Ellie & Nick

This is such a lovely wedding to end the week on - especially given that we had such a positive response to our posts on ignoring wedding trends on Monday. Ellie and Nick certainly didn't adhere to any trends. They didn't have a day filled with decor and DIY, they had a day filled with family and love. They did the traditions that were important to them. Ellie wore a high street dress (and looked beautiful). And everyone had an absolutely lovely time. Also after a bitterly cold week here in the UK, it will provide you with a very welcome warm moment - those Greek skies are just so blue. I'm dreaming of basking in that sunlight. Only three months left 'til Spring! Happy Friday everyone :)

The Bride

Ellie’s hair was done by Nikitas Astroulakis in his salon. Her dress was from Debenhams and her shoes were Carvela (Kurt Geiger). Ellie chose her dress as it was simple, elegant, and would flow nicely in the island breeze. Ellie wore her great grandmother’s pearl necklace, and the pearl earrings that her mum Tess wore on her wedding day.

The Groom

Nick wore a charcoal grey suit from The Italian Suit Co. in London with a white shirt and purple tie.

The Venue

We got married on the remote island of Astypalaia in Greece, not far from Santorini. Ellie’s Aunt Laurel Petronolis lives there with her husband Michaelis and her cousins Virginia and Kristina. We had always envisaged a small ceremony on the island with them, with the ceremony conducted in the Byzantine castle overlooking the main town of the island (Agios Georgios church). We went down the hill and back to The Tholaria for our reception.

The Decor

The colour scheme was determined by the local Greek colours of white and blue, with splashes of red/purple due to the Alstromeria and Orchid flowers used for the bouquet and buttonholes. The Alstromeria and Orchid flowers used for the bouquet and buttonholes were provided by Iris florists in Chora, Astypalaia.

The Ceremony

Everyone left for the castle by car, with lots of beeping on the way (as is traditional!) We ascended on foot through the town up to the castle. Lots of people came out of their houses and restaurants to greet us and wish us well, which was lovely. We had traditional Astypalaian music played as we walked up, by Nikitas Astroulakis on the violin (also Ellie’s hairdresser), and Michaelis Mariakis on the bazuki (the manager of the Tholaria hotel). We arrived at Agios Georgios church in the castle ruins and the mayor conducted the ceremony in Greek, translated into English by Laurel. After the legal ceremony, we exchanged our own vows. It was highly emotional, and many tears were shed by all. Ellie’s uncle John (a Catholic priest) then gave a short Catholic blessing at the end. Rice was thrown at us after the ceremony (also traditional).

The Reception

We had traditional Astypalaian music played as we walked up, by Nikitas Astroulakis on the violin (also Ellie’s hairdresser), and Michaelis Mariakis on the bazuki (the manager of the Tholaria hotel). We had a special surprise performance of traditional Greek dancing and continued to dance the night away next to the pool with the beautiful view of the castle in the distance.

The Food

We then had champagne, savoury nibbles and beautiful ornate biscuits decorated by Maria Mariakis. The beautiful cake was made by Maria at the Tholaria, and the wonderful food by aunt Laurel, Michaelis, Virginia and Kristina. We had roast goat, and wonderful homemade salads, houmous and dips.