Wedding in Zante Information Pack

Wedding in Zante Information Pack
Wedding Information Pack ................................................................................................................................ 1
You’ve booked your wedding and paid the deposit, what happens now? ......................................................... 2
On booking your wedding ........................................................................................................................ 2
18 to 12 weeks before the wedding ....................................................................................................... 2
16 to 12 weeks before the wedding ....................................................................................................... 2
4 to 8 weeks before the wedding ........................................................................................................... 3
One week before wedding ....................................................................................................................... 3
Things to consider when planning your destination wedding! .......................................................................... 4
Buying your wedding dress ............................................................................................................................. 4
Choosing the time of day to marry.................................................................................................................. 4
Choosing a colour theme or flowers ................................................................................................................ 4
Wedding Preparation Checklist ....................................................................................................................... 4
At the Beginning ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Closer to the wedding................................................................................................................................. 5
Once You’re Mr and Mrs! ............................................................................................................................... 6
Changing your Name.................................................................................................................................. 6
Information about Zante ................................................................................................................................... 7
Tsilivi, Zante(also known as Zakynthos) .......................................................................................................... 7
Zante’s Climate .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Things to do ................................................................................................................................................... 7
Local Information ........................................................................................................................................... 9
Flights and your Wedding Dress ...................................................................................................................... 10
Refer a Friend! ................................................................................................................................................. 14
Travel Incentives .............................................................................................................................................. 15
Protect your special day with insurance! ......................................................................................................... 16
Why choose wedding insurance from E&L®?................................................................................................. 16
You’ve booked your wedding and paid
the deposit, what happens now?
Once you have returned your booking form and deposit your wedding planner will send you a letter
confirming that all arrangements are now in place, however what happens after that?
With a UK wedding there is much to plan and arrange. However with a destination wedding, we are
here to take all the more mundane tasks out of your hands, so you just get involved in the more
interesting parts such as flower types/colours, menus and choosing entertainment.
For this reason it may seem like you have nothing to do for a while, please be assured that
everything is moving along smoothly and due to the nature of a destination wedding certain services
can only be arranged a short time in advance. We hope this guide will help answer some questions
both now and in the future as they arise, and believe us, they will. I don’t think we’ve had one bride
or groom that hasn’t had the jitters at one time or another! It’s perfectly normal and we’re always
just a phone call or email away to help calm any stresses or panics you may have.
Below we have listed the order in which things normally proceed for a destination wedding. These
may differ slightly for each situation and destination, however, this will give you a good idea of how
easy everything will be.
On booking your wedding
A deposit confirmation letter will be emailed once your deposit is received, in this letter we may
request some legal paperwork such as birth certificates, copies of passports etc, this is so we can
check the documents and highlight any potential issues early on in the planning process.
18 to 12 weeks before the wedding
We will contact you to finalise the legal requirements for your wedding. This begins so close to your
wedding because (depending on destination) the legal paperwork may only be valid for 3 months.
We don’t believe in burdening you with information before it is relevant but rest assured we will
guide you through the whole process and tell you exactly what to do and also provide paperwork
templates where possible.
This timeframe also allows us to deal with any problems should they arise. All paperwork is scanned
and emailed or couriered to your destination prior to your arrival to be checked by the local
authorities. So you can be confident that as long as you follow our instructions, you will have no
problems upon arrival at your destination.
16 to 12 weeks before the wedding
We will contact you to arrange the final details of your wedding package. For example, guest
numbers, flower types, reception menus and evening entertainment, in summary anything and
everything about the wedding itself!
4 to 8 weeks before the wedding
Final payment for your wedding will be due. You will receive a final invoice around 6 weeks before
your wedding.
One week before wedding
Your final check call. Your wedding planner will arrange to call you shortly before departure to
ensure you have the correct documents to take with you and answer any last minute questions.
They will also give you further information on what will happen once you reach your destination and
help to ease any last minute worries!
We’re available in the mean time to discuss ideas and answer any questions you have as they arise,
things change frequently in the run up to a wedding and so to avoid confusion we ask for
confirmation of all wedding package details before the final invoice is issued.
Larger weddings may need more preparation time, but this process is suitable for parties up to 80.
We hope you find this useful, please keep this form together with your other wedding documents so
you can refer to it when necessary.
Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding.
Lisa Burton
Principle Consultant
Things to consider when planning your
destination wedding!
