Diary of a Greek Bride: The Wedding Part 2

The morning of the wedding was totally chilled: I had a swim, sunbathed and enjoyed lunch around the pool with a few friends and bridesmaids. I lost count of how many people told me "you're the most chilled out bride I've ever seen!" but I guess it's hard not to be when you're on an island as beautiful as Antiparos!

All images are by Magdalene Kourti

Meanwhile, Glenn and his brother and best man Paul were re-writing our translated ceremony. We had asked Paul to translate what the Mayor would say into English and to act as our "celebrant" . However when we read the translation it wasn't quite what we had in mind for our wedding ceremony... with statements like "I accept the burden and conflicts of marriage" included in there we felt it sounded more like a an agreement to go into battle than a declaration of love for one another! There wasn't any room for our own carefully considered vows we had written, our ring exchange or the 3 readings we'd spent months choosing. The guys did a great job in re-wording the translation to sound more romantic and to include readings, vows and the ring exchange. This said, it really wasn't something we should have been stressing about the morning of our wedding... again, a situation that could have been resolved if our planner had provided us with the translation days earlier as we had requested.

By 1pm I was showered and ready for the stylist to work her magic. I had had a trial with her a couple of days before so she had a good idea of what I wanted - hair up, not too structured and make-up soft and romantic. She did a fantastic job despite my initial reservations at the trial where her love of hairspray and corkscrew curls made me nervous! We decided to pin into my hair tiny little buds of white Greek roses to match mine and the bridesmaid's bouquets. I'd also bought a beautiful vintage style hair comb which finished the look perfectly.

We had asked all of our guests to convene at our apartments at 5.30 which is is where we were having the reception dinner. My friends gave out hand held paddle fans I had made to keep everyone cool while they waited and to line the long palm-fringed path down to the gates. At 5.45 I emerged with my 2 bridesmaids, one bridesman and my Dad we were led down the path by three musicians playing traditional Greek music. I can't tell you how emotional I felt at this point and as soon as I saw Glenn's smiling face I burst into tears! He looked so handsome standing there waiting for me and all the stresses of the days leading up to this point didn't matter. We kissed, wiped my tears away and linked arms to lead everyone through the village to walk to the spot where we would be married. The procession was so memorable with all the locals coming out to applaud us and wish us well and more in keeping with the Greek way of the Bride and Groom arriving at the ceremony together. I'll never forget it and so many of our guests have said how unique and fun it was to accompany the bride and groom in this way.

Once we reached the ruins of the old Kastro, we waited outside while all our guests took their places inside. The musicians led us into the Kastro and once we'd figured out where we were meant to stand (a tad embarrassing!) we were greeted by Eleni the deputy mayor of Antiparos who would marry us. We were both really nervous throughout the whole ceremony but we said our self-written vows and had the ring exchanges without any glitches so all went well. Our three readings were delivered beautifully - an extract from Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Kahlil Gibran's 'Love One Another' and the quirky "Lovely Love Story" by Edward Monkton which got a few laughs, not to mention a few puzzled looks!

Afterwards we had rice thrown at us and champagne was served in the ceremony location for half an hour. It was just enough time to be congratulated and to have a few snaps with guests before we slipped off to have our professional photos taken. Being able to slip away to the beach with Glenn for an hour was perfect. Our photographer Magdalene remained unobtrusive and captued images of us both trying to take it all in. Magdalene did such an amazing job with the photos. Looking at them now I can't believe how she managed to capture the whole intimacy and beauty of the day. She is one very talented photographer whose thoughtful and considered ways gave us photos that quite literally look like we were on a film set!

CC

Real Wedding in Chania: The details

I know, I know, this is long over due!  Here are the details from the wedding in Chania, Crete in June.  The couple Elias and Nancy were from San Fransisco, Elias being of Greek descent.  Nancy's pro activity in the DIY area really made this wedding and all the personal touches were clearly apparent throughout the decor.  Firstly, she had designed and hand printed welcome tote bags for all her guest which were waiting for them in their hotel rooms.  Along with the very cute bag she had included a handmade sarong, local products such as herbs and sesame brittle and information sheets so as all their guests knew where and when the events were happening.

 The table design was striking.  Tall tapered candle sticks with gorgeous  flower arrangements of Peonies with a mixture of foliage and berries looked beautiful.  Now just a bit of a heads up, in 36 degrees candle sticks tend to melt!  So if you are have tall tapered candles they need to be put out at the last minute otherwise they tend to bend out of shape.  

Each place setting had a menu, printed on the gorgeous petal effect, watercoloured card and a sprig of rosemary and lavender.  The place names, again on the same car, also had a print of either a fish, pig, lamb or vegetable to depict to the caterers which main dish the person had requested.  This detail blew me away.  It was so simple and yet Nancy had incorporated it into the design with such ease and the caterers were thrilled!

Unfortunately due to the strikes in Greece at the time there was a power cut for 1 hour just as the music and Greek dancing began.  What was wonderful was how all the sound and lighting guys steeped up to the plate.  With a little help from around 150 tea lights we had as back up and an amazing catering staff, the show went on.  The Greek band played beautifully whilst all the catering staff, including Costas who is the main chef from Tsedakis Catering, got up and started Greek dancing for the crowd.  It was wonderful so see and the whole wedding party loved it.  It especially got interesting when all the guests were dragged up too.  Greek dancing by candle light, it doesn't get more romantic than that!

