Category Archives: Planning

If you are ready to organize your wedding, you must decide when to make it. The season you will choose is very important, because it influences many aspects, such as the outside temperature, the natural setting, the availability of locations, and other essential factors. Even though some couples prefer spring or summer because it’s warmer outside and there’s less chance of precipitation or cold temperatures, don’t be afraid to consider the possibility of a fall wedding. Autumn is a gorgeous season that offers you not only sensational colors but also a special vibe. So, discover more details about the reasons why it is worth organizing such an event.

1. What are the advantages of an autumn wedding?

There are several advantages that you can enjoy if you choose to organize a wedding in the fall. If you consider them, you will surely be convinced that autumn is a wonderful season for a memorable party. Here are the most important things when it comes to organizing an autumn wedding:

The nature

Even if you will decorate the location with the help of those you will choose to collaborate with, the natural setting has its own unique magic. Nature is the perfect setting for a special moment, because it enhances the atmosphere. Autumn is special and it has an unique chromatic variety – shades of yellow, orange, copper or red truly stand out and can transform any location into a real fairyland.

The temperatures

Even though many people fear rain or cold temperatures, it is actually much more comfortable to have a pleasant climate that is neither too cold nor too hot. Summer weddings, for example, can be uncomfortable, as summer days can be hot and humid. In autumn, however, you can enjoy the specific scent of autumn nature and, if it rains, you will certainly have some wonderful memories. You can choose to organize an outdoor party if you are bold and brave enough, but it is recommended to have a back-up plan in case of rain. If you want to be fully prepared for anything, you can choose indoor locations that will provide you with shelter regardless of the weather. In September, October and November, the weather is extremely changeable and even if the forecast looks good, you can have surprises along the way. Therefore, it is better to be prepared ahead of time and take into account all these details, whether you choose an indoor or an outdoor autumn wedding.

Party theme

If you want to organize an autumn wedding, you can also choose an autumn theme. Thus, you will be able to use many elements like pumpkins, apples, grapes, leaves, delicious fruits and a lot of other details that can make a difference. You can be inspired by nature or you can come up with your own ideas – to organize a special autumn wedding from all points of view. An autumn wedding theme will impress everyone.  If you’ve decided that fall is the perfect season for your wedding, don’t be afraid to bring its spirit into all aspects of your wedding and celebrate the beauty of nature. Try to celebrate the wonders of autumn by bringing them closer to you and your guests. Your wedding party can become a wonderful fall story.

The budget

The budget is really important for any wedding. Even if you have a low budget or a high one, you need to make a list of all the things you want for your wedding. With the help of the wedding planner, you will, of course, manage to put all the details in order. However, the advantage of an autumn wedding is that the prices are lower, considering that everyone generally prefers to organize the party in spring or autumn.

2. Autumn wedding ideas – Locations

The location is the most important element when it comes to organizing a wedding. To find the perfect location, you need to pay attention to the details and take into account as many aspects as possible. Autumn is a beautiful season, and it can offer you extraordinary landscapes, if you select the right place. Here are some location ideas you can consider:

• At the Bran Castle

Bran Castle is a very popular place due to its history and wonderful scenery. Tourists from all over the world (from Europe, from USA, etc.) come to visit this special castle in Romania, wanting to see the place where the well-known legends about Count Dracula were born. You can have a unique wedding at Bran Castle, in the heart of Transylvania. If you are passionate about the legends of Count Dracula or if you want to organize your wedding in a noble place, full of history, then this castle is perfect. You can choose a medieval theme, a royal theme, or even a Dracula’s wedding theme – whatever you choose, the atmosphere will surely be special and unique at your Bran wedding! The castle looks amazing during the day and also during the night, because the natural setting surrounding it is truly unique (with trees, rocks, leaves, etc.). The fortress has been known since 1377, so it has a wonderful architecture and historical vibe. 

• In the mountains

In autumn, the mountains are spectacular and unique, thanks to the multitude of colors nature offers us. The smell of autumn leaves is very special, and the landscape is truly one of a kind. If you love mountains and if you dream of organizing your wedding in such a place, don’t hesitate! Your dream can come true with a little help from a wedding planner. Whether you want to opt for a cozy, isolated, rustic and welcoming cabin in the woods, where you can find blankets and fireplaces, or whether you want to choose a luxurious wedding venue placed in the heart of the mountains, you will surely find all these options together with your wedding planner. The landscapes will take your breath away, and your guests will remember these unique and unrepeatable moments for a lifetime.