Buying your wedding dress
Always consider the climate and time of day you are marrying, you don’t want a heavy material if it’s
45 degrees outside. There’s nothing stopping you having a princess style dress just ensure it’s the
lightest material you can find, and if you are marrying in winter surrounded by snow then go for it,
fake fur hat, gloves, the ‘whole shebang’.
Choosing the time of day to marry
We usually recommend you marry late afternoon or at sunset. The beautiful scenery is one of the
main reasons for going abroad and is always more picturesque at these times of day, however
consider your comfort and the comfort of your guests.
As an added benefit your photographs will look better in softer light and sunset photographs are
always particularly romantic!
Choosing a colour theme or flowers
All countries have different specialities when it comes to flowers. If there are limitations your
package will normally list which flowers are available, or it may state ‘local flowers’. For example
lilies don’t grow in summer months and won’t survive long in hot conditions, so they may need to be
transported to you at an extra cost.
Some destinations such as Cyprus and Santorini can fulfil almost any request, but if you have a
particular bouquet in mind then it’s always advisable to check with your wedding planner to avoid
disappointment.
When choosing a colour, consider your surroundings, dark colours may not be appropriate for a
beach wedding, whereas pale summer colours wouldn’t suit a winter wedding! Look at as many
magazines as possible and make a scrap book of ideas, you can then see what works best together
and develop your theme from there!
Wedding Preparation Checklist
The information below has been compiled to help you prepare for your destination wedding. We
hope you find this useful.
At the Beginning
When deciding on your guest list, consider the following:
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Remember to give plenty of notice; your guests may plan their annual holiday early!
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Consider putting a limit on the amount of guests you invite. This is especially advisable if you
are working to a budget.
Do you want to stay in a separate hotel to your guests? Remember this is your honeymoon.
We highly recommend that you don’t try to organise your guests travel arrangements
yourself. Checking availability and tracking deposits for large amounts of people can quickly
turn into a nightmare! We advise that you give your guests the location and date of the
wedding and let them book their travel independently.
o Over the years, many brides and grooms have asked for help with travel. We highly
recommend ‘Overseas Experience’ our in house agency (see below). Jo has years of
experience and fantastic local knowledge of the hotels in our wedding destinations,
why not give her a call on 01925 419 555.
o You can either give her your guests details and she can contact them or you can give
them her details for them to contact.
o Incentives are offered for all bookings connected to the wedding party.
Do you have your original full length birth certificate available? If not you need to request a
new one from your local register office or online at www.gro.gov.uk .
When booking your accommodation or flights, check to see what the airline policy is on
transporting wedding attire; see our reference list in this pack for general guidelines of the
main charter airlines.
If you have to store your dress in the hold remember to buy a suitable waterproof suitcase
and ask your wedding dress supplier if they will help you pack your dress.
If you want to add a bit of tradition to your big day, then maybe consider spending the eve
of the wedding apart. Some hotels offer this service free of charge for wedding couples. If
not enquire with your travel agent about booking another room for the night.
Closer to the wedding
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Arrange for neighbours to take care of any pets.
Remember to check with your doctor to see if your injections are up to date and if you need
any new jabs for your destination, you don’t want to be feeling ill on your wedding day!
Organise an emergency crisis kit, so you are prepared for every eventuality, in your kit you
should have:
o Needle and thread, to match your dress and the bridesmaid’s dresses.
o Spare pair of tights!
o Clear nail varnish in case you pull any ladders in your tights, this should stop them
spreading and help disguise the ladder.
o Nail file.
o Plasters.
o Tissues.
o Prepare a first aid box; include headache tablets, plasters, something for an upset
stomach, diarrhoea and a bottle of disinfectant.
Remember when you are in a hot climate and possibly marrying outdoors you will sweat
more than usual, so take a toiletry bag with deodorant wipes and makeup to reapply
between the ceremony and the photographs. You can let one of your relatives or wedding
planner hold the bag for you.
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You don’t want the groom to see the dress before the big day so ask a relative to hang the
dress in their room, or alternatively, ask your hotel if they can arrange somewhere safe to
store it.
Do you or any of your guests have any special dietary requirements for example, vegetarian
or lactose intolerant? Remember to tell us so we can advise the caterers.
Lastly we are here to ensure your wedding goes as smoothly and effortlessly as possible so anything
we can help with please ask.