The courtyard at Kindelis is a magical place to first enter at the venue. It sets a wonderful atmosphere for the rest of the reception.  The Greek band was set up playing traditional music to greet the guests at the cocktail hour.  There were long stem peonies in tall vases and meze menus on the each of the tall cocktail tables.  What made this area for me was the personalised match boxes with OPA on them. They were awesome!

 

The escort cards doubled as the favours.  Nancy had designed them again with the same watercoloured design as little boxes.  Each had the guests name on it with the table number in sticker form sealing the box.  Inside she had put an uneven number of koufetta (in keeping with tradition).  Coupled with the bougainvillea and Peonie arrangements the table looked gorgeous, especially when the tea lights were lit a little late on.

Then there was the photo booth!  As you all know I am hugely keen on this idea.  I love them and the further into the evening you go the more hilarious the photos!  The backdrop for the booth was made out of different coloured ribbons and although it doesn't look like much on its own the photos come out amazingly (as you can see by the photo of Niko, Sara's gorgeous husband!).

The wedding was a blast and topped off by the awesome mix of 90's RnB that kicked off in the party zone later.  Nancy's DIY touches really paid off and made the wedding such a personal event.  As always the suppliers were amazing.  Tsedakis' food was delicious, the flowers from Birgitte were beautiful and as always the music and lighting by Manos from Sound Design was awesome!  Sara played out of her boots on planning and design and I must say I had such a wonderful time assisting her and Niko.  

There is nothing more to say than a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Elias and Nancy.  We hope your honeymoon was as amazing as your wedding.

NY

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

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!

SP

Real Wedding Inspiration: Philio

Hi all,

I know I am ridiculously late in posting, I have been swamped over the past weeks and feeling uninspired at the moment, it seems the economic crisis is affecting my mood a little and I am finding it diffiicult to concentrate on details rather than this bigger picture that is, where will we be at this time next year, will we have a job, be able to eat, have a home? Unfortunately it is difficult living in the unknown, actually life is not that bad, it is harder for sure, but we are OK, it's the uncertainty and general bad mood that gets to you, I think this winter was the darkest I have lived through and really hope that by next winter we at least have an answer on where Greece is headed so we can all buckle down and live with it or make any other decisions that we deem necessary!

On the upside if you are reading from outside Greece, I reckon Greece is going to be a bargain next year and well worth visiting!!! So our tourism could boom as it did in Iceland after it's bankrupsy!

Anyway, enough with the doom and gloom, today I am showing a wedding by the fabulous Nikos Papadopoulos of a beautiful couple that held their wedding in the mountaineous area of Pilio, a go to area for the Athenians as it offers beautiful surroundings and ski slopes quite nearby.

All Images by Nikos Papadopoulos

SP

A Stylish DIY Blog

I came across this blog today and am in love with it!  The mixture of personal posts with amazing DIY inspiration makes for such an interesting read.  Not only that, the array of vibrant photographs on the site are stunning!

There is also has a boutique shop, full of hand made produce to browse through on the site which is a new addition and certainly one worth a look.

All images from madefromscratch.co.nz

Check it out and see what you think madefromscratch.co.nz


NY

A Little Inspiration from Hollywood

I know, I know, sad but true.  I love chick flicks!  Whilst watching The Proposal I fell in love with the decor of the barn wedding scene.  It turns out that plain, varnished branches decorated solely with bare light bulbs, floats by boat!  I think they look gorgeous and just so we are clear, I think this look could look great in a variety of venues.

The aisle is just striking, pretty impressive for such a simple idea.  DIYing this look would be easy and not too time consuming either and I am wondering how cool this would look on a beach.  It could be a great way to define an area as well as an aisle.  Or just splitting the branches into bunches rather than as a wall could also look amazing dotted between your tables. Adding a lick of vanish on the branches can also add great surface for the light to reflect off. Subtle and yet striking.

The other part of the decor were these balls of light hanging from the ceiling.  Coupled with the rusticity of the branches they give a perfect contrasting dimension to the overall look.  They bring a softness to it all.  Just plain gorgeous!

NY

Sweet Baby's Breath

Now I am putting the inspiration for this post down to the snow we have had lately.  A friend of mine is getting married here in London in a couple of months with a theme of the ice hotel/skiing.  So when cruising the Internet one evening I came across these images and they reminded me of snow and I have decided they need to be shared.  I know, snow, in Greece?  But it does happen!  Anyhow, have a look.  I think they are beautiful.

I have come to the conclusion that baby's breath is highly underrated and should be considered more often as a choice of flowers for weddings.  It is simple yet beautiful and so delicate.

Gorgeous!

NY

Adding a Dash fo Colour and Texture

When planning the look of the tables you may want to add a dash of colour to either all or just a few tables.  Greece is famous for its embroidered table cloths and napkins so why not incorporate this into your theme. On any Island or the mainland you will find little shops showcasing an array of embroidered goods, some are eyesores and some are beautiful.  You will also be able to find a vendor that will make to order what you want, so you can design your own.

Images from
thebuzz.dianejameshome.com,
& wisteria.com

Images from
kaylovescandy.blogspot.com,
& theknot.com

I like the idea of having maybe half of the tables with the coloured napkins/runners on them and the rest having the same pattern but in white.  Not only would it provide accents of colour to the dining area but also just having the alternating plain embroidery will give texture to the tables.

Afterwards, once washed, they would make lovely mementos of you special day for yourselves, your parents and your in-laws.

NY

       

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