3. Autumn color wedding – Decorations & Design

Decorations and design are essential elements for any wedding, regardless of the season in which it takes place. If you like autumn and you want it to become part of your wedding, you can choose unique decorations that will stand out. Here are some great ideas you can try for a fall-autumn themed wedding:

Table decorations

If you want to decorate the tables in an autumn spirit, you can use specific flowers, but also fruits or other aesthetic details. For example, you can use grapes, autumn leaves, tree branches, natural tree bark or any other elements that you can find in a fall-like natural setting. You can decorate each table in a different style – perhaps one table will be decorated with seasonal fruits, another will be decorated with autumn vegetables, and another one will be full of colorful leaves, arranged in a creative way. Be free and creative –  think that you have complete freedom to do whatever you want. You can also choose wooden tables, which give the feeling of a natural setting, or you can choose classic tables, which you can decorate with autumn details.

Colors

Colors are very important when creating a decoration, because the color schemes that you use must be harmonious and special. Autumn gives you many colors to play with – yellow, copper, red, garnet, orange, etc. These can also be used for creating the decorations, but also for tablecloths, napkins, and other details. Fall colors can bring freshness, richness and abundance to any space – so don’t hesitate to use them at your wedding!

The invitations

Wedding invitations can be made in accordance with the autumn theme. You can collaborate with specialists who will help you create an original autumn design. If you don’t have any ideas, you can find your inspiration in designs made by other creators – research several options and, by combining them, you will find the perfect option for you.

Favors 

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your autumn wedding favors. These will be taken home by your guests and will remain a pleasant memory for all of them. So, you have to think of some beautiful objects, easy to make and simple to keep. You can choose to create small and special objects that will surely stand out or you can choose objects with a meaning. You will surely find incredible ideas if you are looking for inspiration everywhere you can (in art, design, etc.). 

Walking down the leaves 

If you want to do something really special and unique, the aisle can be full of autumn leaves. The result will be gorgeous, you will be walking on a natural colorful carpet, and all the photos taken will be great and wonderful. The richness of colors, the sound of autumn leaves under your feet and the wonderful design and the moment itself will be special, and walking down the aisle will definitely become a long lasting and lovely memory that you will keep close to your heart forever.

Candy bar 

The candy bar is a place that everyone loves. Here you can find the most delicious desserts, which everyone is waiting to try. If you choose to organize an autumn themed party, it is a must to have a matching candy bar. You can choose to have seasonal fruit tarts, autumn colored cookies, caramelized apples, pumpkin or apple pie and other tasty desserts. All guests will appreciate it and they will really enjoy your unusual candy bar!

All these things can be easily obtained if you choose to collaborate with a professional wedding planner. If you want a special wedding, it can be a real challenge to organize it on your own. But, with the right support, you will be able to use all the ideas you have. A wedding planner will advise you throughout the process, providing you with different types of wedding services. He will ensure that all your requirements are met and he will take care of the actual planning and everything else (food, set-up, accommodation, documents, transport and other elements that need to be managed, especially if you choose a special location). The expert will also provide you with personalized services to suit all of your needs and wishes. For example, if you want to organize a cultural wedding, with customs and traditions that are important to both of you, this can be achieved regardless of the location where you choose to organize your wedding party. Even if your wishes may seem impossible to achieve in the first place, communicate with your wedding planner and you will see that everything is possible if you have the necessary resources at hand.

In conclusion, if you are looking for great ideas for an autumn wedding, research as many options as possible to see what your preferences are. Take your inspo from everywhere and talk to your wedding planner and analyze various options, from several points of view. Thus, you will be able to create a plan and you will be able to start all the necessary actions. Choose a special location that gives you the atmosphere you want, and after selecting the ideal place, you will be able to start imagining more and more things that you can create in that particular space (ideas of decoration, theme, etc.) . An autumn wedding party is a daring choice that has a truly special charm. Your love story can be celebrated in such a unique setting, in connection with nature and the wonders it offers you. The wedding is an extraordinary event, which must be exactly as you imagine it. You don’t have to make any compromises – everything has to work out perfectly! You will surely manage to organize a gorgeous wedding, which will bring you unforgettable moments to share with your loved ones, on a wonderful autumn day!

