, went out in force blocking the entrance to the receptin area banging drums and blowing whistles. I then got a call from my chocolate fountain lady to say that the police had now shown up and were checking peoples work permits, and if my suppliers didnt have the right papers on them they wouldn´t let them in. I was at the church at this point so I sent my brave girl Lizzy down to keep an eye on things. The church all went fine and we had a champagne reception at the church. I was in attendance smiling at everyone while I received regular updates from the hotel. When I got there, the drumers and the police had left, but everyone was frantic trying to make up for lost time. I phoned the photographer to delay the bride on the beach and we made it with minutes to spare.

The night went off brilliantly and the bride and groom were only told the day after of all that had gone on, they were suitably shocked!The Russian turned up when the party was in full swing approached me to shake his hand as he had a tv crew there for some reason and was happy that such a fabulous party was underway so he could show off. I maintained a dignified silence but there was definitely no hand shaking.

I have huge admiration for the hotel manager Salvador, and all of the staff of Los Monteros who never gave up. WHen we visited two weeks ago, they were all there with their shirts off, mopping and cleaning to restore the hotel to it´s former glory. Salvador has worked there for thirty five years and I hope he never has to go through anything like that again. I think that if I ever had to go through that again I might just hang up my wedding planner shoes. I hope to bring them some more weddings and help to restore faith in the hotel, but I think that I may just wait a while.

Villa Padierna receives Michelle Obama and Del Boy

Villa Padierna is located in the middle of the stunning Los Flamingos golf course in the area of Cancelada west of Marbella. It´s palatial setting and unique ampitheatre makes it a popular choice of venue, and with a minimum price tag of €20,000 per wedding,the venue truly lives up to its five star status.

Last month Michelle Obama stopped by for a visit, with her daughter Sasha and stayed as personal guests of the hotel owners. During the five day visit the very elegant first lady went for a casual wander in Marbella Old Town where she stopped by a gift shop outside our most popular Marbella church, Nuestra Señora de la Encarnacion near Orange Square. Sadly I couldn´t make it that day.

On a more positive note, we had the pleasure of welcoming another A Lister at one of our May weddings in Villa Padierna, as pictured above, the one and only Del Boy.

Del Boy burst into the room and in true style tried to flog some sovereign rings and fake watches much to the amusement of the wedding guests.

This was a special surprise organised by the best man for the couple who knew nothing about it until his entrance into the room as they sat for dinner. I was informed only the day before that he would be flying in from London at 3pm, just as we were due to arrive at the church. I had to arrange a changing area for him and keep him under wraps until his entrance. Worse still, he had to leave the hotel at 6.30 that evening to fly back to London, so I had to be really pushy with the couple to keep to the schedule during their welcome cocktail.


We had the welcome cocktail in the front of the hotel which overlooks the golf course and the lakes. It was so beautiful there and the photographer was getting some great shots. With Spanish music playing in the background, everyone was really enjoying themselves. This of course meant that nobody wanted to move inside for dinner.

As I smiled at the guests I was concious of the best man following me around tapping his watch. When I announced the bride and groom into dinner, and made sure that they were comfortably seated, the bride commented that I was very bossy! It all became clear when Del Boy burst through the door carrying a host of funny props. As we had provided Del Boy with a detailed seating plan he knew which guests were at what table and proceeded with a super, and personalised comedy half hour which set the guests rocking with laughter.

The atmosphere continued throughout the evening and as a really good tip, I suggest that an act either during your welcome cocktail or just before dinner is a great idea to liven up the day.

If you would like Del Boy or any other celebrity at your wedding, let us know and we will see what we can do!

I love love love The Marbella Club

There is no better place to be than in the Villa del Mar, a private villa within the grounds of the Marbella Club which overlooks the main Marbella promenade. Located on the exclusive Golden Mile, the Marbella Club has welecome celebrities such as Grace Kelly and Jackie O, and weddings here place our brides in the same location where time has almost stood still.

This wedding was very entertaining. A tough gig for Irish comedien Dave Young who was a little out of his comfort zone. Usually playing to crowds in Benalmadena clubs, this couple were great fans and hired him for their wedding. However after a huge meal and many hours of drink poor Dave had to work overtime to get them going. In true style he did in the end, and even had their priest up as part of a mock boy band tribute.

I have learned at this stage to be prepared for anything and always carry extra shoes and clothes in the car. This day I had scheduled a quick stop to the hotel´s staff changing room to prepare as it is not good to turn up at a five star wedding looking like a sweaty two star planner. All going to schedule and dressed in black leggings and t shirt for the set up part of the day, all I had to wait for now was the delivery of the bridal flowers then off for a quick change. The bride had provided us with a picture of dark pink calla lillies which our florist reproduced perfectly. Unfortunately the shade was slightly darker than the bride wanted (warning, we never know what shade pink callas will be until delivery that day!!), and with a cry of "They´re plum, not fuschia", she threw the bouquet back at the poor florist who nearly died on the spot. Of course the customer is always right and with only one and half hours left till the ceremony, the florist had to rush back to the shop and re-make the bridesmaids bouquet. The bride was, thankfully, happy with her own flowers! With no time left I found a changing room in a beach club next door and like wonderwoman, I whipped on the pink dress in the picture above, threw in a few curls with my 1980´s little gas operated tongs and re-appeared looking slightly more five star.

Returning with enough time to check that the specially ordered barrells of Guinness and Budweiser were in place, I got the bride and her exceptionally large dress into the back of a white vintage rolls royce and raced ahead of them to the church. The dress was so big that the father of the bride had to sit in the front of the car!

The day went off well and as night fell, the pink mood lighting hit the palm trees as they swayed in a light breeze and the bride relaxed and smiled for the rest of the evening. There were more funny stories from this wedding, I couldnt possible write them but if you happen to be in the back of my car on a viewing trip, ask me and I just might spill!