Athens · 27 August 2027 · Island Gallery, Athens Riviera
Just Married
We met on 27 February 2017, somewhere in Barcelona. What followed was never a straight line: years of distance, airports, countries and goodbyes—but somehow, never an ending.
Then, on 27 August 2020, while the world stood still, Pedro boarded a flight to Athens and we found our way back to each other. Since then, we have made a home, welcomed three little boys and built a life between Athens and Alentejo.
On 27 August 2027—ten years after our story began and exactly seven years after Athens—we open Chapter VII. And because every one of you has become part of our story, we couldn’t imagine writing it without you.
An Athenian HomecomingSeven Chapters, Seven Years, One Date – 20.27
Athens, where we found our way back.
Ten years after our story began, and seven years to the day since our Athens reunion after a long lockdown, on 27 August 2020, we're returning to celebrate forever, with our three boys, our favourite people, and the sea beside us.
A Greek Orthodox ceremony, a candlelit dinner, and a night we'd happily keep going just a little longer.
Friday
27 August 2027
Please arrive by 5:50 PM.
Ceremony begins at 6:00 PM.
Shuttles will run from central Athens and the Riviera hotels. Pick-up points and times will be shared closer to the day. Your only job: be ready for a very good night.
Our chapel is small, so most guests will be standing during the ceremony. Come in comfortable shoes and join us by 5:50 PM, ready for a 6:00 PM start.
A Little Romance. A Lot of Celebration.
Settle into your hotel by the sea or in the city, unpack your dancing shoes, and let the weekend begin.
Welcome drinks by the sea. Hugs first, catching up second, watching the clock a distant third. Please join us by 5:50.
The Greek Orthodox ceremony. Seven years after Athens brought us back together, we'll stand side by side, with our favourite people around us.
Cocktail hour begins. Raise a glass, find an old friend, make a new one, and enjoy that Riviera light.
A bubble show for our smallest guests, and more cocktails for the grown-ups. A little magic for everyone.
Dinner together, under the evening sky. Good food, full glasses, and the people who have been part of our story.
The music turns up. Bring your best moves, your questionable moves, and the songs that always get you dancing.
Our late-night food stand opens. Because dancing is hungry work, and the best nights deserve a second helping.
The final song, the last hugs, and a goodbye we'll probably take our time saying. Thank you for being part of our forever.
An Athenian HomecomingSeven Chapters, Seven Years, One Date – 20.27
Summer formal. Light fabrics, something you feel beautiful in, and shoes that can keep up with you.
The terraces are stone and gravel, so block heels or elegant flats will serve you well. Bring a light layer for the sea breeze after dark.
If you'd like to dress with us, these are our colours. They're inspiration, not a dress code: wear what feels like you.
All times are local to Athens. After midnight, our celebration continues into Saturday.
If this is your first Greek Orthodox wedding, you're in lovely company.
Here is what you'll see, what you'll hear, and why it matters.
In a Greek Orthodox wedding, the couple do not exchange spoken vows. Marriage is a sacrament: we freely come before God, and the Church prays for and blesses our union. Our commitment is expressed through the whole service: its prayers, rings, joined hands and crowns. The words below are prayers and blessings spoken by the priest, rather than promises we recite to each other.
The service has two parts: the Betrothal and the Crowning. These seven moments will help you follow along.
The priest blesses our rings and places them on our right hands. Our Orthodox wedding sponsor, the koumbaros or koumbara, traditionally exchanges them three times. They express freely chosen commitment and faithfulness.
Candles recall Christ as the light guiding our lives. The priest joins our right hands, a visible sign of unity.
“Join them together in oneness of mind”
A prayer for unity of heart and purpose, and for learning to face life together.
The stefana, our wedding crowns, are joined by a ribbon. They honour our shared home and recall the self-giving love marriage asks of us. Our sponsor traditionally exchanges them three times.
“Crown them with glory and honor”
The Church asks God to bless our union and the life we will build and care for together.
Ephesians speaks of devotion and care within marriage. The Gospel tells of the wedding at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine: a reminder of His presence at a wedding, and of joy within married life.
