Set within the lush greenery of a spacious private estate, nestled amongst towering palm trees and tropical banana leaves on Marbella’s renowned Golden Mile, no venue could have been as perfect for designer and content creator Linda Smyth's wedding to content creator and fitness coach Robert Lipsett on the 21st of September 2024 than the esteemed Boho Club. Capture by Amali Studios, planned by Caitlyn Grant Design and featured in the Winter issue of SOCIAL & PERSONAL Weddings, if you're on the hunt for some picturesque destination wedding inspo, you're in for a treat!
The couple met in October of 2018. Linda was visiting Ireland from London and met through mutual friends at Rob’s house party in Dublin. "We had always known each other, so had lots to discuss and hit it off immediately. In 2022, I moved to Marbella to live with him, and it’s been bliss ever since!"
"Rob proposed in Capri, Italy, in 2023. We had a beautiful view from our balcony, and before dinner, he asked me to wait outside while he got some Aperol Spritz. Instead, he came out with a ring and asked me to be his wife. I was so wrapped up in the moment that I didn’t realise he recorded the whole thing on video, which we love to rewatch now and again! Capri is such a magical island; now, it has a special place in our hearts."
"As most makeup artists tend to do, I did my own bridal makeup! Having a lot of experience in bridal makeup, I had a good idea of the colours and styles I was eager to wear that would also suit my features. I always feel most comfortable and confident when I do it myself. I chose to do a natural, radiant makeup look to keep things fresh and glowing. Since the weather was beautiful and warm, I didn’t want my skin to feel too heavy with products, so I kept my base simple with Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation and Hourglass powder in Diffused Light for a soft finish. I wore YSL Loveshine lipstick on my lips to give them the perfect touch of colour and shine, which needed minimal touchups throughout the day, even after the kiss!"
To create her dream wedding dress, Linda worked closely with the brand Mikaella Bridal, which is stocked at the White Room in Mullingar. She was even invited to bridal week in Barcelona, where she could properly try on and sample their collection of dresses! "I wanted my ceremony dress to reflect the classic bride. So, I chose a gorgeous full-skirt dress with a low back and timeless silhouette and personalised it with an asymmetric bow detail at the back to add a girly, youthful touch. It made me feel like a princess walking down the aisle of petals with a sweeping train." For the reception, Linda wanted a lighter, easier-to-dance-in dress that lent a little closer to her usual style, so changed into a lace-off-shoulder fitted mini dress by Australian designer Aston Bridal.
"We visited Bond Brothers in Dublin, who helped Rob create his dream tux. He chose a monochromatic ensemble, wearing an ivory blazer, a black bow tie and black suiting trousers."
For her bridal party, Linda included her sister and four close friends. "I gave them total free rein to choose their dresses, although I asked that they stick to a pastel dress code for the wedding. The surroundings complemented this colour palette and made it feel like a dream garden party. Having friends from Ireland and Australia fly in really felt so special."
"The ceremony was beautifully set up on grass in the garden of Boho Club, close to the pool area and surrounded by Spanish bungalows where we were staying. We chose delicate white seating and a large arch of fresh flowers and petals scattered down the aisle. My favourite part of the ceremony was our exchange of personal vows. We’ve built such a beautiful life together over the last six years, and being able to profess how much I adore Rob on our wedding day was a feeling like no other. Seeing everyone we love seated in front of us in such a stunning setting was also surreal. The sun was shining, and there was a great atmosphere."
Wanting something a little different for their venue, the couple eventually settled on the Boho Club in Marbella, a private resort with beautiful views of the La Concha mountain, having visited previously and loving the vibe. Not only does the venue have a unique style, but it's also located on the Golden Mile, which means it’s very close to the couple's home, which helped with the planning process. "We kept the table decor relatively simple, with long-stem white roses that matched the ceremony arch and white votive candles. With such a beautiful venue, we didn’t feel the need to go overboard with arrangements and thought it looked incredible."
"We found an Irish musician named Colm Fitzpatrick who performed for the ceremony. He played “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as I walked up the aisle. During cocktail hour, he performed classic Irish songs that our families loved. We had a DJ for the after-party. I just want to do it all again!"
Regarding their best decision, Linda said, "Our best decision was our choice of photographers and videographers. The day went by so fast that it was important for us to capture it well. The photos and videos are incredible. We can relive the day through them! We’re also delighted that we decided to use a wedding planner. Initially, we didn’t have one, and I was doing the planning myself until I met Caitlin at a beach club in Marbella. I described my dream wedding, and she made it happen. It meant I could focus all of my attention on the finer details and perfect every aspect of the day."
- Gráinne