All-white weddings in Ibiza

Two things make white feel at home on Ibiza. The first is the architecture: country houses and village churches are limewashed white, with flat roofs and small windows. The second is Adlib, the island's fashion of loose white cotton, linen and lace, launched at the first Ibiza fashion show in 1971 and run by the Consell d'Eivissa since 1994. Many brides choose an Adlib dress, and the white dress code for guests grew out of the same style.

All-white works because the light is strong. White flowers and linen read clearly against blue sea and green pines in photographs, and white fabrics stay cooler in the sun.

All-white rarely means only white. Ivory, cream and pale stone add depth, and greenery stops the tables looking flat. Olive branches and eucalyptus are the usual choice; sage green works for napkins or stationery.

Choose white flowers that cope with heat. Gypsophila, lisianthus and spray roses last well; white garden roses are at their best from May to October. Jasmine and gardenia add scent in summer but bruise quickly, so use them close to the guests rather than in large ceremony pieces. Many cut flowers come from mainland Spain, so ask your florist which stems are local in your month.

The simplest all-white wedding is at a venue that is already white.

• Cotton Beach Club, above Cala Tarida on the west coast, is decorated almost entirely in white. Its covered Grand Terrace seats up to 140 for ceremony, dinner and party.
• Petunia Ibiza, a 42-room hotel above Cala Carbó facing Es Vedrà, has whitewashed buildings and a ceremony garden for up to 120. Weddings go up to 150 guests.
• Can Gall, an agroturismo near Sant Llorenç, is a restored finca of more than 350 years with whitewashed walls and sabina-wood ceilings. Events are held only when the whole hotel is booked.
• Elixir, above Cala Codolar, has a ceremony terrace over the sea looking at Es Vedrà for up to 120 guests, with decor supplied in-house.
• Hacienda Na Xamena, a five-star hotel on a 180-metre cliff in the north, has a stone amphitheatre above the sea for the ceremony and takes full weddings of 50 to 120.

White linen is the base: long tables with white or ivory cloths, white chair covers or pale wooden chairs, clear glassware and plain white plates. Event hire companies on the island stock covered chairs, white linen and glassware, so most couples rent rather than bring them.

At night, white needs warm light, or it turns grey in photos. Use plenty of candles in glass, festoon bulbs and soft uplighting on trees or walls. Keep metal accents to one finish, gold or silver, so the tables stay calm.

An all-white dress code is a modern Ibiza custom, not a folk tradition, so the invitation has to spell it out. A line such as "Dress code: white, cream and natural linen" is clear. Say whether pale beige counts, and mention that the bride will also be in white so guests don't worry about upstaging her.

Linen and cotton suit the heat better than polyester. For men, a white or ecru linen suit, or a white shirt with pale trousers, works. Many brides choose an island-made Adlib dress; our guide to Ibiza traditions explains where the style comes from.

White shows everything. Red wine, dust and sun cream leave marks, so suggest guests bring a spare outfit for the party, and serve white wine, rosé and cava at the welcome if the dress code is strict. Sand and gravel stain hems; a cliff-top or terrace venue keeps white clothes cleaner than a beach.

The sun is strong from June to September. July and August average highs of around 30 °C at Ibiza airport (AEMET), so start the ceremony after 19:00. Cliff-top venues catch more wind, which lifts veils and table linen. From 1 May to 15 October, open flames near woodland need authorisation, so agree candles with the venue. See seasons and weather and rules and permits.