Model Blanca Padilla’s Wedding at a Menorcan Farmhouse Had Guests Dancing Under a Full Moon (2024)

Spanish model Blanca Padilla has traveled the world for her work, but she discovered the love of her life—Alejandro García—as a teenager back in her hometown. The couple decided to spend the rest of their lives together thousands of miles away on the beaches of Malibu in 2022. And after nine years as a couple, Blanca and Álex returned to their home country of Spain to tie the knot at a multi-day celebration in Menorca on May 25, 2024.

“It was an intimate wedding that we truly wanted to feel authentic and genuine. It felt like a reflection of ourselves, merging with the island’s spirit of calmness and connection,” reflects Blanca. The first step in their planning process was choosing Son Vell Menorca, a boutique hotel with a working farm on the island, as their venue. “I wanted to honor nature every step of the way through the concept, venue, floral, and brands we worked with,” the bride says. “Nature is something I personally value and care for so much, so to have natural surroundings and such beautiful energy from the ocean and the island itself felt beautifully aligned.”

Blanca and Àlex decided to work with Octubre Studio to ideate their wedding vision and Menorca-based Brichs Events to execute it. “The planning process was intense as I wanted to be involved in the creative process and organization,” says Blanca. “And it was a destination wedding, which always involves more planning and is more time-consuming. However, both the creative team and the local wedding planners team were truly amazing and helped immensely for all we envisioned to become a reality.”

It's no surprise that the couple would also want to have a detailed, custom experience when choosing their attire for the big day. For her gown, Blanca chose to work with Spanish brand t.ba Brides to craft the look. “I wanted to choose a brand with Spanish origins that embodied sustainability and proximity, that felt aligned with who I am, and could be tailored to my needs and what I envisioned,” shares Blanca. “It was a collaborative, beautiful process that I enjoyed so much. All the fabrics were the highest quality, and I could just feel the care and attention to detail behind the pieces, which I wanted to be translated into the whole wedding.” The final result was a gown with a structured, handmade corset offset by gauzy fabric that draped organically across the bride's body. She paired the look with Messika jewels and cream Roger Vivier heeled sandals that featured engravings of the wedding date and the couple’s initials.

To dance into the night, Blanca swapped her ensemble for a look styled by Florence Reveillaud that featured a lace Isabel Marant mini dress, white tights, a diamond necklace, and silver Roger Vivier Mary Janes. “I had the most fun in this outfit! I put my hair down and was ready for the night,” she says. The groom kept on the same attire from morning to night thanks to its elevated yet casual feel. “Alex wore a customized Scalpers linen dark blue suit with no tie, keeping it relaxed as the island and the place was asking for it,” notes Blanca.

On the morning of the wedding, Blanca prepped for the day with her mother, her best friend, and her makeup artist, Chanel Beauty ambassador Raquel Álvarez. “She has been my makeup artist for years in Spain with whom I have full trust. [She was] also invited to the wedding as a guest," says the bride. A soft makeup application with peachy eyeshadow, soft pink lips, and a defined brows paired with a sleek ballet bun for a chic beauty look.

The ceremony took place in a circular area outdoors on the property. “We sat everyone and created a path in the middle with vegetation and totems of different sizes and sculptural flower arrangements on top or covering them,” explains Blanca. “This full circle has such a strong meaning spiritually that it made a lot of sense to do our ceremony there.” Walking into the ceremony space “felt like a dream.” The bride remembers, “From the moment I walked in with my dad, we had quite a route until we got to the altar and I felt like it wasn’t even real. I know we both felt so grateful to see everyone there. During the ceremony, we enjoyed some real and raw words from our loved ones that truly touched our hearts, expressed our love to each other, and it all felt so real and special. Time flew and we were married!”

The wedding transitioned into co*cktail hour, where the bride kicked off her shoes. “I stayed barefoot the whole co*cktail, enjoying some drinks, taking photos with my friends, chatting with everyone, and having the best time with Álex,” she says. During the event, guests enjoyed local Menorcan cheese and specialty co*cktails like a sake sour as the sun lowered. “The light turned into a beautiful orange and then it was quickly time for dinner, which was held in a grassy square in front of the 18th-century house of Son Vell,” explains Blanca. The reception tables formed a unique U shape across the lawn. Tables were adorned with Loewe candles, green and white florals, and cards that read: “an open table for those close to our hearts.”

After the couple enjoyed their first dance in front of the palace house façade, the mood changed as guests headed to the dance floor lit up by a disco ball and the full moon. “We danced and danced all night with our people,” reflects the bride. “There was something special in the air that people could feel. We could not be happier and more grateful thinking about this beautiful day.”