AN IDEAL SETTING FOR A WEDDING!
A MAGICAL SETTING
With its favourable weather, tranquil scenery, and mythical charm, Cyprus can be a magical setting for almost any wedding ceremony. As the island becomes more and more popular, as a perfect setting for a wedding, venues across the island have begun to specialise in these types of ceremonies. Several venues now offer special packages that specifically cater for wedding ceremonies across the island, offering not only their expertise but value for money.
CHOOSING A LOCATION
Numerous locations along the Cyprus coastline are regularly chosen for ceremonies. These settings generally provide local flora with abundant greenery and Mediterranean blooms. This can often be enhanced by wreaths of olive, lavender, or bougainvillaea accents. Protaras and Ayia Napa in the east, Limassol in the south, and Paphos in the west all offer a stunning landscape and fantastic sea views. Several small boutique hotels in secluded bays are perfect for intimate weddings. Other coastal venues include large resort hotels that are next to beaches. Suburban coastal villages also often offer dramatic rustic scenery when chosen for a wedding reception. Weather and timing for coastal venues should also be considered. Scenic cliffs that may be chosen for photoshoots can be very windy, or weddings during the summer may benefit from a later start time in the afternoon, or even benefit from a sunset ceremony to avoid midday heat.Â
DIFFERENT SCENIC SETTINGS
The old town of Limassol, in particular the areas near the LIMASSOL CASTLE, also offers a great backdrop that includes several period buildings. The area surrounding the LARNACA SALT LAKES, with its dramatic sunsets, is also proving popular. APHRODITES ROCK, with its connection to the goddess of love, is another setting that attracts couples, and the TROODOS MOUNTAINS, with its numerous scenic villages, has begun to offer venues, which have a more rural woodland appeal.
CHOOSING A VENUE
This, in turn, is prompting more and more couples to choose the island of love as their venue for their special day each year. The first and most important choice to make is the type of ceremony and venue required for the special day. Ceremonies can be held on sun-kissed beaches, scenic villages, historic town halls, or in luxury upmarket resort hotels. Summer time on the island is very hot and can prove a little uncomfortable, so late spring or early autumn usually provides the most favourable weather for these types of occasions.Â
Questions to ask a planner or venue:
- Establish the minimum number of guests that are needed to qualify for each package and price. This should include both the catering and the bar.
- Confirm what is included in each package and make sure that there are no extra charges.
- Verify how VAT is handled and if there are any extra service charges or gratuities.
- Establish if there are any contingencies in place for rain or extreme heat heat on the day.
- Make sure that the venue will offer unlimited access and no restrictions for vendors on hte day.
- Establish whether there is a chance that the venue may host other functions on the same day.Â
Ask the venue if they offer any specific wedding insurance to cover any vendor cancellations, adverse weather conditions , or any other unforeseen event that may occurr.
SELECTING A MENU
Several venues feature different menus, but it’s the Cypriot meze that is by far the most popular option. Some venues also offer fresh seafood options along with local wines. These often include the famous Cypriot dessert wine COMMADARIA, which once graced the table of Richard the Lionheart at his wedding at the LIMASSOL CASTLE.Â
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS & PLANNING PHASES
12 Months In Advance: This is the time to choose the date, location, and wedding venue. Things that could impact the special day, such as school holidays, should be considered when choosing a date. Budget and guest list size should also be established at this early stage, and any wedding themes that may impact the choice of venue should also be discussed. Scenic views of the venue, with wedding photos and video in mind, should form another consideration. Once a venue is selected and booked, with at least 12 months in advance of the date, a good, solid foundation for the wedding event is established. This will allow for ample time to make all of the necessary further arrangements. Consideration should also be given to guests with regard to venue proximity to both Larnaca and Paphos International Airports. This also applies to any accommodation, and with this in mind, several venues now offer accommodation and transport options with special rates for guests, as part of their wedding reception packages. Â
9 Months In Advance: This is the time to choose and then book a photographer, videographer, florist, cake, caterer, DJ or live band, and any transport that may be needed on the day. Some venues offer recommendations and, in some cases, also help to make these arrangements. They do this by offering several add-ons to their wedding reception packages. In any event, several local businesses will supply all the needs for most wedding receptions across the island.Â
6 Months In Advance: This is the time to make arrangements for the wedding dress and to take suit fittings. The local climate should be considered, and light fabrics for heat should be chosen.Â
3 Months In Advance: This is the time to arrange any guest activities. these may include wine tours, boat trips, or island tours. A hair stylist or make-up artist for the day should also be booked at this stage.
1 Month In Advance: This is when a final guest headcount should be taken, and then a seating plan should be devised. All timings and logistics at this stage should also be finalised and then confirmed. Any legal documents should also be submitted.Â
2 Weeks In Advance: This is the time to compile welcome bags for guests with local information and essentials.
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS & PAPERWORK
Although the paperwork required is generally the same for both civil and religious weddings on the island, there are some subtle differences for each process. Extra time should eb set aside for document legalisation, and translations for any non-residents of Cyprus. The planning period to obtain all of the required paperwork is usually between 1 and 2 months, but some visas or consular processes can take longer. With this in mind, it may be a good idea to involve a local legal expert to handle all translations and apostilled documents. They will also coordinate with civil authorities and help file all of the required paperwork.
It is also important to note that additional church requirements for religious ceremonies, may take a little longer to obtain. This is generally dependent on the chosen faith, as the Greek Orthodox Church follows a different process from the Roman Catholic Church. With this in mind, it may be a good idea to employ a local wedding planner to help navigate church approvals and all canonical requirements.
Civil and religious weddings will typically require the following documents:
- A valid form of identification for both parties.
- The birth certificates of both parties were translated into Greek or English. In some cases, these may also need to be notarised or apostilled.
- If applicable, a divorce decree or death certificate of any former spouse, translated into Greek or English. In some cases, these may also need to be notarised or apostilled.
- A Single-status certificate or certificate of no impediment or an equivalent document from any original country of residence, translated into Greek or English. In some cases, these may need to be notarised or apostilled.
- A local wedding license application filed with the district administration or municipality. this will require parental consent for any under-18s.
Check if any non-European guests require visas to visit Cyprus.
AKAMAS PROVES ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR WEDDING VENUES
With couples from all over the world now choosing to hold their wedding ceremony in Cyprus, the island in the sun, is now proving more popular than ever as a venue for all types of wedding ceremonies. The island has become a firm choice with couples from all walks of life who want an ideal setting for their special day. This is further highlighted by the fact that Cyprus has become a popular choice for those not only wanting to exchange, but also to renew their vows.
With this in mind, Cyprus is now catering for several different types of weddings throughout the year. These include several small, bespoke civil weddings that are usually held between March and November. Although there are several venues available in different locations, the majority of couples are choosing the Akamas region of Paphos to provide their perfect setting.Â
It is thought that high interest in this area is due to the beautiful beaches and abundant natural mountain scenery. The isolated shores of Ayios Georgios, Coral Bay, Akamas, Peyia and Kissonerga are also proving very popular. Couples are also choosing to hold their special day in several private villas, hotels, restaurants, and public gardens like Paliomonastiro.Â
Britain, Poland and Israel top the tables of people holding their wedding ceremonies in Cyprus. It is also estimated that 15% of the income generated by tourism comes from these types of wedding ceremonies that are held across the island.Â