Once You’re Mr and Mrs!
Changing your Name
Along with getting used to married life you will also need to change your name, here is a checklist of
people you will need to inform:
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Bank.
Building Society.
Any credit or debit card companies.
Passport Office
o http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/index.htm
o Forms available from most post offices
DVLA - Driving licence
o http://www.dvla.gov.uk/coa.htm
o Leaflets are available from your local post office.
Household utilities bills
o Most companies accept a photocopy of your marriage certificate as proof of name
change, it may be a good idea to make plenty of copies when you first arrive home
and then you can store your original certificate away safely.
Voting Office
o This can easily be done when you re-register your details annually by post.
Your employer.
You should also consider making a will, please note that any existing wills are revoked on marriage,
so you will need to prepare a new one.
Information about Zante
Tsilivi, Zante(also known as Zakynthos)
Tsilivi is situated on the North East coast of the idyllic island of Zakynthos, 9km from the airport and
5km from the capital of the island, Zakynthos Town.
Tsilivi has fast become one of the most popular resorts on the island, due it is bustling atmosphere
with many family run tavernas, restaurants and bars, mixed with traditional charm and the relaxed
way of life.
Originally a small resort, it has expanded in recent years and become THE place to stay for lively
exciting holidays without moving away from its traditional Greek heritage. The resort is set amongst
olive groves and vineyards with ‘mountains’ to one side and the sea to the other. Tsilivi’s special
features include a fantastic golden sandy beach around 2km in length that is well worthy of its ‘Blue
Flag of Cleanliness’ award. The sand shelves gently into the sea making it the ideal place for children
to enjoy themselves in complete safety and there are plenty of beach bars for those all important
snacks and drinks.
The friendly fun atmosphere combined with the natural beauty of Greece and the guaranteed
weather makes this resort an ideal setting for people of all ages – a perfect holiday!
Zante’s Climate
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Avg Temp (°C)
12
13
15
19
24
30
33
33
28
23
18
14
Avg Temp (°F)
52
54
58
65
74
86
92
92
82
72
63
56
Things to do
We have visited Zante many times so can answer any questions you have about the resort of Tsilivi
and the island in general.
It’s great to lounge on the beach or by the pool, but if you want to get out and about and see the
island, here are some of our recommended day trips and things to do during your honeymoon. Some
of these ideas have also been recommended by previous brides and grooms who wanted to share
their ideas with you.
Smugglers Cove AKA the Ship Wreck.
Smugglers Cove is a daytrip that just has to be experienced! An
isolated bay with the wreck of an old smuggling ship embedded in
the sand, this is a prime spot for snorkelling in the caves.
The best way to get here is by boat trip. There are plenty of day
boats that go to the bay, however we recommend the smaller more
traditional boats, they tend to leave earlier than the larger boats and
offer a more personal service. We were on an old WW2 mine
sweeper with beautiful wooden decks. The captain of our boat was English and loved sharing his
knowledge of the island with us, the food was great and the day a real experience. If you’re lucky
you may even see a dolphin!
Cape Schinari (Blue Caves)
These blue caves are amazing. They appear a vivid colour of blue
when the sun reflects on the water. The best way to see these caves
is by day boat which you can get from Zante town. The boat trip
takes you all way around the island in one day, giving you the
opportunity to see the whole of Zakynthos from its beautiful
coastline!
Turtles
Known locally as Caretta Caretta, the endangered species of the
loggerhead turtle can be seen in the resort of Laganas, over 900
turtles every year come here to lay their eggs and swim in the clear
warm waters.
Porto Vromi and the most Westerly point of Greece
Hire a car and take a trip around the island, you will find the largest
Greek flag at Greece’s most Westerly point, there is a great bar
nearby with a fantastic viewing platform. Just up the road from there
is Porto Vromi, a deep cove where submarines used to lay in wait in
WW2. This is a great place to chill by the side of the bay or jump off
of the cliffs into the crystal clear water.
Beaches
Zante is full off lovely beaches waiting to be discovered, we
recommend hiring a car and discovering the island for yourself. Make
sure you take your snorkelling gear with you, the marine life is
fantastic!
Local Information
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Local currency in Zante is the Euro.
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Zante local time is two hours ahead of the UK in summer time.
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The local Greek people are very friendly and welcoming. Tipping isn’t expected but is
welcomed, as per usual tipping for good service, which will mean almost everywhere!
