tourist press

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CONTENTS

Nothing is more romantic than a wedding at the Le Meridien Limassol Spa & Resort

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Sensational venues for your wedding ceremony

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A fairytale wedding emerging from the faith of love

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Exceptional sweet tastes and astonishing bomboniere for your wedding that reminisce of… Cyprus!

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Combine ideal Cypriot touches to your wedding…

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Treatments originating from oceanic sensations

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A special edition for weddings in Cyprus

Incredible places to have your wedding, a romantic hon-eymoon or even your wedding anniversary are both Ayia Napa and Protaras. The vast sea views, endless golden beaches and the provision of high quality services make this region an ideal place for lovers.Magical sunsets, the picturesque scenery, the wonderful smells of local and international cuisine, luxurious hotels and fashionable shops are just some of the many facilities that a large number of tourist resorts consists of. Ayia Napa and Protaras are two small cities, very close to each other, with friendly and hospitable locals that give you the impres-sion that they never go to sleep, since the music and excit-ing rhythms provide an amusement and entertainment until the early hours.With all the comforts that you will fi nd here, you will defi nite-ly enjoy the perfect atmosphere for a unique and organized wedding ceremony that will make this special day of your life an unforgettable experience. Besides, this part of Cy-prus is popular for having committed political and religious marriages for foreigners and Cypriots alike.In Ayia Napa and Protaras, you could do anything that you might feel is special. Anything that you have dreamt of for your wedding from choosing a fairytale carriage with white horses to a lavish limousine or to even meet your mate with the accompaniment of musicians, walking along together until the entrance of the ceremony. The ceremony of civil marriages does not only take place in the city hall of Ayia Napa and Protaras, but also in the

beautiful gardens of hotels overlooking the Mediterranean. If it is winter though, the hotels have adequate facilities and spaces that do not deprive this amazingly beautiful view. If you will perform a religious wedding in the area, you will fi nd from large churches to traditionally quaint chapels, as well as small churches within the beautiful scenery of hotels.Two luxurious hotels with the tradition of making dream-ful weddings are the Grecian Sands in Ayia Napa and the Grecian Park in Protaras. Within their areas, you will dis-cover the perfect place for your wedding ceremony, with a remarkable and fantastic environment that will not only impress your guests, but will provide you with an astound-ing backdrop for your photos. The experienced staff of the hotels will take the responsibil-ity to organise, decorate and fulfi ll all the details in order for you to have the wedding that you have always dreamt of, along with a fantastic and memorable reception. In coop-eration with the confectioners and chefs of the hotels, deli-cious gastronomic delights with outstanding combinations will truly leave you very pleased and satisfi ed. Both hotels have their own wedding coordinator, who is on hand at all times to ensure that your special day runs as smoothly as possible. Besides, nothing is too diffi cult. The many years of experience will be evident from the mo-ment you arrive to the hotels, where you will already feel the sense of beautiful memories that will fi ll your heart with affection and completeness.

Sensational venues for your wedding ceremony

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Escape in the beauty of your dreams At this fi ve-star paradise, set in jasmine and citrus-scented gardens, the dedicated wedding coordinator will help you to plan your Dream Wedding Day and ensure that the Spe-cial Day will run nice and smoothly. How about a wedding ceremony in the Hotel Chapel or under a marquee near the beautiful sandy beach? Or perhaps you would prefer the exchanging of vows on the Hotel’s fabulous wooden Pier or barefoot directly on the sandy beach as the sun dips behind the horizon?

Attention to detail You will be delighted to meet the international team of the resort delivering impeccable service with the warmth of Cy-priot hospitality. No detail is too small to make your Dream Wedding Day come true. Celebrate with a wedding recep-tion by one of the outdoor pools, in the gardens, on the sea-view terrace or in one of the 7 restaurants and choose your food and beverage package according to your own preferences. Unwind both body and mind at the award win-ning Spa offering a choice of 130 different treatments and packages, including Bridal packages and Hair Salon with highly experienced teams.

