Colourful weddings in Ibiza

Colour on Ibiza comes from three places. The first is the plants: bougainvillea climbs whitewashed walls in magenta, orange and white, and oleander lines gardens and roads in pink. The second is the island's hippie past, with its markets of printed fabrics, embroidered cushions and woven baskets. The third is the Mediterranean table: painted ceramics, glass jugs and fruit.

White buildings and plain stone make bright colours look cleaner here than they would in a grey climate. A colourful wedding works best when the setting stays simple and the colour sits in flowers, fabric and food.

Choose three or four colours and give each a job. Magenta and orange suit a summer evening; turquoise or cobalt nods to the sea; saffron yellow and coral sit well with terracotta. Keep one neutral, such as natural wood or white linen, to rest the eye.

Dahlias, zinnias, cosmos and sunflowers carry the strongest colour from summer into early autumn. Ranunculus and anemones suit a spring wedding. Bougainvillea and oleander are best left on the walls: they make a fine backdrop but wilt fast once cut, and oleander is toxic, so keep it away from food. Many cut flowers come from mainland Spain, so ask your florist which stems are local in your month.

Colour works at venues with a natural or neutral setting, where it isn't competing with strong decor.

• Aiyanna Ibiza, a beach restaurant above Cala Nova, is styled in natural wood with colourful details and takes 60 to 140 guests for a whole-day booking.
• A mi Manera, a garden restaurant near Sant Llorenç, has art installations around its garden and a mirror room, and holds dinners under the trees.
• Agroturismo Atzaró, on a 13-hectare estate of gardens and orange groves, has three ceremony gardens and a glass pavilion seating 225; wedding tables have been dressed with flowers in terracotta pots.
• Kazamor, above Cala Vadella, is dry hire for up to 100 guests with a palm garden for dinner, so a stylist can bring in the colour scheme from scratch.
• Can Domingo, an Italian restaurant in a garden finca near Sant Josep, takes private events of 15 to 230 among olive and fruit trees, and its events team can arrange flowers.

Mix colour across the table rather than in one place. Coloured glassware, printed or hand-dyed napkins, painted ceramic plates and fruit bowls of oranges or pomegranates carry a palette without big floral pieces. Mismatched vintage chairs or painted wooden furniture suit the look; island styling companies hire printed fabrics, furniture and tableware in bright schemes.

At night, colour needs warm, even light. Festoon bulbs and lanterns bring out reds and oranges; cold white LEDs flatten them. Coloured paper lanterns or fabric bunting between trees add colour above the tables.

A colourful wedding can invite guests to join in. "Summer colour" or "bright and festive" on the invitation gives permission without forcing it. Some couples choose a coloured dress or suit themselves, or keep white and let the guests bring the colour. Light fabrics suit the heat; flat or block heels suit garden ground.

The sun is strong from June to September, with July and August highs averaging about 30 °C at Ibiza airport (AEMET). Printed fabrics, paper signs and flowers can fade over a long day in full sun, so set up late and keep flowers in shade. Wind lifts bunting and lightweight fabrics at hillside and coastal venues; fix them well.

From 1 May to 15 October, fire within 500 m of woodland needs authorisation under Decree 125/2007, so agree candles with the venue and use battery lights in paper lanterns. Outdoor music usually ends between 23:00 and 00:00. See rules and permits and seasons and weather.