After 12 years, two failed long-term relationships, and a Tinder refresh, the stars aligned for Suzie Bonaldi and Ryan. Discover all the details of their epic Ibiza wedding here.
The Story So Far..
In May 2019, after another fleeting situation-ship ended, I opened Tinder and thought to myself, “One more go, and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll just embrace my future as a cat lady.” I matched with five people but quickly lost interest. Closing the app, I decided to check Instagram instead. As I scrolled through my new followers, I noticed one of the five had followed me back. A quick glance at his profile revealed that we’d actually met at school, and I’d even asked him out 12 years ago — he’d declined. Fast forward to 12 years, two failed long-term relationships, and a Tinder refresh, and the stars aligned for us.
Engagement Story
We go to Ibiza every summer for Ryan’s work, and it’s always a blast. This time, we planned a trip just for us to unwind, free from work obligations. Ryan rented a Fiat convertible and made reservations at all our favourite restaurants, except for one night where we ventured to somewhere new. That night, we were headed to Petunia, on the west side of the island. Aside from its great food and charming interiors, I didn’t know much about it. When we arrived for an unusually early dinner (6pm is practically a late lunch in Ibiza), we were seated next to the pool, surrounded by sunbathing guests. Initially thrown off, I reminded myself it would be romantic once the sun set.
After a quick bathroom break, Ryan suggested a walk around the grounds to check out an Instagram-worthy spot for Es Vedra. Being the basic, Instagram-loving girl that I am, I eagerly followed. As we rounded a corner, I saw Ryan standing before a pergola with a table set up just for us, overlooking Es Vedra. The table was beautifully laid out with a bespoke menu and bubbles on ice, and without skipping a beat, Ryan dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him—while I sobbed in disbelief. I never imagined anyone would go to such lengths for a proposal. To make it even more unforgettable, a photographer had been hiding nearby, capturing every detail, including the flowers Ryan had chosen (my favourites). After dinner, we watched the sunset over Es Vedra, drinking champagne under the stars until it got too chilly to stay outside any longer.
The Rings
At the start of 2023, we casually discussed engagement rings, and I showed Ryan my jewellery box, where my mum’s first engagement ring was tucked away—a navy sapphire with a halo and a thin gold band. Though it had lost some stones over the years, it held sentimental value. My mum had replaced it with another ring, incorporating a ruby and diamonds, but I loved the idea of repurposing the vintage ring. Ryan took the original ring away to be restored, adding a halo of lab-grown diamonds and a fresh royal blue sapphire. It became my “something old, new, borrowed, and blue.” I love how meaningful it is to have a vintage ring with such a personal family connection. Ring styles may come and go, but a vintage piece with a story always stands the test of time.
The Venue
Ibiza was an obvious choice for our wedding—so many of our best memories have been made there. After weeks of researching venues, we kept coming back to Elixir, a wedding-only venue on the island’s west coast, known for its stunning sunsets. When I spoke to Vicki, the owner, for the first time, I knew we were in safe hands. The venue was the perfect size, with a breathtaking view of Es Vedra, and a rocky beach ideal for the kind of wedding photos I envisioned.
The day before the wedding, we hosted a relaxed welcome dinner for family at Aubergine, one of our favourite local spots. We kept the itinerary laid-back, letting our 40 guests enjoy the island during closing party week. The weekend ended with a goodbye beach day at Cala Gracioneta.
As UK residents, we had to have a symbolic ceremony in Ibiza. So, our legal ceremony took place back home in Sussex. What was meant to be a quick registry wedding turned into a quaint celebration at a local dog-friendly manor pub, where we tied the knot in front of 25 close friends and family, with 50 more joining for the evening festivities.
The Fashion
I tried on over 50 dresses in the three months leading up to the wedding, but I kept returning to one particular style. I tried others, but nothing compared to the experience at Halfpenny and working with Kate, which sealed the deal for me.
For my civil ceremony, I wore the Circe style dress with a dramatic Ariel bow on the open back, paired with a simple veil. It was classic and timeless, a perfect fit for the venue’s dark wooden panelling.
Our Ibiza wedding venue was bright and airy, offering stunning views of Es Vedra and the Mediterranean Sea—exactly where Ryan had proposed. I fell in love with a Halfpenny dress that suited the venue perfectly. It had a custom Bernice corset with Halfpenny flowers stitched across the front and back, paired with the Tide peplum skirt for volume and the Ruffle Rose skirt on top. Instead of a veil, I opted for custom sleeves with flowers stitched on the arms for added impact as I walked down the aisle.