Wedding & honeymoon specials As part of the Le Meridien commitment to ensure that your wedding experience is as exceptional and memorable as possible, the Hotel offers the following complimentary ame-nities for all wedding couples holding their wedding cocktail reception and wedding meal in the Hotel, with a minimum of 7 nights’ stay:

• Flowers on arrival • Fruit basket and bottle of selected local wine upon arrival • Canapés in room nightly • Upgrade of wedding couple’s room • Upgrade of room for bride’s and groom’s parents sub ject to availability • Decoration of bedroom on the wedding night including, rose petals on the bed and in bath, aromatic essence oils and candles in the room • One “His” & “Hers” Supervised Thalassotherapy Programme • Breakfast in room with a glass of champagne, the morning after the wedding • Bottle of champagne on the wedding night • Wedding cake, 1-tier, 18cm • One candlelit dinner with a bottle of house wine during the couple’s stay (reservation 24 hours in advance) • Le Meridien exclusive present

Honeymooners and/or wedding couples not hosting cock-tail reception and dinner at the Resort with a minimum of 7 nights’ stay will receive the following amenities: • Flowers and fruit basket in room • Bottle of sparkling wine and chocolates in room • One “His” & “Hers” Supervised Thalassotherapy Pro-gramme • Upgrade of wedding couple’s room subject to availability

Make the most of upcoming travel by registering as Starwood Preferred Guest and earn points on your wedding and honey-moon booking. For more details, call the wedding coordinator on +357 25 863000 or e-mail at [email protected] or visit www.lemeridienlimassol.com/weddings

Nothing is more romantic than a wedding at the Le Meridien Limassol Spa & Resort

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Cyprus boasts an extensive range of health and welfare spas, which offer a broad range of traditional and alterna-tive treatments and therapies that make you feel amazing, just before or even after your wedding ceremony. By lux-uriating in these oases of tranquility for your honeymoon that are situated at some of the island’s top hotels, where beautiful surroundings overlook the lush gardens or stun-ning views, you may be pampered to your heart’s content. The myriad of facilities designed for your absolute well-being include: indoor and outdoor pools, freshwater and saltwater pools, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, ham-mams, fully-equipped gyms, aerobics studios, treatment rooms and beauty salons. Friendly and attentive staff will fulfi ll your every need, by revitalizing and energizing you with beauty and health treatments to tone your body and clear your mind. You will be given counselling and fi tness assessments that fi t your own specifi c requirements and personalized sessions to make you feel special. You are bound to feel rejuvenated with the wide array of services on offer.Below is a description of some of the magnifi cent and puri-fying treatments that are offered at the spa hotel “Le Méri-dien Limassol Spa & Resort” in Cyprus, which was voted as the best Spa in Europe and in the world. The palm trees and swimming pools with wild rocks, where the water fl ows like a waterfall, form an exotic landscape and the perfect setting for your ultimate renewal and relaxation. The Jewel

in the resort’s crown is the 3,000-square metre “Le Spa” with seven elegant mosaic indoor-outdoor seawater pools, each with its own temperature and salinity, 34 treatment rooms, dis-creet and personal attention, tranquil environment, relaxing area with breathtaking views of the sea, hammam, saunas and a state-of-the-art health club facility with a heated indoor pool. ThalassotherapyThalassotherapy originates from the Greek word “thalassa”, which means sea. This treatment is considered to be the medi-cal use of seawater as a form of therapy. The properties of seawater are believed to have benefi cial effects upon the pores of the skin. In thalassotherapy trace elements of magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium and iodide are found in seawa-ter, which are absorbed through the skin. The benefi ts to your health are amazing - improved circulation, boosting of the im-mune system, reduction of cellulite, toning of skin, detoxifi ca-tion, muscle relaxation, improved sleep and increased energy. WatsuThis unique treatment is performed in the high-density pool of the Le Méridien Spa and Resort, where the body is supported by the natural buoyancy of the water and the capable hands of the masseur. The treatment takes the form of mobilization and stretching movements to return the skeletal system to a natural balance, whilst applying both pressure and manipula-

Treatments originating from oceanic sensations

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tion techniques to the meridian lines and points in the body, thus encouraging the circulation of energy solely within 40 minutes.

Four Hands Harmony MassageFrom Hawaii, traditional Lomi Lomi Massage movements sweep the length of the body like a synchronized dance. The experience of having two intuitive therapists working at the same time is the closest that one could imagine to such a mystical experience of the sublime. Four expert hands complement and follow each other to caress and comfort your body’s energy fl ow, resulting in the ultimate experience of the power of touch. Journey of the SensesFrom the Mediterranean shores of Cyprus, warm, volca-nic stones are used to give balance, energy and relieve tension. Cypriots traditionally use the riches of the island to protect, nourish and moisturize their sun-kissed bodies, conditioning their skins with the most exotic aromas and textures imaginable. Drench yourself in the natural nour-ishment and sensuality of milk and frangipani scented oil and take your senses on a journey of pure indulgence.

