For lots of couples, a wedding in Cyprus is the ultimate dream: warm light, turquoise blue sea, balmy evenings, barefoot on the beach, that moment when the sun sinks into the sea and you think to yourselves, ‘Yes, this is exactly how we wanted it.’ Cyprus has a very special atmosphere – a mix of Mediterranean serenity, lots of sunshine and that ‘we're really away from everyday life’ feeling. I love this island and weddings here have a very special flair – IF they are planned properly!
Because – and of course hardly anyone tells you this on Instagram – it makes a huge difference how you plan. As a wedding officiant based in Cyprus, I can tell you that many decisions that seem insignificant at home on your laptop suddenly become absolutely crucial here in the heat with 60 guests. The same wedding can either feel like a film or like a marathon in the heat with decorations.
That's why I want to give you an honest look behind the scenes: what should you really bear in mind when attending a wedding in Cyprus?
Weather & Season - not every Sunshine is romantic
Cyprus is blessed with sunshine, and that's exactly what many couples love. But sunshine does not necessarily mean ‘perfect wedding weather’.
The classic wedding months here are April to October. In my experience, the most pleasant times for an outdoor wedding are April, May, early June, September and October. It is warm, usually consistently nice, but you don't have that merciless midsummer heat. The air is milder, the guests are more relaxed, the make-up lasts longer and no one has to choose between romance and their circulation.
Of course, you can also get married in July or August – many do so precisely because it is the holiday season. But then you have to adapt your planning accordingly. A wedding ceremony in the afternoon in the blazing sun at 30 to 35 degrees is not a romantic ‘Mediterranean dream’, but simply exhausting for many. And you can see it later in the photos: squinted eyes, sweaty shirts, shiny skin.
The time: Golden hour instead of midday heat
Perhaps the most important factor for a beautiful wedding in Cyprus is the time of your ceremony.
If you are getting married in the summer, an outdoor wedding ceremony should not take place before late afternoon, to be honest. It is particularly beautiful if you schedule the ceremony about one to one and a half hours before sunset. Then you will have that famous ‘golden hour’: warm light, softer shadows, pleasant temperatures. The sea appears more intense, the sky turns golden, and your photographer can capture exactly what you imagine a Mediterranean dream wedding to be.
On the other hand, a beach wedding at 2 p.m. in July is simply unreasonable. For you, your guests, the wedding dress, the poor men in suits or kilts and every hairstyle.
Shadows, water and small details that save the day
If you are getting married outdoors, don't just think about decorations and views, but also be practical and consider shade and water.
A grapevine archway in the sun looks great in photos – unless it turns into a sauna for you and your guests. So consider: are there trees? Sun sails? A pavilion? Can the seating be arranged so that at least the guests are sitting in the shade? Do yourself a favour and ask, because at many venues, your guests will be parked in the blazing sun as standard. This is fine in spring and autumn, but in summer it's more of a mood killer.
Make sure you have enough water available, within easy reach and ready before the ceremony. The ceremony is the heart of your wedding, and it's such a shame if your guests can't enjoy it because they're just longing for it to end so they can have a drink... Unfortunately, I've seen it all before. Fans, sun hats and sunscreen in the emergency basket are also great – these are not just ‘nice extras’, but often the things that ultimately determine whether your guests say ‘it was wonderful’ and we felt so well looked after, or ‘to be honest, it was just too hot’.
Hair and make-up should also be planned with the heat in mind. It is worth working with stylists who are familiar with the climate and know how products behave at 30 degrees. What looked perfect in Germany, Austria or the UK can sometimes be ruined after an hour in the humidity and heat, leaving you looking like you are 'escaped from the tropical greenhouse' and not as if you've stepped out of a bridal magazine. 😉 But don't worry, there are some absolutely fantastic stylists here. Trust them and don't try any experiments of your own if you want perfect hair and great make-up.
Location: Sea views aren't everything
Cyprus offers impressive backdrops: beaches, cliffs with spectacular views, vineyards, olive groves, hotel terraces, and each location has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The beach often means wind and sometimes curious bathers in the background. If you want to do this, I recommend a sheltered bay or at least a sheltered area just for you. Cliffs are beautiful, but not necessarily ideal for older guests or prams. This is more suitable for an elopement. Vineyards and gardens are often a little more sheltered, with more shade and tranquillity. Here you may not necessarily have a sea view, but you will have a unique atmosphere and tranquillity. Oh, and good wine. Hotel terraces are practical because everything is in one place – but often not as exclusive as a wedding venue where it's really just you and your guests.
