Friends and Family,

You have been directed to this wedding blog for two reasons. Firstly, the bride seems to be adapting to the internet age extremely well setting up this wedding blog herself and secondly, you are our closest and dearest friends and we want you to come and party with us in Corfu on our special day. Read on!

A date

Hi folks

We have finally set a date for our wedding – Saturday 1st September 2007. We will be getting married at the Rou Estate on the north east coast of Corfu, Greece. We would love as many as possible of you to come but we know it is a big ask and won't be offended at all if you can't make it. It is a long time in advance (and we will be sending proper invites nearer the time) but would be really grateful if you could let us know if you are, at least, planning to come. We know that people's holidays are precious but for those of you who definitely want to come it would be fabulous if you could come for a whole week (and economical too). Long weekends are entirely possible but take a bit more forward planning so please don't leave them to the last minute if you want to do this and get a good deal. North East Corfu is our favourite holiday destination (so much so that we have bought a little house there - see Rou Estate) and we are absolutely sure our friends and family, who haven't already experienced it, will love it for its beauty, peacefulness and great food. Have a look around this blog for accommodation and flight ideas. If you book early you can get some really good value deals! (FYI we will be in Corfu with our families from Monday 27th August). Feel free to email Lucy with any questions.

big love from
Lucy and Tom
xx

Rou Estate

The Rou Estate is an area of land situated on the North East part of the Ionian island of Corfu. This unique and exclusive heritage site benefits from the most spectacular 270 degree views overlooking Albania.

The Rou Estate consists of 12 houses (one of them is owned by Lucy's family) and outbuildings that were built over 200 years ago. The distinctive Corfiot design of the village and its traditional concept makes it one of the last remaining of its kind on the island.

Currently, the Rou Estate is being developed and restored back to its former glory. By enhancing the existing buildings back to their former grandeur and by sympathetically restoring the architectural quality of the buildings, the historic village is being re-established and saved from ruin.

The historic complex will contain private luxury houses that include all the exclusive and luxury comforts one requires in this day and age. The complex is enclosed within a beautiful traditionally landscaped environment. In addition to the beautiful houses, there is a health retreat complex containing treatment rooms, a mini gym, a large pool, yoga facilities as well as other spa services. The environment will ensure exclusivity and exceptional luxury that surpasses the standard currently found on Corfu.

The Rou Estate will also be able to provide activities and facilities for corporate events, cooking courses, health retreats, painting courses as well as walking trips.

SunIsle

SunIsle

We have never holidayed with SunIsle but we are told they have a good reputation. It is another company that has villas and apartments near in the Agios Stephanos area (ie. near the Rou Estate)

Apparently the Caribbia apartments are a good bet!

CV Travel

CV Travel is very well respected and holidays usually go from Monday to Monday.
We recommend Effie, Dina and Spiros Studios
Kasomitria (a group of apartments and studios with a gorgeous pool and views that would be excellent if rented as whole, it could sleep about 18 people and be quite reasonable!)

Any of the CV Travel villas on the North East coast will be lovely but we recommend staying on ones near:

Agni
Avlaki
Kalami
Kerasia
Kouloura
St Stephano (also known as Agios Stephanos)
Kassiopi (a bit further away but not TOO far)

Italy to Corfu

It is a long journey from England but some of you might fancy a car trip through France and Italy beforehand. If you do, ferries from Brindisi and Bari go regularly and are really cheap. They take about 6 hours.
aferry
www.greekferries.gr
www.greeka.com

Also there are really cheap flights on budget airlines to Bari and Brindisi. Check out:
Ryan Air
EasyJet

Agni Travel

Agni Travel is a well established and renowned independent travel agent in North East Corfu. They are currently receiving many bookings for summer 2007. They have loads of different Houses, Villas and Apartments which are available in the area (all of them are a really good standard but not ridiculously expensive) - Dates available will vary, but generally between 25th August - 10th September there is current availability. To avoid disappointment please register your request with them as soon as possible, a deposit of 20% of the cost of the accommodation is required on confirmation and the balance is due 8 weeks before departure. 

For availability requests and bookings please email office@agni.gr for the attention of Stella quoting reference number 9671 and Hutchings/Hunt Wedding, this will associate the booking with our wedding. 


Flights to Corfu

Direct flights from all UK local airports are available for Corfu during the months of May until October. (British Airways is also now flying frequently to Corfu from London too). There are various companies offering low cost flights during the summer months, prices and availability change constantly, here are a few to choose from.


www.ba.com
www.charterflights.co.uk
www.flightcentre.co.uk
www.cheapflights.com
www.expedia.co.uk
www.lastminute.com
www.flyaow.com
www.deckchair.com
www.easyjet.com
www.xl.com
www.thomsonfly.com
www.palmair.co.uk (from Bournemouth and on Wednesdays only)
www.olympicairlines.com
www.aegeanairlines.gr (non-UK)
www.firstchoice.co.uk

North East Corfu

The Rou Estate where we will be having our ceremony is on the North East Coast of Corfu, we suggest that you stay nearby as the area is beautiful and will be convenient. If you look at the map the pale blue area is where you want to be. Rou is just up the hill and inland from Agios Stefanos, which is the main tourist village nearby. (Although be careful when booking as there is more than one Agios Stefanos on the island, make sure you get the one that is on the North East Coast!)

Apartments

Caribia Apartments

http://www.sunisle.co.uk/check.asp?accommodation_cn=488

http://www.sunisle.co.uk/check.asp?accommodation_cn=489

http://www.sunisle.co.uk/check.asp?accommodation_cn=491

http://www.sunisle.co.uk/check.asp?accommodation_cn=490


Villa Eleni

http://www.sunisle.co.uk/check.asp?accommodation_cn=457


Bounia Apartments

http://www.sunisle.co.uk/check.asp?accommodation_cn=286


Kalami Bay Studios Apartments

http://www.sunisle.co.uk/check.asp?accommodation_cn=483

http://www.sunisle.co.uk/check.asp?accommodation_cn=484


Anancy Apartments

http://www.sunisle.co.uk/check.asp?accommodation_cn=467
http://www.sunisle.co.uk/check.asp?accommodation_cn=468

http://www.sunisle.co.uk/check.asp?accommodation_cn=469



Villa Viglatsouri

http://www.sunisle.co.uk/check.asp?accommodation_cn=394

Weekend Only

It is entirely possible to come just for the weekend but the key thing is to book flights ASAP.

These are more limited than the weekly charter flights.

As September is not peak season there will be hotels all over the Corfu that will take bookings for a few nights only. But note that if you want to stay at a hotel in the North East Corfu (blue area on the map) then it is important to book early as there will be limited spaces due to the fact that they prefer bookings for a whole week (nearer the time it is likely that you can take advantage of the fact there will be some hotels that are not fully booked). The weekly booking issue is not a problem for hotels in Corfu Town.

Please let us know if you are coming for the weekend.

Timings

Exact timings and details have yet to be finalised but for those who are thinking of coming just for the weekend, the ceremony will be late in the day on Saturday 1st September, with an evening dinner and dancing, on Sunday 2nd we will have a rustic lunch and wind down.

NB. It is quite possible to fly in to Corfu late on a Friday night and back out on a Monday (therefore only having to take one day off work). Of course it is a little more difficult to organise accommodation this way, but it can be done!