Catering to around 30 weddings each summer – sometimes up to four per weekend – James Lindley and Danielle Hodgson of The Bar Ibiza have mastered the art of keeping the drinks flowing at an Ibiza wedding. However each and every wedding is different and in June 2010, Middle Eastern couple Jana and Rany enlisted their services for a truly decadent, deluxe wedding they say was one of the most impressive they’ve ever seen.

Try before you buy
A wine tasting about three months before the big day is all part of the service with The Bar Ibiza, who help the couple select the wines they’ll be drinking on the day, plus create sample cocktails and any other drinks required. ‘Obviously we know beforehand what food they’re having from the wedding planner,’ says James – in this case it was expert event organisers Ibiza Wedding. ‘We love working closely with our clients like this to make sure they’re happy.’

Keep it light before sunset
To help beat the heat while getting mingling guests in the celebratory mood, The Bar Ibiza served Jana and Rany’s friends and family icy cold Cava sangria on arrival. ‘We always recommend this for the arrival drink because it’s light, fruity and refreshing… and doesn’t get the guests too drunk early on,’ says James. ‘Jana and Rany’s guests came from the Middle East, United States and Europe and had traditions we’d never seen before, like the bride mingling before the ceremony over petit fours.’

Sensible service
After the ceremony, Jana and Rany’s guests were treated to an extravagant three-course feast from Ibiza wedding caterer La Grand Bouffe, complemented with wines expertly chosen by Enotecum (with the help of the bride and groom of course). ‘It’s important to eat to soak up the alcohol,’ says James. ‘We don’t recommend serving spirits or cocktails until after the meal and sunset. It’s a simple detail, but with most Ibiza weddings carrying on for between six and 10 hours, it’s important to help people pace themselves.’

Raise your glasses
When it’s time to toast the newlyweds, there’s nothing better than bubbles! Jana and Rany chose Moet et Chandon for their toast, which was the perfect accompaniment to their incredulous five-tiered wedding cake from Cardamom Cakes. Previous wedding toasts created by The Bar Ibiza included a giant pyramid built from champagne goblets to create a fountain – the pouring of which is generally best left to the professionals!

Get the party started
‘Once the meal is over, everyone congregates at the bar,’ says Danielle. ‘We had one mobile bar with five staff to keep the drinks flowing.’ Cocktails served included classics like daiquiris and mojitos, premium spirits including Grey Goose vodka and Johnnie Walker Black Label quenched guests’ thirsts. ‘We can serve anything at all that our clients want,’ says James. ‘No matter how big or small, it’s all about creating exactly what they want.’ In this instance, the newlyweds requested a shooter called a ‘Dodo’ – tequila, olive juice and ginger ale.

Soak it all up
No not just the booze! ‘Ibiza as a location is amazing,’ says James. ‘We’ll be set up on a hillside, like Villa Alexia in Cala Vadella, looking out at the view and it feels like a dream’ says James. For Danielle, the luxury and decadence of this wedding made it standout, thanks to production, sound and lighting by events specialists The Shop. ‘The lighting was amazing, there were flowers everywhere, a live singer and saxophone player and the first dance was a huge production. It was really special.’

Published on January 25, 2010.