Beach weddings in Ibiza

Ibiza's coast runs from long stretches of sand in the south to small rocky calas in the north. The catch is the law. The sand and the strip behind it are public coastal land under the Spanish Coastal Law, so an arch, chairs or an aisle need authorisation. Since 1 July 2023 that comes from the Govern de les Illes Balears, and the town hall's rules apply on top. Sant Josep has said it grants no permits for private events on its beaches, and in 2017 it fined a restaurant €10,000 for holding a beach wedding.

So the Ibiza beach wedding is a beach-club or terrace wedding. Many couples hold the ceremony on a terrace, take photos on the sand afterwards, and dine with their feet near the water. The ceremony is usually symbolic; see our symbolic ceremony guide.

Beach styling is light and natural: sand, white, sea blue and driftwood, with coral or a hot pink from bougainvillea as an accent. Flowers have to cope with sun, salt and wind. Dried palm leaves, pampas and statice hold their shape; proteas and other sturdy stems last longer than garden roses. Agapanthus suits early summer.

Keep arrangements low and heavy at the base. A tall ceremony piece on a windy terrace is a risk, and petals blow into the sea.

• Cotton Beach Club, on the cliff above Cala Tarida, holds the ceremony, dinner and party on a covered terrace for up to 140. It does not allow ceremonies on the public beach below.
• Aiyanna Ibiza, a beach restaurant above Cala Nova on the north-east coast, is booked whole from 11:00 to 02:00 for 60 to 140 guests.
• Experimental Beach, at Cap des Falcó on the edge of the Ses Salines salt flats, faces west and can be hired whole for up to 180 seated.
• Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, on Talamanca beach, holds the ceremony on its rooftop and dinner in the beachside Chambao restaurant for 20 to 60.
• Elixir, above Cala Codolar, has a ceremony terrace facing Es Vedrà for up to 120, with the cove's jetty steps away for sunset photos.
• Villa Cala Bassa, a five-bedroom villa for weddings of up to 60, is a 5-minute walk from Cala Bassa beach, which suits a beach day with guests before or after.

For a small group, a boat is the other way to marry by the sea; see the boat and beach weekend.

On sand, furniture sinks. Wide-footed tables, benches, low lounge sets with rugs and cushions, and parasols for daytime shade work better than slim chairs. Island hire companies rent parasols, rugs and poufs.

Light has to survive the wind. Lanterns with battery candles, glass hurricanes with weighted bases and festoon lights fixed to the structure are safer than open tea lights. Keep paper items such as menus and place cards clipped or weighted.

Tell guests the floor. "Beach formal" or "summer smart, flat shoes" saves people from heels in the sand. Linen, cotton and loose dresses suit the heat. Some couples provide a basket of flip-flops or espadrilles for the party.

Wind is the variable. Sea-facing and cliff-top venues catch more of it than inland gardens, so tie down drapes and veils and have a sheltered plan. On the west coast the sun sets over the sea: about 21:23 at the end of June and about 20:05 in mid-September. East-coast venues such as Cala Nova and Talamanca get no sea sunset.

Many beach clubs close for the winter: Cotton Beach Club opened its 2026 season on 1 April and showed "closed for the season" on 23 October. Check opening dates before you fix yours. Outdoor music usually ends between 23:00 and 00:00. From 1 May to 15 October, fire near woodland needs authorisation, which matters for torches and fireworks. See rules and permits and seasons and weather.