Tag Archives: Kalampokas Fotografia

A Indian Inspired Wedding in Greece – Sam & Lauren

bride and groom confetti throw

Sam and Lauren hosted three days of fun and celebration for their Indian inspired destination wedding in Greece. Their 65 international guests travelled from America, UK and India to the warm, autumn sunshine of Lefkada.

“We knew that no matter where our ceremony was, a large portion of our family would have to travel. So, we thought if everyone is having to travel, we should have them travel some place that people would also like to visit like Greece! We also, serendipitously met Claire from Lefkas Weddings via a friend and it just all fell into place” Bride, Lauren

View across lefkada channel to greek mainland

They welcomed all the guests on the Thursday with a pre-wedding private boat cruise cruising around the off shore islands of Meganisi and Skorpios.

On Friday evening the villa garden was filled with the bright colours of saris and clink of champagne glasses for the mehndi party, complete with authentic Indian food expertly prepared by Royal Indian Chef from Athens. The atmosphere that night was electric as guests of all ages from grandmother to grandaughter were dancing to the Bollywood beats before heading to bed to get ready to enjoy the wedding day on the Saturday.

So happy you could come!

flat lay of food items in wedding guest welcome bag

“My mom and I designed the gift bags and what would go in them. We chose miniature products from each of our home countries, the places we have lived and Lefkada honey for our wedding destination!“

The mehndi party

bride and groom in indian clothes at mehndi party in Greece
bride groom and guests at mehndi indian inspired arty in greece

“Our mehndi party attire was all bought in India for us by Sam’s family. I loved the vibrant colour of the sari chosen for me by Sam’s mom and sister and Sam’s sherwani and dhoti (jacket and trousers) was chosen by his other sister and brother-in-law.”

Indian inspired wedding decoration with bright colours and sari outfits
close up shots of details of wedding prosecco van

“I really loved the Bubble Couple van and the decor for mehndi. The whole evening including the food and drinks was colorful! The food was Sam’s area of expertise, he chose all the dishes and we wanted it to be as authentic as possible.”

indian catering food images at wedding in greece
flat lay of polaroid images of pre-wedding mehndi indian inspired party greece

The wedding day

wedding rings and wedding dress hanging on olive tree

“My dress; I knew I wanted something lacy and slim fitting and I definitely wanted sleeves. I saw this design and loved it straight away and had the dress custom made. Sam opted for classic tailoring by Hugo Boss for the wedding day with tan accessories and a gold tie to keep with our theme.”

groom preparation deails brown brogues and white buttonhole
Gold cheval mirror wedding welcome sign with white and green flower decoration
white rose and olive wedding ceremony arch decoration
close up of violin and order of service
bride and groom standing under arch at garden ceremony in greece
bride and groom exchanging rings in garden ceremony in greece
bride and groom laughing during marriage ceremony
bride and groom with hands joined under flower arch
collage of bread and wine for communion at marriage ceremony in greece

“We met when we were both living and working in Paris and we attended the same Protestant church. We became good friends and it started from there!

In the ceremony with our Pastor we included elements that reflected our shared faith and it was also very important that people close to us from our family and dear friends took part in the ceremony. The live music was the perfect accompaniment, and we also opted for a singer. We chose songs that were very special to us as a couple but also in our spiritual journeys.“

filigree detail gold frame with wedding table number, napkin tied with olive and indian inspired gold elephant place name card
olive garland and candle wedding table decoration
wooden olive wreath bride chair sign and indian inspired gold elephant wedding place names

For the décor we put together a colourful mood board for the Mehndi party and then a classic and elegant board for the wedding day incorporating Lauren’s favourite colours of white and green. Knowing that Lauren and Sam wanted an Indian inspired wedding in Greece the cohesive colour of gold and little elephant details worked beautifully across both days.

2 tier white wedding cake on pedestal cake stand decorated with white roses and olive

“The most memorable moment was looking out over the sea and mountains while ‘King of my Heart’ was being played and sung by the musicians. Everyone we loved was sat just behind us and it was so perfect and special.

Thank you again Claire, for everything you did for our wedding. It was seriously perfect and everyone had the best time!” Lauren & Sam

indian groom and american bride with rose bouquet holding hands

Is a destination wedding in Greece at a private villa something you have been dreaming about but not sure where to start? Contact me to discuss how we can plan your day together.

A big thank you to my wedding team who helped create this celebration:

Our Villa location

When Lauren described the garden setting she had in her mind for the wedding, I immediately proposed Thealos Village as an ideal location for their day. The estate has a large lawn, with sea views and mature gardens and I felt it offered them the right note of formality for their ceremony. They could also host all their guests close together, within the privacy of the individual villas and suites.

