When Alexandra and Tom began talking about their wedding, they kept coming back to the same idea: something timeless and elegant.They loved the look of a classic summer garden celebration but wanted it set against sunshine, sea views, and a sense of escape. That vision came together during their Corfu Wedding, held almost exactly six years after they first met on a weekend away with friends in Salcombe—by pure coincidence, on the very same weekend.
Corfu felt like a natural fit. Alexandra had been visiting the island since she was seven, and in recent years it had become a favorite place for the couple to return to together. With white-and-green florals, soft lilac accents, and a black-tie dress code inspired by old-school James Bond glamour, their wedding blended British elegance with the relaxed beauty of the Greek coast.
What We Love About This Corfu Wedding
- A seaside ceremony framed simply to let the chapel and water take center stage
- A speedboat entrance that gave the couple a rare moment alone before the celebration
- Thoughtful guest comfort, from parasols and hydration stations
- A black-and-white dance floor overlooking the sea, paired with live music that kept the energy high
Featured Vendors:
Deux Foskolos
Just Married Corfu
Choosing a Destination That Holds Personal Meaning
Alexandra and Tom initially explored getting married in the UK before considering Corfu as a wild card option. One call with planner and Junebug vendor Sally Spencer of Just Married Corfu quickly shifted their plans.
The venues Sally suggested immediately stood out, helping clarify what they wanted their day to feel like. Corfu wasn’t just visually beautiful; it already carried personal history. Alexandra grew up visiting the island, and it had become a place the couple associated with time together, making the decision feel instinctive rather than purely practical.
From the Junebug Editors: A destination wedding feels more personal when the location already has meaning for at least one of you. That emotional connection can guide decisions and make the planning process feel more intentional.
How Referrals Simplified Planning From Abroad
With planning largely done from England, Alexandra and Tom relied heavily on recommendations. Sally’s local knowledge, paired with hours of Instagram research, helped them identify vendors who consistently delivered weddings they admired.
They looked closely at other Corfu weddings, paying attention to recurring suppliers and standout details, then pulled together the elements that resonated most. Trust became the foundation of their planning, especially since they weren’t able to meet vendors or attend tastings ahead of time.
Enhancing a Ceremony Location Without Overstyling It
The ceremony took place outdoors in front of the Ypapanti Church in Gouvia Bay, with the sea stretching out behind it. Rather than competing with the setting, the design focused on subtle structure. A white aisle runner led to four floral columns filled with white and green blooms, framing the chapel without drawing attention away from it.
A string quartet brought a sense of tradition, blending the feel of a classic English wedding with the open-air atmosphere of Corfu. Guests were offered parasols, fans, and a hydration station before the ceremony—one of Tom’s favorite parts of the day, as it gave everyone time to mingle comfortably.
Personalized confetti bags added a playful note to the exit, marking the transition from ceremony to celebration.
Shop Alexandra’s Satin Wedding Day Heels:
Using Dress Code to Set the Tone for the Day
Fashion played a key role in reinforcing the couple’s vision. Guests were asked to dress in black tie with colorful summer dresses, leaning into the James Bond-inspired theme.
The groomsmen wore classic black tux with dark green velvet bow ties, while the bridesmaids selected dresses in varying shades of lilac. Alexandra wore a strapless Jesus Peiro gown in Mikado satin, paired with a full-length veil and her dream white Manolo Blahnik Hangisi shoes.
“Our guests really delivered,” she laughed, though she admitted the groomsmen may still be recovering from wearing black tie in 33-degree heat.
Shop Lavender and Lilac Bridesmaid Dresses:
Making a Destination Wedding Feel Easy for Guests
Knowing that traveling to Greece was a big commitment, Alexandra and Tom made guest experience a priority from the start. They hosted a welcome lunch at Apovrado Taverna overlooking the sea, followed by a BBQ and pool party the day after the wedding at Villa Privilege.
“All our guests had to do was arrive,” Alexandra shared. Even the wedding flowers were reused for day two, reinforcing the idea that every detail should be enjoyed beyond the wedding day itself.
Giving Themselves a Pause Before the Party Begins
After the ceremony, Alexandra and Tom traveled to their reception at Villa Melambes by speedboat, crossing the bay together before rejoining their guests. It offered a brief moment to take everything in before the evening unfolded.
As they arrived, a saxophonist played Rolling Stones tracks, immediately setting the mood. Guests welcomed them with cheers before the celebration flowed straight into a champagne tower and cake cutting.
Dinner was served poolside, with long tables arranged in a horseshoe shape around the water to create an intimate layout. Lilac napkins, candles at varying heights, and white-and-green florals tied the design together without overwhelming the space.
Letting Live Music Shape the Reception Atmosphere
As the night went on, the Ricci Project band took over and kept the dance floor full. The bar and dance floor sat on a decked terrace overlooking the sea, complete with a black-and-white floor, fairy lights overhead, and stationery designed by Retro Press.
Late-night gyros, served in personalized wraps, kept the energy going well into the evening and gave guests one last surprise before the night wound down.
Advice for Couples Planning a Destination Wedding
Looking back, Alexandra and Tom acknowledge that planning a wedding abroad comes with added pressure. They only visited Corfu once before the wedding and arrived a week ahead of the day, without tastings or in-person vendor meetings.
Still, they wouldn’t change a thing.
Their advice is simple: work with an experienced planner, lean on referrals, and accept that you won’t control every detail. With the right team in place, even a fully outdoor Corfu Wedding can come together seamlessly—and feel completely worth it.
Shop Alexandra’s Reception Style:
The Wedding Team:
Photography – Deux Foskolos
Event Planning – Just Married Corfu
Ceremony Venue – Ypapanti Church
Reception Venue – Villa Melambes
Floral Design – Rizos Garden
Catering – Mamalis Catering
Cake – Cake Boutique Corfu
Officiant – Anastasia Prosalenti
Live Music – Ricci Project
Videography – Andreas Politis
Invitation Design – Retro Press
Makeup Artist – Corfu Make Up Pro
Hair Styling – Inna Alvarez
Wedding Dress – Miss Bush + Jesus Peiro
Rings – Veale Fine Jewellery
Welcome Lunch – Apovrado Taverna Corfu
Bar – Botanist
DJ – Spiro Kantas
Saxophonist – Antony Lazos
Lighting – Elegant Wedding DJs and More
Sound – SoundCheck
Dance Floor – Luxury DJ Events
Bridal Boat Party – Azure Voyages Corfu
Speed Boat – Durrells Seascapes
Logistics – SA Luxury Transfers
Fireworks – Rammos Fireworks
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