Chic Greek Orthodox Estate Wedding In Crete Ellie & Alex
Big Day of Ellie and Alex was definitely the most glamorous event of the year!
The two-days celebration started off with a pre-wedding dinner party in the best traditions of Cretan festivities – “panigiri”-style. It took place at a rustic Cretan winery that provided relaxed atmosphere in a small valley hidden behind White Mountains of Crete. To introduce their guests, who flew from all over the world, to the fascinating local culture, this pre-wedding incorporated several traditional elements local food served buffet-style, excellent Cretan wine produced on the spot, the band that played live Greek music throughout the night and, of course, Cretan dancers who didn’t leave anyone sitting still!
The day of the wedding, in contrast, was all about minimal elegance. When looking for that perfect venue, the team of Crete For Love was searching for a space that would be recreated with a dazzling lighting installation, just the way the couple envisioned it. A stunning historical estate with vast gardens and dramatic view of White Cretan Mountains set a perfect scenery for the church marriage and long-night reception and party.
To boost the vast fields of the estate, our team went for heaps of lavish greenery implemented in the decor of both ceremony and reception space: adding homogeneity and making the wedding blend into the organic environment of the venue. The trendy pampas arch added a touch of soft minimalistic boho to the scenery, meaningfully symbolising the circle of life. The true spotlight of Ellie & Alex Day’s decoration was the bride & groom table, embellished with a ravishing floral curtain, made of hydrangea, orchids, roses and eucalyptus handcrafted on the spot.
Embracing the local culture, of course the Cretan donkey moment couldn’t have been missed! The grande entrance of the stunning bride riding the donkey, accompanied by her father, cute flower girls and Cretan musicians. The ceremony of Ellie & Alex at a historical chapel followed the traditional rituals of a typical Greek Orthodox wedding with “stefana” crowns, priest blessings and rice throwing. The moment of wedding recessional with heaps of rose petals up in the air and the epic kiss of the newlyweds was pure magic!
As the bride & groom were capturing the moment with their photographer, the guests were pampered with butlered cocktails and snacks at the tones of live music that took up a jazzy swing.
The wedding reception in the space, surrounded by the theatrical set up of dazzling lights installation was indisputably breathtaking! While the open bar served cocktails from early evening and far into the night, the surf-n-turf menu of the wedding dinner was eclectic and freshly made on the spot. Little to say, grilled octopus was out of this world!
The estate wedding of Ellie & Alex was a beautiful event, where the chic elegance and Cretan tradition found each other in a harmonious blend!
