This Stylist Bride’s Menorca Wedding Began in a Historic Limestone Quarry and Ended in a Secret Nightclub

Originally published by Vogue

Stylist Amah Modek met entrepreneur Alex Ohebshalom in the summer of 2022, on the island of Ibiza, when mutual friends invited them to the same dinner party in the countryside. “Alex likes to romanticize it,” laughs Amah. “Although in this case, he may be justified. He says he saw the silhouette of the most beautiful woman glowing from a dark corner of the dining room and felt completely pulled toward her. I remember it slightly less theatrically, but the magnetism was mutual.”

Shortly after, they realized they were both New Yorkers with mutual friends. They kept running into each other over that fated weekend in Ibiza and agreed to go on a date when they returned home, choosing dinner at Barbuto. “I loved his confidence and self-assuredness, not from an arrogant place, but the feeling of being around someone who really knows themselves and what they want,” remembers Amah.

The couple got engaged during a road trip through the Italian countryside in 2023. “Alex surprised me one morning in the rolling hills with an orchard filled with thousands of pears sourced from Emilia-Romagna,” says Amah. “The pear is a private little symbol for us, so it was wildly romantic and completely surreal. We drank champagne, tried to take in what had just happened, and then somehow ended the day at Osteria Francescana, having dinner with Massimo Bottura. I still don’t entirely believe it happened. It was really surreal.”

With the Balearics having played an important role in their love story, they settled on Menorca as their wedding destination. “Most of our guests had never been, and we loved the idea of revealing the island’s magic to them,” says Amah. “The lightning bolt moment was Lithica, a former limestone quarry turned cultural preserve. It is raw, dramatic, cinematic, and very romantic. We had never seen a space with that kind of power. It became the soul of the weekend.”

Alex and Amah turned to Liz Linkleter and her team to plan the wedding. “I don’t think we realized the undertaking of creating what we wanted to in Menorca, but they really understood, channeled our vision, and brought it to life,” explains Amah. “Most importantly, they helped us capture the energy we wanted our guests to feel throughout the weekend, completely relaxed, taken care of, present and free to just have fun.”

The universe stepped in to help Amah find her dream wedding dress. “It was one of those completely serendipitous moments,” she remembers. “I was planning to design a custom gown, but my best friend happened to be in town and wanted to see me try on dresses, so we booked an appointment at Elie Saab. I tried a couple of gowns on but didn’t feel their selection fit my style. The saleswoman stopped me and said, ‘Well, I do have this one gown, no one has bought it and I only bring it out to specific people.’ I was immediately drawn towards its timeless, romantic yet modern feel. I called my mother to show her and she said, ‘This is you in a dress.’ I couldn’t stop thinking about it and made the decision to buy it. We made modifications to the overall style by removing ruffles and making the train shorter, but it ended up being truly my dream dress.”

For the rest of her look, she wore Manolo Blahnik pumps, her grandmother’s vintage handbag, diamond earrings that were a gift from her mother-in-law, and a veil made by Gigi Burris. Meanwhile, Alex worked with Ralph Fitzgerald on a bespoke brown mohair suit for the welcome party and a tux for the wedding night. “I don’t know anyone who does it like him—he has the most meticulous eye and style,” says Amah.

For her beauty look, Amah referenced make-up artist of the moment, Nina Park, as well as Gracie Abrams at the Grammys. “We had a similar hair length and skin color and I love how natural her make-up is,” she explains. “I am so grateful that I had the most incredible hair and make-up team. They made me feel completely calm and knew exactly what to do without me really saying or showing them anything. Eduardo Bravo and Charlotte Prevel are angels and truly the most talented.”

The wedding weekend started with a welcome party on the Friday night, for which Amah was planning to wear a dress she had designed with her friend Aline from the brand Esant, but disaster struck. “We had issues in customs and I had to find a new dress five days before our welcome party,” she remembers. “I reached out to Harithand, and they made me a dress in two days, shipped it to Barcelona, and someone was able to grab it the day before our party. It was madness, but everything worked out in the end. Now I have another special dress, waiting to be worn. Maybe we’ll do a 10-year vow renewal.” On the Saturday, the couple hosted a pool party, with Amah working with a local Mallorcan brand, Kettel Atelier, to design a ’70s-inspired caftan with exaggerated sleeves.

The ceremony took place on Sunday in the late afternoon sun under a canopy of ancient trees at Torre Saura, a historic palace in the Menorcan countryside. “We wanted it to feel intimate, timeless, and a little enchanted, like stumbling into a secret garden,” says Amah. “Alex walked out to ‘Sha Doomad,’ a traditional Persian groom’s song, as a nod to his heritage. I walked down the aisle with both of my parents to ‘Endless Love’ by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross.”

After drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and a brief moment on the dancefloor, guests sat down to dinner by chef Tomas Abellan, with speeches given by the family. “Alex’s sister sang ‘Moon River’ with my grandfather’s wife on a piano,” shares Amah. “It was a really special moment for us.” After dinner, Amah changed into another dress she had designed with Aline from Esant. “It was the perfect take on a slip dress, but more elevated and special,” she says. “Although I was sad to take off my wedding gown, there was no better feeling than to put on my second dress and feel free. I came back out, and we danced under the petals being thrown on us during the Persian tradition called ‘Gol Berizin,’ which literally means to throw petals on the bride and groom. I love this tradition so much and it was such a highlight of the night.”

