Common Woes & How to Avoid Them
Hey lovebirds! Planning an Ibiza wedding is an epic adventure, but let’s be real – it’s also a whirlwind of excitement and potential pitfalls. Today, we’re diving into some common Ibiza wedding regrets and sharing expert tips to ensure your special day is everything you’ve dreamed of and more.
Common Ibiza Wedding Regrets – At a Glance
Based on my years of capturing unforgettable moments, here are some of the most frequent regrets I’ve heard from couples:
- Guest List Drama: Inviting everyone can be tempting, and you may feel some pressure to include certain people. But the beauty of a destination wedding often means a smaller, handpicked guest list. Prioritise those closest to you.
- Underestimating Costs: Beyond the venue and flights, hidden expenses can sneak up on you. Create a detailed budget and add a cushion.
- Overlooking the Heat: Ibiza is sunny and gorgeous, however it is also very hot. Don’t underestimate this for yourselves or your guests.
- Not Hiring a Planner: A local wedding planner can be a lifesaver, especially in unfamiliar territory. They know the best vendors and can handle the stress.
- Cutting Costs on Hair and Makeup: Friends may kindly offer to help with this and it may be tempting to just do your own makeup. The difference is ALWAYS obvious when professional make up hasn’t been used, take it from me.
- Not Enough Buffer Time: Your wedding day is incredible, but it can fly by and things just take longer. It’s easy to fall behind on the schedule which can impact on other important parts of the day.
Further Reading… Do you really need a professional photographer on your wedding day?
Get in Touch at info@ibizaphotography.com or Whatsapp +34 699814666
No Regrets! How to Make Sure Your Ibiza Wedding Runs Smoothly.
Limiting Your Guest List Creates a More Meaningful Wedding.
This one is up there with budget for giving the most grief to couples on their wedding day. One of the most common regrets couples express is feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of guests. With an Ibiza wedding, a limited guest list naturally narrows down to the people who are truly close to you, creating a more meaningful celebration with less stress. Fewer guests mean you can connect with each person there, sharing more personal moments rather than rushing from one group to the next. This setup allows you to truly enjoy the company of your nearest and dearest without feeling the pressure of managing a large crowd. In my experience the ideal number is between 45-60 guests if you’re looking for a wedding with a party included, or you can go smaller, 2-20, if you would like to keep things super intimate and personalised.
See my Ibiza Small Wedding Guide for more info on this.
Stay on Budget.
These are some costs to watch:
Unanticipated Vendor Fees
Many venues and some hotels, especially resorts, add fees for bringing in outside vendors like photographers, hair and make up artists, florists, or catering teams. Fees can range widely, so factor this into your budget from the start to avoid last-minute surprises. If you have to fork out for a day pass for your vendors and 6 bridesmaids who are staying in another hotel, that can be really expensive!
Travel and Transportation Costs
It’s tempting to cut costs here and suggest that guests arrive at your venue by taxi, this can be a big mistake and can have an huge impact on your day. Taxis in Ibiza are notoriously unreliable so booking transport for yourselves and for your guests is essential. Your venue or planner will be able to organise this for you, trust what they suggest, this is a really important element of your day to budget for!
Bridal Party Obligations
It’s so lovely to be surrounded by your favourite people as your bridal party and if you want 8 bridesmaids and 8 groomsmen then you should certainly have them. However, it’s generally accepted that you pay for their outfits, so don’t forget to make sure you have the budget for this before you ask them! Personalised gifts are also a nice touch during the getting ready part of the day so this may be an additional expense to have in mind.
VAT (IVA) and Bank Transfer Fees
Some quotes you’ll receive are without VAT, don’t forget to double check it’s included as adding 21% on to some figures can make a massive difference. Bank transfer fees can also be steep, I recommend using services such as Wise or Revolut to cut down on these extra and unnecessary outgoings. Finally, some Ibiza vendors will ask for their payment in cash euros when you arrive. This is something to really pay attention to, if you have to go to your bank and withdraw a last minute large amount it could end up being complicated. Keep an eye on this as the amounts can soon add up and definitely don’t leave it until you get here as cash machines can only give out 300e/day.

Underestimating the Heat
You’ve booked Ibiza for your wedding so you can be sure of sunshine and the most beautiful backdrops, but the one of the Ibiza wedding regrets that I hear a lot about is just how hot it can get. It still surprises me all these years on! The heat is perfectly manageable but it can really get in your face if you and your guests aren’t prepared, so here are my own top tips to make sure you all enjoy the whole day:
Drink lots of water & don’t forget to eat.
It sounds so simple and silly to mention, but with all those fizzy drinks flying about and people bringing you cocktails etc, water gets forgotten. Plan on hydration breaks every hour and if you feel giddy go straight for the full fat coke, it’ll sort you out in moments trust me 🙂 Most couples also forget to eat, what with it all being a whirlwind. It can be a good idea to assign a bridesmaid the task of reminding you to eat and drink so you don’t forget.
Further Reading… How to keep cool at your Ibiza wedding
Do you really need a wedding planner?
There are 100s of posts that will tell you how easy it is to plan your own wedding and why eliminating a planner is a great idea. In some cases this can be true, but if you are booking a full wedding day with various elements & suppliers that need to come together perfectly, then it’s essential for you to have a professional on board. Ibiza is blessed with excellent people who will literally streamline your day and take care of all the stresses for you. It’s hard to imagine how many moving parts there are to a wedding day and organising from abroad over email and video call can get frustrating. Consider leaving the heavy admin work to someone else so you can concentrate on the fun stuff & avoid having any Ibiza wedding regrets in the lead up to the day.
Professional Hair & Make Up – It seems pricey, can’t you just do it yourself?
This is one area where I have a strong opinion, do not do your own make up. You won’t be comfortable and the camera won’t like it! I’ve seen many brides and bridesmaids who are perfectly proficient at doing their own makeup at home, however when done here it just doesn’t work, it doesn’t stay on and it ends up streaked. This is one thing that’s worth the investment and you’ll know that both you and your bridesmaids will look amazing all day long.

Adding in Extra Time
You may heard of the 30/5 rule? It’s a good one to hold on to. You won’t believe this until you’re in it, but what takes 5 minutes in real life really will take around 30 minutes on your wedding day. Going to the toilet, moving around your venue, getting a few people together for a photo, all of these things can take an absolute age and play havoc with your timeline if you haven’t factored in some buffer. It’s a lovely thing, but everyone will want to talk to you as you pass by, they’ll also all want photos with you, so any thoughts of just nipping off to have a look at your tables before dinner or a quick visit to the loo will all take much longer than you think! Between each element of your day such as arrival at your venue and the ceremony itself, or after your drinks and canapes and before your meal, factor in some buffer time, that way you’re not behind before you’ve started.
The Knot has a great article on the 30/5 rule and some handy wedding timeline advice
Ibiza Wedding Regrets – In Conclusion
Planning an Ibiza wedding can be a great experience, but it’s easy to overlook some of the challenges—like hidden costs and logistical hurdles—that can affect your big day. By hiring local experts like a wedding planner and photographer, managing your guest list, and accounting for potential fees, you can ensure your Ibiza wedding goes off without a hitch.
Taking the time to plan carefully and stay on top of your budget will allow you to enjoy a more intimate, personalised celebration, making memories with your closest friends and family. Whether it’s managing costs or choosing the right professionals, there’s no need to face it all alone.
Ready to start planning your dream Ibiza wedding? Reach out now, and let’s make it an unforgettable day—stress-free and full of love. You can mail me any time at info@ibizaphotography.com or Whatsapp +34 699814666