These lines are from the reading of Ephesians (5:25 and 5:33), which may be read by a reader or chanter. They are Scripture, rather than vows spoken by us.
«Οἱ ἄνδρες, ἀγαπᾶτε τὰς γυναῖκας ἑαυτῶν»
Husbands, love your wives. Listen for agapate (love). The passage asks husbands to love with the self-giving care Christ shows the Church.
«Ἡ δὲ γυνὴ ἵνα φοβῆται τὸν ἄνδρα»
And let the wife respect her husband. Listen for fovitai. Literally related to fear, here it is commonly rendered as respect or reverence. Read alongside the call to sacrificial love and mutual submission in Ephesians 5:21, it is not an invitation to intimidation.
After the Lord's Prayer, we sip blessed wine from the same cup. It recalls Cana and represents sharing life's happiness, difficulties, and ordinary days. This cup is distinct from Holy Communion.
The priest leads us three times around the ceremony table as hymns are sung. These are our first ceremonial steps as a married couple, guided by the Gospel. Our first dance comes a little earlier than you might expect.
The crowns are removed and the priest offers the final blessing. The ceremony ends; living its meaning continues. For us, that means life with Alex, Nico and Filipe, and a new chapter to carry home.
“Go your way in peace”
An excerpt of the blessing for the groom: an invitation to carry the peace and faith of this moment into everyday life.
Gestures repeated three times reflect the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Seven belongs to our own love story; the ceremony has its own sacred symbolism. You don't need to know the prayers or share our faith to feel welcome. Our chapel is small, so most guests will stand for the ceremony. Simply being there with us means the most.
A family escape, a few island days, and a wedding by the sea. From 16 to 29 August 2027, we're turning our celebration into a little Greek summer together. Join us for the whole adventure, one beautiful chapter, or simply the wedding. We'd love to share as much of it with you as we can.
Join us for as much as you can.
Every holiday chapter is optional.
The ceremony on 27 August is the one to be there for.
16–29 August 2027
Grecotel LUXME Oasis · Kyllini
Before the wedding shoes come out, it's time for sandy feet. We're starting with five nights of family time at Grecotel LUXME Oasis: long beach days, little ones living their best lives, and a waterpark that may turn the grown-ups into children too. Come for the sunshine, stay for the extra slide.
Join us for the family-holiday chapter. Coordinate your stay with us before booking so we can share the same dates and make the most of our time together.
Naxos · The Cyclades
We leave the resort, but summer is only just getting started. After heading to Athens Airport, we're off to Naxos for four nights of turquoise water, whitewashed lanes and slow dinners that somehow last all evening. We're renting a villa, and we'd love to have our favourite people nearby. Imagine neighbouring villas, morning coffees and one more swim before sunset.
Want to stay side by side? Talk to us before booking so we can coordinate the area and nearby villas. Villa locations and flights will be shared once arranged.
Athens · Two nights before the wedding
Back in the city where we found each other again. While we take care of the last wedding details, these two days are yours: wander through Plaka, lose track of time over an iced coffee, and find a terrace with the Acropolis in view. Let Athens be part of your holiday, not just the place you pass through on the way to our wedding.
Enjoy the city on your own schedule. There is no organised gathering on 25 or 26 August; keep these days as relaxed or adventurous as you like.
Island Gallery · Athens Riviera
Ten years after our story began, and seven years to the day since our Athens reunion on 27 August 2020, we come back to say yes to everything ahead. A small chapel, the sea beside us, and the people we love around us. Then dinner beneath the lights, music, and a night we hope nobody wants to end.
Our celebration is at Island Gallery, on the Athens Riviera, and every guest is part of the whole weekend: the ceremony, the party and, we hope, a long, late brunch on Saturday. Travel and accommodation are yours to arrange; you'll find our favourite hotels by the sea and in the city, plus shuttle details, on this page, so getting to us is easy.
Location to be announced
We're hoping to gather once more the day after: a long, late brunch by the sea, starting around 1 pm and lasting until sunset. No dress code, no speeches, just good food, the stories from the night before and one more afternoon together.