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Local cuisine – Zante offers some of the best sea food we have tasted, along with local Greek
food in traditional tavernas. It also has great Italian, Indian and Chinese restaurants (often
Indian and Chinese in the same restaurant!), and don’t worry kids there’s also a McDonalds
but it is at least it’s tucked away and quite subtle in design!
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The local beer is Mythos and well worth a try, as of last year you would pay around £2.75 for
a pint and a half of beer in a bottle
Flights and your Wedding Dress
The following information is for anyone taking a wedding dress abroad and dreading leaving it in the
hold!
This is particularly aimed at couples travelling independently. If you are booking a package holiday
with a UK tour operator then you should consult them directly about their policies.
Please use this for guidance purposes only and always check the terms and conditions before
booking your flight.
Matt’s Top Tips:
1. Sounds simple but the best thing to do is get yourself a case or a wedding dress travel box
(helpfully we have some of these on our website) which conforms to the hand luggage sizes,
that way you know how big a space you have to pack your dress into.
2. Ask your wedding dress shop to pack your dress into your hand luggage for you.
3. Work out what hand luggage you need to take and free up as much room as possible for
your dress. Some things can be bought after you clear security and taken onboard in carrier
bags e.g.
o Sweets and drinks (you won’t be able to take drinks through security, so get them on
the other side before you board, they are far cheaper than on the plane).
o Magazines and books.
4. Share your h2b’s hand luggage or ask another member of your party’s (Mum and Dad,
anyone!) if they can hold some things for you.
5. Don’t forget that anything you are wearing doesn’t count, I wouldn’t go all crazy and get one
of those jackets with a bazillion pockets but you can stuff your pockets with purse, iPhone,
mp3 player etc and then dump them into your boots bag on the other side of security.
6. If you have any children over 2 then generally they get a full baggage allowance, including
hand luggage.
7. Not strictly to do with packing, but when you get your wedding dress out at the other end,
hang it in the bathroom for a day or so, the steamy air will help any creases drop out.
8. If you really can’t fit your wedding dress into hand luggage then it may be worth taking out
extra insurance in case anything happens en-route. Bear in mind that it is unlikely you will be
able to find a replacement wedding dress in the time you have, but it will help you to find
something nice.
Below are extracts from some airlines websites, this information is subject to change though so
always check directly with your airline. It may even be worth talking to them to see what advise they
have.
First Choice Airways
http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/
0870 757 2 757
“If you're taking a wedding dress, limitations on cabin space mean that it must be
carried in the hold. So long as it's packed in an appropriate suitcase, we're happy to
carry your dress and other important accessories free of charge (up to 10kgs per
couple). However, we strongly recommend you take out separate insurance for these
items.”
Ryan Air
http://www.ryanair.com/en
0871 246 0000
“Hand Baggage Restrictions for Flights Departing from the UK:
Each passenger is permitted to carry ONE item of hand baggage through the airport
security point. The maximum dimensions must not exceed a 45cm (length), 35cm
(width) and 16cm (depth). These dimensions would include the wheels, handles, side
pockets, etc.). All items carried by passengers will be x-ray screened.”
BMI Baby
http://www.bmibaby.com
0871 224 0 224
“Each passenger (except infants) is permitted one standard piece of hand luggage,
with maximum dimensions 55x40x20cm and a maximum weight of 10kg.
These dimensions relate to a packed bag, including the wheels/handles. If your
baggage doesn’t fit comfortably into one of our gauges at the airport, you will have to
check it into the hold and there will be an additional fee to pay to do this.”
Thompson
http://www.thomson.co.uk/
0870 1900 737
“Each customer is entitled to a check-in allowance of up to 15kg baggage and a
maximum 5kg for hand baggage (max. dimensions: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm).
Other bags such as handbags, laptop bags or laptop computers must be carried
within the single item of cabin baggage. We recommend that video cameras, mobile
telephones and other valuable items should be carried as hand luggage; they must not
exceed the dimensions outlined above.“
Thomas Cook
http://www.flythomascook.com/
0870 243 0416
“Each person is allowed to carry one 5kg piece of hand luggage on to the plane up to
55cm x 40cm x 20cm (child's Trunki are accepted). Your hand baggage should
contain any valuables such as money, credit cards, jewellery, keys and your camera.
