With its endless days of sunshine, blue skies and perfect unspoiled sunsets, it’s no wonder that Ibiza is now truly on the map as one of the most desirable places to get married in the Med. Candi from Ibiza Wedding Shop, one of the best-known wedding planners, explains just why this island in the sun is the right place to get wed for all UK couples.
Ibiza’s popularity has been growing over the last few years, and shows no sign of slowing down. Indeed, more brides and grooms than ever are interested in having their wedding abroad on the island. The place is synonymous to many with good time, partying, and a perfect holiday destination too, for couples who wish to stay on for their honeymoon. And who could resist an invitation to a wedding in Ibiza!
A great plus in choosing Ibiza is that the celebrations are not restricted to just the wedding day itself. It’s perfectly usual for friends and family of the couple to make a holiday out of their visit, allowing them to enjoy all kinds of attractions including group sunset cruises, beach days, club nights, and many couples fit in the hen and stag nights too, before the wedding!
There is a lot more to Ibiza than the club and party scene the island is famous for. Ibiza holds many “hidden treasures”, which you will be able to enjoy with the guidance of your knowledgeable wedding planner.
What you need to know
UK flights take only two hours, and the wedding season last from May to October, with May, June and September being the most popular months, when the weather is not quite as hot as during high season.
There are three types of wedding ceremonies available to the non-residents, and the couple need to decide which option is the most suitable one.
Only Ibiza residents, or non-resident Catholic couples can legally marry in Ibiza – for all others, they have to be legally married in their home country.
If either the bride or groom are Catholics, they may choose to have a legally binding wedding in the Roman Catholic church. There are lots of charming white-washed churches studded throughout the island, with local English-speaking Catholic priests available to conduct the ceremony and Mass. This option requires completion of a marriage preparation course and paperwork to be completed before the ceremony can be performed, so couples wishing to take up this option must allow plenty of time to gather and submit all the necessary documents. It is advisable to contact a priest in the UK to ask for his help in arranging this, while the wedding planner will put the couple and the priest in contact with a local priest in Ibiza who will conduct the ceremony. At the very least, you will need the following documents: a valid 10-year passport, baptism certificate, possibly a confrimation certificate, certificate of no impediments, and certificate of completion of pre-marriage course. Please note these are not all the documents you will need – the local priest and the wedding planner will advise of the rest.
Another religious option is a blessing at an interdenominational English-speaking church, which requires the couple to be legally married in the UK first, and then to come to Ibiza for their blessing ceremony.
For couples who wish to have a non-religious symbolic ceremony on a cliff-top, on the beach, at a private villa, hotel, or garden, it can be arranged with non-clergy ceremony host who will lead the ceremony. This option is not legally recognised, and the couple will need to be legally married in the UK either before or after this ceremony in order for their marriage to be valid.
Once the couple have decided on the ceremony type, the next step is to choose their perfect venue, and here the possibilities are endless! Beaches, sunrises, sunsets, countryside, formal affairs, or simply chilled parties are all available. It’s no surprise that sunset weddings on the beach are at the top of the popularity list, with relaxed celebrations over charcoal grilled food and crispy fresh salads washed down with sangria and local wine, followed by a dance party with a great DJ. Another wedding trend is on the rise, and that is hiring lovely country villas or rural boutique hotels for exclusive events and celebrations. These venues range in size from 4 to 15 rooms to accommodate wedding parties of all sizes.
Most events and ceremonies start in the late afternoon when the temperature is cooler and more comfortable for the couple and their guests. A party will last until 2am at most indoor venues – by law there is a midnight curfew for outside music, so it’s useful to check that your venue has an interior party area if you wish to continue dancing into the night! There are as many entertainment options as there are venues – aside from great DJs the couples can have a saxophonist to entertain the guests, or a bongo player to play along with the DJ, a fire show or a salsa/flamenco show to get everyone in the mood to dance!
The best option for any couple considering an Ibiza wedding is to speak to a local wedding planner – complete wedding packages with options to personalise are by far the best value, and much better than doing it yourself. The planners are familiar with the area, can suggest great suppliers, and will present many options for your own choices in flowers, decor, music, menu, entertainment etc, so you can have a wedding exactly as you wish.
If you want your guests to feel the real WOW at your wedding, then Ibiza is the right choice – a magical cocktail of sunshine, fun, and relaxed holiday vibe to give you the best memories possible.
Ibizaweddingshop.com is an established wedding planning and wedding creation company with over 25 years of experience, offering both affordable complete wedding packages and bespoke luxury wedding planning services. Working with a selection of tried-and-tested venues and suppliers, from chic sunset restaurants to luxury country villas and boutique hotels, they can arrange religious or symbolic ceremonies exactly as the couples wish.
