People are taking destination weddings to new depths these days, at least one Greek couple is, literally.
Petros and Myrto exchanged vows in the first underwater civil ceremony at the bottom of the sea off the Sporadic island, Alonnisos on Monday August 29, with the bride wearing a wedding gown and the groom donning a semi relaxed tux look.
Petros from Edessa, northern Greece, and Myrto from Komotini, in the North-East of the country, as well as the bridesmaids had scuba diving lessons for four days on the island before the cermony, state broadcaster ERT reported.
In attendance to this less than usual affair was Alonnisos Mayor, Petros Vafinis, President of the Tourism Commission, Maia Agallou, the bridesmaids, diving instructors and an underwater cameraman, who all wore scuba and diving gear.
“The feelings that flood you at the bottom during the wedding are indescribable,” said the Mayor.
“In the ideal conditions of peace the underwater environment offers, time stops and this moment belongs exclusively to the couple.”
The submerged nuptials were performed by a civil celebrant with special waterproof surfaces and this was all captured by a team of underwater photographers in scuba gear that was live broadcast for the family watching on the beach.
The initiative was started when a call out was made last February by the Municipality of Alonissos to couples for the organisation of underwater weddings.
“Our goal is to “open” a new market for Greece and the island. Alonissos is developing into an international diving destination that this year was chosen by hundreds of scuba divers from all over the world,” Mayor Vafinis says.
“In general, the island recorded very high occupancy throughout the summer season that reached up to 100% for August, while the tourist traffic will continue until the first ten days of October.”
Source: Keep Talking Greece
