So So Succulent

Succulents are a great choice of flower for Greece.  They can withstand a lot of heat and the do not need too much water. I personally, love their structural form, especially coupled with bright coloured flowers to really give them a lift.

Here are some moodboards for you to peruse at your leisure.

Images from (top left clockwise) recycledbride.com,
floracadet.com,  floragrubb.com, jasminestarblog.com,
rootedinpaperandart.blogspot.com,
& alchemyfineevents.com

Images from (top left clockwise) heidiryder.net,
forgetmeknotweddingsblog.com,  jmsucculents.com,
floragrubb.com & pgjennielove.wordpress.com

There are so may different ways to arrange the succulents that all produce a completely different feel.  They really are such a versatile plant and definitely worth considering for your wedding arrangements.  I am loving that table plan.  It looks gorgeous!

NY

Civil Ceremony...Different Arch Ideas

Obviously a lot of you will be wanting a civil ceremony in Greece rather than a religious ceremony and let's face it, you will not be lacking in locations to do it.  Greece has an abundance of venues for you to chose from, which allow a variety of atmospheres.  Now I love an arch and I think they can be amazing.  They help in defining your ceremony area as well as providing a beautiful frame for your photos.

Images from paratinovia.com & chadmichaelpeters.com

Images from tinywaterblog.com & newyorkweddingrentals.com

There are a huge amount of different styles of arch for you to choose from and it really will depend on what atmosphere you are looking to create and also what venue you have chosen.  Here are just a few that I saw and loved.  

Images from heidiryder.net & Anna Kuperberg

You do not have to have a temporary structure for your arch, there could already be one, in situ, at your venue that with a little tweeking could be gorgeous.  So keep your eye out for a pergola or even a arch made naturally out of trees or plants or even stone.  Anything is possible with the right outlook and a bit of imagination.

NY

Chilled with Style

How perfect are these ice cubes?  What a great way to liven up an arbitrary item.  They not only come across as really fresh but also add such a vibrant flash of colour.  Ideal for any pre-reception drinks or cocktail hour.

Image from TLC Cooking

Images from Brides.com

Image from fotolia.com

They are such an easy but effective DIY project.  All you have to do is get some ice cube trays, pop the fruit into each one, cover with water and freeze.  Simple but the results are gorgeous!  Perfect for hot summers day in Greece.

NY

Nature at its Best

There is nothing really to say about this image apart from WOW!  How unbelievable is this Wisteria?  

Image from detailsdetails.com

Absolutely breathtaking.

NY

I wasn't lying...I Love These Table Plans

Images from jasminestarblog.com

Truly I wasn't!  I just love the depth of them.  They have great texture and are visually beautiful. For me it makes a great change to the one dimensional stationary versions although there are some of those that I love but this is just something different.  

As I have said before, this can be adapted to your taste in flowers and your theme.  It would look beautiful made up of indigenous plants to the different islands in Greece, the colour would be spectacular.

Tying the stationary in with the foliage would also be a striking detail and what a wonderful visual greeting for your guests.  A great way to set the tone of your wedding reception.

NY

A Magical Tablescape

This amazing tablescape blew my mind.  It is an amalgamation of ideas from Datura - A Modern Garden (amoderngarden.com)and Jubilee Events (eventjubilee.com).  Their blend of creative ideas has resulted in a beautiful tablescape that just oozes chicness and rusticity.

Images by carlateneyck.com

 The use of moss is genius and I adore the texture that it gives to the bouquet.  It has also given such a contrast in texture to the cake without detracting from its edible allure.

Images by carlateneyck.com

Images by carlateneyck.com

This is such a great base to build your own theme from as all the plants can be adapted to your floral taste and any destination as, whatever the climate they can be watered to keep them fresh.

As for the seating plan, you will gather from my next post that I am loving the floral plans.  I think they are striking and a great way to set the theme for the rest of the reception.  They are the finishing detail to a beautiful tablescape which has blown my mind.

NY

Odds and Sods

I thought I would show you an unorganised array of things I found and just loved.  It is a random collection of images just for your visual delight and a little inspiration!

Images from
 stylemepretty.com &
nextexitphotography.com 

Image from
 notonthehighstreet.com

Images from oacphotography.com & ambientstudios.ca

I know it really is quite a random post but I just saw these images and felt I needed to share.  The portrait photograph with the moustaches has been amusing me for at least an hour now.  How hilarious is that shot!

