Tag Archives: Lefkas Weddings

Secret Beach Elopement on Lefkada – Karla & Marko

Couple Hugging on the Rocks at Their Secret Beach Elopement on Lefkada

This adventurous millennial couple chose an elopement in all the classic sense of the word, as their ceremony in Greece was a secret from family. Joined by their closest friends they enjoyed a relaxing escape at a luxury villa before marrying in an intimate ceremony on a secluded beach.

The excitement started with an afternoon of pampering for the bride and her friends whilst the groom and guys chilled at their villa on the pretty south coast, where your view reaches across to Ithaka and Kefalonia islands.

Luxury Villa Where Couple Dressed for Their Secret Beach Elopement in Lefkada
Bride with her Shoes and Perfume on the Morning of her Lefkada Elopement
Bridesmaid Helping the Bride into Her Dress
Groom Dressing Ahead of His Secret Beach Elopement On Lefkada

They decided on a first look and couple shoot in the villa gardens and Karla revealed her rock chick side with a pair of striking red print heels under her full-length gown that added a flash of colour as they walked hand in hand through the winding pathways towards the sea on the edge of the estate.

Bride and Grooms First Look Before Their Secret Beach Elopement on Lefkada
Couple on the Rocks with a view of the Ionian Sea
Happy Couple During Their First Look At Their Elopement on Lefkada
Happy Couple standing on the Rocks at their Lefkada Elopement

Finding the ceremony location for the couple was a fun search that led myself and destination wedding photographer, Maxeen Kim, on an afternoon exploring the coast of Lefkada for a rumoured hidden beach known only by locals. We stumbled across it finally and I knew this little paradise was the perfect setting for a romantic escape.

Ceremony Area for A Secret Beach Elopement On Lefkada
Close Up of the Lilac and White Flower Wedding Arch
Image of Lilac Flowers And Pebbles for A Secret Beach Wedding on Lefkada
Floral Details For a Secret Beach Elopement On Lefkada
Bride and Groom Holding Hands During their Secret Beach Elopement on Lefkada
Brides Lilac, Pink and White Bouquet with a Beach Background

To tie the modern style bouquet which blended autumn flowers, herbs and delicate berries with the classic arch for the beach preferred by the bride we used complimentary pink and purple colours. It then seemed fate when I sourced some pretty bottles of sparkling wine with a flower design that added that final finishing touch to the ceremony table.

Bride and Groom Exchanging Rings at their Secret Beach Elopement on Lefkada
Bride and Grooms First Kiss at their Secret Beach Elopement on Lefkada
Bride and Grooms Portraits on the Beach After Their Secret Elopement
Couple Under A Floral Arch at their Secret Beach Elopement on Lefkada
Close Up of Grooms Buttonhole and Grooms Portrait
Bride And Her Girls Celebrating on the Beach in Lefkada

I was delighted when Karla messaged me the following day to tell me “It was perfect! and the Seaside, the food, people, atmosphere, everything!”

Couple on the Beach After their Secret Elopement on Lefkada

If you are considering your own secret beach elopement on Lefkada or somewhere else in the Ionian and are looking for a planner who can make your romantic moment a reality, send me an email here with all the details of your day.

Thank you to my wonderful team of suppliers who helped bring this vision to life.

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:

Coral Villa Rossa Wedding in Parga – Georgina & Alex

Alex and Georgina have always holidayed in Greece and love the culture. Parga on the stunning Epirus coast is a hidden gem and ticks every box for the setting, traditional charm and hustle and bustle they love. They fell in love with the colourful town after visiting it together and it became the natural choice for their perfect wedding destination. 

Listening to the couple’s requirements we suggested the striking Villa Rossa, a beautiful red building, set amongst the pine trees on the tip of Parga sea front. One of the oldest buildings in the area it has had a rich past in many guises and continually owned by the same family who have now lovingly turned it into a boutique guest house and restaurant.

“The food and staff were outstanding. As we looked out to sea from our table and up to the castle on the hill we knew it was a special place to host our wedding dinner.” Bride, Georgina

The styling of the wedding had Greek inspired touches with both the bride and bridesmaids carrying hand tied bouquets of peonies and olive. The couple exchanged vows at an intimate and romantic spot lined with hanging lanterns dressed with clusters of flowers.

Stella York gowns are known for their spectacular beading, glamorous laces and enchanting fabrics and Georgina’s fitted gown did not disappoint and suited her perfectly. She chose a sage green dress with a beaded neckline for her five bridesmaids; a colour which cleverly complimented each girl’s different colouring yet beautifully blended them together.

Alex and his groomsmen kept their cool in English heritage tailoring and bow ties for a formal touch.

The restaurant we filled with yet more peonies in mixed vases with gypsophila and olive on the table and gorgeous little bunches on the chairs. Each guest’s place was marked by a hand tied rosemary garland with their name tag.

Villa Rossa served a dinner full of delicious modern Greek dishes using locally sourced ingredients such as Black pork with matured Feta and Corfu beer sauce. Dessert was a runaway hit of baklava with ice cream shot that left us all wanting more!

All that was left to do was enjoy the first dance, romantically lit by a backdrop of guests holding sparklers aloft for the newlyweds, and dance the night away by the edge of the sea.

Truly a wedding from Parga with love…

If you are dreaming of your own wedding in Parga 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 amazing team of suppliers who helped me make this day possible:

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