First time we met Eliza & Andreas was in Amsterdam when the wedding was still in the early stages of planning. It ended up spanning three days. Friday opened with a beach party at Lost Bay, planned as a surprise welcome for guests arriving from across Europe. Saturday was the ceremony at Chrisopigi, held at the small chapel on the headland in the late afternoon, with the reception immediately after at Lazarou Beach, a short drive south. Sunday morning was relaxed, given over to the long lunch that traditionally closes Sifnos weddings, with a late-afternoon visit to Artemonas and Chrisopigi as the day-after.

Lazarou is a secluded beach on the south-east of the island, just past the village of Platis Gialos. The location holds the late afternoon and evening light well, and tables can be set close enough to the water that, after sunset, the dinner reads as a single line of light against the sea. We photographed the reception from dinner through to the dancing and into the evening.

Sifnos is one of the islands we travel to most often, and the work has accumulated a deep familiarity with its chapels, villages, and beaches. For Eliza and Andreas, the brief was to hold the rhythm of each day without making the coverage repetitive. Friday at Lost Bay was photographed in a relaxed, party register, and included a short video shoot with Eliza lip-syncing Rihanna in Kastro. Saturday at Chrisopigi was approached with the discretion the chapel asks for, while the reception at Lazarou allowed guests to enjoy the party at the beach.

We arrived on the island two days before the ceremony, which is our standard practice for Sifnos. Ferries are generally reliable, but we avoid arriving on the day of the event so we are not photographing our way into a wedding from a Friday afternoon boat. During those two days we walk Lazarou and Chrisopigi at the time of day each will be photographed, so the schedule we have agreed with the planner is built around the light and general weather conditions the day is actually predicted to have.

For our work in Sifnos visit our dedicated page Wedding photography in Sifnos