Forget My Big Greek Fat Wedding. Forget the lamb and the repetitive Greek music you might have encountered in Greek weddings. Forget the 500 guests and “Nikos!” everywhere— this couple truly made their wedding a Greek dream wedding!
The couple, Stelios and Stefi, were initially considering having their wedding in a different destination of Greece, nevertheless, the groom’s motherland stole their heart. As they were opting for an autumn wedding, we began scouting for the perfect venue that offered that unique look of October, and the warm feeling of inland Crete has during autumn- which many destination couples miss as they focus on the beach & sea view! They decided to go for a monastery-run church in Chania area for their Greek Orthodox wedding, that left everyone in awe by how well maintained and decorated it is, while they fell in love with a romantic rustic winery in Chania for their reception, where the atmosphere gave autumn vibes through the colors, the stone and the wood this winery is dressed with. Stefi’s airy dress with handmade lace details, her wavy hair and light makeup made her look stunning; such an elegant bride, next to her stylish groom, dressed by a Greek designer.Both the church and the winery were styled with burgundy, red, and blue colors—beautifully coordinated together, for a perfect blend for the season.
Although it was a morning wedding and our plan was for an outdoor celebration, God had different plans and eventually it rained heavily. Stelios and Stefi handled it with optimism, along with their loved ones, as the venue we had chosen had indoor space, so everything was moved indoors – making the wedding cozy and full of music and good vibes.For their wedding reception, we planned for a long table with assigned seating for each guest, marked by customized mirror name tags that stood on their glasses so they wouldn’t forget their drinks throughout the night! The buffet dinner had Mediterranean and Cretan touches, featuring local seasonal goods, while the bar was available for the guests serving cocktails from early on. Everyone danced and partied their hearts out, and the celebration went on until the night.
A live trumpet player accompanied people’s dinner, and later had everyone on the dancefloor, while the handmade, crafted in Greece, bombonieres (wedding favors) and traditional “kouloures” (wedding sweet breads) were offered to the guests. The wedding embraced the autumn colors, perfectly fitting the winery’s rustic atmosphere.Stelios and Stefi were one of the most fun couples we’ve ever worked with in the planning process and their wedding was the perfect blend of what love and fun in a pair truly is!
Photography: Irini Koronaki