NY

Spin Another Yarn!

Image from
sittinginatreeevents.com

This table setting design is simply divine.  The use of the yarn is genius and also the striking colours are amazing.  What a wonderfully different idea for a centerpiece.

I think it is such an adaptable idea that would work in any venue and would be so striking in a minimalistic, open spaced venue.  With white walls and a very simple table layout it would really come into it's own.  A great idea if you have chosen a modern hotel for your venue.

The yarn balls could be replicated with a bit of imagination in a DIY project as well which makes this even more versatile.  Coupled with the mish mash of trinkets and flowers it really is gorgeous and can be adapted to any ones personal style.

It rocks!

NY

Strings of Pure Delight

Ok so you have found your perfect venue but it is a huge open space that needs breaking up a little.  Don't let that deter you, there are many ways for you to designate areas within one big space, it will just take a little imagination.  

Image from theknottybride.com

I love the idea of using stings of different items to do this.  Earlier I did a post with an image of curtains being used for just this reason but the idea doing this with vertical strings of, for example paper or fabric flowers really rocks my mind.  It would provide such a tactile and soft atmosphere to the dividers and also the photo opportunities would be amazing.  

Images from an-olive-a-day.blogspot.com &
laissezfairedesign.blogspot.com

They obviously do not need to be made of just fabric of paper flowers.  You could use pom poms made again from either fabric or died coffee filters and also real flowers or crystals.  It would be depend on what decor theme you are going for. Blending two different types of stings as well not only look awesome but would also give the screen another dimension.  

What is great about this, is it is a really easy DIY project and one that can be done in any location, so you could be stringing them together whilst chilling by a pool the week before your wedding.  The Martha Stewart Website has a lot of 'how to' on Pom Poms and to adapt the process to the flowers is really simple.

This can also help to dress drab walls and niches in your reception area coupled with hanging tealights could provide a magical and romantic atmosphere.

I personally love it and to be honest am thinking of knocking some up to use in my home!

NY

Don't forget the Kids

A lot of your guests who are coming may have children and want to make a holiday of the trip.  I found that 90% of my friends who have children brought them with them, so take this into account and be prepared.  Kids party bags are a great idea to help entertain the kids at your wedding and will also enable the parents a little rest bite from their children.

There are a large amount of companies out there that will provide ready filled party bags for a reasonable price which could be an option for you but take into account you will have to ship them to Greece.  The other option is to make up your own, which also could be fun!  I have put together a moodboard for you to inspire you a little.

Images from  partydelights.co.uk &
paperchase.co.uk

Obviously if you are going down the DIY route for your Kids party bags, purchasing the fillers in Greece would make a lot more sense and there are numerous children's shops there that you could utilise.   You could always mix and match fillers from the two countries if you are worried that Greece won't have a specific product but cost wise it, would be best to reduce the amount you ship and also you could need that vital space for something else.

NY

Quintessentially Greek

How gorgeous is this image?  It is so quintessentially Greek, I love it.  For me coming into a wedding reception and being confronted by this scene would just make my heart jump especially as the sun starts to set and the up lit boats really come into their own.

Image from zazoo.gr

This atmosphere can be created with ease in so many different locations in Greece and that for me is what makes it so great.  Whether or not your would have to hire the boats for it is another question but honestly, I think it would be worth the research.  It is simply, beautiful.

NY

Some Advice for Planning Your Greek Wedding: Getting what you want

So we have covered budget, forethought and information packs, now I think a little needs to be said about how you go about organising and getting exactly what you want.  Firstly you need to organise your thoughts.  If you had been getting hitched in your country of residence there would have been more margin for error but when you are dealing with suppliers hundreds of miles away it is a little more difficult to rectify these mistakes.  This is where images and a moodboard are going to come in handy.  Scour the Internet and cut images out of magazines (these do not only have to be wedding magazines). Interior design magazines are great for ideas as well as gardening magazines, even the magazines out of the newspapers can have some inspiring images in them.  These images are going to make it a lot easier to convey to your suppliers exactly want you want, especially if there is a language barrier.

