Good afternoon all, Isn't the inspiration board below cool? I didn't think I'd like the nautical theme as much as I do, I think I like the very specific take on it, it has to be feminine, yet minimal and just as I said above.....cool!!!
Showing posts with label Beach Wedding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beach Wedding. Show all posts
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Nautical Nothings
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Greek Favour Ideas for Weddings Abroad in Greece
Today's post is a little different from the theme of posting weddings that SP Weddings has organised over the past in Greece. I thought I would showcase some ideas of how to use local products as favours. I have found that guests love receiving a small gift from the country that they have travelled to and if you use locally produced items, the favour becomes even more authentic and memorable to your guests
Small (or large) bottles of your favourite Greek wine, perhaps the one that you have chosen to serve at your wedding reception is a lovely keepsake for your guests to take away with them.
Consider customising the label with your names, the wedding date and location of the wedding for a more personal touch.
Greek coffee, this is the perfect favour for those that love coffee, easy to transport back home and a product that you will use again and again!
Consider providing personalised instructions on how to make the "perfect" cup of Greek coffee!
Olive oil is of course associated with Greece and a very useful favour that all your guests will appreciate receiving and certainly use when they return home!
You could include a personalised note on where and how the specific oil has been made or a couple of Greek recipes that feature olive oil quite prominently.
Mastiha is a product you may or may not have heard of, grown only on the island of Chios, this is basically a delicious tree sap that has been made into many products, you can find beauty products as well as edible items. Mastiha in it's best known form is like a chewy, very sweet paste that you take a spoon of and dip in ice cold water, you then slowly consume the paste with the water!! Sounds strange but is actually very enjoyable!Of course I would recommend adding a note explaining how to consume this product!
Finally most people are aware of the cool cosmetics company called "Korres", started by a Greek this is one of the most successful companies to emerge in the last few years and can be found around the world with high street stores in New York.
The products are made with natural Greek products and smell and feel amazing!
Consider giving after sun lotion to your guests or perhaps some body lotion with a smell that you love. If you are using herbs or olive leaves in your wedding flowers you can perhaps link this with the product that you choose as the favour for your guests!
SP
Friday, 10 June 2011
An Array of Lambades
Today I thought that some beautiful lambades images were in order. It has been a while since we showed you some inspiring images of these important details to a Greek wedding. You can have the large freestanding candles or opt for the smaller candle, that will sit in candle sticks on the alter. I have sourced an array of lambades images from florists in Athens that are of the former variety, large and freestanding.
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| Image from studio-ionnidis.gr |
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| Image from valentineflowers.gr |
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| Image from valentineflowers.gr |
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| Image from mariabogri.gr |
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| Image from valentineflowers.gr |
For a little background on the tradition of lambades......
“The traditional lambades adorn each side of the table with the crown
tray. The candles are symbolic of the couples’ belief that Jesus is ”the
light of the world and whoever believes in him shall never walk in
darkness but have eternal life” (Gestathi).
You can opt for the candles to be adorned with big bows also, personally this does not interest me at all but as they say 'each to their own'. For more images click on the links below the images. Maria Bogri has some more gorgeous designs on her website as does Valentine Flowers.
NY
Thursday, 9 June 2011
The Guide to a Civil Wedding in Greece
Good afternoon, I hope everyone is keeping well!
Today we are discussing the requirements and trying to explain what is and isn't possible in order to hold a civil wedding in Greece.
• The couple can be of any nationality or faith to have a civil wedding in Greece
The paperwork required depends on the country of origin, however as a general guide the authorities will need you to produce:
• Full Birth Certificate, must include the names of both parents, the shorter version of the Certificate will not be accepted.
• Divorce or Death Certificate, if previously married a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate if marriage ended due to the death of spouse.
• Certificate of No Impediment, this document certifies that both parties are free to marry, can be obtained from your local registrar and can take up to a month to obtain, this certificate must not be issued more than three months prior to the wedding date.
• Change of Name or Deed Poll Certificate, this is required in the event that the bride or groom has changed name by Deed Poll or court order.
• Adoption Certificate required if either party was adopted.
• Photocopies of valid passports
• All paperwork provided must be stamped with an Apostille stamp, this is a special seal applied by an authority to certify that a document is a true copy of the original. These can be obtained by the Greek Embassy or the Secretary of State.
