We absolutely adore weddings in Crete, but when it comes to a rustic chic celebration filled with the most beautiful and natural details, this one takes inspiration to a whole new level. With wedding planner Maria Ghika thoughtfully curating every element of this destination wedding, Aristea and Marios’ day in Chania was a true celebration of authenticity and Mediterranean beauty. The rustic wedding décor, rich with earthy tones and Mediterranean touches, set in an open-air venue surrounded by olive trees and wooden tables, created a setting that perfectly blended the charm of Cretan tradition with modern simplicity. «The decoration of our wedding was inspired by the simplicity and natural beauty of Crete, where the ceremony also took place. We wanted to honor the place and its authentic charm, so we chose a rustic style with strong Mediterranean elements, such as linen fabrics, natural wood, olive branches and wildflowers…» Aristea shared with us and as you will see, every single detail, from the floral arrangements with chamomile and ranunculus to the clay tableware, woven baskets and traditional treats radiated natural elegance and warmth. The bride’s look was perfectly completed with soft makeup and a stunning hairstyle by Argyro Bridal Make Up & Hairstyle in Crete, highlighting her natural beauty. This wedding invites you to get lost in the romantic and genuine atmosphere of Crete!
Captured by Christos Mavraganis.
«Our story began when we were teenagers. Marios was playing basketball in the village tournament, and I just went to watch the game, thinking I would be bored. The village team won, and afterwards we all went out to celebrate. Since then, we have been inseparable. It was love at first sight!»
I visited the greek wedding site Love4Weddings, which from the very first moment was a wonderful source of inspiration for me. It helped me a lot to find professionals and to figure out the style of wedding that suited us — more natural, unpretentious and with a strong Greek identity. Also, the real wedding stories of other couples made me feel that I was not alone in the stress and helped me let go and enjoy the happiness of the moment. We live in England, and the idea of planning our wedding from a distance scared us at first. Until we met Maria Gika. She was not just a professional — she was the voice of calm, care and refined taste.
Aristea , Bride
«The decoration of our wedding was inspired by the simplicity and natural beauty of Crete, where the ceremony also took place. We wanted to honor the place and its authentic charm, so we chose a rustic style with strong Mediterranean elements, such as linen fabrics, natural wood, olive branches and wildflowers. The ceremony took place outside a stone-built church, in a traditional courtyard full of light, simplicity and character. The guests sat on wooden chairs decorated with olive twigs, while my bridal bouquet combined chamomile, lisianthus, wheat and eucalyptus, a bouquet that looked as if it had been picked from a meadow just before the ceremony.»
«Our favorite details? The olive bar with local products, the clay jugs, the straw touches and the dining table decorated with natural wildflowers that made the place look like the setting of a period film. Everything blended beautifully and created exactly the atmosphere we had dreamed of: effortless, warm and filled with love.»
«Maria traveled to Brighton to meet us, to truly listen and understand our thoughts and ideas, so that she could design a wedding in Crete that expressed us completely. From our very first meeting, we knew she was our person. Our wedding turned out exactly as we dreamed — and even more. It was elegant, full of emotion and deeply personal. There was never a moment when we felt we were “running” or that something was missing. Maria took care of everything with kindness, precision and style. We found her through Love4Weddings and we feel endlessly grateful for that. We would wholeheartedly recommend her to any couple looking for something truly authentic.»
«It is hard to pick just one favorite moment, because everything flowed so beautifully and naturally. But if we had to choose, we would say that what stayed with us the most was the incredible connection between everyone and the music. We had live music, and the whole celebration revolved around it: the dancing, the singing, the laughter, the genuine joy. It was like we all became one big company, with no “official” or “unofficial,” just happiness, rhythm and emotion.»
«The best advice I can give to a bride now planning her wedding is to live every moment, both the beautiful and the stressful, because the wedding day passes unbelievably fast and you can never get enough of it! Whatever goes wrong in the preparation, in the end everything will fall into place. And yes, all this “trouble” is more than worth it. The important thing is to be present, not to stress over the details so much that you lose the magic of the moment. This day is for you and your love. Enjoy it!»
«My wedding dress was the most spontaneous choice of the whole preparation. I did not spend hours thinking about it or hesitating, I just saw it and felt it was “the one.” It was airy, romantic and had something unpretentious that matched perfectly with the atmosphere of our wedding. The soft tulle and embroidered flowers gave it a natural elegance, while the most important thing for me was that I felt comfortable in it, without it restricting me for a single moment.»
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