You also have to take into account that generally things take a little longer in Greece.  Quotes are not as quickly turned around as in the UK or the USA so you will have to have a bit more patience and plan for this.  Don't rush the suppliers or yourselves this will only lead to mistakes.  Take you time.

I found that setting up a wedding website was also extremely efficient.  We had some changes to venues and itineraries which without the website would have been a nightmare to rectify.  In having a website you are able to update your guests on any changes and also gives them a way to voice any queries that they might have.  We are now in the age of technology and to be honest, when embraced, truly simplifies your planning experience.  Put a RSVP form on there for the disorganised guests and incorporate a special diet request form.

If you have a decor idea that you are extremely keen to have at your wedding and cannot find it, or it is too expensive in Greece, think outside the box a little.  Can you make it yourself or can you source it more affordability and have it shipped to your wedding location.  Also take into account that some airlines allow you to prebook extra baggage at a reasonable price, so you can also take it with you personally.  Anything is possible if you attack it methodically. So my main advice is, take some time to work out exactly what you want from your wedding; what atmosphere, what type of decor, your menu and then work from there.  The details can change without bankrupting you as long as you have the main ideas pinned down.

NY

Bravo the Greek Islands!

So chuffed to see that the Greek Islands won The Best Beach Destination award at this years British Travel Awards.  It is true, you really cannot beat the idyllic setting of the islands, they are gorgeous!  It is nice to have some recognition for it. Did you know that there are over 6000 islands and islets in Greece? Variety is the spice of life.  Here is some beautiful images depicting a small example of what the Islands have to offer.

From left Ithaca, Rhodes & Skopelos

From left Cephalonis, Kassos (island of my Grandfather) & Andros

Go Greece!

NY

Lucky Lotto

Every year I hold a Christmas feast for a bunch of my friends (yes I love the festive season!).  It generally involves a lot of food, drink and immaturity, I think this comes from us all knowing each other for between 17 years old to 20 years ( when did I get so old).  As any true Christmas bash should involve there is a secret Santa session at the end of supper and it is this that leads me to the inspiration part of this post (obviously cunningly disguised in all this pretty irrelevant information!).  

Image from dottiecreations.com

Last year my dear friend and Maid of Honour wrapped up a bunch of scratch cards.  Genius!  Whilst at the modern bride show I came across a company called Dottie Creations that had taken that idea a little further and had favours of lottery tickets.  I love this idea.  Buying a batch of Greek lottery tickets ( may as well get in the spirit of the country you are getting hitched in) and packaging them beautifully would make such a cool favour.  Budget wise, it would be damn reasonable too as well as something they may actually enjoy and appreciate.  Think about it....it is awesome!

NY

The Big Bang....

Hi all, long time no appearance from me...sorry about that, life, travelling and work are becoming more demanding and so wedding blogging is having to go on the back burner for the moment!

Image by blogs.silvernet.net

Today we are posting on a subject that some couples love and others love to hate and that is fireworks. Many feel that they are essential and ensure the timed well, the evening finishes or is emphasised with a big bang...literally, while others literally hate the idea of them. Natalia and I certainly are with team one, although not top of my list, they do add something to the evening and are usually spectacular to watch! I certainly enjoyed the display at my wedding and I believe Natalia was looking into having a display on the evening before her wedding at the gorgeous ouzo venue in Chania.

A very important consideration is that there are permitts required and time constraints that sometimes don't work that well with evening wedding schedules. Fireworks can generally be let off, by professional's only, in open spaces without plants or trees nearby, preferably over the sea or water if you are near the coast. You must obtain written permission from the port authorities and the display must have ended before 23.30 in the evening.

Some large companies in Greece (usually on the mainland) are able to create really spectacular and interesting firework display's, the smaller ones on the islands usually offer a more basic service, meaning they tend to throw them in the air and hope for the best!!!!

Some Advice for Planning Your Greek Wedding: Budget and Forethought

As I previously stated, having a destination wedding takes a little more forethought and organisation.  Working out  your budget and sticking to it is also going to take a little more work as you will probably not know what the going rate for suppliers is.  The best way to gauge this is get at least 3 quotes for things and compare the prices.  Obviously having your wedding abroad will reduce your numbers more than if you were having it at home and this can be a godsend to your budget.  The downside to it is you are going to have to factor in any reckie trips you take out there and more transport costs.

