Planning a Wedding in Rome? You’ll LOVE This Radiant Wedding at Norwegian Embassy in Rome
A Locally Sourced Wedding with a Surprise Pregnancy, the Saronic Gulf of Greece – Anna & Philipp
This wedding completely captured my heart, I love how Anna & Philipp didn’t want to pollute by getting decorations delivered from somewhere else so instead they locally sourced products from the island they married on, using olive as the symbol of their wedding because olive is a symbol of abundance, glory and peace. I also love how Anna’s second wedding dress showed off her new baby bump! The photos captured by Anna Roussos are absolutely breathtaking…
Me and Philipp met at the University in Vienna – we immediately felt in love – excited by our diversity and life experience. He was the best flirt that I ever had *blush*. We were dating for about 8 years before we got married. We were not in a hurry and we think that you do not need to be married in order to love each other and live together. We even had to ignore our parents (who are very conservative) as they wanted us to get married after 3 years of dating ;P.
Philipp proposed to me in Aegina in spring 2012 by a wonderful sunset on a terrasse of their lovely house (while I was eating strawberries). When I saw him kneeling with the small box in his hands, I could not believe my eyes – I think my heart stopped beating at that time (I had a strawberry in my mouth) – the whole world stopped moving for some seconds – and then I felt adrenalin rushing through my veins (I nearly got chocked by this stupid strawberry in my mouth) – and suddenly, I dont know why, I got so emotional that I started crying. Philipp looked astonished at me waiting for an answer and was relieved when I said “YES” (naturally, I had to swallow this stupid strawberry first).
Aegina has very strong history (not because it was a capital of Greece in the past but also because this place is sacred by orthodox church). You can feel the positive and holy aura, when you are there (especially when you are at the Tempel of Athena – (maybe it sounds very strange for you) but you can hear the wind blowing through the tempel columns making a noise that you have a feeling that gods are trying to communicate with you – and believe me I am not a historic person!). When I first visited Aegina I immediately felt in love with this island. We enjoy spending holidays there.
In Summer 2012 we spent another holiday on the island and decided to have our wedding there – we wanted to share our feelings and island experience with our best friends and relatives. Our wedding date was fixed – it should be 31.8.13 – end of summer! (friend of mine called it also as a date for endlessness – very cheesy ;)). Philipp and I are not a big fans of the big weddings – we wanted to have it small, cosy and emotional. It should offer our closest the best experience of the island.
The most important thing for us was good mood of our friends, which could be achieved by the best catering (traditional down-to-earth greek cousine) and a great beach party on an abandoned island called Moni with the best DJ from Athens. We and our friends are still dreaming about this wedding – it was legendary!
I am a big fan of “less is more”. I also think that the nature of each individual region (no matter where in the world) is so beautiful and offers us already so much that there is no need for extras. I knew that the island did not have enough roses for the flower decoration and why should we pollute the enviroment on getting them delivered from somewhere else. So I decided to use only local seasonal products. Aegina is famous for its pistachio and olive oil. Olive is a symbol of abundance, glory and peace – this would be a symbol of our wedding! The rest was easy. Guest gifts were made by a local pottery, flower decoration by the local flower shop (olive twigs with some olives in it and white local seasonal flowers). Sun paper umbrellas, paper fans for the ladies and dresscode for the ceremony was “greek blue sea” (it looked perfect on the pictures) and for the beach party – relaxed – besides good food, lots of alcohol and great music, also a very important component to have a great party 😉 I also had two outfits: one for ceremony and one for the party. I always wanted to get married in a simple dress with a floral wreath, however, for the chapel ceremony it was inappropriate. So why not have both outfits, one for the ceremony and one for the evening?! I had a specific style of the dress in my mind and naturally tried to find it in the different boutiques (besides Vienna, also in Moscow, Miami, Berlin), however I was not lucky. At the end I gave up and was desperate. I have talked to Philipps grandmother and she offered to sew one for me. She said “I never did a wedding dress before but why should we not try?” I trusted her – after 4 month of planning and sewing the dress was ready – it was perfect! But not only that – at the end this dress has become of nonmaterial value – emotional connection to Philipps grandmother (in this period she told me so many stories about Philipp, his relatives, family history..) – it was a great time, which will last in my memories forever.
Philipp was scared to see this dress at the ceremony but was overwhelmed, when he first saw me. This dress was me! Beach Party Dress was a lucky strike – when me and Philipp were shopping in the city center of Vienna, I went in one of the boutiques, where they had a lot of summer dresses – and I found it. I must admit that at this time I did not know that I was pregnant. This info came in June 2013 and the wedding was already at the end of August – unfortunately, we had to cancel our honeymoon in December, Philipps grandmother had to make some changes to the ceremony dress, and the other dress was (thank god!) stretchy ;P.
Concerning wedding invitation: I am working in the aviation business and I thought such airline ticket invitation would be great (something different to standard wedding invitation). The whole ticket was designed by myself (including the Love Story map at the back of the ticket).
My suggestion to the “brides to be”: use regional products for catering and seasonal flowers for decoration (eg pumpkins in autumn; wine twigs in case of wedding in the wine region; herbage, vegetables or fruits, in case of wedding in the garden; lavender, in case your wedding location is in lavender fields – it gives a wonderful smell. The decoration should complement and not replace the location “Less is more”. Its better to invest in good food and alcohol than decoration because at the end party is the most important! Its your wedding, your day and everlasting memories for you and your beloved.”
Photography by Anna Roussos
I just love absolutely everything about this wedding, I love how Anna talks about the importance of it and the special moments shared. It seemed like a truly beautiful wedding not just on the outside, but on the inside too.
Why a Locally Sourced Wedding is a MUST These Days…
A Locally Sourced Wedding is a brilliant choice for environmentally conscious couples. By prioritizing sustainability, you not only create a memorable celebration but also contribute positively to the planet. Let’s explore why:
- Reduced Carbon Footprint: Opting for a locally sourced wedding significantly reduces transportation emissions. Locally grown food and flowers don’t need to travel long distances, which means fewer carbon emissions from shipping and refrigeration.
- Freshness and Quality: Locally sourced ingredients are fresher and tastier. Imagine farm-to-table produce, artisanal cheeses, and just-harvested fruits. The flavors are vibrant, and the quality is unmatched.
- Supporting Local Communities: When you choose local vendors, you support small businesses and farmers. Your wedding becomes a catalyst for economic growth in your community.
- Eco-Friendly Materials: Extend the concept beyond food. Use recycled or upcycled materials for invitations and decor. Sustainable choices can be elegant and stylish while minimizing waste.
- Setting an Example: Your wedding sets a positive example for guests and the industry. It shows that celebrating love doesn’t have to harm the environment. Plus, it encourages others to consider sustainable choices for their events.
In summary, a Locally Sourced Wedding combines elegance, responsibility, and delicious flavors. It’s a beautiful way to say “I do” while caring for the Earth
Loves the pictures ..
Hey Jess,
I loved this article and as my fiancé and I ware also planning to get married in Aegina next year, I was wondering if you could put me in touch with Ana? I’m sure she’ll be full of good advice ! It’s always tricky to plan such an event from abroad and being able to get in touch with Ana would be amazing!
Many thanks in advance !
Talia