Tag Archives: Lefkas Weddings

Sunrise Elopement at Porto Katsiki Beach – Barbara & Neven

This sunrise elopement at Porto Katsiki beach was definitely worth getting up before the sun! In this post, I’m sharing everything you need to know to plan your dream sunrise elopement and this blog will have you ready to jump out of bed before the sun comes up for your own sunrise adventure elopement in Greece.

back view of couple sat on white stone beach with cushions looking out to sea

Sunrise brings a touch of magic to your wedding ceremony. Getting married is a transition itself, and you’ll understand how beautiful it is to mark that transition with the rising of a star. To know in this big wide world as night changes to day you have found someone to share all the days of your life with. 

Porto Katsiki beach Lefkada Greece
Meet the couple of this sunrise elopement at Porto Katsiki beach

When we were planning their day, Barbara and Neven both mentioned how much they absolutely love to travel and in their nine years together they have explored the globe and made memories in over 30 countries!  Maxeen and I thought it was perfect therefore that on one of those trips together, watching the sunrise in Morocco, Neven asked Barbara to marry him and she said Yes! So they decided that they would like to recapture that moment, as the sun rises for their elopement. It was to be an intimate ceremony, just the two of them on their holiday exploring the Greek islands before their more traditional wedding in Croatia in the autumn with family and friends.

bride with glasses holding white and green flowers laughing with groom with arms around each other

We collected the excited couple from their hotel in Nidri and drove towards the south cape of Lefkada where the only traffic we met was a herd of goats, with their bells jangling as they crossed the road in front of us! The daylight was just breaking as we reached Porto Katsiki beach and we descended the steps to our deserted paradise. Kicking off their shoes, the couple walked along the beach to explore and we set up their breakfast picnic.

mini champagne on slate with crystal glasses with beach in background
Porto Katsiki beach Lefkada Greece

As the sun rose to reveal the azure blue colour of the Ionian sea, Barbara and Neven stood hand in hand by the seashore and exchanged vows. They followed this with a sand pouring ritual, mixing sand, pebbles and shells from the beach to make a lasting memory. We left them to enjoy some private moments with a champagne breakfast picnic with pastries and cookies made by a local bakery. It was the best morning with such a great couple!

sand pouring beach wedding ceremony sand bottles
bride with glasses holding white and green flowers laughing with groom with arms around each other
bride and groom at beach at sunrise for elopement
slate tiered stand with greek pastries beach picnic
slate tiered stand with greek pastries beach picnic and couple embracing

And the extra-special part of it for me was that it was also my birthday! I was lucky to be at the most beautiful beach on Lefkada with one of my best friends, our elopement photographer Maxeen Duncan, and eat cake for breakfast!

white rose, olive and eucalyptus bride elopement bouquet
3 Things to keep in mind for a sunrise elopement

Dreaming of your own sunrise elopement? Here are three things to keep in mind:

  • Keeping to the timeline is key
  • Be sure to get an early night the evening before!
  • Plan a post sunrise ceremony activity

First, it’s especially important to keep to the timeline for a sunrise elopement. This means you’ll need to get up and go before the sun rises to capture that perfect shot. The sun isn’t going to wait for you, for me, or your photographer. Once it’s risen, it’s risen! If you’re thinking of a sunrise elopement, you really have to be willing to keep to the schedule. If this doesn’t sound like your dream day, (and that’s totally okay if it doesn’t!), you have a bit more leeway with a sunset schedule, so that might be a better choice.

An early night is recommended as sunrise is early between 06:00 – 06:30 during the summer months in Greece. Plus, you need to get up and plan enough time to get ready and drive to your location, especially if you need to walk a little when you arrive.

Finally, it’s a good idea to think about how you would like to spend the day after your sunrise elopement. Barbara and Neven headed to Nidri harbour for a delicious brunch, and then went to relax at the beach. But you have so many options for your day! Want to go paddleboarding, horseback riding or kayaking after your sunrise elopement? You can totally incorporate all your fun ideas into your day.

aerial shot of bride and groom walking hand in hand along white beach greece
bride and groom kissing on stairs above porto katsiki beach lefkada

Do you love the idea of planning an elopement in Lefkada but not sure where to start? Contact me to discuss how we can plan it together.

The Wedding Team:

5 ways to use peonies for your destination wedding

Peach peony and eucalyptus bride bouquet

If you love peonies as much as I do, here is some inspiration on how to use peonies for your destination wedding in the Greek islands.