Important questions you should ask yourself:
How will your guests get to the venue? Are there parking spaces or shuttles? Can they perhaps even stay overnight directly at or near the venue? Is there a plan B indoors in case it gets windy, rainy (okay, that really happens extremely rarely here) or too hot? How long are you allowed to celebrate? At many venues, loud music has to stop at midnight sharp. If you want to celebrate longer, you need a venue that allows it.
Wedding planners in Cyprus – assembly line or truly ‘your’ wedding?
Planning a wedding in a foreign country from home is challenging. Most people therefore decide to hire a wedding planner, and there are plenty of them here. Many work very reliably and professionally, but unfortunately I have also experienced the opposite. Find out exactly who you are booking beforehand!
In Cyprus, all-inclusive packages are standard for wedding planners. Weddings follow a fixed pattern: identical or very similar location setups, recurring procedures, standardised decorations. This is not necessarily a bad thing – if you want a straightforward, well-organised wedding and individuality is not so important to you, such packages can be very suitable.
It becomes critical when couples want something unique, but end up with a ‘copy-paste concept’. I have seen brides rave enthusiastically about their flower and colour concept, only to end up with colourful plastic flowers. They just happened to be there... With packages like these, many bridal couples don't know in advance exactly who the photographer will be, who will provide the music in the evening or who will accompany the wedding ceremony. ‘A photographer is included’ sounds good at first glance – but this can vary greatly in terms of style and personality. The same applies to DJs or live music and, of course, wedding speeches.
If you don't care, that's perfectly fine. But if it's important to you, who who accompanies you, how someone works, what style the photos have or what kind of music is played, then you should ask specific questions at this point or be open to booking individual service providers yourself.
If you want a personal, emotional wedding ceremony, I recommend that you don't just choose the cheapest all-inclusive package, but take a careful look: Does the style suit us? Do we feel seen – or do we run the risk of simply being the next couple in a long seasonal list? It is possible to celebrate a completely unique wedding here, but you should choose your service providers carefully.
Plan it yourself – and still stay relaxed
Perhaps you live in Cyprus yourself, or at least have enough time to travel here and plan your wedding yourself. In that case, I would definitely recommend at least using a day planner.
In other words, someone who will pull all the strings on your wedding day. You don't want to be busy with schedules, delivery times, technical issues and other organisational matters on your wedding day when you really just want to celebrate. And your guests should also be able to simply enjoy the day. This day will never come back, and it's definitely not the right time to be preoccupied with anything other than your love. In fact, that's one of the few things I would have done differently at my own wedding in hindsight.
How I can support you
I live in Cyprus and work here as a free wedding officiant. My passion is the wedding ceremony itself – a speech that tells your story, shows your personality and lets all your guests know why you are here today and why it should be this way. I am not part of a standard package and I do not offer a standard service. With me, you get unique wedding speeches that captivate you and your guests. The wedding ceremony is what makes your wedding a wedding. It sets the emotional tone for everything that follows. And that's exactly why there's no room for mediocrity here. No room for clichés and empty words. My goal is for you to feel supported. To be able to let go. To cry and laugh at the same time and just be happy.
Because I am based here, I have worked with various locations and service providers and developed a good sense of what works well in practice and what is more of a nice theory.
If you are planning your wedding in Cyprus and want a personal, non-kitschy, but deep and loving wedding ceremony, you can book me for exactly that: your free wedding ceremony.
Upon request, I also offer additional support – for example, if you
- want to plan it yourself, but need someone to advise you from a local perspective,
- Looking for someone who can make your individual wishes come true on site
- or needs someone who can keep an eye on the proceedings, coordinate with other service providers and monitor the atmosphere on the day of the wedding itself.
No large agency package, but honest, individual support – to the extent that you really want and need.
If you are considering a wedding in Cyprus and want it to not only look beautiful but also feel wonderful, getin touch with me.
