Prepare to be cast away with this Greek destination wedding from our couple Mery and Evangelos. These lovebirds got married on the small, picturesque island of Paxos, and their beautiful day, set against a backdrop of sweeping cliffs and an azure blue sea, was beautifully captured by photographer Kostis Mouselimis. There was a boat ride to the ceremony for the bridal party who then walked Mery through the town to an old monastery, and all were serenaded by the folk sounds of local musicians. And what a place to celebrate afterwards, with tables perfectly placed to take in the setting summer sun over the cliffs of Erimitis. It was a joyful day followed by a night of dancing under the stars.

Though both have their roots in Greece, Mery and Evangelos actually met in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, but were brought together by music from their favourite country. Mery says: "I moved to Stockholm for a job. After a month, we both went to a Greek concert and that was the first time we met. After a week, we went on our first date, after that we spent our days together enjoying each other’s company, getting to know each other. We did everything together, from late dinners to cozy movie nights."

Evangelos chose another magnificent location, steeped in history, to propose, which also has ties to Mery's family roots. "The proposal was in Istanbul. I have Turkish roots on my mother's side, so it was very special. He asked me to marry him in a restaurant in Besiktas that has a stunning view overlooking the waters of Bosphorus strait.'

But for the wedding there was only one place for Mery and Evangelos to wed. "We wanted to have our wedding on a Greek island as we both have roots in Greece. It was important for both of us to have a smaller wedding surrounded by a great landscape with our closest family and friends. We wanted to enjoy our wedding as much as possible as it's a special day, so we wanted to be present in the moment."

A holiday to Paxos island offered the perfect venue for the couple to get married in. "The first time we holidayed in Paxos, we booked a table at Erimitis restaurant," explains Mery. "It had good food and a great view, with romantic sunsets. We really liked it and said if we get married on this island, it would be our wedding venue."

"Our day was romantic and chic, with an island breeze that made the day magical. The vibe was great, as everyone was happy and full of joy. We all enjoyed the entire day and danced for hours. Pure happiness!" The decor of white with touches of gold fits in perfectly with the whitewashed island as its backdrop, and how divine are the wedding favours, decoratively sealed with wax and personalised with the names of the bride and groom!

"There were lots of special moments. My sister was my bridesmaid and that was special for me. The wedding ceremony was held on a smaller island called the Virgin Mary and we went there by boat, it was a magical experience." Arriving on a traditional boat like this was actually very poignant as it was used for generations to carry brides to their soon-to-be husbands waiting on the island. There is a symbolic meaning of traveling through the ripples of the water to what really matters. On arriving at the church Evangelos presented Mery with a bouquet of white roses and hand in hand they entered the chapel.

Mery says that she thinks the most important thing is to ask each other what kind of wedding you both want. "A wedding should have elements from both the bride and the groom. Consider hiring a wedding planner. It helps a lot if you get married in another country. Immersing yourself and your guests in the traditional wedding customs of the destination you’re choosing adds so much value to your wedding day. We wanted to give our guests a truly authentic experience."

A huge thank you to Mery and Evangelos for sharing their stunning Greek wedding with us. Credit also goes to their wonderful photographer Kostis Mouselimis for these amazing photos that captured the beauty of the day and the location. There are more images for you to pore over in the gallery below.

Want more inspiration for your destination wedding? Check our more of our Real Weddings abroad!