• In answer to the question of residency requirements, this depends on where you would like to marry, as a general guide I would suggest that you plan to stay in Greece for 2 weeks and marry in the middle of your holiday, this should ensure you have the time to complete the paperwork before and after the ceremony, always allow for a few extra days incase of any holidays, strikes or other reasons why the public sector may not be working.
• The only "accessory" required for a civil ceremony are wedding rings
• The ceremony last no longer than 5 minutes in it's entirety, enquire about the possibility of extending the ceremony by adding readings and songs to make the ceremony more personal and meaningful
• I always recommend that my clients arrange for a cocktail party immediately after the ceremony if they have chosen for it to be held in a pretty, outdoor location, thus extending the ceremony and making the cost of decorating the venue more reasonable
The main question that must be asked is where it is possible to hold a civil ceremony in Greece:
The answer to this is simple, it depends! Perhaps the best way to approach this choice is by speaking to wedding planners about where it is possible to hold civil ceremonies, before making the decision on where in Greece to hold you wedding. As a general guide, the less touristy areas are less flexible, the larger islands offer many more options!
SP
SP
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Wild Flowers in Greece: Design Inspiration
I thought a follow up post from Sara's Wild Flowers in Greece would be of some interest. So here are some ideas of how to use and design the local flowers that Sara described.
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| Cyclamen images from flowerdesignstannes.blogspot.com & couturebridaldesigns.blogspot.com |
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| Anemone images from flowerdesignstannes.blogspot.com & gapphotos.com |
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| Daisy images from thestylishbloom.com & blog.afloral.com |
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| Iris images from floralaffair.net & w-weddingflowers.com |
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| Bougainvillea images from konapuppy @ Flickr.com & thedame.tumblr.com |
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| Hibiscus images from flowerhawaii.com & projectwedding.com |
All of the above images are just a few ideas of what you can achieve with the local flowers in Greece, there are endless options. There are also advantages to using local produce when planning your Greek wedding, the biggest being cost.
The Bougainvillea wrapped around the flaming torches is just amazing!
NY
Sunday, 5 June 2011
The Most Gorgeous Invitations for a Wedding in Greece
Hi all,
Today I am posting on my favourite wedding invitation idea that I have come across.....ever!
Made by the truly talented guys over at www.bemyguest.com.gr
It is a very simple white invitation that has been, get this, white washed, as in little Greek village white washing, it is absolutely fabulous!
She also has a matching thank you card and favour if you are interested in purchasing the entire range!
Do log on to her site as above and email her with any additional questions that you may have!
She also has a matching thank you card and favour if you are interested in purchasing the entire range!
Do log on to her site as above and email her with any additional questions that you may have!
SP
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Visual Inspiration: Greek Mainland
So here is the last in my trilogy of inspiring location posts. Obviously, as the title states these images are all of areas on the mainland. The mainland is steeped in history with an array of historical sites of interest and gorgeous beaches.
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| Mani Image from en.wikepedia.com |
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| Messini Image from wallpapers-free.co.uk |
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| Methana Image from mark twells @ flickr.com |
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| Thessaloniki Image from holidayrentalweb.com |
When people think of a wedding in Greece they immediately think of the islands but the mainland is not to be overlooked. There are some breath taking places on the mainland, not to mention, logistically it can be easier to access.
NY
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Menu Ideas for your Greek Wedding
Good afternoon all, today I thought we should talk about a really important element of any wedding reception around the globe and that is the food that will be served to your guests!
Of course when having a destination wedding in Greece the three important elements are going to be finding a beautiful outdoor venue, preferably with a sea view, great wine and of course some great Greek food.
Some of your guests may never have tasted the local cuisine so it is a chance to incorporate some local dishes and perhaps serve the meal "meze" style, with all being served to the centre of the table so everyone can try a little of each!
As it's really difficult to choose one "ideal" menu that will suit all tastes, I will just indicate what I think should definitely be included on a menu and how I would structure it ideally!
Some of your guests may never have tasted the local cuisine so it is a chance to incorporate some local dishes and perhaps serve the meal "meze" style, with all being served to the centre of the table so everyone can try a little of each!
As it's really difficult to choose one "ideal" menu that will suit all tastes, I will just indicate what I think should definitely be included on a menu and how I would structure it ideally!
Meze or starters
Great selection of bread, ask for the village loaves, perhaps small ones on wooden cutting boards for guests to slice themselves!
