Tag Archives: wedding

How to Plan a Wedding in Spain

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… or not.

If you came here looking for advice, I have none. I just wanted to tell you that planning a wedding is hard. Planning a wedding in another country/language is even harder. But, for me, planning a wedding in another country, in another language, and without my mother is the hardest. Sometimes a girl just needs her mom, ya know what I mean?

Mom and me

Mario’s mother has, of course, been there for me: taking me to find “the one” (I really hate using that phrase, as I don’t equate dresses with people), arranging manicure appointments, offering to go with me everywhere, even though she’s still working. So I’m, again, quite lucky.

I know of some American girls who have had their weddings in Spain, and they always assure me I can go to them with questions. The problem is, I don’t have any. I mean, to have questions about something, you have to have at least an intermediate-level understanding of it. And I’m not sure I get Spanish weddings yet. For example:

  • The rehearsal. In the US, there’s a rehearsal. As a bridesmaid in my friend Hilary’s wedding, I was so grateful. In Spain, where I most need it, there’s no rehearsal. How will I know where to stand and when to kneel and where to look if I don’t remember the other weddings? I didn’t exactly take notes.

  • Colors. In the US, we have wedding colors. Smirk all you want, but I love it. In Spain, there aren’t colors, and you most likely won’t be doing any decorating at the reception (here, the reception = el banquete). So relax, that’s one less thing to worry about. I guess.
  • Wedding rings. Here, wedding rings tend to look alike, whereas (from what I know), in the US, the woman’s ring is a bit more, um, feminine? Also, the band goes on the right hand, which is weird to me, no matter how much I see it. What if we move to the States sometime? Will we switch our bands to the left hand? Only time will tell.
  • Dancing. We have to dance a waltz. I am not a dancer. It is not something I’m looking forward to, to be quite honest. In the US, you can usually pick a sentimental song, a song that means something to you. Here, we’ll be dancing to a waltz, which is fine, but not exactly a song that causes me any emotional response. Also, I hope it’s okay if I count to myself the whole time (1, 2, 3 … 1, 2, 3.)

It’s true, you can do what you want. And I’m getting used to being somewhat weird. I don’t understand why every woman needs to get a new dress and go to the hairdresser, even if they’re not part of the wedding. I don’t understand why people will spend so much money, money that could be better spent elsewhere (this happens in the US too, just not as much with my friends/family/the people that I know).

So did you want advice? Here’s mine: take advantage of Spain, its food and wine and lifestyle. Don’t worry; hakuna matata. Because if anyone gives great life advice, it’s Disney.

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Boda a la Española: La Prueba

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I just arrived last week, and we’ve been hard at work with wedding “things.” Although it’s not as time-consuming as planning a wedding in the States, there are a lot of little errands to run, things to buy, people to see … it can get overwhelming. But yesterday was different—yesterday was “la prueba del menú.”

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Our wedding party (really, is there any other part?) is being held at nearby hotel, located about a ten-minute drive away from Zamora (the city). We received a menu, full of delicious-sounding dishes and were told to select three of each category to try: appetizers, fish, sorbets, meat, and desserts. Yes, if you are unfamiliar with Spanish weddings, there is usually a meat dish and a fish dish. Carnivores much?

Here’s what we chose to try (with our final choice having the three asterisks by its name):

Entrantes (Hors d’oeuvres)

There was no need to pick; we get them all. They were very varied, and it was hard to say which one I liked best, but it was probably the one with smoked salmon.

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Included: little cups of salmorejo (which had too much paprika), cups of yogurt with honey and walnuts, smoked salmon canapés, sausages, and so many other things I don’t even know how to name.

Aperitivo (Appetizer)

  1. Langostinos sobre lecho de cebolla caramelizada al aroma de armarnac. (Prawns on a bed of caramelized onions flavored with armarnac [type of cognac].)
  2. ***Hojaldre relleno de esparragos trigueros y salmón con salsa holandesa. (Puff pastry filled with wild asparagus and salmon with hollandaise sauce.) ***
  3. Vieira gratinada rellena de gambas, con virutas de jamon. (Scallop gratin shrimp with shavings of ham.)