For my reception, I changed into the Molly mini dress—a simple skater style with a square neckline. It was perfect for my first dance and allowed my shoes to shine. The Lucia satin sandals from Charlotte Mills were my Ibiza ceremony shoes, featuring sparkly ankle chains and bows on the heels, while my UK wedding shoes, the Taylor court shoe, were designed with comfort and style in mind. My final wedding shoes were Sophia Webster sandals, featuring butterfly designs—a tribute to my late grandmother, who loved butterflies.
Jewellery
I kept my Ibiza wedding jewellery simple to complement the detailed dresses. I wore Dior Tribal earrings for both ceremonies and a large Swarovski ring to cover my hand tattoo during the Ibiza ceremony.
Bridal Party
Our dress code was black tie/formal, so the bridesmaids wore black Halfpenny dresses in various styles, while the groomsmen sported black tuxedos.
Transportion
The boys headed to the venue in a classic Mercedes, while I had to consider how much space my dress would need in the car. To be safe, I booked two seven-seater cars for the girls and me, and it turned out to be a great decision—I needed almost an entire car to myself!
The Tablescape
Elixir Ibiza and their sister company Bud & Bloom handled all the décor, and they did an incredible job. We kept the tables simple with white linens and scattered roses. For favours, each guest received a mini Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir candle, one of the scents from our UK wedding.
Food & Drink
We served two drinks upon arrival at our Ibiza Wedding: an Elderflower, Lemon & Gin Spritz and a Watermelon Mint Spritz. Vicki, the venue owner, is an incredible chef, and the canapés just kept coming: puff pastry tarts with balsamic and caramelised onions, truffle aioli burgers (both beef and vegan), vegan spring rolls, and 3-bean quesadillas. I wish I could have enjoyed them all, but I was too busy taking photos!
The main course was a Mediterranean BBQ, with 12 dish options, including crispy lemon butter basted chicken, BBQ lamb with harissa, prawns with sweet chilli, and an assortment of vegan dishes. Dessert was a selection of vegan chocolate brownies and mini cheesecakes, followed by a donut tower and a margarita bar to close the evening. It was the perfect food journey for us and our guests.
Entertainment
Ryan is a music producer, so music was a big part of our Ibiza wedding. Though I didn’t have much to do with the planning, I did creatively direct our DJ set, which was all about 2000s club hits. It was a nod to my younger years, and our guests loved it!
Beauty Regime & Wellness
My pre-wedding beauty routine was mostly DIY, as I’ve always been confident in this area. I used St Tropez 3-Hour Express Bronzing Mousse for my tan and did my own hair (much to TikTok’s dismay). For makeup, I handed it over to the Charlotte Tilbury team. I’ve always preferred doing my own makeup, but I’m so glad I let Ria (@cardosibeauty) take care of my eyeshadow!
Favourite Wedding Gifts
We used The Wedding Shop for our gift registry, and I couldn’t recommend it more. My favourite gift so far is a Hotel Chocolate Velvetiser from my mum. We’re also looking forward to our White Company towels, and Ryan can’t wait to put the cash donations towards an Ooni Pizza Oven!
Honeymoon
After planning two weddings, we weren’t quite ready to jump straight into another project. But we did enjoy a short stay at Six Senses in Ibiza as a mini-moon, and it was the perfect retreat after all the excitement.
Advice:
Do something at your wedding that’s personal to you—ours was having Ryan perform a DJ set. It combined our skills and tastes, and it was a great way to stand out. Don’t feel pressured to do everything everyone else does—skip the signage if it’s unnecessary. And most importantly, allow yourself plenty of time to get ready. I allotted 30-minute blocks for unexpected delays, which helped me stay relaxed and enjoy the day.
With Thanks To:
Bride: @suziebonaldi
Groom: @kideko
Venue: @elixiribiza
Caterer: @elixiribiza
Dress: @halfpennylondon
Bridesmaids: @halfpennylondon
Tableware: @elixiribiza
Photographer: Natasha Marshall
Videographer: Made In Video
Wedding Rings: Shining Diamonds
Makeup: @charlottetilbury @cardosibeauty
Gift List: The Wedding Shop
Wedding Planner: Leah @yourweddingangelelixir
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