Peonies are loved by brides the world over, with pretty ruffles and large, full heads that make a perfect feature flower for any bouquet or table arrangement. Their colours range from white through to pastel pink, to burgundy and coral, making them a truly feminine bloom.

white peony, olive and lavender bouquet with peach peony and eucalyptus bouquet

Revered since ancient times, the peony gets its name from a Greek myth in which Paeon, physician to the gods,  angered his teacher Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing. When Asclepius  threatened to kill Paeon out of jealousy, Zeus saved him by changing him into the lovely flower we know today as the peony.

1. Peony bride bouquets

Peonies are delicate and romantic-looking which makes them the perfect flower choice for any destination bridal bouquet. In the warm Greek sunshine they open fully into big, ruffled flowers that look beautiful in both traditional or hand tied bouquet styles.

bride holding white peony and eucalyptus bouquet

If you are after a more traditional look, peonies are ideal for a classic posy style bouquet. Either as a bouquet of full, white or pale pink peony blooms or with accents of your favourite bloom for a more personal touch.

Light pink peony bride bouquet

For Evaggelia, we blended white peonies with lavender and marguerite daisies.

White peony, daisy and lavender bride bouquet

Mixing the peonies with other summer wedding flowers is a great way to add more scent and colour to your bouquet – as proven by Lisa’s beautiful rose and peony bouquet

Pink peony, white rose and eucalyptus bride bouquet

Adding a couple of peonies to a simple bouquet and will instantly make it romantic. Here we mixed blush pink peonies with Protea flower to Ellie’s elopement bouquet and white peonies with succulents for Nina’s beach wedding bouquet.

Bride bouquet with pink peony and proteia flower and white peony and succulent bride bouquet

Georgina choose white peony and olive bouquets for her bridesmaids at their destination wedding in Parga.

2. In the small details

Use peonies for your destination wedding as buttonholes or as equisite, natural hair decoration for the bride and bridesmaids. See more details of Ellie & Jesse’s elopment here

Pink peony buttonhole and pink peony bride hair decoration

3. Your ceremony decor

Here we added peonies in the flower decoration on our wedding ceremony arches. They look stunning against the backdrop of the blue Ionian sea – don’t you agree!

Peach peony and white rose wedding arch flowers
Fuschia pink and pale pink wedding arch flowers
Close up of pastel coloured peonies and rosesflowers on top of a wedding arch

4. On the tables

The peony’s versatility and symbolism make it a favourite choice for any centrepiece. At Jo and Richard’s intimate, vintage styled, wedding at Seaside Restaurant in Lefkada the table was dressed with mismatched china and glassware to display the pastel coloured peonies. Read more about this day on Chic & Stylish Weddings

Pastel pink and peach peony wedding flower decoration

5. As a finishing touch!

In Greece, the cakes are usually decorated with gorgeous real blooms, turning your wedding cake into a romantic floral masterpiece.

Naked style two tier wedding cakes with peony flower decoration

Wedding Planner Tip: As peonies have a large head, you don’t need as many to fill a whole bouquet. Instead to reduce costs a little, go for the natural and wild look by adding a little extra foliage in to the mix. Or consider the minimalist look, with just one or two peonies for your bouquet.

Images by: Lefteris Kalampokas, Maxeen Kim Photography & Protography

Resources: The Secret Language of Flowers Interflora

5 ways to use peonies for your destination wedding

Beach Elopement Inspiration with Lefkada Embroidery

Beach wedding arch and table on the sand decorated with white and green flowers

This Lefkada beach elopement inspiration features a floral fantasy of white hydrangeas, island greenery, and endless romance!

All that was needed to add a touch of Ionian style to this elopement shoot were some unique details. Inspired by a tablecloth embroidered with the Lefkada stitch called Karsaniko, loaned to me by Christina at Gourioti Flowers, I sourced some hand-made jewellery created from peices of the same style and set to work!

Close up of white hydranges and roses on beach wedding arch in Lefkada

The floral arch for this beach elopement inspiration was created by my florist partners, Tasos and his mother, Christina. The base was long, feather like leaves of Greek eucalyptus studded with white hydrangeas, roses and chrysanthemums. We opted for a half moon style of wedding arch, to allow the brilliant, blue Ionian sea to be our backdrop to the initmate ceremony setting.

white and green half moon ceremony arch on the sand by the sea in Lefkas
Close up of white hydrangea and eucalyptus wedding arch flowers
Elopement ceremony table on the sand at Agios Nikitas in Lefkada

A tiny pop of yellow was added to the bouquet and table centrepeice with delicate marguerite daisies.