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Pescado (Fish)

  1. ***Rodaballo al horno con verduritas, salsa de carbineros y patata panadera. (Baked turbot with vegetables, Carbinero sauce, and golden potato rounds.) ***
  2. Rape en salsa cántabra con almejas. (Monkfish in Cantabrian sauce with clams.) <—Apparently, this dish is very successful as of late, so the guy in charge suggested we try it.
  3. Rodaballo al horno con salsa de mostaza y cebolla caramelizada. (Baked turbot in a mustard sauce, served with caramelized onions.)
  4. Merluza rellena de txangurro en salsa de almendras y apio con gambas. (Hake stuffed with crab sauce in an almond-celery sauce with shrimp.)

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Picture of the merluza at the left and the monkfish at the right.

Sorbete (Sorbet)

  1. Limón. (Lemon.)
  2. ***Mango. (Mango.) ***
  3. Mandarina. (Mandarin orange.)

Carne (Meat)

  1. ***Lechazo asado con ensalada. (Roast lamb with salad.) ***
  2. Milhojas de solomillo y foie gratinado con salsa holandesa, hongos y verduras. (Steak tenderloin millefeuille and foie gras, served with hollandaise sauce, mushrooms, and vegetables.)
  3. Solomillo de ternera alistana al Pedro Ximénez. (Tenderloin steak with Pedro Ximénez.)

Postre (Dessert)

  1. Tarta de las monjas y helado de tulipa nata nuez. (The nuns’ cake with walnut ice cream.)
  2. Tarta del convento y helado de tulipa nata nuez. (The convent cake with walnut ice cream.)
  3. ***Texturas de tres chocolates con helado de toffee. (Cake with three chocolate layers, served with toffee ice cream.) ***

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Picture of the tarta de las monjas.

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And of course, it was accompanied by wine. Cheers to July 7, 2012!

Madrid Bound

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Oh, so did I mention …

we’re moving back. To Spain.

And by we, I mean me; Mario’s already there. Being his Spanish self.

I think he looks very Spanish here, hiking in the Castilla y León wilderness.

Did I really just say that? Yeah, I did—me, moving back to Spain.

This is me.

This is me in Spain.

There’s no difference; I just felt like doing that.

So yeah, this is happening. Me + Mario + new job for him + apartment hunting + moving to a new city + my brother’s wedding in September + starting the job in October

Equal_Sign

One Busy Summer

Wish us luck! And, all of my Spain ladies, see you in Spain?

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Who wants to “take a coffee”?

So Sorry, So Boring

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Do you still read this blog? It’s okay if you don’t. Except you’d be lying. You’re reading this right now.

I realize my life lately hasn’t been all that exciting, but I wanted to tell you all—exciting things are right around the corner. I know, I know; I wish I could post about them now, too, but it wouldn’t be prudent, and, you see, I’m all about being prudent. Bo-ring.

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My cousin, Bailey, and me

So, here’s a few little life updates for you:

  • My super-smart, fantastic boyfriend received some amazing news that he totally deserves because he worked his you-know-what off for four years to get a very difficult degree. He would go to class from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and then study afterwards. Dedication—it pays off. Good job, amor!
  • My favorite basketball team, the Indiana Hoosiers, are doing super well—and, well, that makes me happy. Go Hoosiers!

Men's Basketball vs. Illinois, 02/09/12_Mike Dickbernd

  • I am studying for the DELE exam, which, for those of you who don’t know, stands for the “Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language.” It’s a diploma issued by the Cervantes Institute in Spain saying you talk real good in Spanish. Okay, it’s not just speaking, it’s also comprehension (reading and listening), and general knowledge of Spanish. I’m going for a tough one and can’t devote a ton of time to it (hello, full-time job!), but I’m going. Slowly. It helps to have Mario quiz me and give me helpful hints. I have my own personal practice examiner!
  • People are getting married: I just attended my cousin’s wedding (congratulations to Bret and  Kelsey) and my brother’s wedding is in September. My “baby” brother. See also: smart, successful, and has a beautiful fiancé! Plus, there are others (who shall not be named)! Also, doesn’t it seem like everyone on Facebook is either heading for holy matrimony or having a kid? When did we get so old?!

