La Buena Vida: A Dreamy, Yellow Destination Wedding in Spain

If there’s anything more romantic than saying “I Do” on a sunny day by the sea in Stiges, Spain we can’t think of what it would be. 

Ilinca + Peter met through work in London, and their first date at the flower market set the tone not only for a life-long romance but also for this wedding day FULL of beautiful blooms.

Together with planner + event designer Paloma Cruz, the couple decided a destination celebration in España was just what they wanted. So they found Xalet del Nin and planned a bright + beautiful wedding there that gathered their loved ones for a once-in-a-lifetime experience on the shores of the Balearic Sea just south of Barcelona.

“From early on we chose the theme ‘La Buena Vida’ (or ‘the good life’) to highlight that the wedding was celebrating more than just our marriage, it was celebrating life itself, our friends, and our family,” say Ilinca + Peter. “In this sense, we wanted it to feel more like a party and less like a formal ceremony.”

We are absolutely enchanted by the vibrant, lemon yellow world of this wedding. Especially since that’s one of our favorite trending wedding colors of the moment. The monochromatic yellow color scheme these two chose created a bold + cohesive vibe that these photos from Padilla Rigau captured immaculately.

“For the couple and their guests, this destination wedding in Sitges was more than just a wedding; it was a transformative experience,” planner Paloma says of the choice to host the wedding in Spain. “Traveling together to such a special place, away from daily routines, allowed friends and family to disconnect and immerse themselves in the celebration. This type of wedding lets guests experience the destination more deeply, sharing unique moments over several days. The villa in Sitges provided the perfect setting for these shared memories—a place where every conversation, every laugh, and every toast became even more meaningful.”

The fact that bride Ilinca went with this amazing pair of Maison Margiela Tabi Mary Jane Pumps as her wedding heels tells you everything you need to know about her chic + non-traditional style.

The dreamy bridal separates from Cortana and an ethereal, hooded bridal cape?! The whole look was giving fashion forward fairytale!

“I wanted to find an outfit that matched the importance of the day. Something that fit well, and would compliment the bride’s look such that you could immediately pick us out among our guests even when not next to each other,” says groom Peter of his journey to this deep blue tux. “Because our wedding was a bit more casual (near the ocean, mid-afternoon ceremony) I initially was looking for a nice suit. But ultimately I chose a Brunello Cucinelli tuxedo in midnight blue. The final look was exactly as I hoped, the not-quite-black color and modern cut made it appear more relaxed while still keeping that special feel of a tuxedo.”

A Seaside Ceremony

“The design embraced a vibrant palette of yellow tones,” remembers planner Paloma, “reflecting the warmth and brightness of the surroundings.”

Floral design by Molist gave the day its radiant single-tone yellow aesthetic and utilized so many different flower varieties in the process! Baby’s breath, roses, and chrysanthemums in this photo alone!

“I was never a big fan of conventional wedding dresses,” says Ilinca, “and I am also not a big fan of white. So, I tried to find a dress that would still make me feel and look like a bride, but not in the classic way. I chose a skirt and a top instead of a full dress.”

“I saw the Cortana pieces more than 6 years ago randomly online and I said to myself: ‘That that is what I would wear for my wedding one day.’ (Probably sounds cliche but true). When I contacted Cortana, I didn’t think they would still have the pieces given how long it had been, but luckily they did. Believe it or not, the skirt and the top were the only items I tried on. I had no curiosity to try anything else, that is how much I loved it.”

“To that, I added a cape, to add a bit of mystery to the whole scene with a traditional embroidery from my native country, Romania.”

You already know we love this gorgeous sunny lemon yellow. Check out the rest of our favorite trending wedding colors of 2025!

Ilinca’s soft, romantic half-up half-down hairstyle by Laia Martín was the perfect look for this ethereal bridal silhouette.

Our Musical Choices
Processional
'Hallelujah' by Leonard Cohen (instrumental)
Recessional
'Viva La Vida' by Coldplay (instrumental)
First Dance
'How Long Will I Love You' by Ellie Goulding

A Vibrant Outdoor Reception

“Personalization was one of the highlights of this celebration,” remembers Paloma. “Each guest was welcomed to the reception with unique details: hand-drawn illustrations for the seating plan and personalized napkins. These added an intimate and artistic touch to the event and made a special experience, carefully crafted for each attendee.”

As far as unique wedding reception seating charts go, this has to be one of the most creative ideas we have EVER seen!

“[The yellow color scheme] was beautifully balanced with hints of blue,” Paloma says, “evoking the Mediterranean Sea and creating a harmonious, lively atmosphere.”

Our Favorite Memory
After our cocktail hour we had our dinner entrance. For us, this was the most memorable moment and I think we even surprised ourselves with that one. We are both a bit more shy and prefer not to be the center of attention. However, for the dinner entrance, we played 'Ella Es Mi Fiesta' and danced up and down the aisles between the long dinner tables with our guests all waving their napkins, singing, and cheering us on. Everyone partied like there was no tomorrow and we wished the song would never end. That atmosphere was truly incredible and something we will remember forever.

How did Ilinca + Peter work so much funky opulence into the vibe? Paloma says: “Floral arrangements and decor incorporated natural, fresh elements like lemons—a rising trend that brings fruits and vegetables into wedding decor, adding a touch of freshness and elegance.”

De Pluma y Letras created the day’s romantic, hand-written paper goods including these navy blue ink menus. Very into the way these added a love-letter-level sincerity to the place settings.

Sensacions outfitted the celebration with all of its rented decor + setup elements and catered its reception feast as well. And Kamal handled the glowy lighting!

Add some yellow striped napkins and yellow taper candles to your cart if you’re keen on recreating this citrusy tablescape on your own.

Our Advice
A great wedding planner is worth their weight in gold. Finding suppliers, coordinating payments, planning for bad weather, and especially the day-of setup and last-minute issues (they will happen) are just so much easier to deal with when you have someone who is fully dedicated to making sure the day goes well. Having Paloma and Eugenio there on our wedding day meant they handled ALL the questions and coordination, which allowed us the actually enjoy the wedding day from start to finish.

Some final words of wisdom from the couple? “In the end, the wedding is a celebration – so treat it like one!”

And don’t miss this video by Padilla Rigau! Perfection.

Congratulations from all of us at GWS, Ilinca + Peter! Your Spanish destination wedding was pure sunshine!