An international destination wedding on a budget?! Yes, it’s possible – just have a look at today’s gorgeous Jewish wedding for proof.
Nitsan, a lawyer, and Oren, a neurobiologist, live in Israel – just a short flight away from their wedding destination, which they picked not only for its epic coastal beauty, but also as a way to honor the bride’s Greek heritage.
We love how these two focused on what mattered to them and let go of the rest. They made sure to pick out a venue that ticked all their boxes – close to the sea, with a relaxed, rustic picnic vibe – and made the most of it by adding professional lighting above the main table and fairy lights in the trees for a magical touch.
And they didn’t skimp on photography and videography, as you can see from their beautiful imagery and trailer by Andreas Markakis and his team.
On the savings side, Nitsan says she picked her simple gown because it was “the cheapest one I could find,” shopped her own closet for her wedding footwear, and did her own hair and makeup. Oren also opted to wear smart casual clothes he already owned rather than splurging on new wedding attire.
The couple opted for a simple, rustic chuppah that managed to match the rustic seaside vibe without breaking the bank – and it just goes to show you don’t have to go heavy on the florals to create a memorable look.
Now over to the bride…
A Wedding in Crete
Nitsan, the bride: We got married in Crete, because I’m Greek. We both used to travel to Crete as well for our work and for holidays.
Picnic Vibes
The main focus was on the religious ceremony. The wedding planner helped with choosing the right location, close to the sea, and not very formal. Relaxing, rustic, picnic-style touches were important in creating the atmosphere we wanted.
Email Invites
We sent out a simple e-mail invitation.
A Budget Dress
My dress was the cheapest one I could find.
Simple Sandals
I wore my everyday sandals.
Hair + Makeup by the Bride
I did my own makeup and hair.
Bridesmaids in White
My friends wore white, as is traditional in Greece.
A Rustic Chuppah
We picked the cheapest option for the chuppah. It was to match the seaside rustic vibe without overwhelming florals. The florist was Kentro Louloudiou.
Ceremony
A friend who is a rabbi performed most of the ceremony. It all started with the bride reading her vows.
Our music choice
We mostly had everyday popular music. A friend of ours played saxophone for the ceremony on the beach. Afterwards a Cretan band made up of the groom’s friends played traditional Cretan and Greek songs for the crowd. For some personal touches, we made a playlist and played our music selection from the portable sound system.
Fairy Lights
In addition to flowers, we had professional lighting above the main table and fairy lights for the palm trees. That was provided by Ultra Special Events.
Photographer and videographer
We trusted Andreas Markakis to cover the event. His website inspired us and made us feel confident in our choice – and we were thrilled with the results.
Andreas had a video team that also covered the wedding – they worked great together and managed to blend with the crowd.
Food
Food was provided by Siganos Executive Food Events. We had some special plates prepared for kosher guests.
Entertainment by Friends
We had a Greek band, friends of ours.
Skipping the Honeymoon
We didn’t have time for honeymoon – we’re busy working trying to make the world a better place.
Nitsan & Oren’s little white book
Photography and videography – Andreas Markakis
Wedding planner – Crete For Love
Flowers – Kentro Louloudiou
Catering – Siganos Executive Food Events
Lighting – Ultra Special Events