Photo source: pixabay.com

Although Romania has many other things to offer tourists, it is first seen as the land of Dracula, especially since the story of Vlad Ţepeş the Impaler and the vampire invented by Bram Stoker superimposed. So, might as well take advantage of it, says a Romanian monthly. The vampire Dracula and Prince Vlad Ţepeş left people a legacy that they still don’t know how to grow: Dracula! The best label in the field of tourism that Romania can benefit from at the moment. What do foreigners associate Romania with? First to Dracula, and only then to Nicolae Ceauşescu, Nadia Comăneci (gymnast), Gheorghe Hagi (footballer) or Ilie Năstase (tennis player). Foreigners want Dracula, want to know more about Dracula, see the places where Dracula lived, eat garlic while visiting Bran Castle, buy Dracula souvenirs, party in Dracula atmosphere bars. “Dracula” themed tourism began in Romania unofficially during the 1950s-1960s. Of course, Bram Stoker’s novel had not yet been translated into Romanian, so the guides of the national Carpathian tourist office, which had been completely reorganized in the early 1970s, only came into contact with the story imagined by the Irish writer only through what could be said by Western tourists (mainly Americans and British) who asked questions about the “castle of the Bârgău pass” (Pasul Bârgăului) described in the book.

1. Mountain Weddings and the Myth of Dracula

Even though Dracula was still unknown to most Romanians, authorities at the time did not hesitate to use the myth for publicity. In 1983, a hotel in the form of a castle (with towers, an interior courtyard accessible by a single entrance) was built between Bistriţa (city in Transylvania) and Vatra Dornei (city in Bukovina, in northern Romania). Since the two towns are connected by the Bârgău pass, the hotel was supposedly built on the approximate location of the castle described in the novel. Until 1990 it was called Tihuţa (another name for the Bârgău pass), although another hotel invented by Stoker, The Golden Crown, had been built in the town of Bistriţa (in the northwest of the Romania) precisely to serve as a point of reference for foreign tourists. In 2006, the hotel renamed Dracula unveiled a bust of Irish writer Bram Stoker.

Even if in Romania the myth of Dracula is better known through cinema than through literature, the opportunity for cultural tourism is immense. With or without a theme amusement park, places related to Vlad the Impaler and Count Dracula are numerous and interesting. In a world dominated by advertising, Dracula would have helped a crisis-prone economy immensely. There are already tours offered by various agencies, the best blending history with literary and cinematic myth. Thus, following in the footsteps of the favorite literary character, tourists can visit Curtea de Argeş (first capital of Wallachia, which also houses a famous monastery), Suceava )capital of Moldavia from the 14th to the 16th century), Snagov (monastery near Bucharest where Vlad’s body is supposed to be buried) or Târgovişte (capital of Wallachia from the 14th to the 18th century, where the Ceausescu spouses were shot during the Romanian revolution of 1989), in addition to Sighişoara (historic city, birthplace of Ţepeş), Braşov (big city of Transylvania, near Bran Castle, known as “Dracula’s Castle”), all these places being linked to the medieval voivode and the modern vampire. The myth has become so popular that foreigners come to Romania and choose to have a Dracula inspired wedding in the mountains, a celebration that overshadows everything with royalty and fresh air. The theme of the cultural wedding gives spouses the chance to relive the past for a single night, while being the main characters of a fantasy and royal story.

2. How to Organize a Mountain Wedding

Do you dream of a setting full of charm and authenticity? So why not get married in the mountains? Summer or winter, you benefit from a unique and authentic landscape, the perfect setting for your ceremony. Expanse of fir trees or snowy peaks, you commune with nature in a magical environment. Here are some ideas to help you organize your wedding in the mountains in summer and winter.