The key to all of this is good research and organisation.  If you have a friend who has got married in Greece or knows someone who has, ask them if you can have a look at their planning file/book.  This could give you a good indication of what is needed and how much it may cost.
Help keep costs down by planning your wedding in the off season or at least the low season.  This will reduce accommodation and flight costs and may also affect the price of your suppliers.  I got married on the cusp of the low/mid season and this cut E100's off the prices of our accommodation and transport.
Another factor to look at is if you are going to freight anything out to your wedding.  This can end up being a lot cheaper than purchasing it on the ground but you need to check what customs rules there are and any strike actions that may be going on across Europe (if you are shipping from the UK a french strike is going to affect your freight time).

Image from The Life of Brian

Now I know I am making this all sound a little like hard work, it is not but it does entail some planning.  If you get your ducks in a row early it will lead to a much smoother process and therefore less stress.  Keeping as close in budget as you can can be hard when you get carried away with the excitement of the moment.  Try and keep a cool head and remember the Greeks like to haggle so don't be afraid to try and knock the price down a little.  Most of our final quotes were at least the 2nd or 3rd drafts and we finally got what we were wanting at a price that we deemed reasonable, so don't be shy because the suppliers certainly won't!

Most importantly, enjoy the process.  When all your hard work and planning comes together into an amazing wedding it makes it all worth while!

NY

Handy Emergency Cleaning Kit

I came across this product on the Martha Stewart website and decided that it is a must have for any destination bride. The Professional Stain Removal Kit from Madame Paulette contains three different cloths soaked in cleaning chemicals specific to different types of stains.  All the solutions are what Madame Paulette uses on a daily basis in her dry cleaning establishment in New York which is frequented by the rich and famous.

Image from Martha Stewart Weddings

What I love about the pack, apart from it being extremely travel friendly and excellent in case of stain emergencies is you can customise the packaging to suit your theme.  These would look great as either part of welcome packs or just situated in the bathrooms of your venue in case of emergency.

The site is http://www.madamepaulette.com/professional-stain-removal-kit/

Brilliant!

NY

Some Advice for Planning Your Greek Wedding: Information Packs

When planning a wedding in Greece you have to get organised. The first piece of important advice is to make sure you give your guests enough information about the wedding as soon as possible.  Sending a save the date card or just an email will give everyone enough time to source flights, accommodation and put in for leave from work well in advance.  I actually sent out the whole invitation complete with a guide book (filled with all relevant information) 6 months a head of the wedding rather than the standard 3 months.

Make sure that you make the information packs are as fool proof as possible and packed with interesting information.

• Give an itinerary of the wedding festivities with times, places and dress codes. 
• Provide maps with all the venues clearly marked as well as all your recommended hotels. 
• Important contact numbers such as police, taxis, hospitals, doctors and of course your contact number for the duration of the trip.
• Pick a range of accommodation for people to choose from, with a small written description of each.  Make sure you check out all the recommended accommodation personally and try and arrange special rates with the hotels.  Most hotels will do a preferential rate for you so it is definitely worth arranging meetings with the managers to discuss this.
• Include all the logistics options for your location.  Some people may want to visit other areas of Greece on their trip so cover all options; ferries, yachts, direct flights, internal flights and coaches.
• Have a list of good restaurants and bars for your guests to visit. Some of them will be coming in for only a couple of days so having this information will make their stay a lot more stress free and enjoyable.
• Give people a heads up of what sites of interest there are in the area and an estimated cost of entry.
• Lastly, in Greece there are different opening times than other places so inform your guests of these ie everything is shut on a Wednesday afternoon and banking times etc.

The more you give your guests the less you will have to worry about organising when they are at your destination wedding.  Obviously I chose to do this in the form of a guide book as I felt that this was a more practical way to deal with it and was more convenient to carry for my guests.  There are other ways to go about it and all the information does not necessarily need to go out with the invites.  Some Information could be left in all the guests rooms as welcome packs but this will mean more work for you on site but the options are endless so enjoy sourcing what is best for you.

This really is a very important detail to cover, so please take a little time to get it right.

NY

Greek Photographers: Annie Angelopoulou

Annie studied photography in both Greece and New York.  She has won competitions with her beautiful photographs and truly has a great eye for stunning compositions.  Her approach to wedding photography is one of a journalistic basis thus providing a wonderful story to her photographs.  Although she is based in Athens she travels and covers weddings throughout Greece.

