The most appealing European destination for the wedding tourism market for couples from the USA, Australia, and Canada who want to have their big day abroad is Italy, mainly Lake Como and Tuscany. So we rarely hear about other beautiful spots, for example, Spain and Ibiza.
A destination wedding photographer Nikita Zharkov admits – “I have hardly seen photos of my colleagues with the weddings on this island, known only for its parties and nightlife.” That is why he was so amazed when Beca and Emerson, his couple from Atlanta, Georgia, scheduled their wedding in Ibiza for October 8, 2022. He was also pleasantly surprised when these two said they found him through the hashtag #weddingibiza. Instagram is a power! Here we go!
Meet Nikita Zharkov
Over the past two years, Nick has been photographing weddings in more than 15 countries in Europe and beyond and visited the most beautiful destinations. He finds inspiration in the fascinating people he meets, the multicultural environment, traveling the world, and the dynamic lifestyle.
“I get great pleasure from my work, as I have the opportunity to meet people of different cultures and nationalities. With my photography, I convey relationships between couples without embellishments.”
His wedding photography is characterized by a natural, refined style, and bright sunny colors. He pays attention to details, has a joyful personality, and balances providing authentic creative direction while candidly capturing special moments and emotions. Aesthetics with fashion, real moments, and documentaries – that’s how Nick’s style is recognized.
“I flew to Ibiza two days before the wedding. Immediately after arrival, I went to see our stunning location Amante Ibiza. To say that I consider myself the happiest wedding photographer is to say nothing. The restaurant on the shore of a rocky cliff, the combination of soil colors, green palms, and azure water did not leave me indifferent.”
The rehearsal dinner was held in one of the best 5-star hotels on the island, Bless Hotel Ibiza. Top locations are famous for the best views! Nikita spoke Spanish and was interested in talking with the event manager and the DJ. He didn’t expect that such a luxurious place doesn’t hold weddings, and his pre-wedding event was the second in the last three years.
Beca and Emerson’s getting ready took place in a villa with local color (white walls, cacti), which the couple rented for themselves and their friends.
The event manager of Amante Ibiza acted as the wedding planner. She chose a boho aesthetic with a Hawaiian touch which perfectly fit the location. The outcome was romantic, wild, and chic all at once – a great combination that is absolutely beautiful yet easy on the eyes.
“I was scheduling the first part of the day before the ceremony, which helped me organize the couple – advising the outfits, approving the timing, and discussing the place for the getting ready of the bride and groom. Look at Beca’s elegant dress by Galia Lahav!”
“After the ceremony, we had time for a couple of shots at sunset. We were fortunate with the weather, although the forecast showed rain all week with a probability of 80-100%. The rapidly changing climate is another feature of the island.”
The bride and groom are arriving from their photo session and preparing to enter the venue as newlyweds to start the wedding reception.
In a great company of close people, time passes quickly. Night beautifully falls on Ibiza, but the party continues. It is time to take fun pictures and show off the dance moves among the stunning landscape and celebrate the love for a little longer.
After talking to the event manager, Nikita found out this location takes around ten weddings a year, which should be minimal, given all the beauty everywhere. And the most popular countries where couples come from are Great Britain and Holland. But unfortunately, there were practically no applicants from the USA, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Hopefully, Beca & Emerson’s beautiful wedding will ultimately change these statistics. Because we are astonished about this destination!