Getting married in the mountains is choosing a place that will delight you. Summer and winter, you have access to a whole host of places at altitude, each as charming as the next: chalet, hotel, reception hall. Be careful, however, not to choose a date during the winter school holidays. You could see accommodation prices skyrocket and put your guests in endless traffic jams. One of the most popular locations for a mountain wedding is the Bran Castle from Romania. A Bran wedding will overshadow not only with the magnificent landscape, but also with the history and myths related to Count Dracula, one of Romania’s most significant characters.

Think about your different reception venues, their accessibility and the possibility of parking for you, your guests and your service providers (don’t forget that if you only have one or two suitcases to carry, your florist will have a flower truck to manage). It is in your best interest to recommend carpooling to your guests. As for the end of the evening, providing buses, mini buses or shuttles is the ideal solution to avoid trips to the resort for your guests who would not sleep there.

Also, think about the weather. No matter the time of year, it can be capricious. Plan for the worst in logistics and everything will turn out for the best. And then finally, doesn’t a little snow during a winter mountain ceremony make the moment magical?

The particularity of a wedding in the mountains is that your guests will certainly come from afar. It is therefore necessary to anticipate the possible accommodations for, at least, the weekend of the union. They can arrive earlier or leave later in order to take advantage of the exceptional setting you have chosen. The best thing is to select the list of hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts or short-term rentals in advance in order to do the work for them. Make life easier for your guests, they will thank you. In addition, it will be necessary to think about the management and accommodation of the children during the various moments of the wedding (ceremony, cocktail party, evening).

Often, the reception venue offers/imposes certain service providers such as the caterer and the DJ. It’s a good way to simplify the organization of your wedding in the mountains. Most of the time you are not there. This makes preparation easier for you. For other professionals, select them as close as possible to your site: hairdresser, make-up artist, florist… And then if you want to completely delegate the preparation, including logistics, of your wedding, call on a wedding planner! They will present you with all their wedding services.

A wedding in the mountains opens all the doors of the local terroir. Choose a stone grill or a giant barbecue in summer with good blueberry tarts for dessert. As for a wedding in the mountains in winter, opt for a mulled wine cocktail, a tartiflette, Savoyard fondue or giant raclette for the dish and a chocolate and chestnut dessert. And if you prefer more refined dishes, you will find local fish such as perch or arctic char that will delight the taste buds of your guests.

Taking the time to offer your guests an activity they will never forget will make your wedding unique, original and memorable. For a Dracula’s wedding theme, try to wrap the entire wedding evening around a royal story, where every guest has a special role and everything is surrounded by mysticism and elegance.

3. Important Elements of a Royal Wedding in the Mountains

Between dreamy settings, breathtaking costumes and the 19th century, the universe of Dracula is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for your wedding theme. You could not have missed the novel of Bram Stoker or the myth of Vlad Tepes. Beyond the plots and the narrative interest of the story, what particularly is of interest here is the quality of the artistic direction and the details of the photogenics. These elements are a gold mine to draw inspiration to organize your wedding!

Let’s start with one of the key elements of the ceremony: your costumes…well, your outfits! For gentlemen, the groom or his guests, here are some examples of wedding accessories for men to remember to compose the Victorian costume: tailcoat, velvet, tailored trousers, silk waistcoat encrusted with semi-precious stones, cufflinks, silk scarf, Persian motifs, ascot… 

Who has never dreamed of carrying out a photo shoot whose imagination allows you to escape for a few hours? In keeping with your wedding theme, this is the perfect opportunity to think about organizing an engagement session, an official photo shoot before the wedding or after it, on Dracula’s wedding theme. Studio sets, props, lighting, beautiful gardens… present the universe of the myth to your photographer, so that he can design the perfect photo shoot.

As for the decoration part of the wedding, use plenty of fresh flowers, candles and period candlesticks of different sizes. Orient the selection of decorative objects according to a predefined color palette that can inspire you: pastel and cold, warm and sensual. Prefer round tables with white tablecloths and lace napkins. For the service, choose dishes with flowers, golden borders, and crystal to bring this chic and royal side very characteristic. For the reception, offer light hors d’oeuvres, verrines with combinations of fresh products, preferably small so that your guests can help themselves and refill easily. A champagne fountain is also worth remembering. For the wedding cake, it is advisable to bring a touch of lightness, originality and a touch of modernity, by choosing a fruity nude cake with layers and garnished with beautiful flowers! Finally, to stand out, offer a tea corner with English-inspired service. 

