Daisy & Peter
In this time of COVID-19 and the uncertainty that accompanies our “new normal”, many couples have found themselves in uncharted waters. Do they postpone their wedding abroad, cancel it altogether or simply wait and see?
Daisy and Peter’s incredibly brave decision to hold fast, paid off…. their romantic wedding abroad in Crete which took place in August 2020 was truly stunning. We know you will be inspired by their real wedding story and their beautiful photographs captured by Graham Hodgetts.
Keep the faith. Due to COVID-19, there were so many times we felt it wasn’t going to happen and we were so close to postponing. But our planners (who are the experts) kept us going and because of that we stuck it out. We desperately wanted to get married this year so I’m so glad we didn’t change our plans.
From: UK
Nearest Airport: Heraklion or Chania
Number of Guests: 46
Why a Wedding Abroad in Crete…
I’m half Greek so always wanted to get married there!
Why you choose your Location…
We fell in love with the venue, Agreco Farms. It was like everything I’d ever dreamed of so as soon as I saw it, it was a done deal. It’s traditional organic farm situated amongst olive groves and vineyards, which exudes rustic charm. Set high in the hills it offers breathtaking views over the Cretan countryside.
Vision for your Wedding Abroad in Greece…
We wanted it to be very chilled, relaxed, fun and romantic. We didn’t want anything to seem too contrived. Above all really we just wanted to celebrate our love story.
Planning your Wedding Abroad in Crete…
We used a planner called Unique Wedding Concept. I spent hours searching for the perfect one but UWC had been the first to respond and they were just amazing from the get go so it felt right. I would 10000% recommend using a planner so that they can speak with suppliers for you. The amount of stress they took on for us was amazing.
Advantages of having a Wedding Abroad…
Unlike in the UK where there are restrictions due to COVID-19, we were able to get married and have 46 guests attend. Also, the warmth and sunshine. Everyone that came made it into a holiday and it was so lovely to spend time with people before and after the wedding whilst on holiday.
Challenges of having a Wedding Abroad during COVID-19…
The challenges would have been small had there not been a global pandemic but to name a few:
- Documentation – the registry offices in the UK opened much later than expected meaning we had barely any time to get it all signed off and translated. We made it JUST in time!
- Attendees – unfortunately, there were lots of people that couldn’t travel either because they were high risk/vulnerable to the virus or couldn’t risk the potential quarantine. Not having some close friends and family was really hard.
- COVID-19 travel restrictions made me worry CONSTANTLY.
- Not being in control – I’m a control freak so delegating to the planners was quite challenging!
- Coordinating everyone – we left people to organise their own flights and accommodation but I still offered to help coordinate aspects for people. Doing that for over 30 people is quite tricky.
To find out more about how COVID-19 impacted their wedding planning pop over to the Q & A session with Daisy here.
Wedding Ceremony…
We had a civil ceremony. Closer to the wedding day we were told that we could have a friend translate the Greek part. That was so amazing because it was actually our best friend that married us in the end. Our venue opened to guests at 4pm, ceremony started at 4.30pm and then ended at 5pm. It flew by! We wrote our own vows and had two readings.
Wedding Reception…
Both our ceremony and reception were held at Agreco Farms, a farm in the Rethymno hills. We hadn’t visited the venue before the trip but from photos and reviews we knew it would be perfect. I would 1000% recommend to other people. The food, location and service was second to none.
On the Day…
4pm venue open for guests, 4.30pm ceremony start, 5pm ceremony ends, 5-6pm cocktail hour (we had wine beer and raki), 6.15pm dinner served, 9pm cake and first dance, then disco until 12am. It had to finish earlier because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Standout Moments…
The speeches were incredible and partying with everyone we loved was just the best thing ever. Of course, marrying my best friend was standout!
We had a cheesecake shipped from Athens (which was a third of the price of wedding cakes in Crete) because that’s my husbands favourite dessert. It was amazing. My mum walked me down the aisle and did a speech (against tradition) and I wouldn’t have changed that for the world.
Wedding Attire…
I wore a Madi Lane dress named Elora and Peter wore a Hugo Boss suit that was thin material (to help with the heat). We transported our wedding attire in our suitcases!
Bridal Party…
They wore their own thing as we wanted it to be higgledipiggledy.
Extra Celebrations…
We had a pool party at our villa two days before the wedding and then the day before went for lunch/dinner with both sides of the family. Two days after the wedding we had a beach day.
We would love to have some drinks in the UK but with everything going on it seems unlikely.
Advice for Couples Planning a Wedding in Crete…
Never doubt your decision and just enjoy your special day!
Planning a Wedding Abroad and COVID-19 Q&A…
To find out more about how COVID-19 impacted Daisy and Peter’s wedding and the compromises and changes they had to make to their day, pop over to the Q & A session with Daisy here.
A very big thank you to Daisy for sharing her wedding story and beautiful images with us, we wish you and Peter a lifetime of happiness. If you would like to ask Daisy any questions about planning her wedding abroad in Crete, you can contact her through the Weddings Abroad Guide Community Facebook Group.
The Perfect Partners
Wedding planner: Unique Wedding Concepts // Wedding Photographer: Graham Hodgetts // Wedding Videographer: DG Films // Ceremony & Reception Venue: Agreco Farms, Crete // Wedding DJ: Mike Vekris DJ // Flowers: Manfler // Wedding Stationery: Manousenia // Hair & Makeup: Michalis Tsotras // Brides Dress: Madi Lane Elora // Grooms Attire: Hugo Boss
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