Antonia and Daren chose Temple of Concordia, the oldest fully intact Greek temple in the world, as the location for their wedding. Located in an ancient Greek settlement in Agrigento, Sicily, the temple is devoted to Harmonia, the Greek goddess of balance and harmony, so it felt like exactly the right place for them. “We wanted to create an elevated and elegant Greek mythological scene brought to life”, the bride told us, “a ceremony where the ancient gods and goddesses descend upon the earth. Ancient, ethereal, timeless.”

The couple dressed in gold and white. Antonia wore a gown adorned with stars and a Carbickova Crown. Daren wore a laurel crown and eyeliner. The ceremony itself was performed by the Phoenicians, a duo who specialise in reconstructing ancient rituals. They brought prayers, sea-water purification, and blessings to the deities. A friend of the family led the vows. She’s been a spiritual guide to Antonia since childhood.

One moment really stood out for them. “Feeling the energy of the temples as the Phoenicians performed the ancient prayers to the ancient deities was powerful,” they said. “It felt like we were part of a timeless thread of people choosing to bring their lives together in union.”

After the ceremony, the group moved to Villa Athena, overlooking the ruins. There was no dance floor, just a long table, a vegetarian feast, and a conversation that ran uninterrupted through the Sicilian night. “It felt like a large dinner party,” they said. “Because it was so intimate, everyone was able to participate in a collective conversation.”

The couple worked with a local wedding planner, Agnes, to bring their vision to life. “She understood our vision for an ancient Greek ceremony and executed it flawlessly with elegance and attention to every detail,” they said. “All of the vendors listed above did an incredible job creating a magical experience.”

Asked what advice they’d give to others, their response was: “With your wedding you get to create your own traditions, imbue them with meaning and symbolism, and experience the day in a way that honours the two of you. Everyone’s biggest takeaway from our wedding was that they had never seen a couple so in love, and a wedding that so clearly expressed the essence us. That is the biggest joy we could have had from the experience.”