In the bouquet, I wanted to incorporate the silvery, green leaves of Dusty Miller. If you take a walk along the coast near Agios Nikitas, you can often find this growing wild, as it likes the west coast climate.

white yellow and green bride bouquet by greek door
white and yellow daisy buttonhole and groom holding crystal dish with sand and wedding rings inside

The tablewear had a touch of gold to bring out the colour of the Lefkada embroidery on the tablecloth. Paired with crystal flutes and candlesticks and a display of crisp, sweet merringues from the patisserie.

Landscape image of beach elopement tablescape in white and gold set for two people
Lefkada embroidery tablecloth with vase of white and green flowers
Beach elopement tablescape with white and gold flatware
Crystal candlesticks and glassware on embroidered tablecloth on beach in Lefkada

Whilst you do not need all the elements of a standard stationery set for a destination elopement, you can still have pretty details, such as an announcement note and vow cards for your ceremony.

To illustrate our stationery, the geometric design of this famous stitch was copied on to pale lemon card and paired with a grey envelope.

Close up of vow card and Lefkada Karsaniko embroidery on a white tablecloth
Flatlay of beach elopement stationery on the sand
beach elopment inspiration stationery close up

The west coast of Lefkada is perfect for a destination beach elopement. I chose Agios Nikitas, a traditional village which has a smooth, paved pedestrian street winding down to the white, stone beach. You wind your way past white-washed houses with wooden shutters and gardens bursting with flowers: all adding to the romance of the setting.

Beach wedding decoration at Agios Nikitas Lefkada

Do you love this shoot’s unique take on a beach elopement? Then keep an eye on my blog for more inspiration soon!

Thank you to everyone who helped with this beach elopement inspiration at Agios Nikitas:

  • Planned and styled by Claire at Lefkas Weddings
  • Photography: Maxeen Kim Photography
  • Floral design: Gourioti Flowers
  • Sweet Treats: Patisserie Il Sapore
  • Hand-made jewelley: Paradise Gifts, Lefkada

Private Beach Wedding in Lefkada – Clare & Gary

wedding couple walking on private beach jetty

Set against a backdrop of clear blue sky and the inviting Ionian Sea, Gary & Clare’s private beach wedding in Lefkada will have you dreaming of summer days!

panoramic view of beach wedding arch with pink and lilac flowers zorbas lefkada
white chair on beach with olive bouquet attached

“We both fell in love with Lefkas and knew we wanted to marry on the beach . Claire suggested Zorbas as it had the privacy, a secluded beach and those amazing views! It was just perfect and we would not have wanted to get married anywhere else.” Bride, Clare

Illusion bodice of wedding dress hangin against a gold ornate mirror
Glass perfume bottle with peach colour liquid next to gypsophila bouquet
bride and bridesmaids sat on bed in dressing gowns drinking champagne
bride finishing getting ready by putting in her earring
black and white image of fastending of bride's dress before wedding

Clare fell in love with her Sophia Tolli dress with illusion neckline and lace embellishments as soon as she took it off the rail.  It was light and romantic, perfect for a their destination wedding in Greece. “As soon as I put it on I couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle and see Gary’s face!”

bride and four bridesmaids in lilac dresses all holding gypsophila bouquets
black and white image of father seeing daughter dressed as bride for first time
bride and father sat on bed holding babys breath bouquet
bride and father walking along jetty to marriage ceremony
groom with excited look on face standing with ushers in front of flower arch on the beach
panoramic view down aisle of beach wedding ceremony with floral arch
bride and groom with hands clasped during marriage ceremony
confetti shot at private beach wedding lefkada

Let’s talk about those lovely lilac florals!

“We loved the natural beach location of the restaurant and we wanted our flowers to match with the bridesmaid dresses. We choose dusky pink and lilac colours and left the rest of the design to Claire and the florist. They were absolutely gorgeous and were definitely our favourite wedding venue decorations!”

I was delighted to get an update from Clare a few months after the wedding, that her mum had planted a section in her garden with the wedding flower colours. Every time she looks out of the window it reminds her of their wedding day in Lefkada.

pink hydrangea and lilac rose beach wedding flowers

For the bouquets Clare chose gypsophilia and we clustered each cloud of white flowers with olive greenery. Gypsophilia is derived from two greek words gypsos + philios with philios meaning loving; a perfect flower choice for a Greek island wedding!

bride and groom with ushers and bridesmaids in lilac dresses group shot at private beach wedding in lefkada greece
babys breath bride bouquet and groom buttonhole

Zorbas Restaurant served a dinner full of Gary and Clare’s favourite Greek meze dishes including a delicious dish of Feta wrapped in filo pastry drizzled with Lefkada honey and sesame seeds. Lashings of tzatziki and big bowls of salad accompanied platters of fresh local seafood and grilled meats all seasoned with local oregano.