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Whether you prefer an intimate civil gathering, a traditional church service in a stunning venue or the sheer opulence of a chapel wedding at a luxury hotel, the island of Aphro-dite can exceptionally meet all of your dreamful ceremony requirements. From a traditional feast in a village tavern to the ultimate sophistication of a luxury reception in a mag-nifi cent hotel, Cyprus consists of a multitude of fantastic op-tions that aim to make every wedding special and to gener-ate an ideal dream day, regardless of wedding party size or budget. Moreover, Cyprus is most fortunate as it enjoys an intense Mediterranean climate with an amazing sunshine, especially from May until October. From October through to April the temperature is cooler with little rain, lots of sun-shine and an astonishing emerald green panorama. Cyprus, the land surrounded with crystal blue waters, is the perfectly unique place to enjoy remarkable and astounding forms of weddings. Beach weddings are surely an alterna-tive to the regular and to even the traditional weddings as they consist of the faculty to make your whole day a memo-rable moment. By the Mediterranean Sea with a glass of champagne, the smooth noise of the waves caressing the rocks and your beloved one is merely a memory that will indubitably last a lifetime. Exclusive weddings on deco-rated yachts surrounded with ravishing balloons, rosettes and fl owers and anchored in a natural bay are individually tailored to formulate the most perfect wedding, you could ever imagine. As far as tradition is concerned, it has nowadays entered into the perspective of a modern era, in which a traditional wedding has become an incredible ceremony in a fantastic

luxurious hotel with its own stone-built church, renovated spaces and specifi cally embellished areas that embrace this paradisiacal happening. Its incredibly romantic sea view rooms that gaze upon the breathtaking sunset, the sil-ver sands and the massive blue are certainly a panoramic view of the Mediterranean aspects, which touch upon the island of love and beauty. Cyprus is composed of the greatest love stories one could ever think of, a mythical sensation that Aphrodite, the God-dess of love and beauty has produced into the island. On his way to the Holy Land, Richard the Lionheart used his might to possess the island, but in the heat of battle, the ar-row of love had hit him and fell in love with the enchanting Berengaria of Navarre in 1191. Throughout the centuries, on the island love become a myth and myth became a leg-end with picturesque patterns of history remaining perpetu-ally as a fantasy. Live your own myth under the love spell of the Goddess, who rose from the foam of the sea and chose Cyprus to be her outstanding sacred palace, inciting feelings of affec-tion and passion, wherever she passed through. By leaving footprints in your heart feel her strength in your soul and live your fairytale not as a dream, but as a day of excite-ment and joy, a day to look forward to and to remember for the rest of your lives. On the land of such an incred-ible beauty generate your own true fairytale and as most fairytales end “and they live happily ever after”, this would undoubtedly be the delightful ending of your story as well. A story of true love on the island with a miraculous sense of peace, hope and robust desire.

A fairytale wedding emerging from the faith of love

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In Cyprus, traditionally, the treats that are offered at wed-dings are the so-called “loukoumia” and “kourampiedes”. The loukoumia are round shaped, manufactured from semolina, their fi lling is either of almond or pistachio nuts and are sprinkled with white powdered sugar. On the oth-er hand, the kourampiedes are either round or square in shape, baked with almonds and externally, whitened with powder from grounded sugar.Recently, more modern treats have been added with either a delicious chocolate or caramel fl avour, such as brownies, biscottini made from biscuits and creamy chocolate, even plain almond treats fi lled with chocolate and of course, many other tasty and delicious treats. Each treat is en-closed in a wrapping or decorated box, according to the colours that dominate at the wedding. Usually, the colours that are utilised are white, gold, silver or pink. The wedding treat can become even more impressive, if a small card is placed on top of it with the wedding date and the names of the newlyweds. A lot of people, along with the treat, offer a gift of remem-brance, the bomboniere, in order to remind the guests of their wedding. You can consequently also offer an incred-ible bomboniere of remembrance to your guests so that they can place it in their home or offi ce and hence, to pro-vide a beautiful memory of a wondrous event. These gifts could be both silver and hand-made, like small bowls en-graved with Cypriot images such as grapes, boats or even the Cyprus Mouffl on and the Goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. The bomboniere in particular should include tra-ditional white and pink almond candies wrapped in tulle

and tied with a ribbon. On the ribbon a thank you card could also be added that includes the names of the couple.If you have too many guests though and the cost of the silver bomboniere is relatively high, you could also choose ceramic or silver-plated ones instead. In Cyprus, you will fi nd outstanding and very amusing wedding favours, whose large choice selection of shapes and quality will certainly not disappoint you.If you want to remember your wonderful experience on the island of Aphrodite, you do not have to do much, but to choose the bomboniere that will remind you of Cyprus. The delightful and memorable moments of your wedding that you will live in this part of the world will be marked in your soul and will continually be repeated in your mind for a life-time.

