Cyprus Weddings – Helena & Jason
We were in the Four Seasons Hotel, Limassol for this Cyprus Wedding. Photography does not come much easier in these classy surroundings. This is a stunning hotel with lots of little nooks and cranny’s for stylish photography opportunities. Helena & Jason were a very cool couple and very easy to get along with. Everyone seemed to have a great time. I certainly did!
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Cyprus Weddings – Alexia & Spiros
For me, this wedding was an amazing experience. This was my first doing photography at a traditional Cypriot Greek Orthodox wedding. I was with them from the early afternoon until 3 or 4 in the morning. It was a marathon to say the least…but I enjoyed every minute. It was an honour to be invited to share such a special day. Alexia and Spiros were a great couple. Obviously in love and well suited to each other….
The day started with Spiros. We were in a relatives home and it was packed. There were Greek musicians there when we arrived and they were busy filling the air with the sound of traditional wedding music. Shortly after our arrival Spiros came out and they began the custom of the bestman helping his groom prepare himself for the wedding. First he shaves him… I was pleased to see the mood wasn’t as serious as I thought it would be, as after the shaving was complete, his bestman dished out a big slap across his cheek…and the room was in stitches. The other bestman didn’t seem to know in which order a man should be dressed and somehow Spiros ended up with a tie on before he had a shirt on…again, the room was in stitches. They then went on to complete various other ceremonious customs until such a point where I had to rush off, over the road, to photograph Alexia making her entrance to her adoring public. Everyone watched her make her way down the stairs in a way that made her seem like royalty. It was great! Alexia sat on a chair in the middle of the room and all the guests circled around her. A lovely moment! Similar traditional religious customs took place and we were then ready to go to the church.
At the church, Spiros was waiting at the alter for his bride to be. As Alexia made her way down the isle, the procession was held up by by the priest. He had in his book that the wedding was meant to be 1/2 hour later and not the time which everyone else knew it to be. So everyone was made to wait 1/2 hour. Alexia waited half way up the isle for this whole time. I just could not believe my eyes… Poor Alexia!!
Once the wedding was underway, it really was a gorgeous ceremony. I did not really know what was being said as I do not speak Greek but it is fairly easy to see what needs photographing. When something happens…shoot it!
After the ceremony, all the guests made their way to the Four Seasons Hotel in Limassol where they had an amazing party! There was a lot of fun and laughs to say the least. One of the most interesting parts of the night for me was the customary Greek money dance. Alexia & Spiros danced together for half an hour or so and the guests came and pinned money to them. We are not talking about single notes, we are talking about note after note stuck together so it looked like a streamer…and then it was pined on. Once everyone had finished, they could barely moved it seemed. Very interesting!
Everyone then got together and began the traditional Cypriot dancing. At some points, I have to say, resembled mayhem. There were chairs being thrown across the dance floor and the dancers were constantly showered with petals…..but this was all part of it and it was great to watch. I loved it!
By the end, I could barely stand up I was so tired. A very long day but a fantastic experience…
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