Rafael Nadal couldn’t take his eyes off his wife Mery Perelló during their wedding in Majorca on Saturday.
The tennis ace, 33, and his partner of 14 years beamed with joy as they tied the knot in front of 350 guests at British-owned fortress La Fortaleza- Spain’s most expensive property.
The newlyweds were spotted sharing a special moment during the nuptials, with Rafael tenderly caressing Mery’s face as they stood under a giant archway adorned with eucalyptus, fern and wild flowers.
Newlyweds: Rafael Nadal couldn’t take his eyes off his wife Mery Perelló during their wedding in Majorca on Saturday
Rafael looked dapper in a navy tailored suit and white shirt, while Mery – also known as Xisca – is believed to have worn a stunning long-sleeved gown designed by internationally acclaimed bridal wear designer Rosa Clará.
She wore her brunette locks in soft curls and decided upon a classic veil to match her elegant bridal gown.
According to the Rosa Clará website, Mery’s gown had a jewel neckline, and was made of beautiful Art Deco-inspired French lace with delicate patterning, flower motifs and microbeading on the hand-embroidered fabric.
Their big day: The newlyweds were spotted sharing a special moment during the nuptials, with Rafael tenderly caressing Mery’s face as they stood under a giant archway adorned with eucalyptus, fern and wild flowers
Picture-perfect wedding: After the ceremony, Rafael chatted to the priest Tomeu Catala while a bridesmaid held Mery’s long billowing veil
Gorgeous: Nadal’s sister Maria Isabel looked beautiful in a red figure-hugging gown, which featured intricate beading at the neckline
Having fun: The couple’s professional photographer took some photos of the wedding party, who posed against the picturesque backdrop
After the ceremony, Rafael chatted to priest Tomeu Catala, while a bridesmaid held Mery’s long billowing veil.
Nadal’s sister Maria Isabel, meanwhile, looked beautiful in a red figure-hugging gown which featured intricate beading at the neckline.
Maria looked over the moon to watch Rafael and Mery tie the knot and smiled as she chatted to fellow guests.
The wedding party appeared enchanted by the castle, with many posing for photos against the stunning backdrop of the north west coast of the island.
Mesmerized: The wedding party appeared enchanted by the castle, which boasts stunning views of the north west coast of the island
Idyllic: The hugely popular wedding venue owned by Conservative party donor Lord Lupton – is where footballer Gareth Bale tied the knot earlier this year
Breathtaking venue: Several smartly-dressed guests looked out at the view after arriving for the wedding
‘Going to marry two people who love each other’: The priest that married Rafa and Mery, named Tomeu Catala, sipped on some water following the ceremony as he gazed out at the idyllic surrounding countryside
Juan Carlos I, the king of Spain from 1975 to 2014, was believed to be among those in attendance while the Michelin-star chef, Quique Dacosta, was reportedly in charge of catering.
While he was rumoured to be attending by helicopter, Juan Carlos I of Spain made a relatively more low-key arrival to the ceremony in a Suzuki people carrier.
The former king of Spain, who abdicated the throne five years ago, is a longstanding friend of the tennis ace and warmly greeted crowds with a wave as he was chauffeured to the glamorous event.
Laughter and sunshine: The wedding party later gathered in the gardens of the castle, where they were served canapes
Delicious cuisine: Rafa roped in popular Majorcan chef Macarena de Castro, who whetted the appetite of the star-studded crowd at the reception
Wedded bliss! Rafa revealed in January that he was engaged to his long-term girlfriend Mery following a 14 year courtship (pictured together in 2015)
Elsewhere, also making a sharp arrival was tennis player Feliciano López, who put on a dapper display in a slick three-piece navy suit as he was joined by his stunning other half, Sandra Gago.
Former Argentinian tennis player Juan Monaco and his girlfriend Diana Arnopoulos cut a stylish figure as they left a hotel in Pollenca to make their way to the nuptials.
Diana looked incredible in a flowing in a printed brown and black dress and dangling double gold hoop earrings.
