Zoe & Lee

Cypriot Sunset.

If, like Zoe and Lee, you are tempted by the idea of sharing a small, intimate ceremony with the people you care about in a warm and beautiful location, there aren’t many places that can top the romantic connotations of the ancient harbour town of Paphos in Cyprus.

Zoe and Lee were drawn by the magic of the Byzantine basilicas and majestic landscape to wed where Aphrodite, legendary goddess of love and beauty, rose from the glittering waves and cast a lingering spell across the sun-drenched mountain villages that surround the town. Paphos certainly lives up to this legacy of beauty and enchantment.

Spell-binding Frescos

For their ceremony venue, Zoe and Lee chose the achingly beautiful St. George’s Chapel, situated on a hill-top surrounded by the heady scent of a hundred flowers. The interior frescos are an amazing mixture of deep hues and hypnotic splashes of colour, so they were guaranteed spell-binding photographs both inside and out. Although the Anglican ceremony could have been personalised, Zoe and Lee loved it the way it was: “It exceeded my expectations; the whole day was perfect”, said Zoe. “Even the things that went wrong worked out perfectly in the end, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”

Despite the morning rain, the day had cleared and the sun was shining in time for the 25 minute ceremony at 4pm. “I couldn’t stop smiling”, said Zoe. “I walked up the aisle towards Lee, grinning at everyone in the congregation. Poor Lee, he was so nervous, but he still managed to tell me how beautiful I looked. The funny thing was, although I felt ok I actually forgot to let go of my dad’s arm when we got to the top of the aisle, so for the first five minutes of the ceremony I was clinging to my dad’s arm and holding Lee’s hand at the same time.”

Sunset Photographs

After the emotional ceremony, the newly-weds treated their 12 guests to a five-course meal at the Deck Restaurant of the exclusive Annabelle Hotel, overlooking its landscaped gardens with their meandering freeform pools and waterfalls, and with a clear view of the Mediterranean beyond. At sunset, a guitarist and singer entertained the guests while the couple headed to the beach for some dramatic photographs. Zoe was delighted with the lengths to which the hotel had gone to make their day so outstanding, decorating the tables with floating candles and ivory and pink roses. “After the speeches, we got changed and went out to Bar Street so that everyone could have a dance – it worked out really well. We were back at the hotel by midnight, watching the wedding videos!”

Easy to Organise

For couples considering planning a wedding in Cyprus, Zoe suggests organising the event without the help of a co-ordinator. “It’s one of the easier countries to get married in and can be easily organised over the internet. We arrived nine days before the wedding which gave us ample time to finalise things like the reception venue, food, flowers and photographer. I also had plenty of time to arrange a hair & make-up trial, and to collect our marriage license from the Town Hall”.

Story: Callie Copeman-Bryant

The Perfect Partners

Ceremony: St. Georges Chapel // Reception: The Annabelle Hotel // Wedding Photographer: Papis & Sons // Wedding Dress: Veromia // Bridal Shoes: Faith // Tiara: Richard Designs // Groom’s Attire: Burtons & Next // Bridal Accommodation: The Annabelle Hotel