The main social event of last weekend was, without a doubt, the wedding of Stella del Carmen, the only daughter of Antonio Banderas. The celebration, held in Valladolid, was initially planned as a completely private affair. Guests were strongly advised to put away their mobile phones, and the organizers signed strict non-disclosure agreements. It seemed that everything that happened within the walls of the historic Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine abbey would remain there. But keeping a party for 250 people secret in 2025 is an almost impossible task. The temptation to share the moment proved stronger than any ban.
The irony is that the first word from the celebration did not come from the paparazzi, but from the bride’s own father. While his daughter was celebrating the start of her new family with Alex Gruszynski, Antonio Banderas stepped outside the fortress walls to raise a toast with journalists stationed at the entrance. He shared his overall impressions with the press, noting the emotional ceremony and admitting he couldn’t hold back tears. Meanwhile, guests, having forgotten all about confidentiality, were already actively posting photos from the event on social media, revealing one detail after another: from elements of the décor to the wedding cake and even the bride’s dress.
Thanks to these not-so-disciplined guests, the public was able to piece together a fairly complete picture of the event. The most valuable “trophy” was, of course, a photo of Stella del Carmen’s dress. It has become known that after the exchange of vows, The Beatles’ “Here, There and Everywhere” was played. Musical accompaniment was provided by guitarists from the Soho theatre, a project by Banderas himself. The ambiance was created by an abundance of fabrics and countless candles, giving the event the feel of the popular candlelight concerts, but with Hollywood flair on Castilian soil. There was no shortage of traditional Spanish treats: guests were served jamón, fried eggplant, and croquettes prepared by chefs from a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Among other curious moments captured by smartphone cameras was a giant wedding cake. Contrary to tradition, it was not multi-tiered but rather elongated, which did not stop the newlyweds from making a dramatic cut. The real sensation, however, was a small dog dressed in a tuxedo. Also caught on camera were plates with images of Mickey Mouse and guests wearing commemorative T-shirts for the occasion. All these seemingly disparate details came together to create a vibrant and informal celebration.
By the way, while invited guests were busy sharing exclusive photos, Antonio Banderas addressed the main question on many people’s minds: why was Valladolid chosen for the wedding, given that his daughter’s life is tied to Malaga and Los Angeles? The actor explained that while looking through old albums, Stella came across a photograph of this 12th-century church. She was so captivated by the image of the ancient monastery that she wanted to hold the ceremony in such a setting. Practical considerations also played a part: the complex could comfortably accommodate more than two hundred guests from all over the world. It was these people, or rather, the most active among them, who turned what was meant to be a private family celebration into a public event.