I know, lame post, Kaley. But there has been a lot of exciting news lately, not the least of which is that Mario has picked up a new hobby: paddle tennis. This is totally a thing in Spain. Also: he’ll be running a half marathon later this month, most likely (100%) way faster than I could.

¡Vamos Mario!

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Why You Should Go

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There are a million reasons why you shouldn’t pack up your bags and jet off to another country for a year.

Eager and excited in 2008

But then again, there are many more reasons to just. do. it.

Let me think on that one for a sec. (P.S. Same jeans! Score 1 for Charlotte Russe!)

  • They have café con leche. And jamón ibérico. And vino tinto. Food. Yum. Me hungry. Me want eat. (Anybody else think of Rugrats when they hear that line? No one? Kay. Just checkin’.)

Accompanied by dark chocolate? I won’t say no.

Hola, profesor. ¿Cómo te va?

Love him. Full & happy.

  • You’ll probably regret it if you don’t. I mean, how often are you going to have the chance to live and work in Europe for only 4 days a week, 12 hours total? How often will you get paid just to speak English to someone for an hour? (Best, easiest job ever.) Go. Do it. Don’t look back.

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Wedding…¡a la española!

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This was not my first wedding. No, that already happened (actually, about a year ago). This was one, as deemed by one of Mario’s relatives, “de mucha etiqueta,” meaning fancy. Fancy as in top of the line food, with the reception in a beautiful country winery, lots of drinks, food, and dancing. Good stuff.

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Oh yeah, and they rented a Rolls Royce to take them to and from the wedding/reception. No big deal.

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Here’s where we were: Bodegas Monte la Reina, a relatively new winery located in Toro, Zamora, Spain. In case you didn’t know, Spain has turned me into a bit of a wine snob (at least when it comes to red wine), and Toro wine, while relatively unknown due to the immensity or Rioja and Ribera wines, is amazing. Do not miss it, especially a little wine that is one of my favorites for quality and bang for you buck: Elias Mora.

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After the wedding, held – of course – in a Catholic church, comes the cocktail party, wherein everyone dutifully waits for the bride and groom to arrive. Luckily, food and drink is always involved, and where there’s food in Spain there’s probably ham. This wedding just happened to involve top-of-the-line jamón ibérico, so moutherwateringly good that you can’t eat just one (slice).


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Say hello to Mario’s parents, Pepita (Josefa) and Jesús. They’re probably two of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, always willing to lend a hand or cook for you until your stomach threatens to burst the seam of your pants, not that I would know anything about that sort of thing. Pepita works for the government of Castilla Leon and Jesús is a schoolteacher (geography and history). When I say schoolteacher, I mean it. I don’t think anything makes him happier than teaching, even if he has to settle for teaching an American girl how to properly speak Spanish.

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This is Mario’s mother and me after we were given our parasols (sombrilla in Spanish) to block the sun. It was such a nice detalle (detail) as they say here. Isn’t it nice how they match our outfits rather well?

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After the cocktail party with lots and lots of delicious food comes more food. Are your surprised? First, we ate a refreshing salad of crab-stuffed monkfish, accompanied by fresh lettuce, tartar sauce, and shrimp. Next came a lemon mint sorbet, followed by the main plate, a huge tenderloin ox steak, cooked to perfection with a mushroom foie sauce. Last but not least, a hazelnut cream dessert accompanied by chocolate ice cream. Lest you think we were thirsty, no worries. There was lots and lots of water, wine (white and red), and Moet Chandon to finish off. Mmmm.

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As I’ve heard my American (girl) friends say, we weren’t mad. No siree.

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What’s that, friends? Open bar. I’ll say nothing except – gin and tonic. Classy, delicious, and a hint of lemon. No objections here.

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Then, after imbibing a bit, comes the dancing. Spaniards young and old know how to get down on the dance floor. No shame here, and I love it. Mario’s parents also love a good dance, and I love them for it.

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(L-R: Me, Mario, Víctor (brother), Manu (groom), Gema (bride), Pepita, Jesús)

Spanish weddings are quite different from the American weddings I’ve attended. They have theirs ups and downs, goods and bads, but who can say no to good friends, good food, and unlimited beverages? Not I. Not I.