Mykonos, Alemagou

PHOTOGRAPHY: SANDY AND ODYSSEAS | WEDDING PLANNER: Julia and Evita | Videography: Mighty Fine | Reception Venue: Alemagou Mykonos | Wedding Dress: Lena Frezza Design Studio | Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Groom suit & Shoes: Tiger of Sweden | Wedding rings: Cartier

Francesca & Michael

〝WE COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR MORE PERFECT PICTURES〞

〝It was definitely nerve-wracking to plan a wedding in Greece from South Africa as you are trusting the most important day of your life to various vendors who you have never met. Sandy and Odysseas really made us feel at ease through the entire preparation time and we were completely confident that they were going to be able to photograph our day beautifully. We definitely weren't wrong. Sandy and Odysseas captured every single moment and although Mykonos is truly beautiful, they made it look even more dreamy.

Their constant suggestions and helpful nature made sure that our wedding day was captured exactly as we wanted it to be but with their expert advice guiding us for the entire day. We couldn't have asked for more perfect pictures which will encapsulate the memories of our day for a lifetime. A truly special couple who not only photographed our wedding day flawlessly but also added so much joy to our day.〞

Bridesmaids wore feathered skirts to match the style of the Bride’s gown at this bougainvillea-themed destination wedding in Mykonos – Alemagou which is proof you can combine the party of a lifetime with the perfect vacay, and statement style that is really you!

Ask any bride and groom getting ready to plan a destination wedding as far from home as South Africa is from Greece, and they will instantly let you in on a single kicking-in sentiment: apprehension. And although it is true you should be absolutely ecstatic you’re about to gather all your favourite people to the place that makes your hearts skip a beat, it’s completely natural to be concerned…

You ARE after all trusting your most important moments to people you probably have never met in person, you DO want everything to be absolutely amazing for your loved ones, and you also want to throw a SEAMLESS celebration, while at the same time to be FABULOUS (and calm) in both reality and EVERY SINGLE PHOTOGRAPH! …

Thankfully for Francesca, Michael and their Mykonos destination wedding, there were two very significant people who helped them leave behind all worries and get into “OMG WE’RE GETTING MARRIED IN GREECE” mode as fast as you can say “I DO” (head down below to find out what our bride confesses). And it ALL rolled absolutely PERFECT! One amazing moment after the next. Keep scrolling for the scoop.

Mykonos weddings are renowned for their glam factor and as Mykonos wedding photographers we have had our fair share of gorgeous parties. One thing’s for certain when you’re getting wed in Mykonos you NEED a massive pool, outstanding views, an expert team of genies to make it all happen for you, and some seriously fun-loving people to share the goodness with! Francesca and Michael sided with wedding planners Julia & Evita to make it happen for them, and having worked so many times alongside the talented duo, we knew it was going to be a spectacular wedding!

Preps by the pool? We say YES! Matching hand-painted raffia sunhats for all the ladies, double the YES! And when these ladies were finally ready… Gosh! A bank of swans!!! All Francesca’s bridesmaids wore matching feathered-skirt mini dresses that followed the line of our bride’s tule-skirt gown and as the gentle breeze blew oh the ruffles and waves this gorgeous squad made!

As for the boys? Matching linen trousers, white shirts and bowties to complement our groom’s laid-back summer style! The two groups roamed the cobbled mazes of Little Venice in the Mykonos chora, and got their shots taken on the steps of the famed Windmills before joining at the beautiful Virgin of St. Rosary, the only Catholic Church on Mykonos Island, which dates back to 1668.

Soon as the ladies of honor covered Fran’s hair with her veil the couple entered the church and the ceremony began. Before we whisked our couple away for their first portraits as husband and wife the entire group gathered and enjoyed some fun-filled Mykonos wedding group shots the way they deserve to be taken. Hands up everybody!

Meanwhile Julia, Evita, and their teams had created an absolutely delightful scene of Alemagou, the famed beach club and restaurant at Ftelia Bay. Making use of the venue’s natural decor -see raffia clad ceilings and gourd lampshades, long family-style wooden tables, and comfy, languid seating, the entire set was festooned with punchy, fuscia bougainvillea leaves in mason jars, glass vases, and garlands topped with every guest’s name on bougainvillea print escort cards. How pretty Cycladic, right?