A selection of dips which must include tzatziki, skordalia, taramosalata and olive oil flavoured with oregano!
A Greek salad (obviously, although you could embelish with Cretan rusks, they call it Dakos salad)
Fried vegetables, this is really tasty, especially combined with the skordalia as above
Fried cheese (called saganaki)
Roasted feta with spices, absolutely love this dish!
You would then go on to include either seafood like kalamari and grilled octopus or meat based dishes like bekri meze (pork cooked in wine, the exact translation is boozy starter)
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| Image from 123rf.com |
Main Course
For main course again I would suggest keeping it simple with a large fish with olive and lemon dressing served with roast potatoes with oregano and lemon and some other vegetables of your choice.
Alternatively I would serve a fillet of meat that you prefer, again if cooked well this is tasty with just some freshly squeezed lemon on top, but you could also offer a choice of pepper sauce or hollandaise for those that want to add some interest to their main course!
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| Loukamades image from Tiny Bites flickr.com |
Dessert
Dessert is really important to me, being a "sweet" loving girl, this is where my attention is focused, I think you must include a platter of Greek pastries i.e. baklava and kataifi, perhaps served with ice cream. Another vey Greek flavour is mastiha, do try before adding to your wedding menu, some love it and other hate it (Natty being one!), I love it, so would serve mastiha flavoured ice cream.
Loukoumades are always a favourite as well, for those that are not certain what these are, dough balls with honey and cinnamon on top, served hot!
SP
Friday, 13 May 2011
Diary of a Greek Bride: Truly Cute Maps
We are so delighted with the amount of people that are coming to our wedding on Antiparos, 70 in total. Guests will be flying in from Australia (where Glenn is from) and from the UK (where we live), some of which have visited Greece before, some haven't. So we thought it would make a nice touch to leave a little map of the island for each guest upon arrival in their hotel room. I searched the internet for a map of Antiparos so we could print off and personalise but didn't really find anything that we could use. We wanted to have a map that featured a few points of interest on the island and customise it making it personal to us.
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| Image from cutemaps.com |
After a long search we stumbled across http://www.cutemaps.co.uk/ , hand drawn maps by a lovely lady called Sheree. This is exactly the sort of whimsical map we were looking for! Not only would it be useful to our guests but we're hoping many will keep it as a little memento of our wedding day. I gave Sheree a list of everything we wanted to include on the map and we are now awaiting her final creation which I will post on here.
CC
Friday, 6 May 2011
Some Churches on Rhodes: Just a Taster
So I completely forgot to finish the post on Rhodes, I whole heartedly apologise! I thought some inspiring churches would be the way forward today. If there is one thing to be said about the Greek Islands, it is that you never have a shortage of choice in the Church department and not just that, the variety is amazing.
If you want a small church on the sea, you can have one. If you want a large church in a mountain village, you can have one of those too. The choice is endless, so please enjoy the small array of photos below and remember these are not even the tip of the iceberg!
Moni Thari, Nr Laerma
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| Image from wallcoo.net |
This church was built around the 13th century on the foundations of a much earlier church. In the grounds you can see the remains of the building that was built in the 9th century. It has array of stunning frescoes and is the venue for many festivals including those on the 21st / 22nd May.
Profitis Ilias, Prifitis Ilias
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| Image from rhodosinfo.com |
This church is nestled into the mountain of the same name. It is located in a place called Elafina (meaning female deer) and Elafos (meaning deer also!). It is a wreck unfortunately but would make an amazing venue if you can locate the priest who covers that area.
Agios Pavlos (St Pauls), Lindos
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| Image from ionianweddings.co.uk |
This cute little church is set on the edge of a bay, just outside the village of Lindos. Though the chapel itself is too small to have a lot guests, the opportunity to have the service outside in the courtyard over looking the sea, more than makes up for it. It is named after St Paul, which legend says came here in 43AD to preach Christianity and thus this chapel was dedicated to him.
The Monastery of Panagia Tsambika
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| Image from holiday2rhodes.com |
This amazing monastery is situated 25km from Rhodes town and has gorgeous views over the sea. It is said to stand on the site where in ancient times an alter to Artemis once stood and where sacrifices to the goddess were held. It's name comes from the word 'Tsamba" which means spark. It is said that a shepherd discovered an icon of the Virgin Mary (Panagia) and hence a monastery was built in the same spot to house it. This icon is believed to be miracle-working and now the monastery is a pilgrimage for woman who are having trouble conceiving.
