Wedding Planners in Marbella & Costa del Sol I Recommend
Local Photographer Guide
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The wedding planners I recommend when couples ask me for a Costa del Sol referral
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Couples ask me at least once a week: “Do you know a good wedding planner?” I’ve been putting off writing this because I wanted to be sure about who I’d send my own friends to. This is that list.
These are wedding planners on the Costa del Sol whose work I trust. If you’re planning a Marbella or wider Costa del Sol wedding from abroad and want a real human recommendation, start here.
Who this list is for
This list is for couples planning a wedding in Marbella, along the Costa del Sol, or in the wider Malaga province. It’s especially useful if you’re planning from another country and need someone on the ground who speaks your language and knows the local vendor scene.
If your wedding is in Sevilla, Madrid, or the Balearic Islands, this list won’t fully fit. I’m working on a separate Spain-wide post for those regions.
If you want an elopement or a small ceremony under 15 people, you likely don’t need a full planner. Read my elopements page first and see if the format fits before you inquire with anyone here.
What a wedding planner actually does
Wedding planners get lumped in with “decorators” or “stylists” in a lot of couples’ heads. That’s not quite right. A planner’s real job is to run the operational side of your wedding so you don’t have to.
That means finding and shortlisting venues that fit your vision and budget. Recommending suppliers they’ve worked with and trust. Handling contracts, deposits, and payment schedules with vendors. Building your wedding day timeline hour by hour and making sure every vendor knows their piece of it. Being on-site or on-call the whole day to solve problems before you even hear about them.
Some planners also do design work (colours, moodboards, decor styling). Some don’t. Some offer full-service planning from start to finish. Others offer partial planning or just day-of coordination. When you inquire with any of the planners below, they’ll walk you through what’s included in each of their service tiers.
Marbella Wedding (Ilinca Radu)
Ilinca and her team have been planning Marbella weddings for over 8 years. Their catalog covers 60+ venues across Marbella, Malaga, Estepona, Mijas, Ronda, and Benahavis. Their Google rating is 5.0 across every one of their reviews.
In their own words: “Marbella Wedding is a boutique wedding planning and design company specialising in destination weddings across Marbella, the Costa del Sol, and Southern Spain. We work closely with couples from all over the world, creating bespoke celebrations that are beautifully designed, seamlessly organised, and truly personal. From venue sourcing and supplier management to full wedding coordination, we ensure every detail is taken care of so our couples can simply enjoy the experience.”
They’ve also expanded beyond Spain and now plan Lake Como weddings in Italy. So if you’re deciding between Italy and Spain, Ilinca can talk you through both destinations from actual experience.
Website: marbellawedding.com
Simply Weddings Spain (Nikki Allen)
Nikki has been in the Costa del Sol wedding industry for over 8 years, coming from a Front of House Coordinator role at one of Marbella’s top wedding catering companies. Before Spain, she was Events and Wedding Operations Manager for a chain of 4-star hotels. She and her team also offer in-house catering, so you can bundle both under one roof.
In their own words: “Nikki and Sheila at Simply Weddings have an unrivalled passion for weddings and both love to help couples plan and organise their perfect day. Also offering catering services, Simply Weddings can provide everything you need under one roof.”
They run both a full planning service and a coordination-only service, so there’s flexibility depending on how much help you actually need.
Website: simplyweddingsspain.com
FLO Weddings (Francesca)
Francesca has an Italian background and full-time Costa del Sol wedding planning experience. Her site runs in English, Spanish, and Italian, which matters if you have guests coming from multiple countries or if either of you speaks Italian at home.
In her own words: “With an Italian background and extensive experience in destination weddings, she brings together timeless elegance, meticulous attention to detail, and the genuine warmth of Italian hospitality. She believes every celebration should be a true reflection of the couple, creating each wedding through trust, personal connection, and a deep understanding of her clients’ vision. Guiding couples with passion, sensitivity, and professionalism from the very first conversation to the wedding day, she ensures the planning journey is as seamless, enjoyable, and memorable as the celebration itself.”
She offers full planning, day-of coordination, and flexible partial-planning packages. There’s also a first consultation and location tour package where you can spend a day on the Costa del Sol with her exploring venues.