Olive: A bomboniere that you will fi nd in ceramic or silver-plated in a number of distinct shapes. This wedding favour is symbolic, since the olive tree is considered from ancient times as very precious and beloved in the Cypriot tradi-tion. According to the ancient Greek myths, this was a gift from the Goddess of wisdom, Athena, to the people, who to thank her they named a Greek city after her called Athens. The olive is a symbol of peace, protection and fertility. In Cyprus, there are many olive trees and this specifi c choice of wedding favour is surely one of the most desirable and cherished gifts of remembrance.

Ship: In either silver-plated or the ceramic edition with open

Exceptional sweet tastes and astonishing bomboniere for your wedding that reminisce of… Cyprus!


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sails that are embellished with small pearls, this bomboniere forms a majestic choice. Cyprus as an island surrounded by the Mediterranean, from long ago consisted of an advanced shipping industry. Likewise, the ship symbolises the trip that you will commence with your chosen one, a common path that solely fi ts two.

Grape: For this wedding favour, other than the silver-plated and ceramic versions, a type made from cherry pearls that form the shape of a bunch of grapes also exists. The grape was loved from ancient periods and to its tribute the God of wine, Dionysus, was born, who taught to people the art of wine manufacture. Additionally, the grape is also included in many Roman mosaics. In Christianity, wine symbolises the blood of Jesus Christ. Grapes also symbolise blessing, abundance, romance and joy, since drinking wine that is pro-duced from such a smooth fruit, a strong welfare is adopted.

Pomegranate: In a silver-plated or ceramic edition, com-monly on the one side of the design of the wedding favour a part of the interior of the fruit is illustrated, mostly for added beauty. There is also, however, a closed version. The pome-granate is regarded as the symbol of good luck, long life and abundance, due to the many seeds that it retains. Dieticians describe it as the bank of antioxidants that can terminate the formation of a number of serious illnesses. The Egyptians discovered its properties many thousands of years ago and placed pomegranates in the tombs of the pharaohs. In Cy-prus, there are many pomegranate trees and many farmers

support that this fruit helps to reduce the problem of stress.Apart from the wedding favours described above, there are also many other shapes that are equally as beautiful and impressive, where a photograph of the couple is placed. Furthermore, if you like the religious Christian tradition, you could offer small icons of Saint Mary either painted or silver-plated, in conjunction with stone or thick glass. In Cyprus, you could also acquire a bomboniere in the shape of a cross in a ceramic, silver-plated or wooden form that is truly very awe-inspiring.Lastly, the cake will remarkably complete this marvellous sweet moment of your life. A successful wedding cake is the result of a great cooperation of the newlyweds with the con-fectioner. Combine an aesthetic touch along with your own creativity to create an outstanding wedding cake with an ex-ceptional and magnifi cent taste that will surely please your guests.The plans for a wedding cake change and are constantly renewed, following the latest fashion trends. There are nu-merous types of cakes from decorated and colourful ones to quite simpler ones, which keep hold of a white colourful touch and are covered in real aromatic champagne or salm-on fl owers.Depending on the number of guests, your cake should be accompanied by free standing pieces ready to be served. Therefore, the main cake remains decorated on your table, throughout your wedding ceremony. What is defi nite is that the wedding cake is formed by the taste and choice of the newlyweds. Since you are in Cyprus grasp the opportunity and take the challenge to combine seasonal fruits with the taste of dried nuts. The result will pleasantly surprise you mainly in terms of a ...sweet taste!

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Undoubtedly, customs and traditions around each event are more or less common in every part of Cyprus. Every town, every village also adds some of its own components, which compose and refl ect the cultural development and identity that is worth being studied.Once in Cyprus, weddings formed a large and signifi cant part of life, where many people took part in. Weddings used to be held only on Sundays and the festivities used to last for a whole week, ending with the Cypriot tradition of the “anti-gamos” on the following Sunday. Today, only the villages of Cyprus maintain the traditional romantic beauty of marriage, but not as they did in the bygone era, since the whole process surrounding the marriage has waned in our time. Most couples now choose to enjoy this special moment of their life with close friends and relatives, therefore as a result, former weddings with thousands of guests have been substantially reduced.It is fairly diffi cult to imagine what used to happen during the days of a wedding. Similarly, it is hard to estimate the size of the celebration which was developing through the event, the feelings of the newlyweds, but also of their relatives, as well as the atmosphere that prevailed after a seven-day feast with food, music and dancing. What is certain is that it is truly excit-ing, interesting and even magical as we discover the magni-tude that the Cypriot wedding once kept hold of.Below are some traditions of a Cypriot wedding of earlier times, which have been adapted to present trends. You could even try them and if nothing else ... they will undoubtedly make you laugh with exhilaration...