Agios Panteleimon, Monolithos Fort
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| Image from Steve Hoges, Flickr.com |
My personal favorite is Agios Panteleimon, I am just a sucker for a great set of steps, a beautiful white church and a view to die for.
NY
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Postage Stamps with a Personal Touch
I do like the idea of having a personalised stamp on your wedding invites. It really can be the perfect detail to bring it all together.
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| Image from marthastewart.com |
Whether it be a photo or just a really cool design, it can look awesome. Obviously, it can also be hideous if not done well! I think simplicity is called for in this area and also to go with your destination wedding adding a touch of your wedding location would, for me, start setting the atmosphere of the day to come.
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| Image from royalmail.com |
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| Image from royalmail.com & here's one I made earlier! |
Below are a couple of links for you to check out. One is a company in the USA that has a range of alternative postage stamps and for the UK, the good old Royal Mail does personalised stamps.
Have a go at playing around with some designs and see how you like them!
NY
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Nikos Wine reccomendations: Rose
Pink, Μανουσακης - Nostos Pink (Chania)
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| Image from nostoswines.gr |
Description: Medium bodied wine with gentle acidity and a slight sweetness in the aftertaste. To be consumed fresh.
Vineyard website: www.nostoswines.gr
Rose, Ντουρακης (Chania)
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| Image from dourakiswinery.gr |
Description: A luminous rose colour with a rich and complex aroma of red fruits. It is distinguished for it's full body, rich flavour and long aftertaste.
Vineyard website: www.dourakiswinery.gr
NY
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Great Stripey Candle Design
I just came across this cool DIY project on MarthaStewartWeddings.com I think it is so fresh and gives an atmosphere of understated elegance.
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| Image from marthastewartweddings.com |
If you are inspired in the DIY area this is a really easy but striking project and would be perfect for an abroad wedding. Check out the templates on Martha Stewart's website
They really do bring such a beautiful, yet subtle, hint of colour to the table so if understated and chic is what you are looking for, these would be perfect. For me, I think they would also look amazing free standing in the sand at a beach wedding or just bringing a touch of colour and detail to some rocks.
NY
Friday, 1 April 2011
Nikos Wine Reccomendations: Red Wine
Alexandra, Μανουσακης - Nostos Alexandra's (chania)
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| Image from nostoswines.gr |
Description: Clear with dense ruby colours and thick legs. Fruity aromas which are simultaneously dense and fresh.
Vineyard website: www.nostoswines.gr
Παραγκα, Κυρ Γιαννης - Kir Yianni
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| Image from houseofwine.gr |
Description: The Merlot and Syrah 'round' Xinomavro Macedonia create a very friendly and easy wine to stand on any table.
Vineyard website: www.kiryianni.gr
Pinot Noir, Παπαιωαννου - Papaioannou Pinot Noir
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| Image from papaioannouwines.gr |
Description: A light, spicy, easy and very pleasant red wine.
Vineyard website: www.papaioannouwines.gr
Merlot, Λαζαρισης - Nico Lazaridi Merlot (Kavala)
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| Image from wines2u.gr |
Description: This is a Merlot with a backbone of spice yet with all the soft, luscious characteristics one expects from this dish.
Vineyard website: www.chateau-lazaridi.com
NY
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Nikos Wine Reccomendations : White Wine
Roussanne Μανουσακης - Nostos Roussanne (Chania, Crete)
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| Image from nostoswines.gr |
Nikos says: A very strong full tasting wine.
Vineyard website: www.nostoswines.com
Malagouzia Γεροβασιλειου - Gerovassiliou Malagouzia (Thessaloniki)
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| Image from restaurantnamethimasai.blogspot.com |
Nikos says: A great demi sec wine - does not go well with fish.
Vineyard website: www.gerovassiliou.gr
Chardonay Παπαιωαννου - Papaioannou Chardonnay
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| Image from papaionnouwines.gr |
Nikos says: Great value for money!
Vineyard website: www.Papaioannouwines.gr
Μοσχοφιλερο Αντωνοπουλος - Antonopulos Gris de Noir (Peloponnese)
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| Image from wines2u.gr |
Nikos says: An easy to drink and light wine.
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