A Laid-Back Beach Wedding in Ibiza

Sometimes, the second time’s the charm. In 2012, when Vittoria Illy and Reto Pfenniger first met through a mutual friend, they were both in relationships. But when the met again—this time, two summers later in 2014, by the same friend—the timing was just right. Their romance sparked immediately, and the two embarked on a two year courtship. Flash forward another two years later—to a rainy day in 2016—when Vittoria returned soaking wet from a late horseback ride. But before she could head home, the couple’s dog, Lizzie, started moaning, and Reto walked into the stable in his business suit and proposed in front of all the animals.

Without a planner, Vittoria and Reto embarked on wedding planning alone. However, they were not afraid of a planning challenge and instead decided on a dual-destination event. First: a civil wedding in St. Moritz, followed by a party on Experimental Beach in Ibiza, Spain. "We chose Ibiza because we love to spend our summer holidays on the magical and relaxed island," explains the bride. The site's stunning sunset views and amazing cuisine helped seal the deal. And with their location set, the couple set about planning their low key wedding, and focused only on what what was important to them. “We’ve been to many weddings of different styles, but we consider our wedding the perfect one for our meaning,” says Vittoria.

Keep reading to see Vittoria and Reto's beach wedding—including those famed sunset views, as photographed by Ana Lui Photography!

For her big day, Vittoria chose a semi-sheer embellished gown by YolanCris, a designer based in Barcelona. She paired the embroidered sheer gown with shoes by Gaimo shoes and a colorful floral crown.

The bride’s wildflower-inspired bouquet, by Sa Floristeria in San Josep, kept with the day's natural vibe, while also incorporating a rainbow of colors in a subtle way.

In three words, the bride says that she was going for a “relaxed, intimate and individual” wedding. In keeping with that theme, she let her bridesmaids select their own dress—as long as it was vibrant and complemented the floral motif on hers.

The couple vacations in Ibiza and always knew they're marry in the picturesque locale.

Their Ibiza ceremony took place at Experimental Beach, a location they knew and loved from spending holidays there. “We simply love the location,” says the bride. “It perfectly matches our lifestyle—easy-going, focused on good quality, relaxed and still a bit posh.”

The couple sat on trendy acapulco chairs during the ceremony, while their guests relaxed on cushion-covered benches shaded by umbrellas. The altar area, where the couple exchanged vows, was decorated with white sheers and flowers that coordinated with both the sand and sea.

The couple felt right at home at Experimental Beach, and it showed! And since they had already made it official in their civil ceremony, they designed their second to be more relaxed and fun. “We proved our love in front of all our friends and family," says the bride. "Besides that, the best part was the intimate atmosphere (in front of the sparkling sun on the water) and the very good food and drinks!"

The couple’s palette for the reception also featured lots of white—a fitting choice for Ibiza setting—with some splashes of color through decor elements and flowers.

Table settings were kept simple and understated, with small bud vases holding baby’s breath.

The DJ from Experimental Beach Club set the tone for an evening and kept everyone dancing late into the evening!