When Fran and Michael entered the music went up, up and everybody instantly began to dance, only to take a break for speeches and Alemagou’s delicious dishes. As for the party? Well…. If you haven’t wedding partied in Mykonos dancing ALL NIGHT AND DAY LONG, you absolutely must! There’s no way to describe this!!!

kind words

Francesca & Michael

It was definitely nerve-wracking to plan a wedding in Greece from South Africa as you are trusting the most important day of your life to various vendors who you have never met. Sandy and Odysseas really made us feel at ease through the entire preparation time and we were completely confident that they were going to be able to photograph our day beautifully. We definitely weren't wrong. Sandy and Odysseas captured every single moment and although Mykonos is truly beautiful, they made it look even more dreamy.

Their constant suggestions and helpful nature made sure that our wedding day was captured exactly as we wanted it to be but with their expert advice guiding us for the entire day. We couldn't have asked for more perfect pictures which will encapsulate the memories of our day for a lifetime. A truly special couple who not only photographed our wedding day flawlessly but also added so much joy to our day. We couldn't have asked for more perfect pictures!

Bride

From the

How we met and the proposal

Our Wedding looks

We felt like we were always drawn to each as we crossed paths through many different areas of our lives. We initially met in high school through our families and then landed up studying at the same university in Johannesburg, taking a few courses together.

 In December 2017, Michael and I travelled to the States for the first time together. A few days before Christmas we arrived in New York, my absolute favourite city in the entire world. Arriving in Times Square in the evening, I was completely distracted by all the lights and screens when Michael asked our friend to take a picture of us. Right in the centre of Times Square he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes, of course, which was met with a roaring applause from the crowd around us. A total fairy tale proposal, straight out of a movie.

My wedding dress designer, Lena Frezza, also made my Mom's wedding dress for her, 28 years ago, so it was an easy decision to choose her to design my dress. We worked together to create the perfect dress suited for the Greek island but still fitting for a bride. The soft tulle layers combined with an intricately beaded lace bodice was better than I could ever have dreamed of.

 Michael's entire outfit, from head to toe, was from Tiger of Sweden. He fell in love with a navy linen jacket he came across in their store and built an outfit around that. His soft leather, navy shoes completed the outfit perfectly.

MOST ANTICIPATED MOMENT

Our favourite part of the wedding day was definitely the first time we saw each other down the aisle in the church. The anticipation to see each other and finally commit to each other was completely overwhelming and was a moment we will both never forget.

Why we chose Mykonos

Michael and I absolutely love to travel and we wanted to be able to share this passion with our closest family and friends. We had travelled to Mykonos together and both fell in love with the island's perfect combination of beautiful beaches, delicious food and vibrant night life. Our guests travelled all the way from South Africa to spend a week with us in Mykonos leading up to our big day. We couldn't have imagined a more perfect week ending with the most incredible wedding day which was filled with so much love. 

 We were so lucky to be able to celebrate our marriage in the most magnificent little Catholic church right by Little Venice and the famous windmills in Mykonos. It was important for us to be able to share our vows in front of not only our family and friends but also in front of God.

SPECIAL MOMENTS OF THE WEDDING

We both loved walking through Mykonos town with our bridesmaids and groomsmen to get to the church. People were standing out in the street cheering for us and taking pictures of the beautiful bridal party, it was completely surreal.

Advice to other couples

Our wedding planning advice is definitely not to stress about the small details of your big day. The most important part of the celebration is the love between the couple and their friends and family around them, nothing else matters. Also, make sure to surround yourself with the best team so you don't have to worry about a thing on the day, it's definitely worth it.

Décor and florals

The reception was at Alemagou beach bar which is just beautiful on its own. The decor was kept simple and natural in line with the look and feel of Alemagou and the backdrop of the beach and mountains. Julia and Evita from Santorini Glam Weddings made our dream become a reality with little vases of flowers and candles on the tables and the most incredible seating plan which hung from the roof weighted down with vases filled with flowers. The space was too beautiful to describe.

 We wanted to have a truly white wedding so we asked all of our guests to wear white or neutral colours on our wedding day to complement the natural beauty of Mykonos and its surroundings. In order to make our flowers pop, we chose to use bougainvilleas which added the perfect amount of colour to our photos (through my bouquet) and to our wedding venue. Since bougainvilleas are an iconic flower seen all over the Greek islands, these flowers encapsulated the Greek island vibe perfectly.