Hi, I’m Rosie Anstey and I am a wedding celebrant who lives and works in Cyprus. In this blog, I aim to be able to tell you some of the pro’s and con’s of how to plan your wedding in Cyprus.
Congratulations – You’re engaged!
But what next? It is sometimes daunting even wondering where to begin. You’ve decided you want to have your wedding in Cyprus, on the Island of Love but probably you live elsewhere. May be you’ve visited before, but for many people they’ve never been here so they don’t where to start.
Well, we have amazing weather and a long wedding season. Because Cyprus is such a beautiful island we have many wedding professionals on hand to help make your day magical.
We have a vast choice of venues and locations that are romantic, picturesque and perfect for weddings. Cypriots are very family orientated, your children are welcome so make a holiday of your wedding and spend your honeymoon here.
Most people you will come into contact with here speak English so that’s a good starting point. Cyprus is not in The Schengen Zone so coming here does not use up your valuable days in Europe.
When is Wedding Season in Cyprus ?
When considering how to plan your wedding in Cyprus remember, you can get married in Cyprus 12 months a year. Our main wedding season however is from April through until late October. May and June, mid September and October the weather is warm and comfortable.
July and August it is very hot with temperatures often in the very high 30’s and low 40’s centigrade in the shade. It can also be humid so bear that in mind when choosing your location and outfits.
Remember if you are a skier and love the snow you could have a winter wedding in the Trudos mountains.
Is it easy to travel to Cyprus ?
With numerous daily flights from London, Heathrow, Stanstead, Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh to both Ercan and Larnaca airports, Cyprus is an easy and affordable destination. Transport is easily organised to take you and your guests to your hotel, villa or venue. Car hire options are also plentiful. Also the big bonus is we drive on the same side of the road as the UK.
Somewhere to suit every budget.
With stunning scenery and beaches it offers many options to suit every budget. 5* hotels are resorts are plentiful. However there are budget hotels too as well as boutique hotels and Air B&B’s. Cyprus is full of history and we have ancient abbeys, castles as well as stunning beach locations where people choose to get married. Decide on your budget and the style of wedding you’d like and then aim to find a location that ticks all the boxes.
Who can have a ceremony or a wedding blessing
Residents and citizens can be legally married here. If you live abroad then you will need to have all your legal paperwork in order and produce Apostacilled certificates etc. The rules are different in the South (Republic of Cyprus) to the North (Turkish Republic of Cyprus). Please contact me for the latest information as laws do change.
The Greek orthodox church have amended who can be married in their churches. Because of disrespect from some tourists in the past they are not allowing foreigners to use their churches. Don’t let that put you off because you can have a civil ceremony here if you meet the criteria.
However anyone can have a wedding ceremony, blessing or vow renewal ceremony here in Cyprus.
Is it easier to have the legal marriage in your home country before coming to Cyprus for our wedding?
Undoubtedly YES. It is always easier to have the simple 2+2 ceremony at your local registry office in the UK. It is approximately 60UK pounds and takes about 10 minutes. You simply call and make an appointment and the whole process is very simple in the UK.
Many couples choose to do all the legal stuff in their home country before coming to Cyprus. That way they do not have to jump through hoops trying to get the legal side of things done here. It also proves a lot less costly and saves a lot of stress. They often don’t tell anyone they have already legally married. They will then have an amazing affordable wedding ceremony in any one of the stunning locations here.
When couples are not having a religious ceremony then this is normal practice in France, Italy and many European countries. They all require you to have your civil ceremony at the local registered offices before having your wedding ceremony.
Wedding planners – Do we need one ?
The simple answer to that is NO. However are you prepared to do all the donkey work yourself. Finding suppliers and vendors in another country will take time and effort. Liaising with them and co-ordinating with them when you are getting married can be very stressful.
I suggest making contact with a couple of companies that are expert wedding planners. They already have the contacts, know the venues that are likely to fit with your dream and save you a lot of time and stress. I work with wedding planners here most of the time and they are worth their weight in gold. They make sure your day works seamlessly so that you can just get on with enjoying yourself. Some have a flat fee, some charge a % so remember to ask them how their charges work.
Some wedding planners will offer co-ordination on the day as a stand alone package. This means your day will run smoothly and be less stressful because they are on site to oversee everything.
Because I work as a wedding celebrant here I have an address book full of trusted suppliers and vendors in different parts of the island – north and south. I am constantly being asked who is the best DJ or videographer or who can i recommend for …… It really depends on your taste, expectations and budget. So please consider what you would like, then speak to some planners and see which option works best for you.
What about using a travel company that offer an all inclusive package.
Some couples opt to have a tour company who offer a package wedding like TUI. There are pro’s and con’s to this. What does All Inclusive really mean ? Be absolutely certain of what is included in the package. Ask about food and drink, flowers etc and whether they provide a celebrant, photographer, DJ, make-up and hair suppliers.
Sometimes the extras mount up and you don’t want any last minute surprises. Another question to ask is how long will they allocate for your wedding ? Is it just a 2 hour slot or is it the whole day ? Some hotels have several weddings on the same day. Remember to ask hotels and venues if you can choose your own suppliers. Many insist you use their suppliers. Package tour companies tend to focus on the South part of the island with charter flights into Larnaca, where as the more exclusive and historical venues tend to be in the North part of the island.
Locations for your wedding and celebration
From Vineyards, boats, golf courses, ancient castles, hotels to quaint traditional Cypriot restaurants you have so much choice. Beach weddings are very popular here. Venues are happy to work within your budget and there is such a big choice you are sure to find something to suit you and your pocket. Remember to ask if they have their own wedding planners or if you can employ your own if you wish to.
In conclusion
Decide when and where you would like your ceremony what your budget it and the time of year you would like your ceremony. . Remember, you do not need to stick to convention. You can have your wedding reception and your ceremony just the way you want it when you choose a celebrant led ceremony. From a small intimate gathering to a big blow out wedding there is something for everyone.
If you would like to contact me i can be reached at rosie@celebrantrosienstey.com. www.celebrantrosieanstey.com
