‘It was more than we could have ever dreamed of!’
Venue Cameo Island Zakynthos• Date 13th of September 2016 • Number of Guests 60 • Budget ££
Why did you choose Cameo for a private Island wedding?
Noel and I always wanted a beach setting for our wedding but we wanted somewhere that was a bit more private than a standard beach wedding that most abroad wedding packages were offering. It was my mum who found Cameo Island online and the more we looked into it the more we thought how perfect it would be! So it was actually Cameo Island that drew us to Zante!
How long in advance did you book your private island wedding?
After finding out about Cameo and discovering The Bridal Consultant, it only took a short string of emails to gather a bit more information and we booked the date 16 months in advance.
How many guests did you invite to your wedding and how many accepted and attended?
We invited around 75 people (knowing that Cameo Island gets quite snug at around 65/70!) thinking we would get around 40/50 people accept but we ended up having 60 guests attend.
We are in love with your dress! What make was this and how long did it take to find ‘the one’?
My dress was by Alfred Angelo, I only went into one bridal shop prior to the one I found my dress in. I knew I wanted something quite simple and not to heavy so it did narrow it down quite easily and I just fell in love with it as soon as I put it on!
our shoes and accessories, where were these from?
I went for Jimmy Choo strappy heels which were my dream wedding shoes. Then I just had a birdcage veil and a freshwater pearl bracelet to compliment my dress. My bridesmaids bought me a gold ring with a sapphire as my ‘something blue’ and I wore my mums pearl earrings as my ‘something borrowed’.
Noel looks handsome in his attire! Was he happy with his choice?
Noel went more down the casual route and went for tailored linen trousers and a crisp white shirt, teamed with boat shoes, braces and a bow tie. He was very glad to be more comfortable as it was warm!
Your bridesmaids also look gorgeous in their dresses, where were these purchased?
My bridesmaids were in a golden peach coloured floor length dress, they were the multiway style and I found them in a local Leicester boutique. They were perfect to travel with as they roll up into a little bag and didn’t crease.
Your bouquet is lovely! Were you happy with the result on the day?
Being honest my bouquet wasn’t something I was really specific with when I was given the option! I just went with the standard bouquet of chrysanthemums and roses in a peach colour, with a gold ribbon. I was really happy with them and the bridesmaids ones were similar.
What was your wedding theme and why did you choose this?
I went for a rustic vintage theme, I just love soft colours and I thought it fit perfectly with the outdoor beach setting.
Tell us about the smaller details you added to personalised your pretty in peach Island Wedding
Our wedding cake was delicious! We went for a white velvet/almond flavoured big tier and little red velvet cupcakes, they were to die for!
We had the Greek meze/BBQ for our menu, it was amazing! Everyone complimented it and we couldn’t fault it. With Noel being a keen cook and having 2 chefs as guests this was one factor we were slightly apprehensive about but it was perfect.
I loved our table decor, with mirrored centrepieces, bottles with fresh flowers and lanterns, it set the mood perfectly as the sun went down. We had a DJ as entertainment and he kept everyone on the dance floor all night.
How did you find the planning experience from booking to the big day?
The planning process was so easy and stress free, the team were so helpful and they made everything so simple and explained everything in so much detail. The pre wedding meeting in Zante exceeded our expectations and the itinerary of the day was laid out with so much detail. We came away with no worries and we felt our day was in very safe hands.
Do you have a favourite memory from the day?
After much thought I can’t pin point one favourite memory from the day! It was amazing from start to finish.
How much did you spend overall on your big day? Was it on budget or over budget?
With everything including the two week holiday it was around £13,500. It was slightly over budget as we didn’t expect as many guests to attend and all the little extras add up but it was worth it!
What do you think makes a wedding abroad stand out from a wedding in the UK?
Well being a hairstylist myself I work closely with brides leading up to their wedding day and I see how stressed and under pressure planning a wedding in the UK can make them feel and how much it can cost. With us doing it abroad and having a team of organisers helping it was just such an enjoyable experience to plan and it was made so easy! Also the setting is so relaxed and just the fact that the guests could enjoy a drink whilst taking in the outdoor beach front views as they were waiting for ceremony to start was just priceless and something I have never experienced with a UK wedding. Some of our already married guests said if they could do it again they would choose an abroad wedding, and as for us it was more than we could have ever dreamed of!
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about this Private Island Wedding, for a supplier list please see below.
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The supplier list for this Private Island Wedding
Photographer – Story Studios | Bride’s Dress – Alfred Angelo | Bride’s Shoes – Jimmy Choo
Budget Key | £ – 10k and under | ££ – between 10k and 20k | £££ – over 20k.