Hints & Tips
Yes, weddings in Cyprus are completely legal and recognized internationally; the only exception is the Catholic wedding service which must be preceded by a civil wedding. Your marriage certificate is proof that you are legally bound by law as though you had been married in the UK. Not at all, but bear in mind that the legal requirements and documentation varies for each nationality, please make sure that you inform us well in advance so that we can advise you accordingly. We would also strongly recommend that your fiancé contacts his embassy and the Cyprus embassy in the UK before you travel. By Cyprus law your marriage must take place in the same resort as your hotel and both bride and groom must be resident on the island for at least 2-3 working days before the ceremony can take place. Civil weddings take place in the town hall between 10:00 am and 2:00pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Civil weddings can also be held in certain hotels in some resorts; these usually take place after 2:00pm and are subject to an extra charge. This will depend on the type of ceremony you have, a church wedding will last 20-40 minutes and you can discuss the order of service, hymns and wedding music with the priest at the pre-wedding meeting. Civil ceremonies are conducted by the local mayor or marriage officer and are shorter lasting around 10 minutes. All ceremonies are conducted in English. It is best if the bride travels under her maiden name for the whole holiday as the name on her flight ticket has to match the name on her passport. At least one of you must be baptized for either an Anglican or Catholic Church ceremony and you will be required to attend an interview with the priest prior to the wedding. The church reserves the right to decline to conduct a ceremony in which case a civil ceremony would be arranged instead. You should pack your wedding dress securely in a suitcase or dress bag, this will be transported in the luggage hold due to space restrictions in the cabin. Don’t worry about a few creases, due to the humidity these will usually drop out once the dress has been hung up for a couple of days. If not, don’t panic, most hotels offer a dry cleaning and ironing service- your wedding coordinator will be able to advise you. It is recommended to book as soon as possible as the sooner you book the greater the chance of confirming your preferred date, time and venue. Many couples book a year or more before their wedding. In particular church weddings tend to get booked up very quickly as slots are limited so booking early will avoid disappointment. Absolutely not! Many couples prefer to start booking wedding extras early on as they want to get organised and also spread the cost, you could also benefit from our early booking discounts. You will be invited to a meeting with your personal wedding coordinator who will help you check that you have all the necessary documents. Your wedding coordinator will then make an application for your special license and will let you know the time of your appointment at the town hall to finalise your application. Appointments are usually the next day, depending on which day of the week you arrive. If you are having a religious ceremony you will also be advised of your appointment with the priest or church coordinator. During this initial meeting your wedding coordinator will go through all the aspects of your big day and will be able to offer advice and information on receptions, flowers, transport and photography, he or she will also show you a photo album with lots of pictures to give you an idea of what we can offer. If you haven’t booked your wedding extras before you arrive, don’t worry because you will be able to book all of the above services through your coordinator. After your initial meeting your wedding coordinator will always be available and will make regular contact with you. You will also be provided with a mobile contact number should you have any questions or concerns. Of course we also take into consideration that some couples want their privacy and we will respect this. On your wedding day your coordinator will be with you before, during and after your wedding, their role is to blend into the background and oversee all the arrangements to make sure your wedding day is relaxing and stress free. They will coordinate your transport, guests, help with flowers and anything else that needs to be done to ensure your day is simply perfect! Of course, in addition the wedding information and packages we have put together for existing Tour operator clients, we have also created “wedding only” packages. For information on how to book please contact our Cyprus wedding team. We work with master jewellers who can create exquisite wedding rings and other jewellery tailor-made for you here in Cyprus. All jewellery is of outstanding quality and available at a fraction of the cost you would pay in the UK, you can also have your wedding rings engraved with each others’ names. Of course you want to look your best and perhaps the most important thing when selecting your wedding dress is to choose a style that suits you and makes you feel fantastic, but you also want to be comfortable and choosing the right fabric and style is crucial. Cyprus in the summer can get very hot so lightweight fabrics in summer styles are perfect as they will keep you cool and show off your tan, you can then add a traditional veil or for a fresh look, hair swept elegantly up and dressed with a stylish tiara or romantic flowers. It is also a good idea to think about how you are going to celebrate after the wedding, if you are opting for a formal dinner in a hotel or restaurant, a traditional dress with a train will make a statement. But if you are going to dance the night away in a taverna or on a catamaran, a more simple contemporary style will be more practical. If you are wearing a light coloured dress, underwear in a skin tone is a must, the light is very strong in Cyprus and white or coloured underwear will definitely show through. If you are having a church wedding you will be expected to dress appropriately with no beach wear or very revealing dresses. For the groom and male guests, lightweight fabrics such as linen are perfect; waistcoats are also a good alternative if you prefer not to wear a jacket. Don’t forget that everyone is going to want to admire the ring so your hands need to be in tip top shape, why not treat yourself to a manicure to ensure that you have flawless skin and perfect nails? When choosing your shoes, keep in mind that in the heat feet can swell up, so open shoes are the best bet, a pampering pedicure is also the perfect way to relax before your big day. If you are getting married in the summer, air-conditioned transport is essential. Your wedding coordinator can advise you on the best way to transport you and your guests so that you all arrive looking and feeling perfect. Although you will be able to get most things you need in resort, as well as those all-important documents, you might want to bring some little extras for that personal touch. Perhaps you have some special music that you would like to play when you make your entrance or for your first dance? It would be a good idea to bring this with you on a CD. If you are having a church wedding, music should be appropriate and authorised by the priest. |
