Destination weddings - how do you keep everybody happy?

If you decide on a destination wedding, how do you know that all your family and friends are happy with your decision? Well, the simple answer is you can't. Pretty much every wedding ever planned has some kind of upset with family members or close friends getting distressed about the decisions made by the bride and groom. As Dr. Phil says "don't give others too much power". Seems to me that the best way forward is to try to please the majority whilst working towards the wedding of your dreams.

Unless there is a good reason to change your plans, such a sickness of a parent, if a wedding abroad is what you really want then stick to your guns. A good compromise is to have your wedding abroad and then have a big party back home for everybody who could not be there on your big day. I remember receiving a postcard from a friend saying "we tied the knot at Lake Louise" and when they returned to UK they invited everyone to a huge party and showed us the wedding video during the course of the evening. The bride wore her gown again, and a great time was had by all.

Although you won't have all of your loved ones around you on your wedding day, instead:

1) you will have guaranteed good weather (depending on the season of course)

2) get better value for money

3) less stress in the run up to the big day as your day is in the hands of an expert planner

4) greater control of your guest list (you won't be obliged to invited cousin Herbert who you don't like!)

5) smaller guest list means big savings

6) combining your wedding with your honeymoon can save you time and money

If you are planning your wedding and thinking of going abroad to get hitched, why not email our wedding planner today? We specialise in Greece, Malta and Australia but have partners worldwide to realise your dreams.

Wedding trends

Although the recession is not stopping couples going ahead with their wedding plans, they are making their money go further by adding a DIY element to their ceremonies and receptions. Not only does this save money but making your own table plans, decorations or stationery can give a wonderful personal touch to your wedding.

http://www.onewed.com/

Craft oriented hen parties are getting popular. The bride can make hanging decorations or just about anything she needs for that special day in a fun environment with her best friends. See http://makedomenders.co.uk/party/hen-parties/ for ideas.

The sweet buffet is as popular as ever. Companies specialising in supplying this demand are springing up all over the place, like http://www.sweettreatco.co.uk/.

http://www.aliceinweddingland.co.uk/wedding-candy-buffet-the-how-to-and-what-fors/

You can match your colour scheme with sweets from every colour of the rainbow.

Pearls are still adding a touch of glamour to bouquets but for the cutting edge of wedding style, go for a no-flower bouquet.

Photography: Forever Photography Studio, Austin Texas
via http://www.stylemepretty.com/

Vintage is still hot, with pastel shades for bridesmaids, eg pink & lilac. Romantic Edwardian Victorian, Twenties elegance, or flirty 50s. Understated elegance is key with clean lines rather than fussy details. Lace, a la royal wedding is being used everywhere on dresses and even for shoes! 

http://www.pronovias.com/

Or if lace is not your thing, make a statement with your wedding shoes. Bright coloured shoes with white dresses will be bang on trend.

When should you plan your wedding in Halkidiki?

Personally I love late spring in Greece. May and June are the perfect months as everywhere is fresh green with masses of flowers. The smell of the air is so wonderful then.

It is always best to avoid the school holiday period, unless you like scorching heat coupled with inflated prices, packed streets and beaches. August is particularly busy because Greeks, along with other continentals, have the whole month off.

Kriopigi Beach - halkidiki.com

September is an excellent month for your wedding, with hot weather (but not sizzling!) and no crowds. October is the end of the season and so the weather starts to cool a little but is still likely to be delightful. If you have a hankering for a winter wedding then get married in the northern snows of Greece.



Copyright M. Christara

The main season in Greece runs from April to October. Hotels, restaurants, shops and other tourist attractions are usually closed outside of these months. Easter usually kicks off the season, although if this falls very early in March there may be few facilities open. This is mainly connected to weather conditions. Charter flights do not run to many Greek destinations in the winter, except to Athens and Thessaloniki. Many apartments do not have heating, so you can see why Greece has traditionally been a summer destination. Hotels, especially luxury properties, conference/event venues and ski hotels will of course have heating as well as air conditioning but not all find it financially viable to stay open for the winter season.

Courtesy of Danai Beach Resort & Spa

But times are changing. For marriages with style, you can now hold your wedding at any time of year in Halkidiki. Many 5 star hotels are now opening throughout the winter, targeting the spa break and events market. The region is easily reached from Thessaloniki airport, which is served by scheduled airlines as well as easyJet. Of course you could always take a helicopter or boat to your venue instead of going by road.

From halkidikihomes.co.uk

Being in close proximity to a large city, Halkidiki has the advantage over the islands. Suppliers of every kind are available all year round to create your dream occasion. So the answer to the question "what is the best time to get married in Halkidiki" is "anytime". The only decision you have to make is whether you want the heat and the bustle of summer, the beauty of the spring flowers or a winter wonderland wedding with snowy scenes and roaring fires.

Greece inspires wedding themes

http://hellenicpictures.blogspot.com/

The theme for your wedding should be something very personal to the bride and groom (although usually chosen by the bride!). The most successful themes are those which draw on the surroundings of the bridal couple, as well as things they like, or that are meaningful to them. Greece offers plenty of inspiration. Fitting right in with the latest trend for green and pink themes, Halkidiki is a paradise of verdant vegetation and splashes of pink from bougainvillea, geraniums and the ever present oleanders.

 

Copyright: Sarah Hirst, http://www.crescentmoonmoods.com/

Drawing inspiration from the plentiful olive groves and vines in northern Greece, you could always opt for this as your green theme. This opens up a host of possibilities. How about decorating your venue with olive branches? They can even look great on a wedding cake!   

www.stylemepretty.com

Deck your bridesmaids out in olive green and they will look great with beautiful pink posies.

http://hendcyber.com

Give wedding favours of bottles of olive oil, labelled with the bride and groom's names and wedding date.

 www.elizabethannedesigns.com 

Or for the more traditional amongst you, hand out Greek boubouniera (bonbonnieres) filled with sugared almonds (koufeta). 

 
http://www.happy-ever.gr/

Whatever wedding theme you choose, you can rest assured that Crescent Moon's suppliers and hand picked venues in Greece will bring it to life.



The Trend for Destination Weddings is Rising

At the end of December The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) published their report on travel trends for the year ahead. They believe that the continuing economic crisis will lead to more couples choosing to get married abroad. Currently "one in five couples marry overseas with an average saving of £12,500 on a UK wedding; with pressures on budgets and a focus on value for money, many more couples are expected to say ‘I do’ abroad in 2012".

Another trend is that more travellers are choosing 'tried and tested' destinations. According to ABTA, "in times of economic uncertainty many people put their faith where they know best. Early booking figures for summer 2012 suggest that destinations such as France, Greece, Italy, Spain and the USA will all prove popular next year". 
Add these two trends together and it makes Halkidiki in Greece a perfect wedding destination. Let Crescent Moon create a bespoke destination wedding for you, cutting the stress and the cost of your dream day.

ABTA also predict growth in specialist holidays, such as activity and learning. Alongside this is the trend for holidaymakers seeking out locations with a strong sense of identity, with local food, entertainment and excursions being important. Look no further than Halkidiki to find high standards of cuisine and wine, made from locally grown ingedients, many of them organic. Excursions to Mount Athos, a unique location of amazing monasteries, or to the Sporades islands can be arranged. Alternatively visit local vineyards and taste award-winning wines, or go horseriding or diving. Crescent Moon can arrange a real taste of northern Greece to enrich your holiday, social or corporate event.