Honest Advice From Our Experience on the Ground
Planning a wedding — especially a destination one — often begins with joy, anticipation, and an avalanche of Pinterest boards. But somewhere between choosing napkin shades and coordinating guest flights, things can get unexpectedly complicated. Over the years, we’ve walked alongside many couples through this journey, and while no two weddings are ever alike, certain missteps tend to come up again and again.
We don’t believe in fear-based planning. The goal isn’t to eliminate every possible mistake — that would take the life out of the whole thing. But there’s value in being aware, in gently sidestepping the avoidable and leaving more room for what matters: celebrating your connection in a way that feels true.
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1. Planning Without Clarity
One of the most common mistakes we’ve seen is jumping into the planning process without first asking: What do we actually want this to feel like?
It’s tempting to start with the aesthetics — the dress, the location, the style — but without clarity around your priorities as a couple, decisions pile up without direction. That’s when people start feeling overwhelmed, overspent, and strangely disconnected from their own celebration.
What helps: Before anything else, take the time to define what really matters. Is it intimacy? A long dinner with your closest friends? A beach ceremony at sunset? A wild dance floor? Start from feeling, then move to form.
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2. Overcomplicating the Guest List
It’s easy to fall into the trap of inviting out of obligation — distant relatives, friends you haven’t spoken to in years, plus-ones you’ve never met. But with destination weddings in particular, the guest list can become a source of logistical and emotional stress.
What helps: Choose guests who feel essential to your experience. A smaller, more intentional gathering often brings deeper connection, lower stress, and more room to be present. And if you do go bigger, do it because you want to — not because you feel you should.
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3. Assuming DIY Means More Control
DIY details can be beautiful — handwritten notes, personal playlists, meaningful rituals. But we’ve also seen couples take on too much, believing it will save money or make the day more “them”, only to find themselves overwhelmed and exhausted in the days leading up to the wedding.
What helps: Choose DIY elements with care. Focus on the things you genuinely enjoy doing or that carry emotional value. Delegate the rest, if you can. Your time, energy and mental space are worth more than a few saved euros.
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4. Neglecting the Local Context
Destination weddings come with their own rhythm. Local customs, legal requirements, weather patterns, even time zones — all of these can affect your plans. We’ve met couples who arrived on the island expecting things to move at a city pace, only to be thrown by the slower tempo of life here.
What helps: Trust the pace of the place. Plan early, ask questions, and stay open to the rhythm of your surroundings. It often leads to unexpected moments of beauty.
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5. Skipping a Back-Up Plan
Outdoor weddings are magical — until the weather shifts. We’ve witnessed beachfront ceremonies under perfect blue skies… and others where wind and waves had their own agenda. The key isn’t to avoid nature, but to respect its unpredictability.
What helps: Always have a contingency plan. A shaded terrace, a covered area, or a flexible schedule can make the difference between stress and serenity. You may never need it — but if you do, you’ll be glad it’s there.
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6. Trying to Please Everyone
Perhaps the most emotionally exhausting mistake is trying to make everyone happy. Parents, friends, extended family — well-meaning as they are, their voices can sometimes drown out your own. We’ve seen couples bend their plans until they barely recognise them.
What helps: Kind boundaries. Invite input, but stay rooted in your shared vision. A wedding is a gift you give each other. Let it reflect who you are — not who others expect you to be.
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7. Forgetting to Pause
In the middle of all the planning, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that you’re getting married. We’ve seen couples who planned stunning weddings — but were too rushed or distracted on the day to fully take it in.
What helps: Build in pauses. A quiet moment before the ceremony. A few minutes alone together after the vows. A gentle morning. These are the parts you’ll remember most — not the centrepieces.
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Let’s Make the Experience Yours
Planning a wedding is never just about the logistics. It’s about honouring the people you are and the life you’re choosing to build together. Mistakes are part of the process — but with a bit of foresight, many of them can be softened, sidestepped, or even turned into something meaningful.
If you’re planning a wedding in Cyprus — whether on the beach, in the hills, or under the stars — and looking for thoughtful support that allows space for your rhythm, we’d love to talk.
Let’s begin with a conversation — and see where it takes us.
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