“We loved Thealos from the beginning. It is such a stunning venue and most important for us, all of our family and friends could stay on the property. It gave us additional time with our guests as we gathered every morning for an amazing breakfast. Thealos’ garden, reception area, villas, swimming pools and views were all as amazing as the pictures!”  Lauren & Sam

Award winning elopement in Greece – Ellie & Jesse

Kalo Mina! Welcome to February and what a great to start to the month at Lefkas Weddings with an award winning elopement in Greece! I was ecstatic to get Ellie’s message this morning that their romantic day is the finalist in the DUO Magazine Australia, Wedding of the Year!

Eschewing a traditional wedding they decided on a six week trip of lifetime island hopping around the Greek islands with a relaxing stop in Lefkada for a few days to tie the knot with an intimate elopement.

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

Their elopement was shot by one of my favourite photograpers, Lefteris Kalampokas. He told me ‘I love to shoot both film and digital and love natural light and beautiful surroundings. My approach is to tell the story of my clients, documenting intimate emotions, joyful smiles and elegant details of their wedding day. I love the tiny details, meaningless to some people but which make the day truly unique. Those same details we will enjoy looking at years later, teary-eyed and overwhelmed with emotion’

Read the full story of Ellie & Jesse’s award winning Greece elopement here

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

Planning & Styling: Lefkas Weddings | Photography: Kalampokas Fotografia | Dress: Peta C Australia | Flowers: Gourioti Flowers | Venue: Keramidaki

Breathtaking Porto Katsiki Beach Wedding – Chow & Mike

bride and groom embracing on deck at sunset at nv lefkada

This Porto Katsiki beach wedding was a breathtaking, sunshine filled day, at one of Lefkada’s iconic beaches. Isn’t it just the most incredible location?

wedding arch flowers at porto katsiki beach lefkada

It was a modern, multicultural blend as my bride Chow-Ying, of British-Chinese heritage, married her British-Irish sweetheart, Mike. Guests travelled from UK, Australia and Hong Kong to celebate with this gorgeous duo.

They met at work and started off as friends. However, two years later, that friendship bloomed into a beautiful romance, with Mike poposing on a gondola ride on their ten year anniversary trip to Venice!

wedding arch with blue and white flowers on the sand at porto katsiki beach lefkada
beach pebble tower on white sand beach in front of wedding arch at porto katski beach lefkada

Bride, Chow: We were excited to be first couple to get married on Porto Katsiki as, although it is a famous beach in Greece it is on a remote part of the island away from the main resorts. It was amazing! The set-up was beautiful and the colour scheme complemented the natural beauty of the beach.

ceremony flowers on table at porto katsiki beach lefkada

My heart melted when I saw my Dad standing at the beginning of the aisle ready to walk me down! It was wonderful exchanging the vows we wrote ourselves in front of our family and friends. It was such a magical day in a beautiful location.

Close up of groom holding shell filled with sand and wedding rings
bride and groom at beach ceremony at Porto Katski beach Lefkada
bride and groom walking through confetti throw at porto katskik beach lefkada
close up of champagne pouring at porto katsiki beach wedding
bride and bridesmaid in aqua multiway maxi dresses on Porto Katskiki beach Lefkada
bride and groom with head on each others shoulders at porto katsiki beach lefkada
bride with bouquet on the sand at porto katsiki beach lefkada
close up of wedding arch flowers in blue and white
bride and groom on steps of boat at porto katsiki beach lefkada

After the ceremony, we had a boat cruise back from Porto Katsiki beach around the south coast of the island. It was fun for everyone, as the view was to-die-for and the cocktails were awesome!

black and white image of bride and groom laughing faces
black and white image of bride and kissing behind lace hand fan
bride and groom standing at front of Lefkada cruise boat

Our planner was Claire Salisbury at Lefkas Weddings. She was brilliant! Claire made planning a wedding abroad simple and straightforward and she also speaks Greek, which helped with organising the event. She was so organised, friendly and made our special day one to remember, and was also brilliant in coming up with ideas.

blue and white beach theme wedding cake
bride and groom drinking mojitos
bride and groom embracing on the deck at nv lefkada
black and white image of bride and groom with heads together

Chow and Mike wanted endless sunshine for their big day, and that was just what they got. The most beautiful weather, a sparkling turquoise sea as a backdrop, and a day filled with laughter and love! From the boat ride after the beach ceremony to the fireworks, to Chow’s dad pulling some serious moves on the dancefloor, it was memorable from beginning to end!

bride and groom inside wedding polaroid frame

If you are dreaming of a breathtaking beach wedding in Greece and looking for a planner, send me a message here with all the details of your day. I would love to help bring your special day to life.

A Porto Katsiki beach wedding needs a terrific team so a BIG thank you to my wonderful team of suppliers who helped me bring this day together: Planned and styled by Claire at Lefkas Weddings

Photographer: Kalampokas Fotografia | Dress: Wed2be | Groom Attire: ASOS | MUA: Despoina Kourbei | Hair: Effie Katsabiri | Floral design: Gourioti Flowers | Catering: Tulip Lefkada | Reception: NV Beach Bar

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: