
When I received the first email from Kelly, who was planning her elopement in Santorini, I was beside myself with excitement. There is something wonderfully romantic in an elopement wedding and I couldn’t wait to capture the magical moments of this lovely couple on one of the most fascinating Greek islands, Santorini. I had already witnessed Cydney and Bilal’s barefoot elopement in Mykonos and had been looking forward to working on a similarly inspiring concept. So now my wish was granted!
Kelly and Stan traveled all the way from the USA to get married in Greece, and they chose to elope in a breathtakingly beautiful place enveloped in an aura of mysticism and the mist of old legends. In an elopement there are no guests, no parties, no group activities; the photographer can focus exclusively on the couple, spending an entire day with them, so the shooting becomes a really unique experience.
The day was filled to the brim with emotion, love and happiness. Preparations started in Dana Villas, an amazing hotel in Firostefani that offers unobstructed panoramic views of the caldera, the volcano, the Aegean Sea, and the world-famous Santorini sunsets. Kelly was deeply moved when she read a letter written by her mother just before the elopement, and so was Stan when he got a present and a letter from Kelly.
The bride was radiant in her lace wedding dress and her blue silk bridal shoes. Actually, the blue color was a surprise for Stan; he had expressed the wish to see his bride wear blue shoes and, although this was not in her original plans, she made sure she wore shoes with a “lace appliqué” to them. The bridal bouquet consisted of tulips, anemones, white roses, and white violets.
An exceptionally talented wedding planner, Maria Sila from Tie the Knot in Santorini-Weddings & Events, had planned impeccably every single detail, from the elegant flower decoration with blue and white hydrangeas to the cute colorful wedding cupcakes and a very special wedding cake topper with representations of Stan and his black lab mix, Briar, and Kelly and her pug, Gus.
The wedding ceremony included a “unity in glass” ceremony, in which the bride and the groom combine colored crystals which are used later to make a sculpture, bowl or vase from blown glass. This symbolizes the timelessness of their union and the uniqueness of their love, how amazing!!!
Next, we got into an incredibly pretty antique Cabrio Beetle and drove to the Faros (lighthouse) of Santorini to shoot pictures and then to Santo Wines to taste the delicious local wine Vinsanto. The couple had chosen a wine museum for the engagement –a perfect place to make perfect memories. After that we went to Prophitis Ilias, one of the highest points of the island, and lastly to my favorite location in Santorini Oia. The stunning colors and the mesmerizing views created the ideal setting for the wedding photos of Kelly and Stan that will always remind them of their dream wedding on a dream island…
Kelly & Stan, if i was now with you i would give you a big hug to both of you!!! Thank you so much for choosing me as your photographer for the sweetest elopement in Santorini!
































































Beautiful work my friend Thanasis!! you can feel the day, the moments and the love inside these lovely photos of yours!!
Thank you Anastasie for your feedback! It was really an awesome couple full of love!
Excellent work.
Dear Vangelis, it is such an honor to read from you these kind words! Thank you so much!
οτι και να σου πω λιγο ειναι. Λατρευω την ομορφια της απλοτητας σου.
Αχ βρε φιλε… Σε ευχαριστώ πολύ και ειλικρινά απέναντι στην δικη σου απλότητα και καλη καρδια μένω άναυδος κάθε φορα… Πολύ πολύ χαίρομαι που σου αρέσει!!!
Θαναση μου κρατησες με ενα μοναδικο τροπο την ισοροποια απεναντι στο μοναδικο τοπιο της Σαντορινης και τον σεβασμο που αποτυπωσες την ιστορια του ζευγαριου… ενοιωσα την αγαπη σου και την χαρα σου που βρεθηκες εκει… οσοι εχουν την χαρα να εχουν γευτει την μοναδικη ομορφια αυτου του τοπου και μαλιστα αυτη την εποχη, μπορουν να καταλαβουν ποσο αληθινος σταθηκες απεναντι σε ολα αυτα.
Συγχαρητηρια για αλλη μια φορα… να εισαι καλα φιλε μου… εφτασε η στιγμη να το απολαυσεις θαναση μου… πες ευχαριστω για το χαρισμα που σου εχει δωθει και απλα απολαυσε το.
Φιλε… Καλε μου φιλε Γαννη… Λέω ευχαριστώ που είμαι διπλα σας και μπορώ να μοιράζομαι αυτή τη χαρα… Όλα όσα συμβαίνουν, είναι τοσο καλα που δυσκολεύομαι να το πιστέψω… Δόξα το Θεό πραγματικά! Σε ευχαριστώ παρα πολύ για όλα & ακόμα περισσότερο που μετεχεις τόσο καρδιακά!!!
Φίλε Θανάση, κάθε φορά μας ταξιδεύεις με τον καλύτερο τρόπο!!! Να είσαι καλά…και όπως είπε και ο φίλος μας ο Γιάννης, “απόλαυσε το χάρισμα σου” !!!
Φιλε ειλικρινα δεν εχω λογια… Σε ευχαριστω παρα πολυ!!!