Category Archives: Lefkada Weddings & Elopements

Collection of elegantly styled weddings and elopements on the island of Lefkada, planned by Claire Salisbury of Lefkas Weddings

Dreamy beach wedding with purple orchids – Jennifer & Marc

Let me take you back to a warm July evening… Soft light plays on the sand and we covered the beach with romantic details, many flowers and petals. To this dreamy scene, Jennifer and Marc invited 120 guests from the USA and Netherlands to celebrate their love at a beach wedding, beautifully decorated with purple orchids hosted at Ariea Time Stands Still, Lefkada.

bride and groom in greek olive grove
bride and groom in greek olive grove

“Lefkada is an amazing island and we knew from the very beginning that we wanted to have our wedding there. My family and I spent a lot of happy summers on the island and it is also close to the Netherlands, which made it convenient for our Dutch friends and family to travel to. We wanted an intimate wedding close to nature which is why Kathisma beach was our dream location. Surrounded by water on one side and mountains on the other, it made for an ethereal and romantic atmosphere.” Bride, Jennifer

bridal makeup destination wedding preparation
bridal makeup portrait
bridal portrait with veil
groom looking upwards smiling as he sees bride for first look
bride and groom embracing during wedding first look
bride portraits in olive grove

“My Justin Alexander wedding dress was simple and romantic; I wanted something flowy to give me a feminine and chic look. With an A-line skirt and ruched bodice, my dress was beautiful and comfortable for a beach ceremony.”

luxury flower pink and purple flower wedding gazebo on beach
purple orchid wedding ceremony decoration
bride and groom beach ceremony lefkada

“We wanted to create a ceremony that included elements from both of our Greek-American and Dutch cultures. Our professional officiant, Elizabeth Cass Kanti, designed a unique and heart-warming ceremony which really resonated with everyone. It included the exchange of stefana (wedding crowns) as well as Marc and I reading letters to each other. In a traditional Greek church ceremony, the couple do not speak, so for us it was especially meaningful to be able to express ourselves during such a significant moment.”

bride and groom with stefana at beach wedding ceremony
bride and groom lighting lighting candles at beach wedding ceremony
bride and groom wearing stefana and lighting lighting candles at beach wedding ceremony

“Our ceremony ended with the lighting of candles, which was a great way to make everyone feel like a part of the ceremony. It also made for a beautiful scene during sunset on the beach!”

luxury beach wedding confetti throw with bride and groom
pink and purple floral arrangement for sweetheart table
purple and pink rustic luxe table centrepiece
Dendrobium orchid purple bridal bouquet

“The décor was romantic rustic-chic with lavender, both the color and flower, being a connecting decorative element. Our dreamy beach wedding ceremony and venue were styled with lush flowers, including roses and orchids, in varying hues of purple, pink and white. Candles throughout the venue created a soft-glowing, ethereal illumination against the mountain backdrop. My bouquet was composed of gorgeous Dendrobium orchids along with roses in white and pink.”

wedding reception dancing at beach wedding lefkada greece

“Nearly seven months after our wedding, friends still tell us what a special an amazing time they had. This would not have been possible without the help of our awesome wedding planner, Claire from Lefkas Weddings. Our wedding ceremony and venue were styled and set up exactly as we pictured. Planning a wedding from the Netherlands was difficult as we could not travel to Lefkada beforehand to make arrangements so it was really important for us to have someone on the ground that we could trust. Claire made our vision a reality and we wouldn’t have changed anything. Not having to deal with logistics also gave us more time to relax and have fun with our guests!”

Truly a beach wedding from Lefkada with love… Na Zhsete!

If you are dreaming of your own dreamy beach wedding in Lefkada and need some help making it happen, send me an email here. I would love to discuss how we can make your very own destination wedding in Greece a reality.

Thank you to my vendors who helped make this day possible and I am so delighted to have it featured on Chic & Stylish Weddings.

Planning: Claire Salisbury at Lefkas Weddings | Photography: Lefteris Kalampokas | Dress: Justin Alexander | Bridal Shoes: Dune London | Groom Attire: Roberto Salvatore | Groom Shoes: Carlos Santos Shoes | MUA: Despoina Kourbei | Hairstylist Evaggelia Stamatelou | Favours: Fantasia by Fotoula | Celebrant: Elizabeth Cass Kanti | Floral Design: Gourioti Flowers | Venue: Areia Time Stands Still | Event DJ: SoundVoiceAthens

Lovely Lefkada island wedding – Max & Georgia

The neoclassical masion that is home to the Municipal Library was the historic backdrop for the Lefkada island wedding of Max & Georgia, captured by destination photographer, Lefteris Kalampokas.

Their destination wedding dream was not the typical beach wedding you may be used to. They wanted their family and friends to really experience the island and have their wedding ceremony in a special, historically important location.

From the bride: “Max and I have been together for twelve years, childhood sweethearts. I always thought we would have a huge white wedding extravaganza, but after we finished two years traveling in Australia our little boy came along and like every mother, my priorities changed and so did my dreams. Time passed so quickly and before we knew it, we had our first family holiday abroad. A little Greek island we stumbled across online. We instantly felt at home in Lefkas when we arrived. The locals were so welcoming and family friendly! They couldn’t help enough, even holding Archer whilst we ate our meals.

