Zante 2012

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• 20-Mar-2011 13:28

  Zante 2012

  Mrs Whippy Joined on 20-Mar-2011 Suffolk Posts 891

  Contact Hi there! This is my first post, as I joined today! My fiance (that still sounds weird!) and I got engaged 2 weeks ago, and are throwing a few ideas around at the moment, starting to make plans. We definatley want to get married abroad, and are so far planning (hopefully) to get married in Zante next year, either in June or September.  We went on holiday there last year and fell in love with it, and we are going back this June. We stayed in Alykanas which is a beautiful part of the country, and we think this is where we would like to get married! The websites and brochures we have looked through mostly advertise weddings in Tsilivi and other ares of the island, which although lovely are not where I've set my heart on. Has anyone used wedding planners based in Zante, and has anyone got any recommendations on how to organise all the little details that will make it perfect for us?

• 20-Mar-2011 18:58

  Re: Zante 2012

  Wedding Photographer Joined on 22-Aug-2006 Lincolnshire Posts 2,070	Contact Hi I too love Zante (away from the commercial parts)  If you want a UK based photographer to cover the day properly, give us a shout, we would be delighted to do the shoot! Were you planning on marrying in a Greek Orthodox church, or at the venue (or similar) Richard King Richard King Documentary Wedding Photographer Based in sunny Lincoln, I cover all of the UK. member of the WPJA

• 22-Mar-2011 13:05

  Re: Zante 2012

  ted Joined on 05-Sep-2010 Posts 15	Contact Congrats!!  We're getting married in Rhodes with Thomson, they've been very helpful with it all.  The paperwork is the most stressful bit for us, but we'll get there in the end. x

• 23-Mar-2011 21:09

  Re: Zante 2012

  luckylola Joined on 06-Feb-2011 Posts 434

  Contact Hi MrsBtoB ,   We are getting married in Zante in Sept 2012. We have booked with Ionian Weddings who are a company based in the UK that specialise in weddings in Greece. Have a look at their website and see what you think. We are actually having our reception in Tsilivi at a hotel called the Balcony. We have fell in love with Zante, it is such a lovely island! We are going back in July this year- I can't wait! If you have questions or want to share ideas I'd be happy to chat (Mrs Seddon 2 be !! ) x

• 24-Mar-2011 13:31

  Re: Zante 2012

  Mica71 Joined on 24-Mar-2011 Posts 19

  Contact Hi Kerri (Mrs Seddon 2 be) We've just booked our Zante wedding with Ionian Weddings for June 2012!  We've chosen the private island beach wedding/bbq reception and plan to go on holiday there this year to check everything out.  We've not been before so we can't wait! How are you finding the planning/arrangements through IW? Are they helping you to find accommodation for your guests or are you sorting that out yourselves?  Do you know how long you have to be in Zante before getting married? Any useful tips would be appreciated Thank you  Mica71

• 24-Mar-2011 19:58

  Re: Zante 2012

  Mrs Whippy Joined on 20-Mar-2011 Suffolk Posts 891

  Contact We fell in love with Alykanas when we visited last year and are staying there this June too. The hotel we stayed at last year was the Alykanas Beach, which had a wedding that I watched from my room. It was stunning and we've really got our hearts set on there. It was a Thomas Cook hotel and has since been taken over by First Choice. I have spoken to them and they don't offer weddings there, but I have contacted the hotel and am waiting for a reply. First Choice have said we can stay at the Beach, and have the ceremony at the Balcony which looks gorgeous too! I think that is our front runner if we can't get the Beach. I've never been there so on this year's holiday I think we might be paying it a little visit! We are also looking at September. We planned for June but my fiance's daughter will be doing her GCSEs around that time, so we don't think we'll risk it! That's about all the planning we've done yet! Think we'll book the venue first and then crack on with the rest of it! Soooo much to do! How are your plans coming along ladies? Holly xxx

• 26-Mar-2011 9:11

  Re: Zante 2012

  luckylola Joined on 06-Feb-2011 Posts 434

  Contact Hi ladies, Mica71, we have found IW to be very good so far. We actually met them at the National Wedding Show last year- they seem lovely. We have organised our accomadtion ourselves. Last year and this year we are staying at the Venus Hotel in Kalamaki. We will hopefully stay there next year too. How have you found IW? We have booked for the private island too !! Its amazing, so gorgeous. You will be so excited about everything once you have visted Cameo Island. I don't think there is a legal number of days that you have to stay in Zante before the wedding, but we will be there 1 week before... Mrs BtoB, the Balcony is gorgeous too! We are having our wedding reception there. When we visited the staff were so friendly and polite. The views are amazing too. The locals told us that you can watch the sunset! In regards to planning all I have is ideas! I am trying to decide on a colour scheme at the moment ! Are any of you having birdesmaids/ bestman ? How many guests have you got coming over Zante ? Thanks Ladies, x

• 26-Mar-2011 12:12

  Re: Zante 2012

  Mrs Whippy Joined on 20-Mar-2011 Suffolk Posts 891

  Contact Well I've contacted a wedding planner called Frances from Zante weddings (after reading recommendations on here) and she says she can arrange for the wedding to be at the Alykanas Beach! So excited! And, it looks like we could even have a date! September 13th 2012! Wow! That makes it feel so real! We are inviting close family only, so we think there will be up to 16 of us there. The plan at the moment is for my H2B and I to fly over on around the 4th and for the families to join us on the 11th, or around those dates. As it is going to be a small family ceremony, we've decided against bridesmaids/best men etc - we'd end up with no guests! I am, however, planning to ask my twin sister to walk down with me, maybe with her son and the new baby - she pregnant at the moment! I'm considering a black and white/monochrome 'theme', although I only use the term loosely. I think I want something that is quite palin and neutral to really show off the surroundings - the sea, sun and sand and of course local flowers will provide us with some amazing 'pops' of colour (or so I plan anyway!) I think I need to get myself some kind of notebook/planner/scrapbook as I've got all these idaes buzzing round my head and nowhere to jot them down! So off to the shops I go! Holly xxx

