This earthy Greek wedding felt like it was on its own private island
Stacey and Sam met at a friendly polo game, and it wasn't long after that Sam proposed in a stunningly unique sunflower field where they had had one of their first few dates. They chose to host a destination wedding in Greece because they both loved the country's history and beauty. And it's easy to see why this location was so appealing to them, with it's gorgeous ocean views and incredible outdoor spaces.
Keep scrolling to see photography by Despina Kouloglou of this incredible wedding day at Akrotiri Venue, featuring planning and design by Exclusive Wedding Tales, florals by Noufaro Flowers, and fireworks courtesy of XXX. You can check out even more by clicking here to see the full gallery of photos, also linked at the bottom of this page!
Exclusive Wedding Tales helped this couple navigate destination wedding planning
From the moment Stacey and Sam connected with Exclusive Wedding Tales, they knew that they had met a vendor who understood them and what they wanted for their special day. They truly wanted their own "Mamma Mia moment" surrounded by water, nature, good food, good drinks, and their favorite people. Exclusive Wedding Tales curated Pinterest boards and designs that completely nailed what Stacey and Sam were looking for!
The earthy and ethereal color palette created a private island vibe
The wedding ceremony, reception, and party all took place at a venue overlooking the ocean, making the entire feel as though it was taking place on a private island. The couple wanted to keep their wedding tones earthy and elegant, opting for a unique color palette that also combined all kinds of textures through the decor. They incorporated colors such as: terracotta, sage, light peach, blush, and some pops of gold and copper accents. The vibe was bohemian, earthy, and ethereal.
Floral accessories added an extra element of interest to the wedding party attire
Stacey wore a wedding dress designed by Essence of Australia, purchased at Pearl Bridal Boutique in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and altered by Bankiewicz Originals. One of the things she loved most about it were the detachable flutter sleeves! Her maid of honor (her sister!) and the groom's best woman (also his sister!) chose their own dresses within the framework of their wedding colors, while the bridesmaids wore dusty pink bridesmaid dresses. Sam's close friends, father, and future father-in-law all wore floral ties or bow ties, while the groom wore a custom Indochino suit in navy blue with a peach lining. Stacey gifted Sam a set of custom leather suspenders, and his floral bow tie came from the Belfast Bow Company's Etsy shop!
The ceremony was personalized with a poem and classical versions of modern songs
It was important to Stacey and Sam that their ceremony be deeply personal to them. Because of this, they had their dear friend Katie officiate the ceremony, which included a ring warming where the couple's family and friends could hold the rings and share a prayer, wish, piece of advice, or memory with the couple, and then pass the ring along. As part of the ceremony, a poem by Khalol Gibran was read aloud in both Arabic and English by the groom's father and the couple's friend. The poem highlighted the importance of allowing each other the space to grow in a relationship without overshadowing one another. They also incorporated violin versions of modern songs into both the ceremony and cocktail hour.
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As a nod to their engagement, they included sunflower cores in the bridal bouquet
The floral design team with Noufaro Flowers - Kalamata created the most beautiful flower arrangements using: dusty pink carnations, cappuccino roses, red button roses, chrysanthemum pom pom reds, orange chrysanthemums, alpine sunset roses, sweet avalanche roses, colorfu baby's breath, pampas grasses, lagurus ovatus, orchids, amaranthus reds, red platanus, white hydrangeas, and silver dollar eucalyptus. To fit the color scheme, they were also able to incorporate just the cores from sunflowers as a nod to the bride and groom's engagement story. The bride added a long ribbon to her bouquet and carried her late grandfather's handkerchief with her as her "something old."
A citrus-inspired wedding cake symbolized a "fresh start" for the couple on their wedding day
For the reception, Zazoo Event Rentals and White Lilac Rentals provided chairs, tables, place settings, and more! The couple added their own special touches, including signature drinks and napkins with metallic etchings of their dogs. Archontissa Catering provided a local Greek-inspired buffet that provided guests plenty of options and included multiple plant-based dishes. To ensure each guest knew exactly what was offered at the buffet, the couple designed a menu to be placed at each place-setting. Athanasiou Pastry Shop created and decorated the couple's wedding cake using flowers courtesy of Noufaro Flowers. The bride and groom wanted a citrus cake to symbolize a fresh start and good luck for their marriage. Athanasiou Pastry Shop created one of the most delicious lemon cakes for this occasion! In addition to the cake, the couple also had an ice cream station and additional dessert options.
- Event Planning & Design: Exclusive Wedding Tales
- Wedding Photographer: Despina Kouloglou
- Venue: Akrotiri Venue
- Florals: Noufaro Flowers
- Makeup Artist: Makeup by Artemis
- Pre-Wedding Cocktails: Bully Bar
- Fireworks: Big Bang Events
- Rentals: Zazoo Event Rentals
- Rentals: White Lilac Rentals
- DJ: Petros Giakoumis
- Wedding Favors: Althaea Organics
- Wedding Cake: Athanasiou
- Violin: Thanasis Mourlas
- Hair Stylist: Kommotirio Eirini