My newfound dream became a little hidden gem in the Ionian islands; bursting with culture, beautiful scenery, fresh salty air and the warmth of the sun. We knew instantly that this is where we wanted to finally say our vows to each other. It wasn’t debatable…it was a yes!

It took us a while to find someone to help us planning from a different country but thankfully, we were recommended Claire at Lefkas Weddings. The whole journey was exciting, fun, organised and surprisingly calm. We knew that we wanted a venue with history rather than a beach wedding and Claire sent us numerous ideas. Nothing felt quite right, then she mentioned her favourite building was the Library building and it had a large garden that could be perfect for us. We saw the pictures and we truly felt this is ‘The One’, it had everything we were looking for. It was a tense wait whilst she applied for permission, as the garden had not be used previously for a ceremony and we were so excited when we received the yes to go ahead! “

Max & Georgia chose to combine their civil ceremony with a marriage blessing by Holy Trinity Church. This is personal ceremony which can be tailored by the Chaplain with hymns and readings to suit your wishes.

Following a champagne toast in the gardens, the guests strolled back through Lefkada old town. At the port, the captain and crew of the Ionian Star waited to welcome everyone on board for a wedding cruise down the Lefkada coastline to the reception venue. Their unique day ended with beautiful sunset and party under the stars late into the night!

Their lovely Lefkada island wedding day was featured in destination wedding blogs Ellwed and Getting Married in Greece, click the links to read more!

If you are considering your own historic venue destination wedding wedding in Lefkada and looking for a planner, send me an email here with all the details of your day.

Thank you to my wonderful team of suppliers who helped me bring this day together:

Romantic Pastel Lefkada Elopement – Ellie & Jesse

Ellie and Jesse travelled across the world for their wonderfully romantic elopement in the Ionian island of Lefkada, Greece.

The private, waterside location was sourced especially for this adventurous couple to create the Bride’s dream of a fairy light garden by the sea.

The only sound was the water gently lapping at the side of the deck as Ellie made her way down the steps to meet Jesse under a gazebo of flowers. It was intimate and romantic.

Lefkada was a relaxing break after the bustle of sight seeing in Athens and before they jetted off again for the next part of their extended holiday around the Greek islands and Europe together. The spectacular view of the ceremony and its setting fulfilled their shared love of the ocean.

” I chose the restaurant wharf from the options Claire selected for us because I knew we both needed to be able to see the water. We both grew up on the Great Barrier Reef. My husband spent months at a time as a child on the ocean and I on an island so the water makes us feel at home.” ~Bride, Ellie.

Ellie’s dress incorporated a few different styles. She wanted something sexy yet simple. Finding it hard to find a white dress without added detail and embellishments, she commissioned a handcrafted gown from Peta C with a slight flair and short train. It was simple, timeless and understated.

Her hair was worn in loose waves and fastened with a comb of blush pink peonies and roses that also surrounded the Protea flowers in her bouquet. These are very similar to the Warratah, the Australian national flower and was included as a touching tribute to her sisters. Though they wanted an intimate elopement, Ellie and Jesse are also big family people and her sisters are her best friends, so eloping was a huge decision as it meant she was without them.

In the décor we used a lot of florals and fairy lights to create a feeling of intimacy and enchantment. Using an image of an enchanted garden that Ellie sent to me, the team created hanging gardens overflowing with flowers, structured around a gazebo. It was a designed in two parts, so the couple saw one floral display during the ceremony and the final look was a surprise. Waving them off on a luxury speedboat cruise around the islands, my team quickly go into action, hanging lanterns, opening fairy lights and filling the deck with lanterns. When they returned it was a candlelit paradise!

” I couldn’t have achieved our dream day without Lefkas Weddings. You need a planner/helper/elf! If you are thinking about it, don’t think, just do it! Claire is so amazing and always cool, calm and collected. Our day was completely stress free and magical. “ ~Ellie & Jesse

If you have your heart set on an elopement in Greece and need some help making it happen, send me an email here. I would love to discuss how we can make your very own elegant and romantic Lefkada elopement a reality.

Thank you to my amazing team of suppliers who helped me make this day possible:

Bright Woodland Wedding in Greece – Rosie & Michael

bride and groom hands joined with bright bouquet

I can’t think of a more perfect celebration to start the week with than this bright coloured woodland wedding in Lefkada island, Greece. I’m literally in love with every single detail, but especially the natural, rustic location in the hillside. Their afternoon ceremony took place at the village springs, amongst the tall, shady trees with pine cones at our feet.

order of service with elephant detail and wooden ring box with fir cones
woodland wedding ceremony set up with flower arch
wedding arch centrepiece with pink and purple flowers
bride and father walking along tree lined road to ceremony
bride and father looking back over shoulders as about to walk down the aisle
Groom first look at bride as she walks down the aisle with father
bride in oyster dress holding bright bouquet and groom in navy suit
bride in oyster dress holding bright bouquet and groom in navy suit woodland ceremony
bride in oyster dress holding bright bouquet and groom in navy suit at woodland ceremony
colourful confetti shot with newly married couple at woodland wedding

