109741 polyxeni gerards kastellorizo island greece destination wedding by theodoros chliapas

Polyxeni & Gerard

In the depths of winter, the one thing that can lift us out of the cold is dreaming of sunshine-filled European holidays. Today’s destination wedding ticks all the boxes for a loved-up, sunny celebration on the sweetest, tiniest island of Kastellorizo in Greece.

Our newlyweds, Australians Polyxena and Gerard – who shared their love story from the early years of high school – decided there was no better way to tie the knot than by returning to the bride’s homeland and a place where the couple had shared many happy holidays together. There was a waterside ceremony, a long dinner as the sun set and the most amazing backdrops that only Greece could provide. What magic!

Photographer Theodoros Chliapas joined them on the day to capture plenty of stunning imagery and beautiful moments.

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The bride wore a gown created by Sydney fashion designer Sant Elia.

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Tradition played a big part in the day, the bride chose a traditional lyre player to play her down the aisle as she walked with her father, mother and sister.

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The bride and groom chose the small island of Kastellorizo for their ceremony and the reception venue. The island has a population of just 500, proving the most beautiful backdrop for their intimate day.

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Living far away, the happy couple chose Golden Apple Weddings to plan and execute their vision. The Golden Apple team note, “The main challenge of planning a wedding in Kastellorizo is that mostly all vendors have to travel from Rhodes Island as, because of its small size, the location does not have local suppliers. During the planning process, we discussed all needed arrangements and booked a group consisting of 11 suppliers to work for the beautiful day.”

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Of their photographer, the bride tells, “Theodoros’ photos of a previous wedding in Kastellorizo is what first made us fall in love with the Island; so it was a sure thing he would be the wedding photographer! A great man who captures the wedding moments in the best way!”

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The bride and groom joined their guests at a long table set by the water at Alexandra’s Restaurant for an evening reception. The bride explains, “Our love of food is beyond measure. We had to find somewhere to celebrate that was truly authentic, local and above all abundantly delicious…and then our planners talked about Alexandra’s. A family-run restaurant, Mihalis is the owner and his mother is the cook. Seafood is locally caught, olive oil comes from the family’s olive trees in Rhodes, oregano and thyme are found wild on the island and a small herb and vegetable garden supplies the restaurant.”

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As a nod to the groom’s Dutch heritage, the couple gifted their guests boxes of traditional Dutch sweets. Each held a name tag written by Nikki Design Co and was adorned with fresh eucalyptus.

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Soft neutral tones wove their way throughout the day. The bride tells, “Our main palette is the soft green tones of eucalyptus and the brown colour added by brass details used in our decoration, such as candle holders and utensils! Beautiful foliage matched with white flowers offers a natural yet elegant wedding style that is perfectly matched with the beautiful setting of our restaurant!”

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A big congratulations to Polyxeni and Gerard on your marriage! Thank you for allowing us to share your day. Thank you also to Theodoros Chliapas and Golden Apple Weddings for sharing the day with us.