British couples flock to Greek islands for Mamma Mia! weddings
More than 200 British fans of ‘Mamma Mia!’ are getting married on
Greek islands this summer to recreate the wedding scene in their
favourite film.
A travel agency offering a special ‘Mamma Mia! marriage’ package is
flying couples to Greece for custom-made ceremonies with the same
rustic charm as the one featured in the romantic comedy featuring
Meryl Streep, Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan.
Jane and Andreas Palikiras, who run London-based Ionian Weddings, say
Greek weddings are a “growth industry” and that they had organised
more than 100 such ceremonies this summer.
They told the Sunday Times that many British couples are choosing the
islands of Skiathos or Skopelos, both of which featured in the box
office hit film, and some are insisting on an Abba soundtrack to
complete the experience.
Sharon Lawrence, 28, a business travel consultant from Colchester, who
got married on Skiathos, said: “As soon as I saw the film I thought
‘this is it’ but I didn’t even know which part of Greece it was in. So
I got on the internet and did some research.”
She wed Kevin, a 33 year-old printer, at the town hall on June 2
followed by a reception for 30 similar to the one in the film, which
is an adaptation of the successful West End show.
Mr Palikiras said it was not possible to get married in the exact same
hilltop chapel on Skopelos used in the film because it is too small
and is reserved for members of the Greek Orthodox religion.
He said the film had driven up tourism on the islands featured in the
films but conceded locals were “probably getting a bit sick of it”.
He added that bookings rose 60 per cent after the DVD of the film was
released just before Christmas last year.
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