The Ibiza coastline set the tone for a wedding that brought together Athenais and Florian’s story, their style, and the people they love. The couple chose an island that mirrored their shared life — sunlit, vibrant, and deeply personal. Over three days, the celebration unfolded with intention and charm, from a welcome party by the sea to a church ceremony overlooking the water, followed by a dinner and recovery day at Ca Na Xica. Every moment felt true to who they are.
Location: Ibiza, Spain
Style: Elegant, Chic, Glamorous
Time of planning: 14 months
Number of guests: 100
Setting: Beach Club, Church, Hotel
Season: Summer
Their story began in Sydney, where Florian and Athenais met at a birthday dinner through mutual friends. A rearranged seating plan, put them across from one another, and something clicked. There were months of busy schedules, hospital rotations, and work travel — but there was also Chablis, flower deliveries to the hospital, and a first date at Hubert’s. After years together and a pandemic spent apart, Florian proposed during a weekend escape to Wolgan Valley, the same place they celebrated their first birthday trip as a couple.
The decision to marry in Ibiza came after considering four different countries, each tied to their heritage and love story. In the end, the island’s light, food, warmth, and promise of outdoor celebration sealed the deal.
Planning & Concept
The couple worked closely with Serafina Weddings & Events to bring their vision to life: something elegant, monochromatic, relaxed yet luxurious. From their first venue visit to Ca Na Xica, before it had even opened for the season, to the final moodboard call across time zones, planning was a shared, creative process.
Florian and Athenais envisioned an elegant, joyful weekend with an outdoor Mediterranean spirit and a timeless palette of white and off-white. What mattered most: meaningful moments, a memorable experience for their guests, and a celebration that felt true to who they are.
"Serafina was recommended to us by a good friend, and we instantly loved her style and eye for detail. The coordination on our special day was fantastic."
Welcome Day
The weekend began at Experimental Beach Club, where waves crashed nearby and guests gathered for sunset tapas and spritzes. The bride wore a custom saree in silver and mauve tones, a nod to her Sri Lankan and Malaysian roots. The groom kept it relaxed with a silk Moschino shirt and Christian Louboutin sneakers.
DJ sets carried the evening into twilight, giving guests time to mingle, reconnect, and soak in the Ibiza coast.
This wasn’t just a pre-party, it was the prelude to something unforgettable.
Wedding Day
Bridal Fashion
Athenais knew exactly what she wanted to wear. Her ceremony dress, the Fabiana by Galia Lahav, was sourced from Eterna Bridal Boutique in Sydney and felt like a dream from the moment she first saw it. Its floral lace detailing was echoed in her long veil, which had appliques added to match the gown. Her look was finished with Aquazzura satin heels, borrowed pearl-and-diamond earrings, two Cartier LOVE bracelets, and Matcha perfume by Le Labo.
Her bridal bouquet, designed by Savia Bruta, featured plush white roses in varying heights — a design that reminded her of arrangements she loved back in Australia. Hair and makeup by Ana Pérez struck a clean, fresh tone, while her bridesmaids wore pale gold Jenny Yoo dresses and received personalized sarongs from Suria Artisan Batik as gifts.
For the afterparty, Athenais changed into a strapless silk-faille mini by Alex Perry, paired with Amina Muaddi heels and Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry.
Groom's Fashion
Florian embraced formality with ease. For the ceremony, he wore a classic off-white dinner jacket with a black bow tie by P Johnson along with Manolo Blahnik shoes and an IWC Ingenieur steel watch. For dinner and dancing, he changed into a full black tie look, still by P Johnson, swapping in his gold IWC Portugieser.
His attire reflected the same mix of refinement and personality that flowed through the whole wedding — considered but never overdone.
Ceremony
Es Cubells Church, perched above the water, hosted the couple’s Catholic ceremony. Athenais walked down the aisle on her father’s arm to a string quartet rendition of Beyoncé’s “Halo”.
Her cousins’ young son served as ring bearer, walking with her sister and maid of honor. Every pew had white ribbon detailing, and the floral arrangements outside the church, hydrangeas and roses, created a soft, sculptural frame around the entrance.
Guests received custom ceremony booklets tied with ribbon, and upon exiting the church, tossed white rose petals in celebration. “It was like a movie, but better!” shared the bride.
Moments later, cava and water were served right outside the church, giving everyone a chance to raise a glass before the festivities continued at Ca Na Xica.
