Well , we could start with the fact that we had a bit of this---
and quite a bit of this
but Lynda and I found that when it gets too much like this and everything doesn't come together how you imagined, then you revert to the dreaded ---
To Do list
- Start a wedding folder or binder.
- Work out your budget.
- Pick your wedding party.
- Start the guest list.
- Hire a planner, if desired.
- Reserve your date and venues.
- Book your officiant.
- Research photographers, bands, florists, and caterers.
Now ordinarily I would suggest that when someone has just finished work for good and you are looking around for something to occupy your mind and you time that you have now got available--- do not take up wedding planning in any shape or form. This activity is not for the faint hearted nor is for those who might have some coronary issues either or you run the risk of pre-empting what might come naturally in 10 years into coming a little earlier.
I on the other hand have a partnership that can get past the initial trauma when things go wrong or not as planned---
One thing that I have found is that if some of the things go wrong , we generally work it out together-- even if we might disagree at the beginning , we have tended to be able to work things through. Also it is a great idea to have a clear delineation of who does what between you both.
Now I think that this is where I got things completely wrong with the division-- I ended up with the face to face with each of the key suppliers and Lynda didn't. She did however do an amazing job with our daughter and sorting out everything that she and the Bridesmaids would require.
And if the challenges of traditional weddings wasn't quite enough we did the wedding in Greece with some 40+ people traveling over from many locations from the UK and further afield.
So they didn't get married in this church---
Nor this one------
But actually it was at this arbour below that they actually tied the knot ----
I also might not have had to meet the Medusa but I think that bank account might be frozen after this little adventure.
What I did come into contact with and where I was trying so hard to drill down into the detail of everything, I met these companies and the guys who run them who are all the time---- "DONT WORRY MR. PHILIP - EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE GREAT ".
Sorry but I am one of those who when someone tell me not to worry -- I start to sweat - I mean really start to get nervous.
But true to their word these guys delivered and throughout the run up they were very reassuring--
On the left is Michaelis and his cousin, who was in charge of the Catering and I have top say he was a great guide through the rights and wrongs of wedding planning in Greece. Always there with a solution or suggestion and even reminded me the day before the wedding that I should think about having an attendant in the rest rooms on the evening of the reception as they might get a little busy-- great shout but 24 hours before the event -- really!
A great family business by the way.
Never ever underestimate what and who Michaelis knows-- I mean he knows everyone and if he doesn't know someone directly then he knows a man who does--- or lady in the case of finding us a traditional Greek Dancing group -- Angela and her troupe. If you ever want to see what it is like for a man to be literally glued to his mobile then meet Michaelis.
Then there is Mr Dimitri Vlaikos the ultimate professional photographer-- I mean his is one where in the end he told me that come the day , there was only the Bride who was the one he would listen to on the day-- and that's ok as it is certainly charlotte (and Terry's ) day not mine.
So Dimitri is the one on the right and the one on the left is Takis , our DJ, here on Aegina everything and everyone are intermingled but elsewhere there might be a question of nepotism raised along the way.
From works of art in creation, to physical works of art from our choice of florist and Vasilis Karakasis and his brother did an amazing job of creating the Blue and White effect that Terry and Charlotte wanted that we requested.
Again -- there I am running around with my lists the day before the wedding and these guys with the "Don't worry MR PHILIP it will all be fine-- and of course they were not wrong , it was fine and they are used to this relaxed way of preparation and had not seen quite so much interfe----clarifications from the father of the bride as they did from me.
Smooth and relaxed Vasilis.
Prize for the least concerned and yet the one who spent more time telling me not to worry was our amazing young DJ, Panagiotis Tsopanos here on the right below. --
The one on the left is a very young looking cousin - Panayiotis Trimis.
Anyway on the Sunday before the wedding -- 3 days only we had no lighting and no sound system agreed. Ok so being fairly central to the evenings entertainment, my nerves were a little shredded, to say the least as these were quite high on our "to do " list and by now certainty needs to be the key word for everything.
So these were the key people in the mix that we dealt with in the many months leading up to the Wedding , there were of course others ---
like The very Reverend Malcolm Bradshaw MBE, undertaking the second wedding for our family
Like -- The fireworks
-- The Printing
-- The Dress
--The Bridesmaids ensemble
-- Table centre decorations -- Straight out of my wonderful wife's imagination and now populating many a property in Aegina Island
-- Renting cars
-- Jewellery
-- Table settings-- Guests favours
-- The dance floor
-- Taxis
-- Accommodation
-- Lanterns & Candles
-- Hairdressers
-- Makeup artist
-- Chauffering
-- The wine
-- Flights
So whenever you are called upon to undertake such an emotional rollercoaster of an exercise as to be the persons in the position of wedding planners -- oh , and you are in Greece --- don't get stressed, and remember what is now indelibly printed on my brain --
"Don't worry Mr Philip" --
yeah right.
ELLADA!
( Part 3 --- The People )
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