Emily and Dane’s Sunflowers and Sunshine Ibiza Wedding. By Gypsy Westwood

I love sharing destination weddings with you on the blog, who doesn’t want to see sunshine when it is so cold here in the UK?!? I especially love to feature Ibiza weddings, as this is where I was married.  Today’s weddings is a stunning Ibiza wedding full of sunflowers and brilliant sunshine. It is set in one of the venues I shortlisted for my own wedding  in fact it was my second choice but we decided to go with a private villa in the end! I just love this wedding especially as it has a yellow theme (same as my wedding) it is so bright ad cheerful, and with the Ibiza beach and sea as a backdrop, what is there not to love! Thank you to Lucy from Mambo Weddings for the submission  and to Gypsy Westwood for the beautiful images.

‘A perfect mix of Ibizan relaxed chic and whimsical English wedding. Fabulous food, drinks and cocktails!’

Emily and Dane were married on 15th June. Both the ceremony and reception were held at Cala Gracionetta Beach and El Chiringuito, Cala Gracionetta. ‘I first went to Ibiza on a family holiday when I was 18 where I was introduced to this amazing spot by my Mum and Step dad. I felt an immediate affinity with the place. When Dane and I met and went on holiday here with friends, I took him to this beach which he naturally loved. Later when telling his mum about it, we learnt she used to work on the same beach in the 60’s as a portrait artist! It seemed such a strange link between us and our families who are so important to us and it wasn’t even an option when we got engaged as to where we would get married – we knew it was the one! We had about 60 guests, after we got engaged on 18th November 2010 we decided to go to Ibiza prior to the wedding to plan it all in September 2011 where we met with Lucy and various other suppliers.’

How they met
We have been together for 7 years and met out one night in London clubbing at The Key. We just got chatting and were friends for several months before we started dating.

The proposal
I needed to get some wisdom teeth out and was really hesitant about it. Dane said don’t worry, ill sort it out for you and ill come with you to the appointment as I was so scared. The day came and as my dentist was around the corner from my work he came and met me from work. When I met him in the foyer he said “I have some bad news, the dentist called me earlier and he got called into an emergency appointment and cant do your wisdom teeth today” To which I responded “oh dear, I’d better go back to work then!” He said he really wanted to take me out somewhere nice for lunch though and had booked us somewhere nice to go – this lovely restaurant in Sydney’s Rose Bay. I knew it was naughty but seeing as I had the afternoon off already I thought why not? So we walked down to Milsons Point to get the ferry. Only the ferry didn’t show up – it was a private water taxi. The water taxi takes us to Rose Bay and I’m thinking how weird this is. Then I see the sea planes – and we are getting on one!! Dane reveals we are going to somewhere super special by seaplane – Berowra Waters Inn – somewhere I have always wanted to go.
So up we go and we are flying over Sydney’s Northern Beaches and it is stunning. Then he pops the question up in the seaplane! Of course I say yes and then we land at Berowra waters and have a glass of champagne and a beautiful degustation with matching wines. We get the seaplane back to Sydney city and take the water taxi to the wharf of the hotel we are staying in for the weekend – Siebel pier one.
What an amazing proposal Unfortunately I still had to have the teeth out though but it certainly softened the blow!!

Why did you choose your photographer?
Lucy recommended Gypsy Westwood and we looked at her online portfolio and hers really stood out. We really liked her contempory, fine art style and her relaxed, un posed photographs.

The Dress
As I live in Australia I really wanted to pick out my wedding dress when I was visiting my mum in the UK so when I was vising post Ibiza organising trip, we went to a range of local bridal shops. The one I chose was made by a local designer from Bournemouth. I actually tried on 2 of his dresses and I liked elements of both. So I ended up customising one! My shoes were from Badgeley Mishka and my headdress from Richard Designs. My earrings were antique pearl earrings my mum got me and my bracelet was made from natural “unfinished” cultured pearls which I had made by a local Sydney jewellery designer. To finish a spritz of Chanel “Beige”.

The suit and bridesmaids.
Dane had his suit custom made here in Sydney and the best mens suits tailor made in Thailand. The bridesmaids dresses were bought online.

Theme or colour scheme
I have always loved sunflowers and the colour yellow. I love the Summer and the sunshine and consider myself a pretty positive, happy person, so Sunflowers and yellow seemed a natural fit and I believe it really worked with the beach vibe we were trying to achieve.

Flowers
Sunflowers and white flowers with the most stunning birdcage centerpieces.

Decoration
Whimsical, romantic. Lots of words and things hanging in the trees, fairy lights

Food
We had mixed share starters: Goats cheese salad, Octopus and calamari, mussels; a paella, a choice of salmon, steak or spaghetti main and instead of dessert we had our wedding cupcakes.

Entertainment
We had a few DJs and a fire dancer. As there was a TV mounted on the wall of the restaurant and quite visible, instead of a blank telly, we put together a photo slideshow of us over the years we have been together and us with family and friends! We had a chill out area with a shisha which was nice to relax in later.

Personal / DIY touches
• As place settings which doubled up as wedding favors, we used white silk fans which were presented in a laser cut box. We used raffia to tie the hand written name tags to them.
• My mum also bought butterfly shaped wedding wishes which were an alternative to a guest book and which were hung up on a line.
• Also we glammed up the toilets with hand towels, nice soap and hand cream and room diffusers (My mums touch!)

Special moments
My mum reading a letter from my brother who was un able to attend. Everyone I loved being in this amazing place that we love, at the same time!

Advice
Don’t stress – nothing ever goes exactly according to plan, and if something goes wrong don’t dwell on it, you and all your guests will still have the most amazing day. Don’t be a bridezilla!

Biggest Surprise
To be honest, the amount of people on the beach! And they all watched! Well this is Ibiza – anything goes!!

Supplier Shout Outs

• Venue and Planner – Lucy Dyer – Mambo Weddings/ El Chiringuito  www.Cafemamboibiza.com / www.Mamboweddings.com/ [email protected] / 0034 971804211 / 0034 636298754 – (Always impeccable service, food and drinks)
• Photography – Gypsy Westwood Photography: www.gypsywestwood.com
• Cup Cakes – Eileen – Ibiza Cakes:  www.ibizacakes.com  (amazing)

For more information on Gypsy’s Photography go to:

www.gypsywestwood.com
http://gypsywestwood.com/blog/
[email protected]