The dreamiest of summer inspiration has officially arrived. This peach-hued wedding, set in gorgeous Greece, has officially stolen our hearts. Mosaïque – Event Design brought this couple’s Big Day vision to life creating a feeling of relaxed elegance that we can’t get enough of. From the overflowing food stations to the enchanting blooms designed by Comme Ça – Fleurs & Décor, this celebration is everything you could hope for in a destination wedding. The natural beauty of the location mixed with the darling details of the day is all artfully captured in the imagery by Adrian Wood. You’ll love every magical moment in the full gallery.
From Mosaïque – Event Design… Alison and Tom’s wedding took place at Gentilini Retreat in Mitakata, a traditional Kefalonian estate with six intimate, low-key luxe, stone-paved dwellings nestled in the heart of weaving olive groves. 500-year-old gnarled trees grow within its impossibly beautiful grounds, while lavender hedges, cypress-studded arcadian views, olive harvesting, and farm-to-table native cookery add to the mix. The couple’s reverence for agritourism and the ever-present dash of Kefalonia’s old-world charm meant their alfresco vows would gravitate around an immersive guest experience. It was essential for us to follow the cascade of Kephalonia’s gloriously milky light and pace the entire event around its movement. The couple’s peachy palette topped with blush, coral, tangelo orange, sunset, and persimmon infused the botanicals, garden and bombastic roses, peonies, hydrangeas, sweet peas, carnations, and lisianthus. Since Alison’s favorite hue fitly nodded to her something blue, we came up with a custom-fit mold for the stationery, marrying the motif to her beloved kumquat, which also happens to thrive in the Ionian islands.
The color scheme came complete with a wink on the art de la table and the bridesmaids and groomsmen’s attire. There’s something so innately comforting about cozy weddings, and working with a design that would tie in the natural surroundings felt the most authentic. To capture the intimate aesthetic and keep the plan harmoniously aligned to the olive grove’s sculpted organic scape, we sourced natural wood furniture and understated natural textures, such as wood, stone, and metal. First came the floral topped arbor with rustic-style seating for the ceremony. Then there were small garden tables, five food and libation stations for cocktail hour (soft drinks, bubbly, cheese & fruit, olive bar, and Kefalonian desserts), and two guest-gift cabinets. And finally a convent dining table for the reception. To maintain a bit of formality for the rustic-themed soirée, we created custom calligraphy escort cards with wax seals exuding the chic casualness that went hand in hand with the wedding style. The lighting scheme involved cueing the mood with strings of delicate, globe-shaped bulbs strewn across the trees. The wedding favors included Gentilini Retreat‘s signature olive oil and oregano-filled glass tubes. It was iconically Greek!
From Alison and Tom… We met in Myanmar (Burma) of all places, where we were both working – Tom as a teacher and me as a global health researcher. More specifically, we both bonded over our shared love of field hockey, and first met at training in downtown Yangon. Tom invited me to a dinner with some friends, which ended with a night of wild Scottish dancing in the gardens, and the rest is history. During a trip at the Norfolk Coast, Tom proposed on a very early morning walk on the moors (after I had spent about an hour photographing wild ponies while Tom patiently/anxiously waited before getting down on one knee!) Embracing our love of the sea/coast, we went crabbing afterward (how romantic!) We wanted a rustic, outdoor wedding in a beautiful natural setting and importantly one where people would feel relaxed, happy, and in holiday mode! We knew Kefalonia would be a great place for a 3-day celebration, and with my family’s links to the island, it made planning pretty straightforward. When we saw Gentilini Retreat, even though it wasn’t on a part of the island we knew so well, we had no doubt it would be the perfect place to say I do. We were very lucky in that this stunning venue existed, but it was Nicole from Mosaïque – Event Design that elevated it to the next level through her design and concept. Nicole helped us to see its potential and how it could be transformed from a blank canvas into a flowing space with different areas and rooms, and in doing this she made a huge olive grove feel cozy and intimate. As for our wedding wear, I wanted something minimalist and chic, but still personalized in some way – which I did through my bespoke capelet designed by Halfpenny London. I liked the idea of having two looks – one for the ceremony, and one for the evening/banquet dinner. Tom wanted something fairly classic looking while also being suitable for a hot climate. The three-piece enabled him to take off layers while still maintaining the formal look. The part of our wedding that will forever be etched in our hearts, is walking together through the olive grove on our way to dinner, having a private moment to ourselves before seeing all of our friends and family seated at the long table in front of us, chatting away and having a great time in the most stunningly beautiful setting.
Photography: Adrian Wood Photography | Cinematography: Kostas Kastanakis | Event Design: Mosaique Event Planning & Design | Event Planning: Mosaique Event Planning & Design | Floral Design: Comme ça | Wedding Dress: Halfpenny London | Cake: Pavlov's Lab | Invitations: Atelier Invitations | DJ: Makis Klonis | Groom's Attire: Artefact, London | Venue: Gentilini Retreat | Beauty: Ioanna Karkantelou | Rentals: Stylebox | Rentals: Tore | Rentals: White Lilac | Rentals: Prop - Premium Decor Rentals