THE WONDERS OF GREECE
by Judy Allen
Greece, a land steeped in history, archeological wonders and wrapped in romantic mythology, Greek Gods and Goddesses of Love such as Hera the Greek Goddess of Love and Marriage and Aphrodite the Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty is a fabulous choice for a destination wedding or honeymoon.
Athens
No trip to Greece is complete without stopping in Athens pre or post visiting the Greek Isles. The Hotel Grande Bretagne is located in the very center of Athens, which is ideal for sightseeing, shopping and dining. At night celebrate your upcoming nuptials in a traditional “bouzoukia” where there is live Greek music, plate-smashing, flower-throwing and dancing till the early morning hours or a romantic dinner in the Plaka, a charming historical neighborhood which is situated right under the Acropolis.
Should you choose to get married in Athens, civil weddings can only be performed in the Registry Offices / Municipality offices (Special Note: there is a 8-day waiting for the wedding license to be provided). The St. Dennis Cathedral in Athens for Christian Catholic ceremonies and the Metropolis Cathedral of Athens for the Christian Orthodox weddings.
One venue option for wedding receptions for civil, Christian Catholic and Christian Orthodox weddings can be held at the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Grande Bretagne. Their Events department, working with a decorator, can transform the ballroom into your dream fantasy. Your wedding guests can dine on a menu featuring gourmet or traditional Greek specialities that could include starting with a selection of dolmas followed by roast rack of lamb or Mediterranean seafood specialties such as a composition of sea bass and shrimps with a Cabernet Sauvignon butter served with gratinated potatoes and vegetable pearls, wedding cake and an array of Greek desserts that will be sure to delight. Limousines, horse and carriages or rented luxury cars can transfer couples to and fro wedding ceremony, wedding photographs (the Archaeological sites in Greece such as the Parthenon on the Acropolis as well as St George’s church on Lycabetus Hill with view the whole of Athens offer wonderful wedding photograph opportunities as does the temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounio -- which is by the sea -- during sunset) and reception sites. There are also an abundance of alternative wedding reception sites available in Athens. They range from theme parks to clubs, taking over traditional restaurants to beach parties.
For a romantic day you may want to consider adding a private VIP tour with a limo and drive to cape Sounio, then visit the Grande Bretagne Spa for a “Couple Suite” treatment and have a dinner a the rooftop Grande Bretagne Roof Garden Restaurant with view to Acropolis to your registry. Seeing the Parthenon lit up at night is an enchanting sight you both will long remember.
Crete
You can begin to experience the magic of Crete with a private helicopter transfer from Athens to the Blue Palace Resort & Spa . Your helicopter would land at the private helipad of Blue Palace Resort & Spa at the upper level of the hotel with stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Spinalonga Island and a club car will pick you up and privately transfer you to their room. Or alternatively, you can fly from Athens Airport via airplane and land on Crete at Heraklion Airport and be transferred to your hotel via private limousine.
A romantic pre or post wedding dinner for two can be arranged for couples on a caique (a traditional Greek wooden boat) that has been decorated for your private sail. You will be picked up from the hotel jetty and set out for Spinalonga Island with its medieval fortress and Mirabello Gulf under a starlit sky while enjoying a glass of French champagne.
For larger wedding rehearsal dinners couples can reserve the Blue Door exclusively. The Blue Door is the Blue Palace’s traditional taverna that is set at the water's edge of their private beach. A Greek style dinner and live traditional music can follow cocktails. Traditional Greek dancing lessons can also be arranged so that your wedding guests are ready to dance the night away at your wedding reception. Other special events and lunch options that can be arranged for your wedding guests include a private beach parties with live music or a DJ playing international and traditional tunes, a cocktail party on board or a fishing trip with our traditional wooden boats combined with a BBQ lunch on a deserted island opposite the hotel. Fun custom invitations along with "amigdalota" (baked almond paste) or an ornament that represents Crete such as a small bottle of Cretan olive oil or "raki", their traditional spirit can be delivered to each guestroom.
Romantic civil weddings can be arranged to take place at the Blue Palace Resort & Spa. The resort has many picturesque locations to choose from. Couples can be married in their outside chapel, by the hotel beach under the palm trees, on the Arsenali patio with spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Spinalonga Island or at the Blue Door, the traditional taverna situated right at the water's edge.