All in all, just listen to your heart and your desires: if you love the Dracula universe and dream of it for your wedding, don’t hesitate to follow these pieces of advice. All that’s missing is your guests, and all the elements will be in place to make your Dracula wedding a real success!

Santorini is one of the most extraordinary places not only in Greece, but throughout the world. Looking at the photos taken on this island, it is difficult to believe that it exists in reality. Everything is heavenly in this place: magnificent weather, gentle sea, excellent hotels and an atmosphere full of sincere friendliness that attracts young people to perform a wedding ceremony.

In ancient times, Santorini was one of the centers of the Cretan-Minoan civilization, the end of which was put by a volcanic eruption in 1500 BC. A cloud of ash covers the entire island, but under it are perfectly preserved palaces and houses, which are still opened during archeological excavations. 

There is a legend that the dead Atlantis was on this island in the Aegean Sea. The name Santorini comes from the name of the holy martyr Irene of Macedon – “Santra Irini”. On the island, a large number of churches are dedicated to it, and there are about 330 of them, in total. Each snow-white church is crowned with a blue semicircular dome. There is an absolutely fantastic beauty of the panorama: snow-white buildings against the background of a bright blue sky, ledges descending to the azure transparent waters, and between them domes of gentle cornflower color, as a symbol of the unity of earthly and heavenly life. This place was created by Providence itself in order to unite the hearts of lovers and overshadow them with heavenly blessing. You can organize a wedding in Greece on your own. However, it is advisable to consult a professional so that you do not have to endlessly solve small annoying problems yourself.

1. Wedding in Santorini – What Documents are Needed for a Wedding in Greece

In this earthly paradise, all conditions have been created to hold an unforgettable wedding ceremony and a magnificent civil or symbolic wedding ceremony. In order for the sacrament of the wedding to be successful and not cause any difficulties, you need to prepare the following documents:

• birth certificates of future spouses (notarized copies);
• passport (photocopies of the first page and a valid visa);
• copies of all pages with marks on the national passport;
• a marriage certificate or a notice from the registry office that there are no obstacles to its conclusion in the event that there has not been yet an official registration;
• certificate of ecclesiastical celibacy (issued in the Diocese at the place of residence, certified by the Metropolitan);
• baptismal certificate. If one of the spouses does not adhere to the Christian faith, his notarized consent to the rite of baptism of future children is necessary;
• a wedding permit issued at the country’s consulate.

All documents, with the exception of the passport, require translation into Greek and certification with an apostille, a sign that is put on official documents that are not commercial. It certifies the signature of the person who signed the document, as well as the authenticity of the seals and stamps.

For the civil marriage registration ceremony, the same documents are needed, with the exception of a baptismal certificate and a certificate of church celibacy, and instead of a wedding permit at the country’s consulate, you need to obtain a registration permit. 

The preparation process should be treated very carefully. In the absence of any document, the ceremony itself and the issuance of a wedding or civil registration certificate will not be possible. It is best to prepare a package of necessary documents in advance and, 40 days before the expected date, send it to the receiving party for detailed verification. All certificates must be received no earlier than 3 months before the scheduled date, otherwise they will be considered invalid. On the island you need to be 2 days before the wedding or registration to sign the necessary papers. It is worth spending a little time then to enjoy the exciting, unforgettable ritual that takes place on the open terrace with a magnificent view of the sea and is accompanied by a delightful sunset, if the ceremony takes place in the evening.

2. Wedding in Santorini – Where is the Ceremony Going to be Held

Most of the couples choose the Metropolis Cathedral, the bell tower of which rises above the entire city of Fira, the capital of the island. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with excellent frescoes, and a quiet courtyard creates a special and romantic atmosphere. 

Another favorite place for a Santorini wedding is the Church of the Ascension of the Lord. However, any church in Santorini is worthy of becoming for you a special place for this joyful and significant rite. If your plans do not include such serious preparation for the organization of the ceremony, the best way out is to hold a symbolic wedding in Greece. In this case, the marriage is registered at the place of residence, and the holiday takes place in Santorini. The very course of the wedding celebration will not differ from the real one, except that the certificates issued to you will not have legal force. 

