‘I think the day becomes so much more than just a wedding when you get married abroad!’
Venue Rocabella Santorini & Santorini Princess Spa Hotel, Santorini • Date 22nd of May 2017 • Number of Guests 40 • Budget £££
We asked the couple to tell us about their Rocabella Santorini Wedding Ceremony and Princess Hotel Reception
Why did you choose to get married in Santorini?
After having our daughter, we decided a smaller, more intimate wedding with our closest family and friends would be more special for us and for her. We didn’t want the day to be daunting for her with lots of strange faces and new introductions! Getting married abroad therefore sounded like the perfect option for us. Santorini is how everyone describes it – simply beautiful. There’s nowhere like it. We wanted to give our guests a day to remember, different from the norm, and we couldn’t think of anywhere better than Santorini to do this!
How long in advance did you book your wedding?
A year and 2 months.
We are in love with your dress! Can you tell us what make this was and how long it took you to find ‘the one’?
I was really lucky and got to wear a dress from Pronovias which has always been my dream. I knew I wanted something elegant, classic and timeless but still fitted and a bit sexy. I didn’t want any lace and I wanted a really big “wow” back and train! Because I knew exactly what I didn’t want, it was quite easy to find the one! It only took about a month. Once I tried mine on I fell in love instantly and never looked back!
What about your shoes?
My shoes were designer and were blue and silver glitter ombre – they were my something blue! You couldn’t see them at all, but I loved wearing them!
We love the groom’s suit! It’s very ‘santorini’, where was this from?
Steven’s suit was bespoke by a well-known tailor in the City. He went for a formal, bright royal blue three-piece suit. He also decided to be a little different and went for a slightly shorter trouser length, no socks and the classic navy Gucci loafers, so although he looked very smart, it wasn’t too stuffy or stereotypical and he looked very Santorini! His groomsmen wore a slightly darker blue suit which worked well.
Your bridesmaids look stunning in their gowns! Why did you choose this style and colour?
I wanted to look back at my pictures and not regret any colours or style choices. I had 5 bridesmaids and picked a neutral rose colour which looked stunning against the backdrop of the island. The dresses were so elegant and classic but still glamorous – the girls looked beautiful.
Tell us about your bouquet.
My bouquet was all white roses in a large round shape. I absolutely loved them! My bridesmaids carried a single white rose which looked fresh and romantic. The groomsmen had white buttonholes to tie everything together.
Did you theme your Rocabella Santorini wedding ceremony?
I didn’t really have a theme but I wanted to keep everything white and classic. We wanted to look back at our wedding day and everything still be stylish and classy. All our flowers were romantic white roses with trailing greenery and our decorations were white with a hint of sparkle to add in that little bit of glamour!
Tell us about the smaller details of the day…
Our wedding cake was delicious! We again went for something classic but with a Greek touch – we had two tiers with greenery around and individual white rose buds between each tier and a layer of roses at the top – it was stunning.
Our wedding breakfast was delicious. We went for authentic Greek dishes to give our guests a real experience of the island. The Moussaka in particular was incredible!
For entertainment, we had a pianist at the ceremony and a DJ for the party playing everything from Kisstory and UK Garage to House and 90s Club Classics!
Our favours were bubbles for the kids and sparklers for the adults which we lit at sunset – it was magical and we have some amazing pictures.
How did you find the planning experience from booking to the big day?
I found the experience so much fun. It helped having the most amazing wedding planners taking care of our every need and making sure everything we wanted we had. On the day, the wedding planners were amazing. I think I must have been the calmest bride ever that morning – even after losing my veil! Thank you to Lisa and the team in Santorini for giving us the wedding day of our dreams. You are the best!
What’s your best memory from the day?
It’s so hard to pick as there were so many, but if I had to there’s two moments that stick out to me in particular. The first was when I saw my little girl in her flower girl dress for the first time – I still cry now! The second has to be our first dance at sunset. To listen and dance to a song which means so much with this incredible view behind us, in front of all our friends and family, is something I shall never forget.
Was your wedding on budget or over budget?
We spent quite a bit over our budget (oops!) but we had the best day and it was so worth it! I am very lucky and it is a day I will never forget.
What do you think makes a wedding abroad stand out from a wedding in the UK?
I think the day becomes so much more than just a wedding when you get married abroad. We had a white party two days before and got to visit some of the most amazing places with our guests before the actual day. So many of our guests said they had the time of their life and that it was one of the most beautiful places they had ever visited. It also means we have a very special place to come back to and celebrate anniversaries for years to come!! Being able to share such a special day with our closest family and friends on an island like Santorini means the day becomes an experience for everyone to remember together. And when you live in England, the guarantee of sunshine is always a bonus!
We hope you enjoyed reading about this Rocabella Santorini Wedding Ceremony and Santorini Princess Wedding reception for a supplier list please see below or to view all of our wedding venues in Santorini click here