Wedding receptions can be held at L'Orangerie, their awarded Mediterranean gourmet restaurant that offers the perfect setting for a romantic dinner complete with soft lighting, terracotta color setting and amazing views; The Blue Door for those who are inspired by the white and blue of the Aegean Sea and wish to experience typical Greek food and have more intimacy; for larger parties, a Greek Theme wedding dinner with traditional dancers and folklore show at Isola Grill, their poolside restaurant would be ideal as would a lavish buffet set up next to the beach under the palm trees and the starlit sky or a unique dinner on Kolokitha island with their chefs offering the guests a selection of delicious dishes in a fairy-tale surroundings.
Couples wishing to have a Greek Orthodox wedding (Christian ceremony) can be married in the Blue Palace’s private St. Titos chapel next to the beach in a very romantic setting; St. Panteleimon church on Spinalonga Island opposite the hotel where the landscape take you back to Venetian times with fortresses and warriors; St. Fokas church on Kolokitha Island, a deserted island next to Spinalonga, where the couple and the guests will have their absolute privacy in a very picturesque setting. For couples looking at holding their wedding in the island setting, the transportation to the island can be done with caiques that have been specially decorated with flowers and candles and that will pick up the guests directly from the hotel jetty.
Traditional live musicians (laouto and lira players (Cretan instruments)) singing Cretan songs could escort the bride to the church and continue playing while the guests congratulate the couple for their new life. During the ceremony the priest will offer to the couple a sip of blessed red wine symbol of the Christ's blood and walnuts with honey "melokarido", which for the Cretans symbolize the sweetness in the couple's life, the strong bonding and the fertility. After the ceremony walnuts and the honey will be offered to the guests along with sugared almonds from which they are supposed to take two (symbol for the married couple) and it is a custom for the single women to put one of them under their pillow the night of the wedding so they can dream the man they will marry. Impressive flower arrangements and colorful candles along the aisle where the bride and groom will walk through can be arranged at the wedding ceremony site as well as the wedding reception location. During the wedding event, the men of the party could wear around their head a "sariki" which is a part of the Cretan costume and all men used to wear during traditional wedding at the villages.
Couples can choose from a variety of menus offering such delicacies as lobster, Greek mezes, Greek meat or fish with local specialties such as roast lamb with potatoes or cabbage leaves and tomatoes stuffed with rice, served or set up in a buffet style. "Raki", a local spirit made from grapes, for which Crete is well known, can be served. After the wedding ceremony it is the Greek custom to offer "amigdalota" (baked almond paste) and at the wedding dinner "xerotigana" (fried paste with fresh thyme honey) can be served along with wedding cake. A custom fireworks show can be arranged and is a spectacular wedding reception finale.
Special honeymoon night service can be arranged for couples staying at the Blue Palace Resort & Spa. The special honeymoon night service includes romantic touches such as having special flower, candies or chocolates custom displays arranged on the bed and creating a dreamy candlelit ambience in the room.
Mykonos
Mykonos. Imagine …. picturesque narrow streets, white Myconian houses, impressive villas outside the town, cruise boats and luxury yachts, a cosmopolitan atmosphere, great boutiques, exclusive jewelry shops, elite restaurants in the town and waterfront restaurants on the beaches.
In Mykonos the legal marriage takes place at the town hall. After couples sign the marriage papers a blessing that resembles to the wedding can take place with a local priest.
For a special night out or wedding reception couples may want to consider little Venice. Little Venice is located close to the windmills and it is very romantic setting from which to see the sunset. A famous seafood restaurant "sea satin” has been used as a wedding reception venue. Another popular location is the Nammos restaurant at Psarou beach. Delos Island is another favorite site. Delos is an archeological site where you will find the Egyptian temple of Osiris and a Greek temple.
For smaller wedding receptions, couples staying at Santa Marina Resort & Villas can charter their small yacht (holds 8) and cruise around the island. The yacht is also perfect for a romantic relaxing day after the wedding. Couples can arrange -- as a registry suggestion -- for a private day trip around Mykonos with a visit to Delos.
In all Greek locations a live web-cast can be arranged so that family members and friends back home can share your wedding day (there is a fee and arrangements have to be made in advance for the correct licenses).
| 