Details to be confirmed. If you can, keep the afternoon free and plan to fly home on the 29th or later.
Athens · A free evening
As the afternoon fades, the evening is yours. A rooftop dinner beneath the Acropolis, a stroll through the city, a quiet seaside meal, or an early night after a very good party. Make your own plans, gather your own little group, and enjoy Athens however you like.
This is a free evening, not a hosted dinner. No group reservation or fixed meeting time.
The Riviera, then wherever summer takes you
A slow breakfast, a last swim, or simply one more coffee with a view before you head home or onwards. There's no plan from us today, just time to enjoy it. Head into town, linger over lunch, or find a nearby beach, or the lake at Vouliagmeni, for a final swim. Leave with a little salt on your skin and a lot of memories to take home.
A free morning, at your own pace. Check your hotel's checkout time before booking your flight home.
Come for our wedding. Stay for the sea, the city, and the stories you'll take home.
Our celebration is at Island Gallery, in Varkiza on the Athens Riviera: the ceremony and party on Friday 27 August and, we hope, a long, late brunch on Saturday afternoon, to be confirmed.
Every guest is part of the whole weekend, from the ceremony to the last dance and anything we plan for Saturday. Stay beside the sea or in the heart of Athens: you are equally part of our celebration.
For easy wedding journeys and beach time, choose the Riviera. For museums, wandering and city evenings, choose central Athens. For a little of both, spend a few nights in town before moving closer to the sea.
Choose the Riviera, central Athens or a little of both, then plan your flights around it.
Flights we suggest
From the airport, a private transfer, a ride app or the metro will take you to your base. Wedding shuttle details will follow closer to the date.
Ways to arrive
An extra day in Athens, a swim at the lake or a few island nights: Greece rewards a slower pace.
A few ideas
We know that coming to Greece is a real journey, and we're so grateful you're making it. Travel and accommodation are yours to arrange, so we've gathered places at different prices, by the sea and in the city, to make choosing easier.
Late August is peak season on the Riviera, so we recommend booking as soon as you can, ideally with free cancellation. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a great moment to look for deals on flights and hotels. If we secure a guest rate anywhere, we'll add the details and code here.
Wherever you stay, wedding shuttles will connect pick-up points in Athens and on the Riviera with the celebration. Pick-up points and times will follow closer to the weekend.
Our suggestion for the wedding weekend: make the Riviera your base. Less time on the road, more time with a drink in hand.
Varkiza is closest to our celebration. Vouliagmeni has an easy holiday feel, beaches and a lovely selection of hotels. Glyfada offers more shops, cafés and restaurants, with a longer journey to the venue.
$$A relaxed base near the beach, with family room options. A useful first look for guests who want the coast without choosing a flagship luxury resort.
Explore & book directly
$$$$A boutique luxury hotel with a distinctly Mediterranean feel. Consider it if the wedding is also your excuse for a few indulgent days by the coast.
Explore & book directly
$$$Contemporary rooms in a quieter setting close to Vouliagmeni's beaches. A good match for guests who enjoy boutique hotels and unhurried mornings.
Explore & book directly
$–$$$A useful option for families or friends travelling together. Check the exact address, air-conditioning, lift access and walking distance to shops before booking. Confirm cot and extra-bed arrangements directly.
Close to Varkiza and Vouliagmeni, from relaxed to grand.
A seaside resort a short drive south of Varkiza, with its own coves and beaches. Ideal if you want a full holiday by the water, close to Island Gallery.
Explore & book directlyA celebrated resort on its own peninsula in Vouliagmeni, with private beaches and restaurants. For guests making this a very special trip.
Explore & book directlyA large seafront hotel on the Kavouri coast, with pools, a thalassotherapy spa and space for families.
Explore & book directlyA smaller boutique hotel in Vouliagmeni, a short walk from the sea. A calm, stylish base for couples and friends.