The decoration of the brideFormerly, the decoration of the bride used to be performed with live traditional music, mainly with a violin or lute, in the presence of the family, relatives and the bride’s girlfriends who dressed her and did her make-up and hair. The people at this

event used to provide tips to the musicians for their musical piec-es, who formed a pleasant atmosphere by creating a small cel-ebration at the home of the bride, just before the big happening.Nowadays, this could be… a rejuvenating day at a spa centre! If you are a couple about to get married, simply enter the spa a day before your wedding and get out, if possible just before... the actual wedding ceremony. You will defi nitely be well-treated and feel your body fi lled with shine and beauty. The specialised treat-ments, massages and French products will generate miracles and amazing wonders! As far as music is concerned… at the spa you will enjoy exceptional melodies fi lled with peaceful sounds of nature and the smooth sound of the sea. Don’t forget to provide the staff of the spa with tips for the wonderful treatments that they have accomplished!

The DowryThe dowry was once necessary for women to get married. Es-pecially, so that the father-in-law would not trick the groom and stick only to… promises, a contract of wealth was invented in the presence of a priest and other notables of the village, which was called the “fortune contract” or in Greek “proikosimfono”. Some of these contracts would even talk about chickens, goats, donkeys, saucepans, bed sheets, mattresses, lands and other household items that were used back then. As money was hard to fi nd due to the poverty caused by the First and Second World War, the groom’s family would demand from the family of the bride, a number of material things that were needed and used during that epoch.If this happens in our times, then the groom would be considered to be… a fortune hunter! It is likely that he will lose the woman of his dreams forever, after she most probably swears at him fi rst. Some programming though in advance is not as bad, just to see,

Combine ideal Cypriot touches to your wedding…



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where you stand fi nancially. Therefore, take a piece of paper and pen sit opposite each other and make a list of what each of you have separately acquired and what you will obtain… together. You will discover a wealth increase as everything is multiplied by two! Of course this is the case if no debts are involved. Add in your life the gifts and money from the wed-ding envelopes of the guests and commence to dream of... your honeymoon before the arrival of a baby or even a brand new car!

The purity of the brideDuring the fi rst night of the wedding, the family of the bride would wait anxiously for the morning to arrive so that the groom would tell them the good news of the purity of their daughter. In the case that the bride was not a virgin this would cause a big upset up to a murder and most of times, the wedding would fall apart. If everything however went as planned, in the morning, the mother of the bride would show the mother of the groom the bloody bed sheet and offer the couple some honey with nuts so that their life would progress sweetly and full of love. The in-laws would obviously be very satisfi ed that their children were united in marriage.Today, all this is considered to be out-dated as the bride would be regarded as old-fashioned, if she did not have any previous erotic experiences. Bring into mind your past glories before the wedding and at that point put a full stop and certainly, no more involvement of mothers… and mother-in-laws! They have the talent in continuous and repetitive questions. You certainly do not want to be brought in a diffi cult position as they force you to

count the number of men that passed through your life! If you tell your mother-in-law that you met quite a lot of men before marry-ing her son, she will defi nitely be very disappointed that her son married you. She will most likely also hold a grudge against you until the day she dies! If your mother fi nds out about this she will also be furious, but only because you did not... shut your mouth!

AntigamosDuring the fi rst Sunday after the marriage, the happening of the antigamos, which could be explained as “instead of the mar-riage”, would take place. The newlyweds would invite all their relatives to their home for food and wine. The relatives, as the custom stated, would go around the village from one house to the next, where the hosts would give them a chicken. They used to tie their legs and hang them on a piece of wood that someone would carry on his shoulders. Imagine what a rumpus was occur-ring during that time with the chickens hanging from somebody’s shoulder cackling in a panicked state within the narrow streets of the village. When the piece of wood fi lled with plenty of chickens, they would then take them in the yard of the couple. There, they would slaughter them, cook them and have fun until late with the entire family. This happening signalled the end of the marriage celebrations.If you think about it, it would be nice after your marriage to have something like... frequent anniversaries. You could begin with the week after your wedding, continue in fi fteen days and then... ev-ery month! Besides, what will you do? Nothing more than going to a restaurant or a traditional tavern so that you can celebrate the wonderful memory of your wedding. What you must take care of, just to maintain the tradition, is to of course, eat… chicken!

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tourist press

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religious wedding

wedding anniversary

wedding coordinator

organized wedding ceremony

luxurious hotels

beautiful scenery of

beautiful gardens of

city hall of ayia napa