ANDY AND GEORGE'S SPANISH WEDDING FULL OF MUSIC

If you ask me there is no better place for a wedding full of sunshine and music than Spain! Andy and George aka GANDY organised a three day fest for their friends and family.

TELL US THE STORY OF HOW YOU MET

We met the old fashioned way – in a bar on a night out, 7 years ago. There were two proposals – Andy proposed to George in New York, then George proposed to Andy back in London.

NOW ABOUT THE BIG DAY! WHAT WAS THE THEME AND INSPIRATION? HOW DID THE DAY LOOK LIKE? DID YOU STYLE IT YOURSELF?

We wanted to reflect 3 simple things:

We love to party and socialise, so to make sure it was one big party that reflected a little bit of our lives in London with ‘our favourite things’ (music, gin, sunshine, dancing, great food)
We asked ourselves – if we were going to a wedding, what wedding would that be and so planned the 3 days around this. We wanted it to feel very personal and very ‘Gandy’
Andy’s company is The Happy Learning Company with a motto: Don’t look for happiness, create it. We apply this to our personal lives too and wanted to create a mood of pure happiness and joy, to share with the closest people in our lives

As people were making such an effort to come to Sitges for the wedding, we wanted it to be an event that happened over three days.

On the first day we had a cocktail evening. Held at the beautiful rooftop sky Bar at Hotel MiM, this was a chance for people to meet each other, mingle and break the ice before the wedding day.

Day two was all about The Gospel According to Gandy – a twist on the traditional wedding.
Guests arrived for pre-ceremony drinks around the pool area at Masia Casa del Mar before the proceedings began. Then they were seated on the terraced steps overlooking the sea and Sitges town as Gospeloke, gospel choir from London lead by Toni Robinson, entertained guests with a capella versions of some of our favourite songs.
Andy and George followed Gandy’s Gang (the besties, ushers and bro’smaids) down the aisle to friends and family singing and dancing to ‘Rather Be’ by Clean Bandit x Jess Glynne.
Eleanor Conway, London-based comedian, was the celebrant, and told the story of Gandy in her own unique, funny way. George’s vows were personal and beautiful, Andy was backed by Gospeloke as he sang a version of Amazing by George Michael for his vows. Our bro’smaids conducted a reading, which were spoken lyrics from Lauryn Hill’s ‘Tell Him’, also supported by the choir. The ceremony ended with everybody singing and dancing to ‘Aint No Mountain High Enough’… and a big kiss!

Post ceremony drinks followed, with George’s dad Adrian playing a song he had written for Andy and George and was then joined by friend Candice for a few songs on stage.

The speeches were before dinner – which were funny, personal and full of love.

Under the shade of a beautiful Hammas, a delicious feast of traditional Spanish tapas and meats were served. There was no top table for dinner, just long tables, beautifully decorated, including some bespoke miniatures of ‘Fish and Hunt’ gin and a storybook telling ‘The Story of Gandy’ for each guest.

The bar and dessert station opened after dinner, and then evening entertainment commenced underneath the stars around the pool, kicking off with Gospeloke – gospel karaoke. Friends and family chose songs to sing on stage, backed up by a gospel choir. The evening finished in the onsite nightclub and terrace area, where everybody partied until the early hours.

On the last day it was all back to Casa del Mar for a pool party. Poolside chic meets Club Tropicana was the theme, and everybody embraced the look. DJ Storm from London provided the music all afternoon, with Ryan Ashley (up-and-coming singer/song writer) performing an emotional set… and everybody danced until the sun went down.

The first dance and cutting of the cake was done on this day… We kicked off the dance – Candy by Cameo (changed to Gandy) before everybody joined in. George has always had a ‘Colin the Caterpillar Cake’ for his birthday, so the wedding cake was a giant Colin, complete with top hat and bow tie. There was a gin and cocktail bar, more incredible Spanish food by Sensacions and the star of the show… Franco the Flamingo… a 14ft giant inflatable flamingo floating proudly in the pool, taking centre stage!

TELL US ABOUT THE CEREMONY AND RECEPTION LOCATIONS. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE VENUE AND WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT IT?

We chose Sitges as it is close to Barcelona, which we visit fairly often, staying at George’s family’s apartment. Sitges town is small, compact and Spanish (and a great party town) and was the perfect place for people to holiday as well as come for the wedding.

The venue – Casa del Mar was somewhere we fell in love with instantly. Set in the Garraf National Park, it is elegant with a lot of history (formerly Alfonso XIII’s home) and had all the different elements we wanted to create a great experience – the views over the sea, a pool, nightclub, terrace area, separate outdoor eating area, beautiful grounds but not too big it became impersonal. It definitely has the WOW factor.

YOUR OUTFITS

We kept it simple in white shirt and trousers and blue blazer. Shoes were Kurt Geiger and belt was from Gucci.

Gandy’s Gang – the girls (George’s bestie, brosmaids, J-Lo wedding planner) were in white and chose what they wanted to wear to reflect their personalities. The boys (Andy’s besties and ushers) wore white trousers and and blue and white Michael Kors shirt.

FLOWERS, DECORATIONS, DID YOU DO ANY DIY?

Philippa Wyatt, a wedding planner in Sitges, used mainly greens with a touch of white for the wedding arch and table decorations. Corsages and buttonholes followed the same theme.

Gandy had a logo created which was on stationery materials, which were all themed in blue, white and copper. From the save the date luggage tag, the passport invite, labels for gin etc. was all lovingly designed by George’s close friend Ali Cobb.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

The amazing friend that is Colette Allen and her husband Greg from Aurelia Allen Photography. Talented, detailed and has an eye for EVERYTHING! She was perfect!

..AND VIDEOGRAPHER

Videography was shot by the incredible Andy Hayes from Drone Aerial Views, who used his drone to capture some amazing aerial shots. He is the partner of another of Andy’s close friends, Cath Adam, silver smith, who made the engagement and wedding rings, which are unique, masculine and beautiful.

The wedding video was put together by another close friend, Steve Tiller, photographer and videographer who captured the spirit and love of the three days.

ENTERTAINMENT

Gospeloke are a London based outift that run gospel karaoke events in London which Gandy and friends attend on a regular basis. They provided the music for the ceremony and the entertainment for the evening in their usual, spectacular style.

Eleanor Conway is a comedian (currently on a global tour) who has become a friend over the years. She brilliantly hosts Gospeloke and was our celebrant who led ‘The Gospel According to Gandy’ in her own unique, funny, personal way.

DJ Storm is a London born-Florida raised, DJ’ing in some of the best venues around the world as well as a Hed Kandi ambassador. Andy and George met on a night out and asked if she would play… and she immediately said yes. She is AMAZING – everyone was in awe!

Andy and George saw Ryan Ashley sing when supporting MNEK at a gig… his voice is like velvet.. and one of life’s wonderful people.

WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST FUN PART FOR YOU?

The most important part for us was for our wedding to reflect us, and have an element of surprise for people. We wanted to create something wonderful, with all of our closest family and friends.

It was all fun – the most special part was standing at the top of the steps, watching everybody sing and dance to Rather Be as we walked down the ‘aisle’. Highlight of our lives.