Explore & book directly$ more budget-conscious · $$ comfortable mid-range · $$$ premium · $$$$ luxury / splurge
These are our relative planning tiers, not quoted rates. August 2027 prices, room types and availability may differ; compare the full stay total, taxes and cancellation terms.
For guests turning the trip into a city break: a few places to start your search, from a simple central base to a special-occasion stay.
$An easy starting point for sightseeing on foot, close to the old town and central attractions. Choose this for location and a practical base rather than resort-style space.
Explore & book directly
$$$A five-star hotel in the historic Plaka neighbourhood. A lovely option if you like a traditional city hotel and want to step straight into Athens's old streets.
Explore & book directly
$$A central four-star option near the Acropolis district, with rooftop dining and landmark views. Ask about the room orientation if a quieter night matters to you.
Explore & book directly
$$$$An iconic luxury hotel on Syntagma Square. For guests making this a particularly special trip, it offers a landmark base at the heart of the city.
Explore & book directly
$$–$$$A family-run hotel close to the Acropolis and its museum. A good shortlist choice for guests who want their days to begin with a walk rather than a car journey.
Explore & book directly
Athens is a wonderful base for exploring, but it means a longer transfer to Varkiza. Please choose accommodation with the journey in mind and use the confirmed shuttle information once we share it.
Fly into Athens International Airport (ATH). From there, choose the journey that suits your luggage, your plans and your people.
For a private limousine or van with a chauffeur, we suggest Limo Greece. When booking, mention that you are a friend of Maria. Arrange your airport or hotel pickup directly, confirm passenger and luggage capacity, and request child seats in advance. Ask for the full quote and waiting-time policy. Official airport taxis are another option.
Shuttles will connect designated pick-up points in central Athens and the Riviera with our celebration. Routes, times, booking instructions and return departures will be shared closer to the weekend. Please wait for the confirmed pick-up list before assuming a hotel is served.
Freenow and Uber offer taxi options in Athens. Download your chosen app before travelling and check the fare and vehicle details in it. For the 3:30 AM goodbye, plan your return rather than relying on a last-minute pickup.
For a city stay, probably not. For beaches, a coastal road trip or exploring beyond Athens, it may be useful. Check your hotel's parking, request child seats and nominate a driver who can enjoy the wedding without driving home afterward.
Metro Line 3 connects the airport with central Athens. It is useful for city hotels, but it does not take you directly to Island Gallery. Airport express buses are another option; check OASA for the route that fits your destination.
As a rough planning guide, allow 30–50 minutes from ATH to the Riviera and 45–75 minutes between central Athens and Varkiza by car. These are estimates, not scheduled transfer times; traffic and your exact hotel can change them.
Airport transfer to your hotel. Confirmed shuttle to the wedding. An arranged ride home. Let the dancing be the complicated part.
Late August is summer through and through. Pack for warm days, a breezy coast and a night that ends considerably later than dinner.
Usually, no. Athens stays warm in August, including after dark. By the sea, though, wind can make bare shoulders feel cooler. A light wrap, shirt or jacket is more useful than heavy knitwear.
Sunscreen and sunglasses. A hat for daytime. Swimwear and a beach cover-up. Comfortable walking shoes. Summer formal clothes for Friday. A light evening layer. Dancing shoes with a little stamina.
The meltemi is a dry northerly summer wind. It can be noticeable around the coast and stronger in the Aegean islands. Choose a layer that stays put, secure loose hats and check the forecast before boat trips.
Our chapel is small, so most guests will stand. Comfortable shoes matter. If you wear heels, consider a block heel or elegant flat that works on stone and gravel.
Leave sightseeing for earlier or later in the day, drink water and build in a shaded break. Temperatures can rise above the seasonal averages during hot spells. We'll look at the actual forecast closer to the weekend.
If it goes ahead, think easy and relaxed: light clothes, sun protection, and swimwear in case there's a chance for a dip. We'll share the place and details on Wedding Week once confirmed.
Athens is the city where we found our way back to one another. We hope you'll leave with a little story of your own.
Pretty old streets, historic landmarks and plenty to wander through. Choose it for atmosphere and easy sightseeing; expect other visitors to have the same idea.
