Set in the beuatiful gardens of Vasilias Nikoklis Inn in Paphos, Monica and Declan’s summer wedding in Cyprus feels like the sweetest kind of full circle moment. They always joked that if they ever got married, it would have to be in Cyprus, the place where it all began and in the end, that’s exactly what they did! Four years after they met, Declan proposed during a trip to Japan, in the beautiful Shukkei-en Garden in Hiroshima, so it only felt natural that their wedding theme became flowers, especially since they are both completely obsessed with plants. With Marry Me in Cyprus bringing their garden style outdoor celebration together, the day unfolded among the venue’s traditional architecture, stone courtyards, vine-covered terraces, eucalyptus gardens and lush landscape, all styled in the prettiest shades of white, ivory, pink and peach. For the exchange of vows, a stunning semi-circular floral arch was created with hydrangeas, roses, peonies and eucalyptus, blending so naturally with the setting. «As our wedding ceremony took place in such a beautiful garden at Vasilias Nikoklis In, we didn’t want to overwhelm the space. We kept things soft and romantic with a pastel floral arch that blended naturally with the surroundings…..», the bride shared with us. The whimsyical and pretty details continued into the reception, where a long wooden banquet table was dressed with flowing runner fabrics in nude, blush and dusty peach tones cascading loosely along the table, while floral garlands of white roses, peach roses, soft pink accents and lush eucalyptus were arranged around and along the edges. Monica, who is a graphic designer, designed and printed all of their menus and invitations herself, making every detail feel even more personal and true to them. Love Island Cakes created a two-tier wedding cake with a minimal ivory base and organic decoration featuring fresh flowers in peach, blush pink, powder blue and white tones, arranged asymmetrically for a romantic fine art garden feeling. From the proposal in Japan to a flower-filled celebration in the place where their story began, Monica and Declan’s destination wedding in Cyprus is filled to the brim with pretty details, personal meaning and the kind of garden romance we cannot wait for you to see more of!
Captured by Wedding Photography By The Kellys.
«I’m originally from Spain but have been living in the UK for several years. Seven years ago, I joined a friend on an artistic retreat in Cyprus for a couple of weeks, a trip that would end up changing everything. I met Declan at the Art School in Lempa, where we were both spending time. He was organising an exhibition, and we first started chatting quite casually while I was cleaning one of my brushes on the patio. That same evening, I went along to see his exhibition and he invited me to a BBQ with his colleagues at the school. It all felt very easy and natural from the start. After returning to the UK, Declan moved to London, and we’ve been together ever since.»
«We always joked that if we ever got married, it would have to be in Cyprus, the place where it all began. And in the end, that’s exactly what we did! Declan proposed me four years after we met, during a trip to Japan. I had a feeling it might happen at some point during the trip, but I had no idea when or where. I’ve never been one for big, public proposals, I’m quite a reserved person. While we were visiting Hiroshima, he kept insisting that we go to a beautiful Japanese garden called Shukkei-en, which translates to Sugar Garden. It was peaceful, intimate and one of the most stunning places I’ve ever seen. I was distracted feeding the fish, completely in the moment, when he asked me and it couldn’t have been more perfect.»
«I always knew I wanted a wedding that felt romantic and whimsical, something that truly reflected us as a couple. It was important to me that it felt very “Declan and Monica,” with a Mediterranean touch (a little nod to my roots) and that our guests would feel relaxed, happy and completely at ease. More than anything, we wanted to share a place that meant something to us, somewhere that told part of our story. We were very hands-on and ended up personalising every single detail. Our theme naturally became flowers, as we’re both completely obsessed with plants (we have more than 40 at home!). We also wanted the setting to echo the moment we met: something rustic, with a garden and a patio. The moment we found Vasilias Nikoklis Inn, we just knew it was the one.»
«As our wedding ceremony took place in such a beautiful garden at Vasilias Nikoklis In, we didn’t want to overwhelm the space. We kept things soft and romantic with a pastel floral arch that blended naturally with the surroundings. For the tables, we brought many of our own decorations: small candle holders and delicate pink and blue jars filled with soft, natural flowers. We also added lemons to the tables as a tribute to Cyprus.»
«As a graphic designer, I was lucky enough to create and print all of our menus and invitations myself, which made everything feel even more personal. We also had the help of a close friend who is an illustrator and she designed beautiful posters for our guests as a gift, one version featuring flowers and another with lemons, both in English and Spanish. I also have to mention my bridal bouquet, thanks to the team at Marry Me in Cyprus and the florist Maria. When I saw it, I actually cried! I had asked for something relaxed and slightly unstructured, with different heights and soft pastel tones to match my bridesmaids, and they absolutely nailed it. And the wedding cake from Love Island Cakes created the most beautiful cake. They completely understood my vision, it was beautiful and very tasty! Honestly, everything about the day felt perfect. I wouldn’t have changed a single thing.»
«Because we had our wedding abroad, we were lucky enough to spend a few days beforehand with our family and friends. They really made a big effort and being able to see everyone there, relaxing, celebrating and sharing that time together made the whole experience even more special. It’s so difficult to choose just one favorite moment, as everything felt incredibly meaningful, but if I had to pick, it would be that moment at the altar when we were finally pronounced husband and wife. I just felt overwhelmingly happy.»
My advice to other brides whose are now planning their wedding that would be to prioritise yourselves and your partner. This is your day, your wedding. There will always be opinions and outside noise, even from those closest to you, but it’s important to stay true to what you both want. At the end of the day, it’s a celebration of your love and you should feel free to do it exactly the way you envision.
Monica , Bride
«My wedding dress was from the Spanish brand Pronovias. The moment I saw it, I fell in love. I hadn’t come across anything quite like it. It had everything I was looking for: a soft, boho-romantic feel, delicate lace and beautiful draped sleeves. Fun fact, it was actually the very first dress I tried on! I spent the following week visiting other designers and boutiques, but I couldn’t stop thinking about that first one. When you know, you know. To complete the look, I also wore a bespoke floral tiara by Lotka Atelier. She is incredibly talented and immediately understood my style and vision. It was such a lovely experience getting to know her and seeing her creativity come to life.»
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