Medieval Wedding at Aptera

If your mind prefers the medieval period, then it is possible to have you celebrate your civil ceremony in Aptera, an old Venetian castle overlooking the Suda port in Chania. The view is remarkable and would provide an ideal setting for your vows. There is also the added bonus of being close to Georgetown (Giorgolopoli), a very beautiful and much under rated holiday resort between Chania and Rethmnon. In fact, I can picture a civil ceremony in Aptera, a restorative swim and religious ceremony in Kournas lake followed by a lakeside taverna to hold your reception before driving back to Giorgolopoli. The possibilities that we have on offer are endless! Use your imagination and choose your own historical period and dress up for your wedding. Contact us and we  advise you how to proceed.

Of course, there may be some of you who feel that the Medieval Period is the place to be in which case, like John you may find the story we found of a knight in 1095 a fascinating insight into the medieval period here on Crete. Who knows, maybe you have your own fair tales to tell...along to the accompaniment of wine, music and local dancers!

I am John Constansos and after having served my Emperor Alexis I Kommenos in Levounion in Thrace, on 29 April 1091 and again under his commander-in-chief John Doukas in 1092 – 3 to suppress the revolts on the island of Crete. I asked for leave to marry a beautiful lady of good family on the island. However, I was needed in 1094 at Adrianople against the Cumans as well as a few triffling affairs during the interim period before I was finally allowed to return to the island of Crete in 1095 where my bride is waiting.

But my repose is short-lived for now I am awaiting the arrival of Christian knights encouraged by Pope Urban II plea in the year of our Lord 1095 to take up the cross after the Council of Clemont, leading to Godfrey of Bouillon, Raymond IV of Toulouse and Bohemond of Taranto joining the exhibition to free the Holy City.

And so I am on the island of Crete making safe provision for our guests to arrive and preparing our stores at the harbour. I fear I have my work cut out for me as there are many who I am told taking up the challenge these days and I expect some may even be coming from far afield with their wives and families.

Perhaps, they too seek to be married on the island this year like me. For, there are many fair maidens here and if our guests fiancés and wives are like my bethrothed then this knights of Christ will not be allowed to roam this beautiful island without their own fiancée.

For the wine here is very strong like the Raki and can only be compared to the mead that I hear they drink in those cold northern lands. Here, as the summer lasts so long far into the end of October, with mild winter months our own Byzantine Retsina is drunk well into the night throughout the hot summer days of September and October. 

 Here too, we often ensure the maidens dowry and secure our family provisions before setting off again into future adventures towards everyones own Holy City where the journey may be difficult but the prize is so worth the contest!