1. Bring Magic to your Wedding
What makes the Mediterranean so attractive and magical? If you have been to a Mediterranean country, it is impossible to haven’t fallen in love with the heart-stopping sights, citrus scents and smells, flavors, romantic sunsets, wild vegetation, and all the blessings Mother Nature seems to have given in abundance in these regions. No wonder so many newlyweds decide to have their wedding in a Mediterranean location, be it a beach, a city overlooking the sea, a heart-stopping island with magnificent sea views, a quaint small church up in the mountains, or any other. Diversity is the key word here. Decide where you want your wedding to take place or bring the best features of that place to your wedding. Simply put, organize your Mediterranean style wedding in a perfect microcosm! This means that you may need to book a terrace overlooking the sea, and have the wedding just as the sun sets, with floral decorations and centerpieces that bring a gust of an Aegean breeze, a pinch of the Adriatic freshness, or a note of the Balearic Sea.
The most suitable shades? Of course, blue, but also coral, yellow, and tones of fishing.
The wedding feast? The mirror of the gorgeous Mediterranean lands is fish, but there is incredible plentiful in foods as well, so you get to choose what you fancy more.
The flowers? An olive and rosemary branch is definitely a head turning combination. The same applies to pink Bougainvilleas, especially when against a whitewashed wall or an 18th-century wall. Perfect for a vintage Mediterranean wedding! But, we will talk more about it later…
Or, you could walk barefoot on a beach, with your bandana styled like a veil if you want something more innovative!
2. Pay Attention to Details
An unforgettable wedding is not an expensive wedding. It is one where attention has given to the little things. So, how about combining the essence of the Mediterranean with vintage props (if you can get your hands on genuine stuff that would be awesome) to theme your special day? Give inviting splashes of smells and color with zesty lemons and oranges, mixed in with your flowers and in the table arrangements. Alternatively, you can also have baskets of lime green foliage and local fruit if you are holding your wedding at a Mediterranean location. If this is your case, try to find out what the local area is famous for and incorporate it into your wedding. Do they produce a special food (i.e. vineyard)? Do they make ceramics? Laces? Do they grow fruit? Trust me, your guests will just love it to see some of these elements in your décor. This should give them an experience of the culture and flavor of the area they will definitely appreciate. So, small pots of homemade and produced lemon chutneys or peach marmalade make fantastic natural flavors and comprise a welcomed takeaway gift!
Image: scenemakers
It is always a nice idea to try to figure out ways to include fruit or flowers in your table settings. For example, you can have a detail in the napkin rings. Terracotta plant pots and tea lights in glass jars look amazing, too. Place them randomly to create a magical atmosphere. And, if you really want to be pioneering, you can add picnic blankets on your checklist. It would be lovely for your guests to be able to relax and stretch out a bit after dinner!
You may also want to consider having hand-stitched ceremony programs and write a few short notes for your other half on them (you are not supposed to know what your sweetheart has written for you!). These notes are to be read after the ceremony. Consider them your personalized vows, which is very romantic, especially if you are using traditional vows during the wedding ceremony!
Tip: Indian weddings are hugely impressive. You may also want to draw a few elements from there, too!
3. Pick the Right Flowers & Present them Properly
For a really vintage Mediterranean wedding, use various types of containers, be it galvanized buckets, stone urns, old jugs, jars or any other, and fill them with flowers. The more types you use, the better. Now, if you can find a location b with sandstone walls, then you got yourself the perfect background. Place bright colored flowers against them and they will stand out so beautifully! The only thing you should consider is the season. If you are planning a summer wedding, then avoid flowers that can’t stand the heat.
Image: Intimate Weddings
For a touch of rustic elegance paired with vintage notes, you can have rusted lanterns and light fittings, iron plant stands (even old candelabras are a superb option here), full of flowers. To spark things up, you can line the stands with moss!
If you prefer a more relaxed and natural look for your wedding, you can draw ideas from the full of herbs Mediterranean lands and have, for example, bouquets with herbs, foliage, and ivory, tied with a lace ribbon. Another idea is to have small white roses or herbs in the buttonholes! For the church, if it is a rustic one, there is no need for much decoration. Just stick to plain white flowers and an impressive marquee with small red, yellow, and blue flower arrangements interspersed with herbs. Geraniums are also an excellent choice. Grow them in terracotta pots and place them on the marquee entrance.
Of course, some brides want an elaborate European bouquet instead. Let me throw an idea here: passion vine, clematises, cream garden roses, lavender, and wild berries for the bouquets of the bride and bridesmaid, and arrangements of jasmine, fig branches, clematises, lavender, and eucalyptus (maybe some olive branches as well) for the long dining tables. If you want, you can also have lavender springs into the boutonnieres and complete the set!
The most important thing to consider? Keep it simple and let the magic of the Mediterranean awaken all your senses for a truly memorable wedding day! And, if you feel like having a more laid back and relaxed wedding, here are some interesting Caribbean wedding decor ideas! Or do you fancy an Indian-themed wedding? Whatever your heart desires, you got you covered!