• 26-Mar-2011 12:29

  Re: Zante 2012

  luckylola Joined on 06-Feb-2011 Posts 434

  Contact Hi Holly, We are getting married on 5th Sept 2012 !!! So we will be in Zante around the same time! I'm not having bridemaids/ bestman or anything like that either. We are having a small wedding really, about 14 guests including me and my h2b. I agree with you about the surroundings being the main colours for the wedding. We aren't having a theme as such, I just need to decide on a colour for my flowers etc... Awwww its so exciting talking to other 'Zante Brides' !! That is great news about your choice in venue. Frances is who will be organising our wedding. Ionian weddings are our UK base. Are you visting Zante this year? We are flying out on July 16th for 2 weeks ! I can't wait ! Speak soon, x

• 26-Mar-2011 15:21

  Re: Zante 2012

  Mica71 Joined on 24-Mar-2011 Posts 19

  Contact Hi Ladies, We plan to have close family and my best friend, her partner and daughter (who's my goddaughter) so that's 17 in all.  I was thinking of having my goddaughter as my flower girl instead of bridesmaids. We'll be going to Zante in September this year for a couple of weeks to have a look around.  We plan to stay in Kalamaki too so I'll have a look at the Venus hotel, Kerri.  I can't wait to see Cameo Island, it looks beautiful from the photos I've seen.  Holly, your wedding plans sound lovely.  I agree, it's exciting to be speaking to other Zante brides. We have found IW very helpful so far.  I've had to chase up on a couple of things but I guess they're very busy at this time of year.  I'm hoping we can arrange a meeting with them as I think it'll be easier to put our plans in place.  We just received details of the paperwork that's required which looked quite daunting until I saw that IW offer a documentation service .  Have either of you thought about the kind of wedding dress you will be wearing? It's great speaking to you both and sharing our ideas. Take care, Michelle xx

• 26-Mar-2011 17:36

  Re: Zante 2012

  Mrs Whippy Joined on 20-Mar-2011 Suffolk Posts 891

  Contact We're visiting this June and we're gonna arrange to meet the planner while we're there. Ooooh I can't wait! Although I'm a bit worried about trying to make any big decisions - I stood in WH Smiths for half an hour to choose a notebook and pen to scribble notes and ideas in! I've been looking online at dresses, but not gonna order anything for a while - I plan to lose a dress size by the time the wedding comes around. I've got about 18 months so I reckon I can do it, as long as someone hides the Haribos! How far has everyone else got through the planning process? Holly xxx

• 26-Mar-2011 21:16

  Re: Zante 2012

  luckylola Joined on 06-Feb-2011 Posts 434

  Contact Hi Ladies, Michelle, the venus hotel is great. If you book direct with the owner (through the website) you get extras included in the overall price (air con, fridge, safe etc)! Nick, the owner, replies quickly your emails and will do he can to help you! I have been looking at dresses online and in magazines. I have not tried anything on yet ! I have no idea what style I will go for! My fried who is getting married in May says the most exciting part of the wedding is picking the dress! I too would like to drop a dress size before the wedding ! Where abouts do you both live? I live in Wigan so we fly from Manchester to Zante. Easyjet offer great deals on flights but only fly from Gatwick I think! x

• 27-Mar-2011 14:05

  Re: Zante 2012

  Mrs Whippy Joined on 20-Mar-2011 Suffolk Posts 891

  Contact I've been looking for dresses of certain fabrics that aren't gonna make me too hot. I've seen one on Ebay but haven't decided yet if I wanna risk one I won't have tried on. I don't think I'm gonna start dress shopping till after xmas at least - that gives me plenty of time to slim! I'm in Suffolk and will be flying out form either Stanstead or Gatwick. Both are less than an hour away. Holly xxx

• 31-Mar-2011 14:00

  Re: Zante 2012

  Mica71 Joined on 24-Mar-2011 Posts 19

  Contact Lol, that makes 3 of us wanting to drop a dress size then! Thanks Kerri, I've looked online at the Venus, it looks really nice.  I also like the look of the Meandros Hotel in Kalamaki.  Would you say Kalamaki is the best place to stay for the Cameo Island wedding?  I live in Middlesex, near Pinner/Harrow.  We'll be flying from Gatwick to Zante. As far as planning goes, we've chosen the date, wedding package (although we will be making some changes to it) and paid the deposit.  We've been sent details of all the paperwork that's required but it doesn't look like we need to do anything about it for a while yet. I notice that you are both getting married mid-week.  Did you choose the dates or was it recommended to you to do that? I've looked online at dresses suitable for a beach wedding but would prefer to try on before I buy. Michelle

• 31-Mar-2011 18:52

  Re: Zante 2012

  Mrs Whippy Joined on 20-Mar-2011 Suffolk Posts 891

  Contact The date was kinda chosen for us. We decided to fly out for a week before our guests to spend some time together just the 2 of us, and work on our tans (which I'm VERY competitive about, especially with my brother who tans just by looking at the sun!!!). We wanted to fly out after the school holidays and get married the week after, and the Frances said that the 13th was free. But it does mean that our first anniversarry will be a Friday the 13th This week has been a VERY exciting one! We have paid our deposit for the planner which also confirms the date, and booked and paid another deposit for the party when we come back! Now the big bits are booked, time to start making lists for the little bits! Do you think I can get away with buying shoes now?! Ha ha! Holly xxx