“We felt excited and grateful to share this moment with all our friends and family in such a beautiful setting,” Athenais shared. “The sun was shining, and the water by the church sparkled — it was all perfect.
Cocktail Hour
Guests gathered around the pool for an afternoon of champagne and relaxed conversation. Tapas were served alongside crisp white wines, French rosé, and a soft playlist from DJ Hans set the mood. Guests strolled between olive trees and cocktail tables, with many pausing to take Polaroids or write notes in the couple’s guestbook.
"What made the day unique? 100 of our closest family and friends all under one roof celebrating together with us!"
Private Moment
Just before dinner began, Athenais and Florian stepped away for a quiet pause together. The images capture a moment of calm pause amidst celebration — a stillness, laughter, and the feeling of it all becoming real.
“We didn’t want the typical posed wedding shots, though of course, we still have a few of those too,” shared the bride.
"Our videographer, La Bamba Studio, and photographers Ali Zigeli and Chris from White Stories managed to capture so many incredible and personal moments from our weekend. The photos feel artistic and stylish — exactly what we had hoped for."
Decor & Setting
Dinner took place in the garden, under olive trees and open sky. Tables were dressed in white linen, with pale-toned flowers and menus tied with soft satin ribbon. Each table carried the name of a place that meant something to Athenais and Florian from Bondi Beach to Zurich with hand-drawn sketches.
Serafina Weddings & Events brought all the pieces together with a thoughtful hand. From the way the tables were laid out to the chandeliers suspended from the trees, the setting felt layered but never overdone. Her team helped weave in the personal details that mattered: the soft linen banner at the entrance, the mix of ribbons, and the flow of the space.
Florals stayed within a white palette but played with shape and scale: full hydrangeas, layered peonies, and tall roses in glass cylinders. The result was clean, generous, and quietly striking. It all came together with ease and a lot of planning behind the scenes.
Reception
Their entrance song, “Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay, was a spontaneous decision made in the car ride from the church to the venue and it couldn’t have been more fitting. Florian’s welcome speech set the tone for an evening full of love and laughter, followed by heartfelt toasts from the maid of honor, best man, and father of the bride.
Their first dance, to “Next to Me” by Rüfüs Du Sol, ended with Florian lifting Athenais into the air — a joyful, cinematic moment that brought the crowd to their feet. Singer Imane’s live performance launched the party, while mirrored disco balls overhead reflected the energy on the floor.
Instead of a cake, a champagne tower by Foodit became the center of celebration — with Florian kicking things off by spraying champagne into the air to the sound of cheers and laughter.
As the night went on, the party moved indoors. The lights dimmed, the music turned up, and guests danced beneath a ceiling of reflections. Sometime after midnight, churros and hot dogs were passed around, just in time to refuel before the villa afterparty.
It was the kind of night no one wanted to end: full, alive, and unmistakably theirs.
"I didn’t know it was possible, but it was the best day of our lives.The energy, the nervosity, the happiness — we’ve never felt anything like that. Thank you again to Serafina for helping us create the wedding of our dreams. I wish we could do it all over again."
Advice from the couple:
• Enjoy every minute, the day goes by way too quickly.
• Trust your wedding planner. On the day itself, you’ll want to focus on yourself, your partner, and the people you love. The details? Leave them to the pros. Serafina did an incredible job taking care of everything, down to the tiniest things we would have missed.
• That said, even with a great planner, do your own research as a couple. Explore what you like (and what you don’t), and define your must-haves. Weddings can easily spiral beyond the budget and yes, you’ll probably go over. We definitely did. You can’t have everything (or maybe you can), but the key is to choose what really matters to you.
PLANNER Serafina Weddings & Events | PHOTOGRAPHER Ali Zigeli & Chris from White Stories | VIDEOGRAPHER La Bamba Estudio | VENUE Ca Na Xica | FLORALS Savia Bruta | CATERING Foodit Catering | MUAH Ana Pérez | DJ Hans Orenda | STATIONERY Laura’s Palette | WEDDING DRESS Galia Lahav | BRIDAL STORE Eterna Bridal | PARTY DRESS Alex Perry | HEELS Aquazzura, Amina Muaddi | JEWELRY Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels | GIFTS FOR BRIDESMAIDS Suria Artisan Batik | LIGHT & SOUND Ibiza Pro DJ