Before all the celebrations commenced Rosie got ready at her parents villa in her stunning oyster silk, Jenny Packham gown with her gorgeous entourage of ladies. There is no denying it; mismatching bridesmaids are the look of the year and Rosie pulled this off perfectly with each girl in her own choice of blush pink dress all perfectly tied together with simple matching bouquets.

bride in oyster satin dress with bridesmaids standing either side
pink, purple, cream buttonhole and bridesmaid bouquet for woodland wedding

A woodland wedding in Greece is a great excuse for a bright pop of colour in the bouquets and ceremony florals. My florist team used hydrangeas, roses, wax, limonium and eyringium thistle and Rosie’s bouquet was mixed with fragrent rosemary for summer scents of the island.

bright woodland wedding flowers against oyster satin gown

“The day itself was fantastic and all the guests still talk about it now as the best wedding they’ve ever been to. The best part of the day by far was the ceremony – it was so beautiful like a fairytale and was fantastic to get married in the village where my parent’s villa is. Our reception afterwards was great fun with dancing until the early hours, beautiful Indian inspired decoration and some fun additions such as fireworks and sparklers.” Bride, Rosie

Have you dreamed about a rustic woodland wedding in Greece but not sure where to start? Why not get in touch with me and share your ideas so we can start planning your special day.

Thank you to my amazing team of suppliers who helped me make this day possible:

Planner: Lefkas Weddings | Photography: Alex Giotopoulos | Dress: Jenny Packham | Flowers: Gourioti Flowers | Catering: Tulip Lefkada

Intimate Boho Elopement at Skorpios Island

couple holding hands with sea in background at elopement ceremony

Today we are taking a peak at this intimate boho elopement at Skorpios island; a legendary little piece of paradise, just off the coast of Lefkada.

Bow of caique boat decoratd with tulle and flowers

We planned to elope in Greece and were focused on having a meaningful ceremony and a very special day. Neither of us are big wedding people and we just wanted to make our commitment in a special and personal way.  Bride, Dominique wrote to me.

We were very open to ideas, I had dreamed about a tiny Greek chapel or maybe sailing on a boat and saying some words to each other out at sea. Claire suggested the traditional caique boat and sailing to the Jackie Onassis bay at the private island of Skorpios, which had us very excited!

Thank you again for the wonderful wedding! Dominique & Will

madouri island ionian islands greece
floral wedding decoration on caique boat

We collected the couple from Meganisi and cruised back towards Skorpios. As our boat glided into the bay, it allowed them a first glimpse of the white beach house, that marks the arrival at Jackie Onassis beach; the former First Lady’s favourite swimming spot, and the location for our intimate elopement.

black and white image of couple on boat holding a polaroid of themselves
elopement couple sat at front of boat on wedding cruise looking out to sea
bride sat on wedding boat drinking aperol holding pink bouquet
Elopement couple sat at front of boat looking at each other
elopement couple at front of boat as it arrives at skorpios island with view of jackie onassis beach
elopement couple walking hand in hand along beach with olive trees at skorpios island
elopement couple standing together on beach at ceremony by captain
captain reading ceremony wording at elopement ceremony
close up of groom hands holding wedding vows and bride reaction
close up of bride reading wedding vows and couple holding handsng vows
elopement bride and groom toasting each other with champagne at beach
elopement bride and groom kissing standing on beach with sea in background
close up of elopement couple embracing with sea in background
close up of pink and fuschia peony bride bouquet
elopement couple on bow of caique boat kissing
elopement couple on caique boat at sunset

Skorpios: The Legendary Island of Onassis

Skorpios is the private Greek island that hosted some of the most intriguing moments of the global elites during the 20th century. Lying right next to the island of Lefkas, in the Ionian sea, it was bought by Aristotle Onassis, the world-known shipping tycoon in 1963. He transformed into an idyllic paradise, for his private moments away from the world’s media.

Onassis imported sand to make his own beaches and planted more than 200 different varieties of trees, creating a picturesque scenery. He also built a family compound that included three luxurious residences, a helipad, and a small marina, before building a Cyclades-style residency after his marriage on the island to the former First Lady of America, Jackie Kennedy.

Skorpios hosted some of the most famous personalities of the century at it’s parties including Maria Kallas, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Sir Winston Churchill, Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly to name a few.

After Onassis’ death in 1975, Skorpios passed down to his daughter Christina and then to his only grandchild Athina who showed little interest in the private idyll. It was finally leased in 2013 for more than €100 million to Russian, billionaire businessman, Dmitry Rybolovlev who describes it as an ‘earthly paradise… the whole area of ​​Lefkada is such a beautiful place’.

elopement couple hand in hand walking along beach at skorpios island

Do you love this intimate boho elopement? If it has inspired you to celebrate your commitment just the two of you, contact me to discuss ideas around Lefkada, Meganisi and Parga!

Thank you to everyone who helped bring this day together: