Baglioni hotel Luna wedding, Venice, Italy.

Three day luxury wedding in Venice – Anna and Vazaios

I’ve been lucky enough to photograph weddings all over Europe, including a previous wedding in Venice,  however these have always been for British couples. Anna and Vazaios live in Athens, Greece, which made this very different to my previous European weddings. You might well ask why a couple from Athens would book a UK photographer for a wedding in Venice, I asked the very same question. Anna’s best friend found me based on previous Greek Orthodox weddings I have photographed at St Sophia in London and loved my documentary wedding photography approach.

Anna owns an art gallery in Athens and Vazaios is an architect, they met by chance during a business meeting by a mutual acquaintance, Vazaios eyes charmed Anna and a few more meetings followed which ended in intense love! Just 15 days after the initial meeting Vazaios asked Anna to marry him, several years later and after many magical moments Anna said yes!

Documentary wedding photography in Venice

Anna and Vazaios booked me for pure documentary wedding photography as a photographer from Athens would take all the portraits and group photographs leaving me to concentrate on what I do best, totally hands off documentary with nothing posed or prompted.

I’ve no idea what Anna and Vazaios told their guests about booking a UK based photographer, but when I arrived in Venice I was greeted as the famous photographer from London, absolutely no pressure then!

Day one, an Evening Cocktail Party at Baglioni Hotel Luna, Venice

The first event at this three day wedding was a Casablanca themed cocktail party on the rooftop terrace at Baglioni Hotel Luna, which has stunning views of San Giorgio Maggiore, the perfect place to watch the sunset while sipping champagne or one of the many cocktails on offer from the bartender. After dark there was live music and dancing late into the night.

Day two, The Greek Orthodox marriage at San Giorgio dei Greci

Saturday began with the morning and afternoon at leisure to enjoy the sights of Venice, after a very good Italian breakfast with three cups of espresso I set off to enjoy Venice before the 5pm ceremony at San Giorgio dei Greci  (Church of Saint George of the Greeks).

The majority of wedding guests had travelled from Greece to Venice on group flights, with others travelling from around the world.

As well as being one of the most romantic places in the world, Anna and Vazaios had chosen Venice as the Greek Orthodox churches in Greece do not allow as long for the ceremony as those in Italy.

Guests arrived by water taxi followed by the couple who travelled together the short distance from their suite at Baglioni Hotel Luna.

In a Greek Orthodox wedding the couple do not exchange vows as marriage is a holy sacrament, in fact the couple do not speak during the ceremony which is rife with symbolism and tradition. The wedding consists of two parts: the Service of Betrothal and the Service of the Crowning. The latter consists of five sections: The Prayers; The Crowning; Readings from Scripture; The Common Cup; and the Dance of Isaiah. Rituals in the sacrament are done three times.

Day two – Water taxi tour of Venice

Immediately following the wedding ceremony, Anna and Vazaios boarded an Italian Riva sports boat for a tour of Venice while the wedding guests made their way to the reception. This gave Anna and Vazaios a chance to enjoy some time with just the two of them as the sun set over Venice.

Day two – wedding reception at Baglioni Hotel Luna

Arriving back at the Baglioni Hotel Luna, the couple were greeted by the guests followed by a drinks reception with free flowing Bellini cocktails. A six course dinner was then served in the ballroom, followed by speeches and dancing until midnight.

Day three – aperitif at the Caffé Florian, St Mark’s Square

Day three was much less formal than the previous two days with everyone gathering in St Mark’s Square at Caffé Florian, one of the oldest coffee house in the world (established 1720) located in the most romantic square in the world. This was time for farewell for some of the wedding guests, while others stayed on for a few more days in Venice. It was also time for me leave Venice and return to London.