An Odyssey Of Love

Nestled among ancient olive groves on the Messinian coast, this sprawling luxury resort offers beachside ceremonies, bespoke banquets and silver-screen backdrops

The resort

Eco-luxury – meaning premium comfort combined with environmental responsibility and cultural preservation – is the idea behind Costa Navarino in Messinia, in Greece’s southwest Peloponnese.

Home to four five-star properties (The Romanos, The Westin, W Costa Navarino, and Mandarin Oriental), the resort shares championship golf courses, a spa, beaches and more than 20 restaurants. Built around the landscape rather than through it, everything is tucked seamlessly among ancient olive trees, with sweeping views of the Ionian Sea.

The Romanos is the venue to consider for large weddings. With 321 rooms and villas, your entire wedding party can stay for the duration of the festivities. Rooms mix dark wood and stone with soft linen, all locally sourced, and balconies look out over the sea or lush gardens. Some villas have their own pools, and for the newlyweds, The Romanos Ionian Exclusive is a separate stretch of suites and villas by the sea, with a butler on call. Guests who want a bit of distance, or families travelling with children, can stay at The Westin, which is right next door. Full buyouts are possible and exclusive-use sections start from around 50 rooms.

The wedding spaces

For outdoor ceremonies, Dunes Beach seats up to 100 guests with the open sea as your backdrop. A simple wooden arch with light florals comes as standard, since the view does most of the work, but you can bring in your own florist for something grander. Outdoor music stops at 10:30pm, before the party moves indoors. If you’d rather not be on the sand, the picturesque  Romanos Gardens are surrounded by centuries old olive and citrus trees, while still capturing the sea views. Afterwards, head to the Flame terrace for sunset drinks and photos over the golf course and hills. The Great Hall is ideal for larger weddings. The 1372 square metres space boasts high ceilings and accommodates 1200 seated guests for dinner or 1600 for a cocktail reception. 

Catering

As in Asian culture, the Greeks put food and hospitality at the heart of everything. While there is not an Indian catering team on site, the kitchen is happy to collaborate with an Indian chef to create a menu. If you want to eat like the locals, the Greek buffet lunch is a spread of roast lamb, a pasta bar and homemade dips, while larger banquets might feature salt-crusted whole fish, live risotto stations and carved beef. Every menu can be adapted to suit your guests, including vegetarian and no-beef or no-pork options.

Beyond the venue

The coast has extra appeal this season because Christopher Nolan filmed The Odyssey here. The resort has a trail linking the filming spots. You can walk it, but it’s better by bike – a gentle ride takes you to Voidokilia, a beach that curves into a near-perfect omega, with crystal clear waters. Nestor’s Cave sits above the sand and is where the Cyclops emerges in the film. Back at the resort, book an olive oil tasting. Messinia is famous for its olives, and you’ll try Costa Navarino’s own extra virgin oil, made from the local Koroneiki variety.

The details

British Airways flies direct from Heathrow to Kalamata. Couples can book a 20-minute web call with a Romance Planner to talk through plans, venues and next steps.

www.costanavarino.com/romanos-resort/
+30 27230 96000
weddings@costanavarino.com