THERE’S nothing like soaring temperatures, crystal clear waters and an exotic location to get romance to flourish And just like the film, Mamma Mia!, one Colchester couple took the plunge in Greece after being inspired by the Hollywood blockbuster.

The box office hit, starring Meryl Streep, has now attracted a stream of couples eager to re-create the romance and atmosphere of the Abba-themed movie, on one of the many Greek islands.

The number of couples choosing to tie the knot in Greece has doubled in 2009, with many wedding planners putting the growth down to the global success of the film.

Colchester bride, Sharon Lawrence, 28, decided to become a dancing queen on her special day when she wed husband, Kevin, 33.

Just like the film and popular musical, the couple married to songs from Sweedish super group, Abba, and lapped up the Mediterranean heat on Greek Island, Skiathos, in the Sporades islands.

Mrs Lawrence, of Layer Road, Colchester, said: “I went to see the film with my girlfriends last summer and as soon as I saw it, that was it, I wanted my wedding to be like that.

“I love Abba anyway and it’s such a magical film, it’s happy and upbeat and the setting is amazing.

“We played Abba at the reception and I wanted to walk down the aisle to Dancing Queen but Kevin thought that was going a bit too far, so he didn’t let me!”

Wedding organisers and travel agents, Andreas and Jane Palikiras, runs the London-based company, Ionian Weddings, which put together Mr and Mrs Lawrence’s wedding.

The couple have helped to organise hundreds of Greek weddings this year, with dozens of those with the Abba-inspired Hollywood movie as its theme.

Mr Palikiras said: “It gives people the opportunity to get married in the Mamma Mia location. If people see the film, they love the romance and the setting and they want that for their wedding.”

The company offer candles, lanterns, Abba music and donkey rides at olive groves, taverns or hill top chapels.

However, Mr Palikiras admitted while many of the couples are happy to have the feel-good Abba music playing in the background, the brides and bridegrooms are yet to don the seventies clothing, and still opt for classic white dresses and suits instead.