  As you all know both Sara and I used Annie for our weddings and this was down to a couple of factors. Annie as a person is so kind and gentle that on the wedding day she is  unobtrusive and sensitive to the surroundings therefore going about her work unnoticed. This leads to having such great, in the moment shots with a wonderful naturalness to them.  Secondly, I loved the fact she works in film and therefore you get the textures of the different types of film in the photos.  This, for me, was extremely important as I love the moods different types of film create.  Lastly, when she delivers your photos she also goes to the trouble of loading all you shots onto two discs as well as providing you with a catalogued album of your negatives, neither of which she has charged extra for as it is all in the price.  This last part is rare as normally wedding photographers charge the earth for just a disc of the shots let a lone giving you the original negatives.  Go to her website to check out her array of both wedding photography and other works www.photo.aa-informatics.gr . It really is inspiring.

NY

Modern Bride Show: Jewellers

There were a couple of jewelry stands at the show on Friday which caught Sara and my eye. The first was Mai Pearl which as it's name dictates has beautiful jewelry made from pearls.  I like the simplicity of their designs and also the price tag was extremely reasonable.  There were some cute things for bridesmaids gifts as well as items for the bride.

Image from maipearls.co.uk

The second stand was the mirror image of the simplicity of the Mai pearl jewelry.  D'Joya had some incredibly intricate pieces and both Sara and myself where stunned by the two rings below.  They look gorgeous in the photos but in real life they are even more striking.  Their quality of work is very high and they have a bespoke service for you to design you dream piece.

Images from djoya.com

I think you can agree they are incredible pieces and the double ring in the middle just rocks!

NY

Modern Brides Show: Wedding Dresses

Images from
ritvawestenius.com

Ok, Ok, I know, I always say this is not my thing but I have decided that I dig the dresses with the big flowers on them.  I have no idea why but I love them!  There were an array of them on the catwalk show I was subjected to by Sara but to be fair, I kind of enjoyed it!

My favorites of the show came from Ritva Westenius.  Although there is no image of it she made a very cool bolero covered in organza roses which rocked. The dresses I liked (much to the surprise of Sara) are the ones shown here.  I think it is because the skirts look so tactile and have great texture as well as obviously being beautiful.

The back of the dress in the bottom image is just plain gorgeous.  This is obviously just my opinion, take it with a pinch of salt!  All Ritva's dresses can be seen at www.ritvawestenius.com

NY

Greek Photographers: Nikos Papadopoulos Gogas

I thought I might showcase some Greek wedding photographers so that you can all see what great photographers you can find in Greece for your wedding.  I am starting with  Nikos Papadopoulos Gogas.  He has been in the industry for over 20 years working in the fashion industry as well as being a freelance wedding and portrait photographer.  He studied in London and has gone on to win numerous awards for his shots.  Here is some of his work, which I loved.

Nikos is a destination wedding photographer and will travel all over Greece and Europe to cover weddings.  His website is www.nikophotography.gr and he also has a blog www.nikosgogas.com/blog both showcasing a wide variety of his shots.

NY

Modern Brides Show: Wild Weddings Photography

Sara and I saw this wonderful photography stand whilst at the Modern Brides show yesterday and I wanted to share this gorgeous image from them with you.

Image from wildweddings.co.uk

Firstly, the way they have captured the dogs tongue at the moment when it looks like a heart is amazing! That in it's own right is an achievement but their overall composition and use of light is great.  We had a little chat with Bella who is in charge of all the printing of the photographs and constructing the wedding books.  She was a lovely lady and informed us that even if you do not use Nick (the photographer) at your wedding you can send all your images to them and they will make a wedding book up for you.  This could be a really valuable option if you do not have the patience or inclination to make your own.  Their books really were great quality, divine and showed both their creative talent and thoughtfulness.  Have a look at their website, it is inspiring!

NY

Photo Booth Joy

Sara and I had a fantastic time at the Modern Bride show today and enjoyed meeting and chatting to a lot of the vendors.  We will of course be writing a more detailed couple of posts on what we saw over the next few days but here's a little visual taster of our glee!