Website: floweddings.com
Why work with a planner if you’re marrying in Spain from abroad
Spanish wedding vendor communication can be slow. Languages differ. Time zones make live calls hard. Contracts sometimes come in Spanish first. Vendors have their own regional quirks about deposits, timelines, and how they run a day.
A local planner solves 90% of that friction. They translate. They vouch for you when a venue takes their sweet time replying. They know which suppliers actually deliver and which have gone downhill this season.
If you’re planning your wedding from the UK, US, Ireland, Scandinavia, Netherlands, or anywhere else, a planner isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s the single vendor that saves you the most stress across the whole planning process.
Types of wedding planning services (so you know what to ask for)
Wedding planners in Spain generally offer three tiers of service. Knowing which one you actually need saves you money and helps you have a better first conversation.
Full planning. You hand over the whole thing. The planner handles venue sourcing, supplier management, contracts, timeline, design, day-of coordination. This is the right choice if you’re planning from abroad, if you’re time-poor, or if you want to actually enjoy your engagement rather than spend it in spreadsheets.
Partial planning. You’ve already booked some vendors and made key decisions, and the planner picks up the rest. Common scenario: you’ve locked in your venue and photographer, and you need help with everything else. Cheaper than full planning, still gives you real support.
Day-of coordination. You’ve done all the planning yourself. The planner joins two to four weeks before the wedding, gets briefed on everything, and runs the day on your behalf. Cheapest option, best for organised couples who mostly want someone else in charge on the actual day.
Any of the planners above can run all three tiers. Ask them which one they’d recommend based on your specific situation, and let them tell you honestly (any good planner will steer you toward what you actually need, not the most expensive option).
The Costa del Sol wedding planning timeline
Rough calendar for a Costa del Sol wedding, working backwards from your wedding date. Times shift depending on your season, guest count, and complexity.
24 to 18 months out. Set your date range. Start venue research. Talk to a planner about your vision and budget. Book your venue if you find the one.
18 to 12 months out. Book your photographer, planner, and celebrant. These three are usually the first to run out of availability in peak season (April to June, September, October).
12 to 9 months out. Book your florist, hair and makeup, band or DJ, and caterer (unless catering is bundled with your venue). Start dress and suit shopping. Draft your guest list.
9 to 6 months out. Send save-the-dates or invitations. Finalize menu and drinks. Book transportation. Handle any legal or symbolic ceremony paperwork.
6 to 1 months out. Final headcount. Seating plan. Final vendor confirmations. Rehearsal. Pack for wedding week if you’re coming in from abroad.
Wedding week. Arrive at least 3 to 5 days early if you’re travelling internationally. Do a location scout with your photographer if you have one. Meet your planner in person. Rest.
If you’re stretching your engagement over more than 18 months, add space in the earlier stages. If you’re planning a shorter engagement (under 9 months), your planner will help you compress things without losing quality.
What to ask any wedding planner on a discovery call
Whichever planner you inquire with, treat the first call as a two-way interview. You’re checking fit. They’re checking whether they can serve you well. Both matter.
Questions worth asking: How many weddings do you take per year? Who will be my day-of contact? What happens if that person is sick or unavailable on my wedding date? How do you communicate throughout planning (video calls, WhatsApp, email, project management tools)? How many people from your team are on-site on the day? What’s included in your service and what’s extra? Have you worked at my venue before?
Any planner worth booking will answer these directly. If they hedge or give vague answers, keep looking.
Also worth asking: can you share two or three past couples I could speak with for references? Good planners have happy clients willing to talk. If they can’t or won’t provide references, that’s a signal.
Common mistakes couples make when hiring a planner from abroad
The pattern I see most often with couples planning a Costa del Sol wedding from another country:
Booking a planner without a video call first. Email alone doesn’t tell you if the fit is right. You’re going to spend 6 to 15 months in constant contact with this human. Vet the vibe.
Assuming all planners cover all regions equally. A planner based in Marbella knows Marbella venues cold. Ask specifically about the region and venue you have in mind, not just “Spain.”
Waiting too long to book. The best planners in the Costa del Sol book out 12+ months in advance for peak season. If you’ve locked in your date, contact planners immediately, don’t wait until you’ve made every other decision first.
Not asking about language capabilities. If your parents or family speak only English (or French, German, Italian, Swedish, etc.), check the planner’s team language coverage before booking. On the wedding day it matters more than you’d expect.