Historic site: Proving to be quite a highly sought out A-list destination, La Fortaleza is also where the acclaimed BBC thriller The Night Manager, starring Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman, was filmed
Star-studded affair: Juan Carlos I, the king of Spain from 1975 to 2014, was believed to be among those in attendance while the Michelin-star chef, Quique Dacosta, was reportedly in charge of catering
Spanish actress Carolina Cerezuela looked sensational in a plunging red satin midi-dress which she teamed with towering silver stilettos, while styling her locks in tumbling blonde locks.
Founder of Swiss luxury watchmaking brand Richard Mille looked dapper in a slick navy suit as he was seen leaving a hotel in Pollenca, Mallorca.
The idyllic, and hugely popular wedding venue owned by Conservative party donor Lord Lupton – is where footballer Gareth Bale tied the knot earlier this year.
Proving to be quite a highly sought out A-list destination, La Fortaleza is also where the acclaimed BBC thriller The Night Manager, starring Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman, was filmed.
Looking good! Wedding guests were certainly dressed to the nines for the star-studded wedding
Family guy: Nadal has made no secret of his desire to have children, saying he is a ‘family guy’ and is looking forward to having his own brood in the not too distant future
Rafa has also roped in popular Majorcan chef Macarena de Castro, who will be whetting the appetite of the star-studded crowd at the reception.
Priest Tomeu Catala spoke to the island paper Diario de Mallorca earlier this month. He gushed: ‘Everyone of the weddings I have been involved in has been special and this one will be the same. I am just going to marry two people who love each other.’
Overlooking the bay of Pollensa in north-east Majorca, La Fortaleza was bought by Lord Lupton in 2011 for £30million, despite the original £75million asking price.
The original fort, which is now Spain’s most expensive property, was built in 1628 to defend Majorca against invaders.
Ahead of Lupton’s purchase, the estate has been transformed and expanded to include seven villas complete with 17 en-suite bedrooms, two swimming pools and a helipad.
Rafa revealed in January that he was engaged to his long-term girlfriend Mery following a 14 year courtship.
Hello’s sister publication HOLA! revealed that Spanish athlete proposed to Mery in May of 2018 during a romantic trip to Rome.
However, they reported that the couple decided to keep the happy news private for the first eight months of their engagement.
Perello, born Maria Francisca Perello, is an insurance worker and business graduate.
The brunette beauty also serves as a project director for the Rafa Nadal Foundation, the charity he founded almost ten years ago.
Preparations: The venue owned by Conservative party donor Lord Lupton – which is where footballer Gareth Bale tied the knot earlier this year – also saw a marquee go up on Thursday (Stock image of venue)
History: The original fort, which is now Spain’s most expensive property, was built in 1628 to defend Majorca against invaders
Nadal has made no secret of his desire to have children, saying he is a ‘family guy’ and is looking forward to having his own brood in the not too distant future.
But the dedicated sportsman admitted his tennis career has made it difficult to think about starting a family until now.
He said: ‘I would love to have children, boys, girls… I’m a person who loves kids and I’m a family guy.
‘But also I tell you that the reality is, the years keep passing, I would like to start to do all of this when my sporting life determines it.’
He told Essentially Sports, at the end of last year: ‘I have a girlfriend too and I am not alone to take decisions.(sic)
‘You have to suit situations you know. Having family? I don’t know, things are not easy to be predicted. At this age, I thought that I would have already been a former player and that I would have started a family.’
Mery, who is well-known as an incredibly private person, spoke about her relationship with the tennis champ in 2011.
She told The Telegraph in a rare interview: ‘Travelling together everywhere, even if I could, would not be good either for him or for me.
‘He needs his space when he is competing, and just the idea of me hanging around waiting on his needs all day wears me out. It would asphyxiate me.
‘And then he would have to be worrying about me … No. If I followed him everywhere, I think there’s a risk we might stop getting along.’
Overhaul: Ahead of Lupton’s purchase, the estate has been transformed and expanded to include seven villas complete with 17 en-suite bedrooms, two swimming pools and a helipad