Image by boothnation.com

I apologise now to the lovely David on the Boothnation stand as my enthusiasm for his product overwhelmed him a little.  But honestly it rocked, and the built in wind machine was nearly too much excitement for me to handle.  On a serious note, those things are incredibly flattering.  I am not a photogenic person but even I looked surprisingly good in these photos and the quality of the photo is impressive to say the least.

All hail the photo booth.

Testing, testing

Sara and I are just testing this app out to see if we can write a live update from the modern bride show tomorrow!!!

Very excited to be heading there together. A full day of wedding inspiration and catwalk shows. Sara being more excited about the catwalk aspect than I am obviously, but rock on the decor, photography and catering stands.

NY

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monochrome Rocks my Tiny World!

There is something about the simplicity of monochrome that I find so chic and done well, with just one strong dash of colour, striking.  If you are having your wedding in an amazing venue it also does not detract from its surroundings allowing the venue to be the drama whilst the decor is just the accent.  So I have put together a couple of moodboards depicting this very point.

Images from (top left clockwise) australiaentertains.com.au,
velvetwedding.com, brides.com, fantasiafloral.com,
Cosmopolitan Bride & thelastdetail.co.uk

Images from (top left clockwise) couturecakes.com,
velvetwedding.com, Cosmopolitan Bride,
stellinaevents.blogspot.com, youandyourwedding.com,
bizbash.com, theknot.com & velvetweding.co.uk

There are so many options with this colour theme and it is a theme that can be used in any venue which for Greece really opens your options.  

NY

A Line Up with a Difference!

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day and they were telling me all about a wedding they had just been to.  About half way through our high tea (complete with cupcakes!) she described how the bride and groom helped the guests wile away their buffet queue and it was brilliant.  The buffet was situated outside the dining hall and when the guests went to get their food they were confronted by the bride and groom in fancy dress, with a line of chairs for the guests, an array of fancy dress for them all to dress up in and the wedding photographer.  Now that is hilarious.  What incredible photographs you would have and it makes a nice change from the standard group table photographs that you usually get.

Image from stevegerrardphotography.com

 I think this idea could also be adapted to the meet and greet line up as well.  How much would you enjoy walking into a wedding reception and seeing the whole wedding party already waiting in fancy dress?  I always find the line up really uncomfortable but that one I would thoroughly enjoy, even pay to see in some circumstances.

NY

Anemones: Simple Yet Striking

Anemones have always been one of my favorite flowers.  I cannot say why, I just adore them so I thought I would dedicate this next array of flowers to them.  They are indigenous to Greece (the Greek translation of the word anemone meaning 'daughter of the wind') and are found from November through til June depending on the variety.  

Due to my over enthusiasm finding inspiring images for you, I am separating this topic into 3 moodboards: Bouquets, centerpieces and cakes!

Bouquets

Images from (top left clockwise) studiostems.blogspot.com,
flowermagician.blogspot.com, flowerdesignstannes.blogspot.com.
stevegerrardphotography.com, getmarried.com,
wishspecialevents.com & bloomybella.wordpress.com

Centrepieces

Images from (top left clockwise) flowermagician.blogspot.com,
vivelarose.com, ruffledblog.com, designspongeonline.com,
stylemepretty.com, brides.com &
stjudescreations.blogspot.com

Cakes

Images from (top left clockwise) pastrygirl.com,
dkdesignshawaii.com, papillioncakes.blogsopt.com,
thecaketressblog.com, wickedcakeshop.com,
weddingflowers.com, crazyforcakes.blogspot.com
& gillyflowerjewellery.com

I find the anemone to be so romantic and even though it is quite a delicate flower can also stands its own when coupled with more structural flowers.  I hope you enjoyed the moodboards as much as I have making them.  The anemone truly is a great flower!

NY

Something for the Boys

Image from jamieaston.com

Yes it is a post about buttonholes.  I know the title made it sound a little more thrilling than it is but I was just amusing myself!  I have put together some cool buttonhole images for you to look at.

Images from millieholloman.com, vivelarose.com
& thistleflowers.com

Images from amelialyon.net, thistleflowers.com
& hotpinkbrides.com

My personal favorite is the buttonhole I found on Millie Holloman's site.  I love the use of a structures plant with the more delicate flower surrounding it.  I think it is exquisite.

NY