The One When The Wedding Planner Get’s Married!

A Chic & Stylish Wedding on Sifnos Island, Greece, Europe

I’m thrilled to share a brand-new feature on the Rebecca Valentine Design blog – real weddings! This series is all about celebrating the stylish weddings created and designed by yours only. From intimate London weddings to grand destination wedding celebrations, each wedding on the blog will highlight the unique vision and incredible guest experiences I’ve helped bring to life.

To kick off this exciting new series, I couldn't think of a better way to start than by sharing my own destination wedding journey. My husband, (it still sounds crazy saying this), Hans, and I had the wedding of our dreams! Our wedding wasn’t just a celebration of our love, but a full-on, stylish, and super fun party that our guests (and we!) will never forget. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Greek coast on Sifnos Island, our wedding was all about creating an incredible experience for everyone who came to celebrate with us. Not to mention, Sifnos being the most delicious, foodie island we could ever have dreamed of!

It's often said that when a wedding planner gets engaged, you can expect a truly unforgettable celebration! We set out to create a weekend that was a true reflection of who we are, blending our unique and quirky styles into the stylish wedding of our dreams. Every detail was thoughtfully curated to capture our personalities and love story, resulting in a celebration that was as fun as it was beautiful.

The Wedding Venue: A Sea-Kissed Paradise

When we began planning our wedding, we knew it had to be a destination that offered both breath-taking scenery and a vibe that was relaxed yet chic. The Greek Islands immediately came to mind - they’re one of our favourite travel spots, and we’ve always loved the culture, cuisine, and laid-back lifestyle. We got engaged on an island very close to Sifnos and went to one of our favourite restaurants of all time, Cantina on our engagement eve. Needless to say Sifnos was a done deal.

Our wedding took place at the stunning Lazarou Beach, a truly relaxed venue that offered the perfect blend of natural beauty and effortless elegance. With its stunning views of the Aegean and breathtakingly beautiful sunsets, every moment felt like a scene from a dream. The moment we saw it, we knew it was our wedding venue.

The Vibe: Leopard Print, Love, and Lots of Fun

We wanted our wedding to be unique and really reflect our personalities, so we decided to go bold with a leopard print theme. Yes, you read that right - leopard print! Leopard print made a bold statement in every detail, from the décor and wedding stationery to even our guests' outfits. We encouraged everyone to join in the fun with a leopard print dress code, and our friends and family totally embraced it. The result was a wedding that felt chic, stylish, even edgy yet seriously cool. The moment I walked down the stairs to our guests, I saw a sea of leopard print adorned by our smiling guests….a memory I will never forget.

Despite the bold theme, we made sure the day was also intimate and romantic. I had so much fun designing the stationary pieces from the order of service with included our guests singing their hearts out to Jackie Wilsons, ‘Higher and Higher’, the leopard print wine bottle labels, table numbers, you name it there were a lot of leopard touches everywhere!

The Bridal Dress & The Attire: Stylish Designs & Beach Vibes

I knew exactly the kind of style of dress I wanted to wear and I was over the moon when I found it available on rental site P.S Bridal - I loved the idea of it being my something borrowed and not to mention something that doesn’t clog up my wardrobe for years to come! My bridesmaids dazzled in a vibrant array of mismatched dresses, each adding a splash of colour to our bold theme. My girls chose their own dresses, I wanted them to feel fabulous and wear something that they could wear again (if they hadn’t already worn it!). A lot of these dresses ended up in the sea at the end of the night so the fact that they weren’t necessarily couture pieces was fine by everyone!

The boys complimented the theme by wearing their best beach shirts - vibrant colours, bold prints, and retro-cool styles, adding a playful touch to our destination Greek wedding.

The Ceremony: We sang, we danced, we laughed.

When the sea is your backdrop, you don’t need much more to compliment it. Getting married next to the sea was always a big dream of mine and the day did not disappoint! We wanted to keep the decoration relatively minimalist and let the scenery do the talking so the gysophelia towers and aisle clusters were just perfect and withstood well at times the strong breeze.

Each guest’s chair featured a little fan - naturally, in leopard print—ensuring they could stay cool while enjoying the romantic atmosphere. The entire scene was a perfect blend of elegance and our unique style, and something our guests absolutely loved.

The Experience: Cocktails, Sunshine, and Dancing ‘Til Dawn

One of the most important things to us was ensuring our guests had the time of their lives.

We started the evening with delicious signature cocktails, and as the sun set, we dined under a romantic fairy light canopy. Being passionate about Greek cuisine, the food was incredibly important to us. For our wedding breakfast, we enjoyed a feast that celebrated the flavours of Greece with a modern twist.

After dinner, the real party began. We danced under the stars, the sea in the background, the music carrying us into the night. The band was one of the most important aspects of our wedding planning, we love to party and knew the music had to be spot on. It’s fair to say the party did not disappoint.

Looking Back: A Day Filled with Love and Laughter

As I look back on our wedding day, I’m filled with so much joy. It was everything we dreamed of - chic, stylish, and full of love and fun. The leopard print theme was such a hit, and it added a unique flair that made the day truly ours. But beyond the decor and the beautiful setting, what made our wedding so special was the people. Celebrating our love with the people who mean the most to us, in such a beautiful and magical place in the Greek Islands, was the greatest gift we could have asked for.

Reflecting on our experience, I can’t wait to get creating and designing more fabulous Greek weddings. There’s something incredibly special about planning weddings in Greece – the stunning venues, the amazing sunsets, and the intimate atmosphere make every celebration unforgettable. Here’s to many more beautiful weddings in this enchanting destination!

I always recommend to my wedding planning couples, to just go for it. Make your wedding your own, embrace the things that make you happy, and most importantly, focus on the experience. Our wedding was a reflection of who we are, and that’s what made it so unforgettable. I hope our story inspires you to create a day that’s uniquely you, filled with love, laughter, and maybe even a little bit of leopard print magic!

Explore my wedding planning services to see how I can help bring your vision to life. Whether you’re dreaming of a chic celebration on the Greek Islands or any other stunning location, let’s chat about all things weddings and make your dream day a reality.

Wedding Supplier Credits

Photographer: @georgiezoe, Videographer: @feelyourfilms, Venue: @Lazarou_beach, Wedding Styling & Planning: @rebeccavalentinedesign, Venue Coordination: @ilovesifnos, Rental Bridal Dress: @psbridal, Veils: @natalieandalanna & @ashleywildbridal, Earrings: @rebeccamanners_bespoke, Florals & Decor: @theisle, Lighting: @missirlisgiorgio_wdj, Makeup: @melissa_delport, Band: @vickybeeofficial