A 2-Day Hiking Elopement in Crete: Alyssa & Tyler’s Epic Adventure

Alyssa and Tyler’s elopement in Crete, Greece, was magical. They celebrated their love in the scenic village of Loutro and hiked through the breathtaking Imbros Gorge. From romantic coastal views to a rugged, adventurous hike, their wedding had a little bit of everything. Get all the details below.

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About This Elopement Adventure

Photography by Honeybee Weddings

“On the southern coast of Crete, Greece is the small, isolated village of Loutro. Loutro is only accessible by a boat or a hike across the hill. It screams ‘Mamma Mia’ and adventure all wrapped into one! Not only did this couple seek a meaningful, adventurous wedding day, but hiking is so important to them that they decide on booking a 2-day hike at Imbros Gorge.

Day 1: Greece hiking elopement in Crete

It all starts at Nikkos Small Paradise, a quaint hotel and restaurant right on the coast. After the crazy switch-back road to get there, it’s easy to see why people like to stay a long time there. After stopping at a cafe for cappuccinos, we went to Loutro! We explored as the waves crashed. We climbed up the mountain past Loutro and we came across standing ruins that would be the frame for their ceremony backdrop.

The ceremony was absolutely stunning, we all happy cried. After the ceremony, they toasted to Baba using her champagne glasses to celebrate the family who couldn’t be there.

Day 2: a hike to Imbros Gorge

The next day, we arrived at Imbros Gorge (don’t forget the $2.50 to enter), through the windy roads. The hike started with stone steps leading down into the gorge. Not only were we laughing the entire time, but the hike was the best way to start the day! We winded around through speckled rocks and smelled the pine trees.” [Kelsey and Jake, the photographers]

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LNT and Advice When Eloping In Crete

“There’s no permit required. However, LNT is always top of mind! We stayed on the designated trails and stepped only on durable surfaces – read, rocks! We avoided stepping on the vegetation, so we didn’t damage any of the fragile little ecosystems going on! We also packed everything we brought with us, out. During the champagne pop, I made sure to watch the cork and pick it up!” [Kelsey and Jake, the photographers]

5 Tops Tips From The Photographers

1. Definitely do a two-day adventure! The wedding day isn’t enough to capture all the epic shit that Crete has to offer. The hiking here is off the charts, so choose another day to hike it up!
2. Soak in the local culture! Lamb is a big deal here and having an authentic meal highlighting the Grecian culture was really meaningful.
3. If you want to avoid the crowds, avoid Santorini.
4. Pick a dress that has light fabric that will fly in the wind! Greece is windy (especially on the islands) and your photographer will thank you! Think Chiffon (lightweight, sheer, flowy), Tulle (gives a bit of a floating effect), or Silk Crepe (lightweight with a bit more texture). The longer the train, the higher the impact!
5. Getting married legally in Greece requires a lot of paperwork well in advance. If you want to skip the stress, do the legal part at home and have a symbolic ceremony in Greece.

Learn how to leave no trace during your elopement. 

About The Couple

“Not only are they the adventurers who will go on that 2-day elopement with the hike afterward, but they are the nicest people ever! They also complement each other really well. While one is the adventurer, the other is the homebody. They are the anchor and the sail. We laughed the ENTIRE day as we were hiking, these two are so funny!

They really just did it their way! So many couples go to Greece for Santorini or Athens. These two wanted something off-the-beaten-path and that’s exactly what it was! I loved Alyssa’s dress for the slit and how it was so flowy and blew in the wind! I also love a good hiking boot with a dress photo!” [Kelsey and Jake, the photographers]

Memorable Moments During This Elopement

From the photographer:

“The special moments were everywhere, but a few that caught my attention were when they got to stop for cappuccinos before heading to their ceremony. Building time into the timeline for spontaneity is so important, and I saw it play out here. Also, when they chose the exact spot for their ceremony was pretty magical. You could just see that THIS was the place they would say their vows.

They have been together for 10 years, so this really was a great way to solidify the relationship they’ve spent such a long time building. There’s this one spot we found on the hike back when the sun was setting. It was really gorgeous and the couple got a chance to soak in the last remaining light of the day.

Final Words of Advice From the Photographer

“These two trusted me with the location matchmaking and I spent so much time finding the perfect locations that were exactly what they were looking for! My advice is to do your homework on how to get to these remote places. Do you need a 4WD car or a boat? Also always have a backup plan!

The winds made the waves too choppy for our scheduled boat ride, so we walked over instead and it worked great! Also, let your wedding be EXACTLY what YOU want! Don’t let anybody tell you what your wedding should or shouldn’t be. It should be 100% unapologetically authentic to you and your relationship! Alyssa and Tyler did just that and we love them for it!” [Kelsey and Jake, the photographers]

Learn how to elope here. 

Vendors

Photography + Video | Honeybee Weddings

Beauty | Michalis Tsotras 

Ceremony | Grecian Ceremonies

Venue & dinner |  Nikos Small Paradise

Photos From This Elopement