The first meeting.
Almost a year ago to this very day, I received my first email from Sam. She and her partner Paul wanted to plan an intimate wedding ceremony on the beach during their September stay on the Island of Rhodes. We set up a chat online the following day and we just clicked! I love it when it works out like that. Since I became a celebrant back in 2018, I have spoken to literally hundreds of couples all planning some sort of ceremony in Greece. I can normally tell almost immediately if they will choose me or not.
The beach ceremony.
Paul and Sam wanted to exchange vows and intimate promises literally at the water’s edge. Their dream was to have the waves lapping at their feet and celebrate their love as the sun was setting. Now what could be more romantic than that? The perfect beach wedding ceremony in Rhodes.
https://www.grecianceremonies.gr/rhodes-the-perfect-spot-for-a-destination-wedding-in-greece/
Paul and Sam wanted their ceremony to be intimate, but also fun! This wedding ceremony in Greece would be the ceremony that Sam had always dreamt of. We fixed the date of 27 September 2021, and the plan was to have the ceremony, on the hotel beach, in an area that wasn’t full of sunbeds. From the start I was a little dubious about the plan, knowing that most hotel beaches are lined with row upon row of sunbeds, and any small gaps would be totally unsuitable for any type of ceremony at all.
Would they update the final wedding script?
Sam and Paul decided to trust me with the ceremony. They chose not to see the final script before the day. I always suggest this for an intimate ceremony, as it makes for so much more emotion. I also helped them book a solo violinist who would play during the brides entry and for a while after the ceremony. This would really set the scene.
The story.
Paul and Sam, started out as neighbours. From friends to partners, Paul restored Sam’s faith in love. He proposed on the beach in Greece, and they would celebrate the next step on their journey as partners for life on the beach on the beautiful Island of Rhodes together with Sam’s daughter and her partner.
We had agreed to meet up at the hotel a couple of days prior to the ceremony to check out the perfect spot and advise the hotel of our plans. On arrival it was clear to me that unless we perched ourselves on a set of rocks, where not even the sturdiest sunbed could be placed, there really was absolutely nowhere suitable at all. Certainly not with any waves lapping at any feet!
The view of the beach at Grande Blue.
Plan B
After a couple of quick calls, we set off in my rather dusty old seat to Stegna, to take a look at the beautiful beach at Grande Blue. I had this place in mind from the very start. From the moment Paul and Sam saw this gorgeous spot they realised that this would be the perfect venue for their romantic beach ceremony. A brief chat with Marina at Grande Blue, and all the last minute details fell in to place. After the ceremony they would celebrate with an intimate dinner at the restaurant.
Sam and Paul tied the knot with a handtying ceremony.
The ceremony took place late afternoon. Sam was such a beautiful bride. The sunbathers enjoying the final rays of the day, looked on from afar, somewhat unlikely guests! They clapped when they saw the bride, and this just added to the fun and atmosphere. Paul and Sam tied the knot during their beach ceremony, and we included the Blessing of the Hands by Rev Daniel L Harris.
This concludes with ‘These are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.’ I just love these words, to me they really sum up what marriage is all about.
Paul and Sam had a wonderful romantic ceremony on the beach at Grande Blue on the Island of Rhodes, the Island of the Sun.
If you would like to learn more about handfasting and handtying ceremonies click on the blog post, It was written for the celebrant directory by my friend and fellow celebrant Glenda Procter. Known in the celebrant world as the ‘Queen of Handfasting’!
https://www.thecelebrantdirectory.com/handtying-vs-handfasting-a-guide-for-couples/
Update 2022!
Sam is now training to become a celebrant and she will make a wonderful one too! I love life as a wedding celebrant in Greece, not only do I create lifelong memories but make lifelong friends along the way and when they become celebrants too, well it doesn’t get much better than that!
All images in this blog post credited to George Pagonakis.
If you would like to learn more about celebrant led ceremonies in Greece contact me by email. info@grecianceremonies.gr
I am always happy to chat!
