As we’re wedding photographers based in the Greek Islands, working on destination weddings allows us to see our home with fresh new eyes. The excitement of our couples and their enchantment with Greece always inspires us greatly! Working with Vicky and Nikolay on their wedding day in Crete was an absolute treat. The Canadian couple’s wedding was held in Rethymno. Packed with lovely intimate details it was held at two of our favorite locations in town.
The church of Agios Spiridonas sits atop a rocky outcropping just under the famous Fortezza of Rethymno. With stunning views to the west, the location was a shoe in for Vicky & Nikolay’s Greek Orthodox wedding. But before we get into the details of the wedding ceremony and all the magical charms associated with a Greek wedding – let’s take a trip into Rethymno for the bride & groom’s wedding preparation session!
Located in the heart of Rethymno’s enchanting old town is Pepi Studios. An intimate hotel with classically Mediterranean architecture perfect for capturing the essence of Crete. The cozy environment of the location was perfect for prewedding photographs. Bringing an ethereal quality to the photos, and giving them a delicate vibe and elegance we felt suited the couple, we capitalized on the generous warm light that filled the courtyard and the many rich details of the couple’s wedding dayattire.
After the preparations were complete, the bride, gorgeously attired in Casablanca dress and Jimmy Choo shoes, was whisked away to the church.
Aerostato and Oneiranthi, both Rethymno based, teamed up to create the elegant look of the wedding, Aerostato on décor and Onerianthi on flowers.
The walk up to Agios Spiridonas in Rethymno can be described as rewarding (that view!), challenging (stairs) or exhilarating (walking down the aisle!) many of the same words can be used to describe marriage itself. Beaming from ear to ear, the bride along with her family and a host of children climbed the steps to the altar where Nikolay was awaiting his bride.
As for the wedding ceremony photographs, the lighting couldn’t have been more perfect to throw an elegant happy vibe across all images. Higher contrast and warm vibrant tones gave the photographs a unique quality suited for the newlyweds!
The couple were married in a traditional Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony complete with lampades (candles), stefana (traditional marriage headpieces) and rice throwing.
Immediately following the wedding ceremony, we were able to take the dreamy couple’s wedding day portraits.
Set amid the neutral stone and deep rich green flora of the Cretan landscape, the combination of bridal attire contrasted against nature’s backdrop is salient. The formality of the former and the wildness of the latter is always an interesting element in our approach to wedding photography and intimate portraits.
Following the ceremony guests gathered at Rethymno’s Almira, a restaurant that sits in front of the dazzling Aegean water, and dined al fresco under the magical Cretan sky.
The event’s minimal styling perfectly captured the organic vibe that the Greek Islands are famous for. The couple’s grand entrance was met with cheers and applause and the ceremonial cake cut ensued and after the speeches, toasts and bouquet toss guests celebrated long into the night.
At its core wedding photography is candid and joyful. Capturing the energy of the event in a single image – or a series of images – brings a sense of life to an otherwise stationary subject and gives us a special memory to relive for years to come!
