I am in the middle of planning my destination wedding. (Ten weeks left!) It’s lovely to hear about a bride who has achieved her destination wedding goals despite the “medium” stress level. Bride Jade enjoyed being her planner, despite occasional pressure, for her rustic and romantic olive grove wedding.
The old monastery is decorated with abundant white blooms and baby’s breath (making a return!) The old-world sanctuary was decorated with rows of beautiful olive trees. It was the perfect backdrop for a sunset photo session with Karina Lenenko. The couple had even planted an olive tree to celebrate their marriage.
Even though she was planning from afar, Jade still pulled out all the stops. The wedding included everything from a floral cake to a string quartet and video tributes. It also featured local wine favors as well as Pinterest touches. We’d love to have seen those planning spreadsheets!
Our Love Story
We met when we were eleven and just beginning secondary school. We dated for a year, starting at age eleven, and then broke up when we were thirteen. We bumped into one another at a friend’s house after school ended. Since then, we’ve been inseparable. We’ve been together for eleven years and have practically grown up with each other.
The Destination
The moment we arrived, we fell in love with Minthis Hills. We were happy with the balance between the new clubhouse, where we sat to eat, and the beautiful old monastery where we had our wedding. We loved the quiet, peaceful atmosphere and how private it felt.
It is rare to find green grass in Cyprus due to the heat. The golf course was an excellent backdrop for our guests, us, and the photos. Before dinner, our guests enjoyed drinks and small canapes while watching the sunset.
Dress & Attire
The bridesmaid dresses were a risky decision. I chose ivory, which was the same color as my gown. I’m so happy I stuck to my decision. My dress and bridesmaids’ dresses complemented one another in all our pictures. And my bridesmaids were stunning!
My mum helped me choose the dress. I was indecisive about my dress choice, as I always pictured myself wearing a fishtail dress. I am now so glad I made the right decision. The dress was perfect for me.
The Flowers
Annivia created our flowers precisely as I had imagined. We made a floral arbor at the monastery, which was then brought to the clubhouse and placed on the table for dinner. She then added orchids hanging over the edge.
Favorite moments
While the string quartet was playing, I cried as I walked down the aisle. I never thought I’d call while walking down the aisle.
Our best man played ‘Mr. and Mrs.’ with us, and we laughed a lot.
Matt, my husband, put together a 3-minute video of our family and friends lip-syncing and dancing to Ed Sheeran’s “Shape Of You” as a surprise during his speech. It was brilliant.
Our first dance together as husband and spouse was a great experience on the lawn of Minthis Hills, with our entire family watching from the balcony. We had six firework fountains around us, but no one knew. It was a wonderful surprise for everyone.
The Photographer
I emailed my photographer, Karina, and followed up with a telephone call. When we began talking, I knew I wanted her there for Matt and me on our big day. She was friendly and helpful, and I was happy to meet someone I could trust. When you marry abroad, you’ll have to charge many people you might not have met before the wedding day. It is essential to be confident in your choice.
Andrew Britton, from Limelight Films, and his wife Finola are probably the first people Matt and I hired. Their work was terrific, and we loved their style and feeling. I would sit at home and watch all the weddings, wondering how ours would look. I could not have been happier with our video. It was the final piece to the puzzle. Andrew and Finola had everything. The speech! The speech!
Details & Decor
I wanted to create a fresh, dreamy feel for my wedding. So, I chose an ivory and golden palette. Our wedding flowers included hydrangeas in cream, roses, and gypsophila.
The small details, like the welcome table and tables, were my favorite. After getting engaged, I saw these adorable little name cards with white frames in my first Pinterest search. I bought 110 from an online shop to give as gifts to my guests. It was a lovely souvenir.
We attached an ivory ribbon and a gold straw to the bottle with a glue gun.
Planning
I did not hire a wedding coordinator in Cyprus and thoroughly enjoyed planning my wedding myself. It was sometimes stressful to ensure I gave all vendors the necessary information and that everything worked together, but I managed!
Natalie Biryukova was at our venue, Minthis Hills. Natalie was there all day to ensure everything went smoothly and our guests were happy! Natalie was there for me any time, day or night! I gave Natalie my vision for the clubhouse, including all the decor. When we arrived after the Matt, we were amazed at its beauty!
Couples Advice
I love getting ideas from Pinterest.
You can have the video for all time to watch and show your children. I was shocked at how much I missed on the day. It’s a blur because you are having so much fun.
Honeymoon
Just got back from Santorini. Canaves Oia was right at the edge of a cliff with amazing views. It was perfect for honeymooners. It was a magical experience to watch the sunsets every night.
