This Mediterranean wedding from White Ribbon Boutique Events is not only a stunning affair with the loveliest of details, but also a celebration rich with family, tradition and history. Honoring their Greek origins, this sweet-as-can-be couple chose to share their nuptials at the gorgeous Costa Navarino in Messinia, Greece among the olive trees and wild lavender. See the rest of the beautiful images from Yiannis Alefantou + Adam Alex in the full gallery.
From White Ribbon Boutique Events… A wedding is about their families and friends coming together — their cultures, backgrounds and life experiences merging in a joyful celebration. This wedding was a great example of this. Both the bride and groom are of Greek origin and live in the United States, but many of their family members and close friends are still back in Greece. Therefore, this wedding was all about their families and friends coming together from different parts of the world to celebrate the couple’s journey. From the moment we first spoke with the couple, we understood that this was not just a regular wedding, this was a greater celebration of homecoming for them, and that’s why we had to find a location not only beautiful but with a deeper meaning too. We researched their families’ Greek origins and finally found a wonderful location that combined their backgrounds, as well as their personalities and style. The wedding ceremony was held at a chapel in a small, sleepy Messinian village, while the reception and pre-wedding festivities were held at Costa Navarino resort. The resort is located in the Southwest of the Peloponnese peninsula, one of the most unspoiled and breathtaking landscapes of the Mediterranean. This area and its people have been shaped by 4,500 years of history. The hotel is surrounded by thousands of olive trees, some of which are more than 500 years old, wild lavender and a variety of locally-grown herbs, which beautifully complement the neutral colors of the resort.
All guests received a warm and personal greeting by the couple, which was accompanied by a welcome basket containing typical Messinian products from local synergies and small producers. There was Messinian honey, Kalamatan olives, Greek pistachios, a sesame seed bar (Pasteli), extra virgin olive oil biscuits, Korres Natural beauty products and a wedding booklet, all customized and repackaged based on the organic and neutral wedding theme. Our inspiration for the décor was based on the natural ambience of the Messinian region, and we decided to use lavender, olive, wildflowers, neutral-colored linens and rustic accessories in order to achieve a simple and sophisticated look, which blended in perfectly with the surroundings. The ceremony took place early in the afternoon on a sizzling August day, but despite the heat, we managed to keep the guests cool under the shade of a 100-year-old tree in the courtyard of the church with some homemade lavender lemonade. As the ceremony ended, the couple was showered with a rain of lavender buds.
For the reception, guests were transported to a beautiful venue in the resort overlooking the golf courses and hectares of olive groves, which gently sloped down to the Ionian Sea. We timed the reception so the guests could enjoy the idyllic and truly dramatic colors of the sunset while sipping champagne and being surrounded by hundreds of candles. There were some unforgettable and truly touching moments during the reception, such as the emotional first dance of the bride and groom, the traditional dancing of the new combined families and the bride’s waltz with her only living grandfather. We thank the couple from our hearts for allowing us into their lives and for entrusting us with this most precious beginning of their life together.
Wedding Photography: Yiannis Alefantou + Adam Alex / Wedding Venue: Costa Navarino in Messinia, Greece / Wedding Coordination: White Ribbon Boutique Events / Décor, Floral Design, Welcome Baskets + Favors: White Ribbon Boutique Events / Wedding Dress + Shoes: Oscar de la Renta / Groom’s Shoes: Tod’s / Wedding Rings: Tiffany & Co.