We think a wedding venue spotlight is a little overdue here at Fly Away Bride, so today we're focussing on the beautiful island of Mykonos, Greece. An island lying south-east of Greece between Turkey and the Greek mainland, Mykonos is the smallest of the inhabited Greek islands (little more than 105km squared). What it lacks in size however it more than makes up for in character and nightlife! It has long been a tourist destination for Europeans and is known for its beautiful beaches and sunshine- over 300 days a year. Today we'll focus on two wedding venues in Mykonos, and then look at a few more details like getting to the island, and guest accommodation and activities.

Overlooking the protected beach of Agios Stefanos less than 4 kilometres from Mykonos town, sits the Grace Mykonos Hotel. This boutique hotel was refurbished in 2007 and has all modern luxuries along with a spa. Its architecture is minimalist mixed with more traditional architectural elements. The Grace Mykonos is available for exclusive use for weddings and comprises of 31 bedrooms in total. Their honeymoon suite lies at the top of the hotel with its own private terrace and plunge pool, featuring sunset views of Agios Stephanos beach and Mykonos town. The hotel has certain handy extras such as a courtesy bus to take guests to and from the airport, and they serve breakfast all day (handy for those late-night wedding party guests!)

Located overlooking the town and port of Mykonos itself, the elegant Porto Mykonos Hotel has a wonderful view of both the city and sea. It is a medium sized hotel with 59 guest rooms so could be rented exclusively depending on the number in your wedding party. A handy feature for weddings here is its private chapel for ceremonies. All rooms have a sea view with luxury rooms having a private terrace also. There is a sauna, a jacuzzi with hydromassage and the outdoor pool has a sea view. Porto Mykonos is located very centrally with the town centre only a couple of minute's walk away.

Visiting the Island

Your guests will have lots to do in Mykonos. There are beaches to suit any taste you can think of- the best ones are mainly on the south where they are protected from the northerly winds. The island has a bus service which is handy for getting around and is inexpensive as well. Mykonos is one of the only Aegean islands where scuba diving is permitted. Guests can also travel to some of the other smaller islands from here, if they're up for exploring. Accommodation wise, there are hundreds of hotels on the island, as well as some gorgeous villas available to rent.

Getting There

Flying to the island requires two stops from Ireland, the easiest way is probably to fly to London first. From there it's a three and a half hour flight to Athens, then a short 40 minutes to Mykonos airport- which is only 4 kilometres from Mykonos town. Athens has over ten flights a day during peak season, and other European cities do serve the island directly, such as Barcelona, Brussels, Milan, Rome and Zurich to name a few.

Images: Very Svelte via This is Glamorous | The Grace Mykonos Hotel | The Porto Mykonos Hotel | The Travel Channel | City Pictures | Anna Roussos via Fly Away Bride