A Timeless Wedding Beneath the Branches of a 1000-Year-Old Tree in Greece

There is a magnificent mountain called Pelion in Greece that rises at the root of a peninsula and looks east out onto the waters of the Aegean Sea. The tale goes that Pelion was named for the father of mythology’s most famous warrior, Achilles, and that it was home to Chiron the Centaur, tutor of Hercules, Jason, and all of the most impressive heroes in Greek history.

This beautiful place, steeped in so many ancient stories, was irresistible to Georgia + Thanos as they planned their wedding, and they knew they had to add their own love story to that list of epic tales.

“Pelion, a place rich in heritage and best known as the land of the centaurs, felt deeply meaningful to us,” say Georgia + Thanos. They combined forces with a planner + event designer from Pompon Story (also named Georgia) and set out to plan a destination wedding there in the shadow of Pelion, in the vine-covered, cobblestoned village of Tsagarada.

“We wanted our celebration to honour the beauty of the lush green setting,” the couple shares. “As lovers of nature, it was important that our wedding worked with the landscape rather than against it. We were especially inspired by the centuries-old plane tree that shelters the square of Tsagarada, hoping our special day would be blessed by both the Church and the natural embrace of this remarkable tree that meant so much to us.”

And so the pair centered their celebration beneath that thousand-year-old tree in Tsagarada. Lights dripped and twinkled. Candles flickered. And, for the evening, Georgia + Thanos’s dreamlike wedding brought history to life.

“The color palette combined soft pistachio and muted mauve, creating a gentle contrast that felt both fresh and timeless,” says planner + event designer Georgia of how the team brought tonal romance to the historic spot. “Styling details carried a vintage allure, with layered textures, velvet fabrics, patinated elements, and thoughtful compositions that echoed the spirit of old-world gatherings while remaining refined and intentional.”

Something old? The rich mythology that swirled around the entire celebration.  Something new? The couple’s modern take on a timeless aesthetic. Something borrowed? The branches of the town square’s ancient plane tree, draped in glowy fairy lights. Something blue? The Aegean, sparkling just offshore. And you’ll see it all in these incredible photos from Konstantinos Art.

“This wedding was a celebration of place, myth, and meaningful design,” planner Georgia says. “A modern love story told in one of Greece’s most enchanting landscapes.”

There is absolutely nothing subtle about these ornate, gold, filigree-and-chain wedding heels by Ferragamo, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Our Musical Choices
Recessional
Vivaldi – The Four Seasons (Recomposed by Max Richter)
First Dance
Sam Cooke - "What A Wonderful World"

When Myth + Marriage Collide

Manousenia created the day’s classically inspired, hand drawn, sage green paper goods + signage.

“This wedding unfolded beneath the generous shade of a 1,000-year-old plane tree, where nature, history, and romance came together effortlessly,” planner Georgia remembers. “Deeply inspired by the landscape and its folklore, the celebration embraced an organic elegance rooted in place and storytelling.”

“A highlight of the design was the custom table formation, created to wrap organically around the ancient tree. This bespoke layout transformed the tree into the heart of the celebration, a symbol of longevity and connection, inviting guests to dine together in a setting that felt intimate, grounded, and deeply connected to nature.”

Our Favorite Memory
The day was filled with unforgettable moments, both comical and deeply emotional, from the priest forgetting our names, to the cake arriving adorned with yellow, blue, and green confetti (not quite as planned), and the joyful tradition of smashing plates in the square. But above all, the moment etched forever in our hearts was our first look into each other’s eyes, the instant it all felt real, a memory we will cherish for a lifetime.

If you haven’t caught on by now, we kind of can’t stop thinking about these dazzling fairy lights from 4RecordsEvents.

“As a bride, I (somewhat irresponsibly) left wedding dress shopping rather late, but Georgia, my wedding planner, came to the rescue—helping me source inspiration that we ultimately followed through to the very end,” bride Georgia says. “My dress was a bespoke WONA Bridal design: a simple pleated gown elevated with carefully chosen gold details, including Schiaparelli dove brooches and Salvatore Ferragamo heels.”

“None of this happened by accident. Every detail required a clear vision, patience, and months of searching—each accessory harder to find than the last.”

“My husband, on the other hand, made exactly one trip to Moss Bros, spent an hour ironing his suit on the morning of the wedding, and was ready to meet me at the aisle. Effort levels… beautifully unmatched.”

Zelos Flowers embraced + expanded upon the muted magic of the day’s pistachio + blush color palette, adding lovely hints of lavender to the arrangements as well.

“Thanos is my high school sweetheart,” bride Georgia says. “When we met, he was the most popular boy in school, already known for his promising football career.”

“Our young love was tested in 2011 when my family and I moved to the UK, but distance didn’t break us. For a year, we stayed connected through daily Facebook messages and late-night Skype calls. In 2012, Thanos joined me in the UK. I was 17 when we reunited, and we’ve been happily together ever since! A first love that truly lasted.”

So obsessed with the way that this dramatic draping moment was also the reception seating chart!

Check out this maximalist SoCal wedding and this breathtaking Baltimore wedding for some of our other favorite fabric draping wedding decor moments, specifically in shades of green 💚

Tabletop decor from White Lilac and furniture by LH Event Rental came together perfectly to create the modern yet mythologically romantic reception setup.

Can you feel the idea of a destination wedding in Greece calling to you? You’re def not alone. A few of our other fave couples to make the trip to Hellas for their nuptials are featured in this Old Money elegance wedding, this ‘minimal but extra’ wedding, and this opulent floral-filled wedding.

Our Advice
When planning an overseas wedding, choosing a reputable and trustworthy wedding planner is essential—someone who truly understands your vision and shares your values as a couple. Mutual respect and clear alignment make all the difference. Once you’ve found the right person, give them the trust and autonomy to bring that vision to life; it matters just as much to them as it does to you.

We were incredibly lucky and deeply grateful to Georgia at Pompon Story, who not only delivered but exceeded every expectation we had as a couple, all while thoughtfully respecting the natural surroundings and local heritage we wanted to honour.

At the heart of it all, however, is the marriage, not just the wedding. Don’t get caught up in the small details. Be present, soak up every moment with your husband, and enjoy the day fully. The seconds, minutes, and hours pass far too quickly, and if you’re lucky, you’ll only do this once, so savour every single moment.

We love the grounded, earthy elegance of theses brown bridesmaid dresses!

Also, fringe-y antique lamps as reception decor? What could be more charming! (This eclectic, “unhinged” San Fran wedding did it, too!)

Συγχαρητήρια, Georgia + Thanos! Your dreamy, timeless destination wedding in Greece was a triumph of mythic proportions! All the best from the team at GWS!