Some items are restricted from hand baggage and should be packed in your hold
baggage. You may be charged an extra £40 for any extra bags that you take to the
gate and they will be placed in the hold.”
British Airways
http://www.britishairways.com
0870 850 9 850
“You are allowed one piece of hand baggage plus a laptop or handbag.
A 23kg (51lbs) maximum bag weight applies and you must be able to lift the bag
unaided into the overhead lockers in the aircraft cabin.
Please see below for sizes.
Your main piece of hand baggage is up to the dimensions 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (22in
x 18in x 10in), including the handle, pockets and wheels.
Your bag must fit into the bag gauge, available at the check-in area.
Your laptop or handbag is up to the dimensions 45cm x 36cm x 20cm (18in x 14in x
8in), including the handle and pockets.
Your laptop or handbag must fit under the seat in front of you.
Your maximum number of hand baggage items
Number of hand baggage items
Passenger
Type of baggage allowed
One bag
Adults and
and
children(aged 2 and
One laptop-sized bag, handbag
over)
or briefcase
One bag (for items your infant
Infants (under 2 years)
may require during the flight)
Weight
23kg (51lbs).
You must be able to lift the bag
into the overhead locker unaided.
You must be able to lift the bag
into the overhead locker unaided.
Refer a Friend!
60% of our business is received from personal recommendations, so we thought it was only right to
thank our referrers!!
This new system means that you’ll receive a £15 deduction from your wedding package for every
couple you refer to us who then books a wedding and we’ll give them a £15 discount off their
wedding as well!
Simply give your unique reference number which can be found on all correspondence to your friends
to send in with their booking form and we’ll ensure you get the credit!
And, this won’t stop after you’ve got married, instead we’ll reward you with a £15 high street gift
voucher for every referral which books a wedding, even after your big day!
Travel Incentives
Overseas Experience is our in-house travel agency and as such can offer some amazing deals to you
and your guests.
As well as being competitively priced, you will have the peace of mind knowing that we know the
dates and timing of your wedding so can ensure that ever one who books with us will be with you for
your wedding.
We are also a tour operator which means that we can tailor make a holiday package, and
importantly ATOL protect it, just for you which gives you added flexibility on, for example, travel
dates, who you fly with, duration of stay, where you stay (for example if you would like to stay at 2
hotels).
We know how time consuming it can be, and we can help with organizing all of your guests travel,
simply let us have their contact information and we’ll do the rest, alternately give them our contact
details and let them contact us.
In addition, for every booking from the wedding party we will credit the Bride and Groom with £25
towards their holiday, as a thank you from us.
I have enclosed a form for guest’s names, contact numbers and email addresses and what relation
they are to the B&G2B (e.g. Mother of the Bride, best man, guest).
All that leaves me to say is congratulations! Happy planning and we hope to hear from you soon.
Jo and the travel team at Overseas Experience Ltd
01925 419 555
[email protected]
www.theoverseasexperience.co.uk
Protect your special day with insurance!
Your wedding day should be one of the happiest days of your life. Months of planning should mean
that you can enjoy the wedding of your dreams. Sadly, however, things can and do go wrong. What
would you do if the dress got damaged or went missing in transit, the rings get lost, or the
photographs don’t develop? Wedding Insurance can’t guarantee that your special day will run
smoothly, but, wherever you are in the world E&L Insurance are only a phone call away to help
financially should anything go wrong?
Why choose wedding insurance from E&L®?
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Providers of wedding insurance for over 5 years.
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Cover available for weddings and commitment ceremonies in the UK and Overseas.
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Cover available for couples where either the bride or groom is a serving member of the
armed forces and they are unexpectedly posted overseas.
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Cover available for marquees and ceremonial swords.
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Policyholders receive a voucher providing 10% discount off the purchase of wedding
products from Forever Memories.
Lowest Prices Guarantee
If you take out a wedding insurance policy from E&L and find the same cover cheaper elsewhere,
they will refund the difference.
Simply click this link here to go to E&L’s website for full details.
http://www.eandl.co.uk/agents/0019214.htm?wedding
Entertainment & Leisure Insurance Services Ltd
Registered office – Thorpe Underwood Hall, Ouseburn, York, YO26 9SZ
Registered in England and Wales no. 1986896.
Entertainment & Leisure Insurance Services Ltd. is an appointed representative of Equine & Livestock Insurance Co. Ltd.
(Registered in England & Wales no 294940) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority no.
202748.