Another beautiful tradition for which married couples come to this romantic island is the ceremony of exchanging vows of love. The wedding celebration itself is followed by anniversaries, the number of which depends on the strength of your feelings. The atmosphere of Santorini or any other Greek islands wedding, like a wedding in Thassos, is amazingly conductive to your hearts once again opening towards each other, and the sincere words spoken here, where the sea and the sky merge into one, have gained strength and were heard.

3. How to Organize a Santorini Wedding Step by Step

Step 1. Set a spending limit and a headcount. The most crucial step, however cliché it may seem, is to establish your budget. This can help you decide how many guests to invite, the place to pick (costs vary), the number of hours to reserve a photographer etc. Another consideration is the number of attendees; some locations can only hold 7–10 people, so if you want a more extravagant wedding, you should select a larger location. Similar rules apply if you reserve an eatery. The number of attendees also affects how much the wedding ceremony will cost.

Step 2. Find a wedding planning company. It is doubtful whether it’s possible to organize a wedding remotely, in another country, without resorting to the help of an agency. If in your country you can do everything yourself (find a restaurant and, if you wish, order a toastmaster), then it’s not possible the other way around. Plus, your organizer can ask 100 or 500 questions: where, how and why. There are two options here:

1. visit a travel agency or a wedding planner that coordinates international weddings. The ability to personally discuss is the key benefit;
2. If a grandiose wedding is planned, you can go to Greece to discuss everything in person. The drawback is that all issues will have to be handled over the phone or email. To locate a wedding planner in Santorini, search online.

Don’t be afraid of the language barrier. All agencies speak English perfectly.

Step 3. Pick a location and a time. Santorini has a lot of wonderful locations for a Greece wedding. Picking just one is incredibly challenging. Most of the sites are on villa grounds and differ in dimension based on the views that can be observed from each position. Rent varies depending on the region. Usually, tinier areas are less expensive. Also, feel free to reserve a room at the property that will host the wedding. Due to the ease of the transfer, this is mainly helpful if there are many guests. Choosing whether the ceremony should take place during the day or at sunset is a crucial decision. As soon as the site reservation and check-in time are complete, this time must be made public on the internet and at the registrar, so the sooner the better.

Step 4. Continue the banquet. If after the ceremony you plan to go on a boat trip on a yacht or for dinner in a restaurant, this should also be taken care of at one of the first stages. You should not worry – the organizers will also help you here. They will offer a lot of options and price ranges.

Step 5. Photographer. Obviously, a wedding wouldn’t be complete without a photographer! Since photographers from all over the world visit Santorini in the summer, the selection of photographers is higher. October is a popular departure month. There are numerous photographers in general; look for, select, and concentrate on reviews.

Step 6. Choosing a hotel. The first question is where to stay (for the bride and groom and, if available, for guests). The choice of places to stay in Santorini is huge. First of all, you need to understand whether you want to live on a caldera overlooking the blue-blue sea and an extinct volcano, or you just need a hotel room. 

4. Wedding in Santorini – Organization of the Video and Photoshoot

Nature appears to ensure that this Greek island makes the ideal scenery for wedding celebration photos. Snow-white buildings against the background of the blue sea and blue sky create the impression that you, in the full sense of the word, got married in heaven. The organization of the filming process can be entrusted to the agency through which you will arrange the wedding.

What could be more pleasant than having a wedding in Santorini, because the agency is almost entirely in charge of organizing it: bouquets, church reservations, payment of taxes and fees, a stylist for the bride, wedding car rental, sweets, fruits and alcohol, rose petal baskets, musical accompaniment, photographer services and videographer. If you want to make some adjustments to any of the points, then you should inform the agents about this in advance, and preferably immediately during the first visit. 

Every year, traveling abroad is becoming more accessible, and therefore you have a great chance to fly to Santorini as a tourist and get acquainted with the life of the island. This will help you better prepare for the future solemn event, as you will be able to accurately choose the place you like for the ceremony, hotel, temple and other related conditions. In addition, if you plan to spend your “honeymoon” right there on the island, then this will also be an advantage: you will already know exactly which hotel to stay in.

Photo sources: unsplash.com