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Real Bride | April's Wedding in Ibiza

April's cliffside wedding at Hacienda Na Xamena in Ibiza: a hand embroidered veil, two showstopping dresses, a surprise downpour and dancing until sunrise.

Claudia Judd September 25, 2026 7 Min Read

April married on 11th October 2025 at Hacienda Na Xamena, a cliffside hideaway on Ibiza's north coast, right in the middle of the island's closing party week. Think buttercream yellow and pale blue, a veil she embroidered herself, a surprise downpour and dancing until sunrise. Here, April talks us through every detail.

1. Where did you get married, and what was the setting like?

We got married in Ibiza at Hacienda Na Xamena, a breathtaking cliffside venue set within a protected nature reserve overlooking the sea. Ibiza has always held such a special place in our hearts, from our engagement to the music, memories and sense of freedom we've shared there over the years, so it felt incredibly meaningful to celebrate there surrounded by everyone we love.

The ceremony took place in the venue's open air amphitheatre, carved into the cliffs and completely exposed to the landscape and horizon beyond. As the sun began to set, everyone was gathered together facing the same endless view across the sea. What we loved most was that there were no traditional "sides" for the Bride or groom. Instead, everyone came together as one, which felt deeply symbolic of the kind of love and partnership we wanted to celebrate. It was cinematic and deeply romantic all at once, like stepping into a modern fairytale suspended between nature and celebration.

The celebrations began long before the wedding itself. We hosted a cocktail evening in Ibiza Old Town overlooking the castle for friends and family after everyone arrived on the island, followed by a pre wedding party for more than sixty guests at Pikes Ibiza. We loved the contrast between the island's historic beauty, intimate moments with friends and the vibrant energy Ibiza is so iconic for. It made the wedding feel less like a single day and more like a shared experience across the island.

2. How would you describe the vibe or aesthetic you were going for?

We wanted the entire wedding to feel immersive, romantic and emotionally charged rather than overly traditional or formal. The aesthetic was inspired by the feeling of a modern fairytale, something poetic and whimsical, while still deeply connected to the freedom and after dark energy Ibiza is known for.

Our colour palette centred around soft buttercream yellow and pale blue tones, which felt dreamy and sun soaked against the natural stone and sea views of the venue. We loved how those softer colours balanced the wildness of the cliffs and the intensity of the Ibiza sunset.

I have always loved fantasy storytelling and romantic details, so a lot of the styling choices reflected that side of my personality. One of the most personal elements was my veil, which I hand embroidered myself with the words “and they lived happily ever after.” It became such a defining piece because it captured that whimsical, storybook feeling we wanted the whole wedding to embody.

As the day turned into night, the atmosphere evolved with it. We kept elements of that whimsical romance throughout the evening, but layered in the glamour, movement and disco energy of Ibiza after dark. Candlelight, music, crystal embellishment and dancing until sunrise created a beautiful contrast between softness and celebration that felt completely true to us as a couple.

3. What did you wear?

For the ceremony, I wore a custom Mirabelle gown by Alena Leena, which felt like the perfect embodiment of the romantic, whimsical aesthetic I had envisioned.

What first drew me to Alena Leena's designs was how intricate and delicate they felt. Every gown tells its own story, and the floral detailing on Mirabelle looked almost as though it was blooming across the fabric, giving the dress a beautiful sense of movement and life. The subtle sequins woven throughout caught the light so softly all day, adding an almost ethereal shimmer.

For the evening, I wanted the energy to transform alongside the atmosphere, moving from soft, romantic whimsy into full Ibiza after dark glamour. I changed into a hand embellished crystal dress by Portia and Scarlett, the ultimate reflection of the island's sparkle and disco energy during closing party week. It was covered in intricate crystal embellishment with layered fringe that moved beautifully while dancing, catching the light from every angle like disco lights flickering across the floor.

Despite how dramatic it looked, it was incredibly comfortable, which was essential because we really did dance until sunrise. I paired both dresses with my Sophia Webster “Wifey for Lifey” heels, with the signature disco balls on the back, which felt playful, celebratory and perfectly in keeping with the spirit of Ibiza.

4. What were your favourite details from the day?

One of my favourite details was actually how the day began. Rather than starting the morning in a rushed or overwhelming way, I wanted to create a sense of calm and connection. I arranged a private pilates class with I Do Wellness Ibiza for my seven bridesmaids, overlooking the ceremony backdrop, which ended up being such a special moment together before the excitement of the day unfolded. Having those quieter moments to connect before the celebration began is something I'll always remember.

One detail that unexpectedly became a real talking point was our custom wedding newspaper. We wanted it to feel playful and reflective of our personalities, so we filled it with everything from relationship stories and guest submitted “most likely to” predictions to tongue in cheek fashion forecasts, horoscopes, champagne reports and Ibiza inspired headlines.

5. Was there a moment that surprised you, or that you didn't expect to love as much as you did?

The moment that surprised us most was the rain after the ceremony. When you plan a wedding abroad, especially in Ibiza, you naturally picture uninterrupted sunshine from beginning to end, so a sudden thirty minute downpour was completely unexpected.

But instead of taking away from the atmosphere, it elevated it entirely. The cliffs disappeared into mist, candlelight flickered against the stone, and the whole setting suddenly felt even more cinematic and electric. Rather than running from it, everyone embraced it. People stayed dancing, laughing and celebrating in the rain, which made everything feel even more alive and unforgettable.

We later discovered there is an old belief that a “wet knot” is harder to untangle, symbolising a marriage that is strong, enduring and impossible to unravel. By the end of the night, it felt impossible to imagine the day any other way.

6. Any other details?

Music was such an important part of the whole wedding weekend, because Ibiza has always been so connected to our relationship and so many of our memories together. We wanted the evening to feel less like a traditional wedding reception and more like a celebration that naturally evolved as the night went on.

Having Rob Marmot DJ the evening brought such an incredible energy. With sets across some of Ibiza's most iconic venues, including Pacha, Blue Marlin, Ushuaïa, Amnesia and Space, he captured that classic Ibiza spirit we wanted woven throughout the night. The dancefloor felt electric from start to finish, before everyone carried on celebrating into the early hours.

April's Gigi & Olive bridal pieces

A couple of the little Gigi & Olive details April carried through her day: our White Garter and the Happy Tears Handkerchief, for those ceremony moments.

If you're a real Bride or groom and would love to share your wedding with us, fill in your info here, we'd love to hear from you!