wedding centre peice vase with lilace roses and alstroemeria
wedding napkin tied with olive sprig and ouzo miniature favour

Enjoy every moment of planning your wedding day. It truly was the best day of both our lives and we will forever treasure the memories of our wonderful day!

groom kissing brides forehead

All that was left to do was enjoy the first dance, to a glittering backdrop of firework fountains and well wishes of their guests in the warm summer air.

wedding first dance couple lit by fireworks in background
bride and grrom standing side by side on jetty by sea smiling at camera

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

If you are dreaming of your own private 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 it has been featured on Want That Wedding blog.

Olive and Gold Wedding in Meganisi – Jack & Hannah

aerial view of terrace overlooking the sea set for wedding ceremony

Jack and Hannah wanted a stylish rustic destination wedding in Meganisi; the tiny Greek island of Meganisi that stole their hearts. They choose the island’s breathtaking viewpoint as the place to exchange vows, before cruising the coastline to a Greek bistro venue set in the village square, surrounded by plane trees and hung with fairytale string lights.

bride and groom holding hands at ceremony in Meganisi
green and gold table decoration

We join our couple at the start of their wedding day story with a relaxing morning and the excitement of bride preparations at villas Melina & Christina overlooking a secluded cove in the north of Meganisi by luxury specialist The Thinking Traveller. ‘As we were having a holiday and a wedding, we rented two gorgeous villas on the top of a hill that had views of the sea for miles.‘

view of olive tree landscape over two bays
bride details jo malone perfume and white sandals with silver detail
close up of bodice of bridal gown lying on bed

The ceremony took place in Spartohori village at the viewpoint known locally as ‘The Stefani’, which means crown in Greek because of its shape. The view is simply spectacular and it has become one of my most favourite ceremony locations in the Lefkada area.

bust on marble base in paved square overlooking the sea Meganisi
olive and gold wedding ceremony details picture frames
white chairs with olive and gold details in Spartohori Meganisi

The olive and gold decor mood for their wedding in Meganisi was inspired by Hannah’s love of green foliage as the main decoration, as it felt natural, understated but stylishly rustic. Being in Greece, we used olive mixed with ruscus and the long leafy strands of willow. The bride added hints of gold to the ceremony decor with photo frames filled with little messages.

We really liked the idea of a boat cruise in between the ceremony and reception. It fit perfectly with when our ceremony finished, and the walk down to the port was so pretty through the trees. The whole boat cruise really was a highlight of the day and all guests loved it!

If you are looking for a stylish wedding experience with an authentic Greek island feel, then Mika’s bistro in Meganisi has lots of charm. Set in the village square in Vathy harbour, its modern wooden decor is an excellent backdrop for adding some fantastic, floral touches and was ideal for their 40 guests. My florist team hung hoops of greenery from the roof amidst the rows of string lights. A mix of white roses, lisianthus, alstroemeria and tiny limonium decorated garlands and vases on the table with candles for soft romantic mood in the evening.

Gold picture frames with wedding table stationery with olive detail

‘It was a cute little taverna in the village square with a pergola and string lights that looked really magical, however by the time it had been decorated it was breathtaking. I remember walking around the corner and being blown away by the transformation; it was the perfect mix between formal wedding and still keeping the spirit of a traditional Greek taverna.‘

From Hannah and Jack ‘We had been on holiday to Meganisi a few years before and fell in love with the scenery and laid back way of life. We found Claire from Lefkas Weddings and really could not have had the amazing wedding we had without her. She knew all the little hidden gems and had the best contacts!

If you’re getting married abroad, I can’t recommend enough getting a wedding planner, they have all the best contacts and know what will and won’t work within your budget. They speak the language and take the stress away on the day so you can focus on enjoying your big day without having to sweat the little bits. Maxeen was by far my favourite photographer, as everything looked natural and not overly staged. She was over my original budget but I’m so glad we splurged on her as photos are the only thing you have to remember the day.’

Is a destination wedding in on a pretty Greek island something you have been dreaming about but not sure where to start? Contact me to discuss how we can plan your day together.

Meganisi is located in the Ionian Islands, Greece. It has three villages and numerous little beaches and coves for lazy days in the sun and evenings of great Greek food. It is a short 20 minute ferry ride from Lefkada or a quick hop in a speedboat! Lefkas Weddings works together with Rebecca at Exclusive Meganisi office to provide you and your wedding guests with full assistance on the island including villa accommodation, airport transfers and car and boat rentals.

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