Skipping references. Every good planner has past couples willing to hop on a call with you. Ten minutes with a past bride tells you more than 10 emails with the planner.
What to book alongside your planner
Once you’ve spoken with the planners you’re interested in and picked one, they’ll help with everything else. But if you want to lock in the immovable pieces yourself first, here’s the rough order:
- Venue (book 24 to 12 months out for peak season)
- Photographer (book 9 to 12 months out for peak season)
- Planner (book 9 to 24 months out)
- Celebrant or officiant (book 9 to 24 months out)
- Florist, band or DJ, hair and makeup (book 6 to 12 months out)
If you’re still looking for venues to shortlist before your planner call, my guide to the best wedding venues in Marbella covers what a working photographer actually sees at each spot.
And if you’re weighing Spain against other destinations, my breakdown of why couples keep choosing the Costa del Sol walks through the honest comparison.
FAQ
Do I actually need a wedding planner for a Costa del Sol wedding?
If you’re planning from abroad, yes. Spanish vendor communication, language differences, and logistics from another country get complex fast. A planner solves 90% of the friction.
Can I use a photographer who’s not on my planner’s preferred vendor list?
Yes. Any decent planner will accept an outside photographer you love. If they push back hard on your choices, that’s a red flag.
How far in advance should I book my planner?
12 to 24 months out for peak season (April to June, September). 9 to 18 months for off-season. The best planners book earlier than the photographer bottleneck, so start there.
Do all the planners speak English?
Yes. All of them work primarily with international couples. FLO Weddings adds Italian and Spanish. Marbella Wedding adds Spanish.
What’s the difference between a wedding planner and a coordinator?
A planner works with you from start to finish (venue sourcing, supplier management, budget, design, timeline). A coordinator picks up a few weeks before your date and runs the day-of logistics only.
Can I meet these planners before I book?
They all offer free consultation calls. Book one with each and see who feels right.
Should I hire a planner from my home country or a local Costa del Sol planner?
A local planner almost always wins on Spanish weddings. They know the vendors, the venues, the paperwork, the seasons, and the region. A home-country planner adds a layer of translation without adding local knowledge.
What happens if my planner and my photographer haven’t worked together before?
Not a problem. Good planners and good photographers work together fluidly whether they’ve met before or not. Both do this professionally week in and week out.
Ready to plan yours?
If you’re planning a Costa del Sol wedding and want a photographer alongside your planner, send me an inquiry with your rough dates and venue if you have one. My weddings page walks through what a full-day package looks like, and my honest guide to choosing a wedding photographer covers the questions to ask any photographer before you sign.
Reach out to any of the planners above. They’re each worth a conversation.
Book Your Wedding Photographer:
Most people who reach out don’t have everything planned.
No exact idea, no clear timeline.
Just a feeling that they want something better than the usual photos. That’s enough.
Send an inquiry and we’ll take it from there. No pressure.
I've sent a request. What's next?
I usually reply within 24-48 hours.
If you don’t hear from me, check spam or just nudge me again. I’m nice, I promise.
We’ll chat a bit, I’ll send you pricing, and we’ll see if it feels like a good fit. No pressure.
How far in advance should we book?
For weddings, sooner is better. The good dates go fast.
For couples, portraits or last minute ideas… honestly, just ask. If I’m free, we make it happen.
Are you available for photoshoots in Malaga?
Yes. Marbella, Malaga, all around Costa del Sol… and I travel a lot too.
I regularly photograph weddings, couples and portraits across the Costa del Sol, including Malaga. If you’re planning a session there, you can learn more on my Photographer in Malaga page.
If you have something in mind somewhere else, send it anyway. I’m probably in.
WHAT IF WE FEEL AWKWARD IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA?
Perfect. Most people do.
You don’t need to know how to pose or what to do. That’s my job.
We’ll just hang out, move a bit, talk, and it starts to feel normal really fast. Don’t be surprised if you’re already thinking about your next shoot when you see the gallery.
WHAT IF WE DON’T HAVE A PLAN YET?
Even better.
Some of my best shoots started with “we don’t really know, we just want something nice”.
We figure it out together.
DO YOU HELP WITH LOCATIONS / IDEAS?
Yes. 100%.
I’ll guide you with locations, timing, outfits, even a bit of relationship advice if you want… didn’t know you booked a photographer and a therapist, huh?
You don’t have to overthink anything 🙂
