We will be in Crete from the 20th to the 27th. The official wedding events are scheduled for: Welcome Party: 24th Wedding Ceremony & Reception: 25th Post-Wedding Brunch: 26th We'd love for you to join us early and enjoy some pre-wedding adventures! We're planning activities like scuba diving, kiteboarding, exploring waterfalls and gorges, and generally having a lot of fun in the sun. We'll share more detailed information about these activities, including booking details, as soon as we've finalized our plans. Stay tuned for updates!
We are beyond excited to have this quality time with you all on the beautiful island of Crete! We know most of you are making a vacation out of this, and that is exactly what we hoped for. We love getting to share our love of travel with our favorite people. We arrive in Crete on 9/20 in the afternoon and have some loose plans for the days leading up to the official wedding events. We are sharing our plans in case there are any you want to join in on, but there is absolutely no pressure or expectation to do so. We want everyone to have a wonderful vacation and just want you all to feel welcome. In addition to these plans, we will be spending evenings enjoying the villa, so you are also welcome to hang out with us there. These are all loosely planned to allow for island-time flexibility, so just reach out to either of us if you want to spend time together before the official wedding events start on the 24th. September 20th Arrival Day: Bride & Groom land around 3 PM and will be settling in at the villa for a relaxed evening. September 21st: We plan to explore the beautiful city of Chania and Seitan Limania beach for some cliff jumping. September 22nd: We'll be heading to Kalypso Beach and to the Kourtaliotiko Gorge, a beautiful natural site with a big waterfall. September 23rd: The ladies will be doing an afternoon in Rythmnos, while the guys are going scuba diving and hanging out afterward (location to be determined).
Our wedding ceremony and reception will be held at the Villa Lygia in the charming town of Petres, located on the beautiful island of Crete, Greece. You can find it on Google Maps via this link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/J6DXBYDUtrdfU3t48 .
If you want to explore the island on your own, here are some other amazing things to check out: Balos Lagoon: A breathtaking beach known for its turquoise waters and exotic natural landscape. Elafonissi Beach: Famous for its stunning pink sand and shallow, crystal-clear water. Samaria Gorge: One of Europe's longest gorges, perfect for a challenging but rewarding hike. Knossos Palace: The largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and a must-see for history lovers. Archaeological Museum of Heraklion: This museum has an incredible collection of artifacts from Crete's history. Lasithi Plateau: A fertile plateau with traditional villages and thousands of iconic windmills. Agios Nikolaos: A charming town centered around a picturesque lake and a bustling harbor. Spinalonga Island: A historical island and former leper colony with a fascinating and poignant story. Outdoor Adventures: Crete is a wonderful spot for kiteboarding, scuba diving, ATV tours, etc.
We adore children, and while we'd love to celebrate with everyone, our wedding ceremony and reception are designed as an adults-only occasion. We understand that this may require some planning for our guests with little ones. However, we're thrilled to include families in our celebration at two other events: 1. Our welcome party, which will likely involve swimming or snorkeling, is a casual and family-friendly gathering. 2. Our post-wedding brunch will also be a relaxed and welcoming event for children. We recognize that some infants require their mothers' presence, and we fully welcome breastfeeding mothers to bring their babies to the wedding. If you'd like to make your trip a family vacation, we're happy to provide recommendations for local childcare services. Please reach out to Naomi for more information.
Yes there will be private transportation from the designated hotels to and from the wedding villa for all three wedding events. We will provide meeting times and locations.
I want to share an odd quirk about traveling to Crete that can save you a lot on flights. Essentially, don't search for flights directly to Crete, as it will often double the cost. Instead, follow this search process: First, search for flights from your departure airport to Athens International Airport (ATH). Flights to Athens are generally more frequent and often significantly less expensive than direct flights to Crete. Once you've booked your flight to Athens, book a separate connecting flight from Athens to one of Crete's two main airports: Heraklion International Airport (HER) Chania International Airport (CHQ) By booking your flights in this two-step process, you'll likely find considerable savings compared to searching for direct flights to Crete.
Our wedding planner has advised us that the best prices for accommodations are typically found when booking closer to your travel dates. Unlike many destinations, booking far in advance in Crete often caters to tourists, resulting in higher prices. Closer to the date, locals tend to book, and prices become more competitive. We understand that planning travel can be stressful, so we'll work with our planner to identify the optimal booking window. We will then share this information with you as soon as we have it. This will help you secure the best possible rates for your stay. Stay tuned for updates!
If you need to obtain or renew a passport for our wedding, here's what you need to know: 1. Visit the official U.S. Department of State website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport.html 2. For first-time applicants, you'll need: - Proof of U.S. citizenship (e.g., birth certificate) - Valid government-issued photo ID - Passport photo - Completed Form DS-11 (available here: https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds11_pdf.PDF) Remember, you can fill out the form online and print it, along with making necessary copies, at many local libraries. 3. Find a nearby location to submit your application in person: https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ 4. Get a passport photo. The location search tool above can help you find places that offer this service. 5. Processing typically takes 4-6 weeks, but given current circumstances, we recommend applying as soon as possible. 6. For more forms and information, visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/forms.html
Hot but might need a light jacket during night, as the wedding venue is by the sea. The average temperatures range between 70-80 degrees during the day with cooler evenings.
Cocktail Attire but please note the wedding is outside so please plan for warm weather.
June 25th, 2025