Cafés and neighbourhood life beside the Acropolis area. A lovely balance for guests who want the famous sights and somewhere to linger afterward.
A useful base for transport, shopping and meeting up. Choose it if an uncomplicated city arrival matters more than a tucked-away street.
Boutiques, museums and polished café culture. A good choice for a slower city break; some streets climb, so look carefully at your hotel's location.
Markets, small shops, food and nightlife. Wonderful for being in the middle of things; ask about street noise if you value an early bedtime.
Leafy squares, cafés and a lived-in neighbourhood feel. Consider it if you've seen the headline sights and want a less obvious base.
A sight in the morning. Lunch without rushing. A rest in the hottest hours. Then a walk and dinner when the city comes back to life. There is no prize for seeing everything.
One ancient wonder, one swim, one very long lunch. You don't need to fit all of Greece into a weekend.
Make this your early-morning or early-afternoon adventure. Wear shoes with grip, bring water and book through the official ticket site. Check the entry slot and current heat-related notices before setting out.
Official archaeological site ticketsPair the hill with time in the museum, or save it for the hottest part of the day. The museum and archaeological site have separate tickets; check both when planning your visit.
Plan your museum visitTake a gentle wander rather than a second big sightseeing mission. Stop for an iced coffee, look up from the map and let a few small streets choose your route.
A beautiful change of scene on the Riviera. Check the lake's official website for admissions, reservations and facilities before going; plan this on a free day rather than squeezing it into wedding preparations.
Explore the lakeThe Temple of Poseidon stands above the Aegean at the southern tip of Attica. Turn it into a coastal outing, with time for the drive and a stop along the way. Check the archaeological site's hours before planning sunset entry.
Temple of Poseidon visitor informationChoose one main outing a day. Alternate something interesting with shade, food and a swim. Marble, hills and old steps can be awkward for pushchairs; bring the option that works best for your family.
If you can stay a little longer, Greece gives you plenty of reasons. Here are five island ideas, each with a different kind of summer.
A nearby island for a harbour stroll, a swim and a taste of its famous pistachios. Travel by ferry from Piraeus; check the sailing and arrival port before booking.
A beautiful harbour and a distinctive island atmosphere. We suggest staying overnight if you can, to enjoy a slower evening after the day visitors leave. Reach it by ferry from Piraeus.
We went to Santorini the day after our Athens reunion in 2020. If your idea of Greece is a sea-view evening and a romantic escape, it has a special place in our story. Fly from Athens or take a ferry; allow travel time.
Our suggestion for families and guests craving sandy beaches, village outings and an unhurried holiday. Fly from Athens or travel by ferry; choose one base and settle into it.
A good shortlist choice for beaches, pretty villages and sociable evenings. Fly from Athens or take a ferry. Leave space in the plan for doing very little.
If you visit an island before the wedding, we recommend returning to Athens at least a day before the ceremony. Afterward, keep a buffer before your international flight: summer winds can affect ferry journeys. Confirm 2027 flights and sailings directly with the operator.
Our story has taken us across countries, through long goodbyes, back to Athens, and into a home filled with three little boys and rather a lot of noise.
Having you beside us as we celebrate this next chapter means more than we can say. We know that coming to Greece takes time, planning and a little adventure of your own. Please know that being here is already a gift.
Travel has always been part of our story.
It carried us across countries, through long goodbyes and, eventually, back to Athens. Now we can't wait to see where it takes us next.
If you would like to give something more, a contribution towards our honeymoon would help us make a few new memories — this time as husband and wife. Somewhere new to explore, a long dinner, perhaps even a morning without anyone asking for a snack.
And because our best adventures now come in fives, part of it will go towards a longer journey with Alex, Nico and Filipe: new places, new flavours, and three little explorers discovering the world alongside us.
Wherever we go, we’ll take your kindness with us.
Please leave your name and a little message with your gift, so we know who to thank.
There is no expectation to give. Come for the hugs, stay for the last dance, and help us fill another chapter with people we love.
With love,Maria & Pedro