As the night wore on, guests were led to a secret nightclub. “We transformed a historic stone structure into our own Ibizan retro discoteca called Sa Roqueta, which means ‘little rock’ and is also a nickname for Menorca,” says Amah. “Each room had its own mood—different DJs, different sounds, different little worlds to disappear into. My uncle, the legendary DJ Stretch Armstrong, hopped on the decks to start the night. Our guests changed into their best retro party looks and completely let loose. It was immersive, slightly wild, and probably the most ‘us’ way to celebrate.” Everyone partied until the sun came up.

“The wedding now feels like a beautiful metaphor for our life together,” says Amah. “We dream up something ambitious, slightly impossible, and full of feeling… and then somehow find our way there, usually with a lot of love, a little madness, and some dancing along the way.”

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake1/50Photos before our guests arrived while Besame Mucho played in the background.

Photos before our guests arrived while Besame Mucho played in the background.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake2/50The quarry filled with our loved ones, just as we dreamed.

The quarry filled with our loved ones, just as we dreamed.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake3/50Our brancusi-inspired bar with florals popping out of the stone by Es Bonsais.

Our brancusi-inspired bar with florals popping out of the stone by Es Bonsais.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake4/50Guests making new friends.

Guests making new friends.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake5/50Rye Decker in his best look.

Rye Decker in his best look.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake6/50Smiling ear to ear.
ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake7/50Guests walking down into the quarry.

Guests walking down into the quarry.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake8/50A bird’s eye view of the party.

A bird’s eye view of the party.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake9/50Very peppery sculptures.

Very peppery sculptures.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake10/50Pears, which are symbolic to us, adorned the food tables. The food was by chef Tomas Abellan.

Pears, which are symbolic to us, adorned the food tables. The food was by chef Tomas Abellan.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake11/50My grandfather listening to our friends speeches.

My grandfather listening to our friends speeches.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake12/50Ritmo De Havana played some classic Spanish music to get the party started.

Ritmo De Havana played some classic Spanish music to get the party started.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake13/50The party officially started with our birds flying above and the “sun” shining all night. The illustrations were created for us by our friend Rye Decker.

The party officially started with our birds flying above and the “sun” shining all night. The illustrations were created for us by our friend Rye Decker.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake14/50We jumped up on the stage to dance. I love this shot in motion.

We jumped up on the stage to dance. I love this shot in motion.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake15/50Bursting with happiness.

Bursting with happiness.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake16/50A kiss to end the most amazing night.

A kiss to end the most amazing night.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake17/50Norman and Blake stole us for a quick photo moment in our bikinis.

Norman and Blake stole us for a quick photo moment in our bikinis.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake18/50Everyone living their best lives during our Saturday pool party.

Everyone living their best lives during our Saturday pool party.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake19/50In our day party looks before everyone arrived to our hotel.

In our day party looks before everyone arrived to our hotel.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake20/50Running back to the party with my best friend after a quick change.

Running back to the party with my best friend after a quick change.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake21/50Dancing as the afternoon passed on.

Dancing as the afternoon passed on.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake22/50After our guests left, we sat in the softest grass and recapped on the most magical day.

After our guests left, we sat in the softest grass and recapped on the most magical day.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake23/50Our timeless wedding invitation suite designed by Laura Lukasz.

Our timeless wedding invitation suite designed by Laura Lukasz.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake24/50Taking in all the emotions of the day.

Taking in all the emotions of the day.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake25/50The bridal party.
ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake26/50Handsome groom.
ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake27/50Alex and his parents walking out to Shah Doomad.

Alex and his parents walking out to Shah Doomad.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake28/50Beautiful guests.
ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake29/50Ocean, the best flower girl.

Ocean, the best flower girl.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake30/50Alex’s beautiful sisters.

Alex’s beautiful sisters.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake31/50Under a canopy of trees, suspended in time.

Under a canopy of trees, suspended in time.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake32/50We did it! I was so happy, I forgot my bouquet.

We did it! I was so happy, I forgot my bouquet.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake33/50A quick moment together after the ceremony.

A quick moment together after the ceremony.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake34/50The reception, guests making their way down.

The reception, guests making their way down.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake35/50Spherified olives that no one could stop talking about.

Spherified olives that no one could stop talking about.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake36/50Our dinner tables nestled amongst the ancient statues and trees of Torre Saura.

Our dinner tables nestled amongst the ancient statues and trees of Torre Saura.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake37/50Tablesettings!
ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake38/50Everyone on the dancefloor as the sun began to set.

Everyone on the dancefloor as the sun began to set.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake39/50Dancing with my mother.

Dancing with my mother.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake40/50The most delicious tomato salad being served up.

The most delicious tomato salad being served up.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake41/50Our sister singing “Moon River”.

Our sister singing “Moon River”.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake42/50The magical glow at night.

The magical glow at night.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake43/50Emotional first dance to “Colour My World” by Chicago.

Emotional first dance to “Colour My World” by Chicago.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake44/50Quick change into my second look.

Quick change into my second look.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake45/50Petals flying and us flying during Gol Berizan.

Petals flying and us flying during Gol Berizan.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake46/50Our dream, retro Ibizan discoteca called Sa Roqueta.

Our dream, retro Ibizan discoteca called Sa Roqueta.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake47/50Changed again into a sparkly number as Dj Stretch did a surprise performance.

Changed again into a sparkly number as Dj Stretch did a surprise performance.

ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake48/50Our club details.
ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake49/50Ready to dance!
ExpandPhoto: Norman and Blake50/50Guests changed into their best retro looks and danced until the sun came up.

Guests changed into their best retro looks and danced until the sun came up.

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