Meet Your Planner: A conversation with Johanna Carlsson
At what point did you realise that you wanted to become a wedding and event planner professionally?
I moved to Ibiza in 2011 to work in events, I was 23 and thought I was living the dream. It only took a month and I was hooked! I remember having a telephone conversation with my dad and telling him how much I was loving my job. It seemed so clear to me within that short space of time that this career was my future. You might think that my parents would have tried to talk me out of it. Working in events in Ibiza may not have seemed like the most ‘serious’ of careers at that time, especially having studied in London. I’m so lucky that my parents have always had my back and they believe that anything I do, I do to its fullest potential. It is thanks to them that they gave me the confidence and support to get to where I am today, running a successful company of my own.
Having originated from Sweden, then spent time in London, why choose Ibiza as the home of JC Bespoke Events?
I started studying Spanish from a young age and continued throughout high school. As a family, we frequently vacationed in Spain and as I grew older I often did Spanish vacation work placements whenever I could whilst studying Events Management at University in London. After graduating and having to choose my next steps, I immediately knew I wanted to return to Spain. Ibiza had already built a great reputation as a luxury event destination and I am pleased to say this reputation continues to grow stronger every year. There’s a huge international market here and the events are world-class. I have never doubted my decision to make Ibiza my home and the home of my company.
The Balearics, and Ibiza in particular, have become an aspirational wedding destination over the last few years. What do you think makes them so special?
For me it’s the sense of laid-back luxury; it’s not flashy or stuffy, you can be yourself while still hosting a super elegant, high-end wedding or party. It may be a relatively small island but it is a mecca for both natural beauty and luxury commodities. Yes, it is well-known for its music scene but it is so much more than that. Some of the finest chefs deliver Michelin star cuisine, there are incredible luxury hotels and exclusive villas and do not forget the most idyllic ‘agroturismos’ serving delicious organic food, indulgent spas and a zen-like retreat from everyday life.
Are there any specific considerations you should bear in mind before deciding on the Balearics as your wedding destination?
The Balearics are so conveniently located with great transport links. More direct flights are being added every year. Also, the islands are relatively small so it doesn’t take guests too long to drive anywhere or explore. We do find that the RSVP rate is much higher for events in Ibiza - let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to go to a wedding here? We plan weddings throughout the Mediterranean and Balearics but Ibiza is still proving the most popular. However, the island does have a maximum capacity, I would say anything over 150 guests becomes tricky, and if you’re considering anything over 350 then we’re really restricted in terms of appropriate venues – but it is possible. The boutique nature of the island is part of its appeal and although this means it is generally more expensive than other places, it still remains a firm favourite for so many.
As a newly engaged couple, the idea of planning a wedding can be overwhelming. What are the first steps in the planning process?
Once you’re ready to start planning, there are 3 main questions you should try to answer: Where, When, How Many? For most couples the first question is a relatively easy one. You either stay close to home, friends and family or perhaps you have always dreamt of a destination wedding. Next, you need to narrow down the time of year and it’s always good to have a few date options in mind in case your ideal venue doesn’t have availability on your first choice. The wedding season here in Ibiza is getting longer every year as the weather in Spring and Autumn is generally still amazing. Finally, how many guests - this will impact your venue choices and dictate your overall budget (you can also choose to lock in your budget first and then see how many guests you feel comfortable inviting depending on your overall spend).
Other than reducing stress levels, what are the other benefits of hiring a wedding planner?
Without doubt, the greatest benefit is their local knowledge and industry expertise. We have in-depth insider knowledge of the venues and reliable suppliers which is invaluable. Imagine the disappointment if the venue you have booked subsequently proves unreliable or your caterer doesn’t show on the day - nightmare! We work closely with our handpicked trusted suppliers to ensure nothing is left to chance. We save our clients a huge amount of time (we estimate that we take between 200-300 hours of planning for each of our events), and we add value to your wedding by getting the most out of the vendors we work with. We also take care of your guests, and make sure that all of them have the most wonderful experience during the celebrations.
When guests are travelling from far and wide it’s not unusual for a wedding to run into a 3-4 day event. Do you help with the pre and post wedding requirements too?
Absolutely! This is something we do regularly for our clients in order to create seamless experiences from start to finish. The day-after are my personal favourites!
What’s the most inspiring wedding you have planned recently?
I had the pleasure of organising a 3-day wedding at the incredible Six Senses resort last June for 250 guests. The couple requested full pool and beach days as well as evening events spanning over the whole weekend. We had less than 3 months to plan the entire event which at any time of year is a challenge. It turned out to be the most incredible event we have produced to date and in such a short space of time, complete with fireworks and a DJ set by Claptone on the night of the wedding.
Which trends you are excited for in 2024?
I think the trends for this year are so exciting and I cannot wait to incorporate them in our gorgeous weddings. Personally, I love a good ‘Wow’ moment and we recently featured some of our favourites on our 2024 Trends Blog. Imagine cascading champagne towers, fireworks and pyrotechnics, an outrageous entertainment act, a live band/musician or headline DJ. I cannot tell you how excited I am about our events in 2024 – I can’t say too much as a lot of them are surprises for the couples, or the guests, but I will say that we are having one of the most EPIC bands of all time play at one of our weddings in May, we’re working with the one of Europe’s finest equestrian ranches for a wedding in July, and finally I have one of my all-time favourite DJ duos playing at one of our weddings in September – and so much more – stay tuned!
Where did you get married? With years of experience as a wedding planner, is there anything you would have changed about your own wedding?
We actually didn’t have a wedding! My husband and I got engaged in 2019 and were planning our wedding for 2020 - of course I had everything planned out immediately after we got engaged. Then Covid happened and like so many other engaged couples, our plans were cancelled. When restrictions allowed, we had a few smaller celebrations on the island but we wanted to wait another year to plan our wedding properly – I was not prepared to rush things because as you can imagine we wanted everything to be perfect. Since then, JC Bespoke has got so busy and we’ve also just bought our first home which is currently undergoing a complete renovation. We will definitely be having our dream wedding in the future but for the moment I live out my wedding dreams through the beautiful weddings we plan for our clients.
What are your future plans for JC Bespoke Events?
I’ve always been very driven when it comes to my career and I’m also a very competitive person which ultimately, I believe is a positive trait in this industry. I’m always striving to do bigger and better things. I’m so thrilled with the success that JC Bespoke Events has had so far, and we will continue to produce luxurious, gorgeous, memorable, unique and elegant celebrations for our clients in the years to come!
Get in touch with us today to start planning your dream wedding or event…
Photos by Rebekka Eliza
Hair & Make Up by Smack Ibiza
Outfit by Anine Bing