PHOTOGRAPHY: SANDY & ODYSSEAS | WEDDING PLANNER: JULIA & EVITA | VENUE: ROCABELLA | Video: Anker Prod | Flowers: Redboxdays | Art de la Table rentals: White Lilac | Seating Plan: Weddings and Whimsy | Makeup: Renia Bledaki | Hair: Bella Damigou | Cake: Alexandra’s Cakes | DJ&Lights: Events in Santorini | WEDDING DRESS: HAYLEY PAIGE | BRIDAL SHOES: JIMMY CHOO | GROOM SUIT: ENZO CUSTOM SUITS | GROOM SHOES: TOD'S | GROOM CUFFLINKS: BURBERRY | WEDDING RINGS: PARISIEN JEWELERS | STATIONERY: HAINT BLUE COLLECTIVE | BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES: JENNY YOO | BRIDESMAIDS ROBES: LE ROSE

SANTORINI, Rocabella

Mercedes & Jimmy

〝HAVING A COUPLE AS OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS WAS THE BEST DECISION WE MADE!〞

〝Sandy and Odysseas were absolutely amazing throughout the entire process of our wedding. As soon as we selected them as our photographers, Sandy was in touch regularly to check on planning, help with timelines, and was even excited to see my wedding dress!

It was wonderful having two photographers to capture different moments and angles, and they work exceptionally well together. They're extremely passionate about what they do, and selected stunning locations. Aside from being very professional and capturing some amazing photos, they were also very sweet and offered great advice.

They both went above and beyond so many times. Odysseas acted as our getaway driver after the ceremony, and they even went out of their way (well after the wedding had ended) to drive us to our after party! Sandy and Odysseas are a very talented and special couple. They truly made our wedding so memorable, and we are incredibly grateful we had the chance to work with them!〞

It was all about sweeping views and glam details for this Santorini destination wedding couple

Shall we talk microweddings in Greece? Yes, we know; with wedding guest lists shrinking in 2020 and the new trend slowly but steadily emerging, one would think it’s all a new thing for us destination wedding photographers, right? Well, nope. Greece microweddings have always been a thing, especially in the Greek islands of the Cyclades such as Santorini. Not out of necessity, however, rather out of sheer conviction! You see, Santorini weddings are famed for their petit size since everything is oh-so luxurious and exclusive, and this glamorous Santorini wedding at Rocabella was no different. Before it was even a trend, Mercedes and Jimmy’s concise wedding was all about sweeping views, alluring details, and having the time of their lives with their closest and dearest. Want to ogle at some serious charm? Head right this way!

It’s always a treat to every wedding photographer to be contacted by a kind, graceful, and genuinely jovial couple. One look at Mercedes’s contagious smile and sunshine leaked through the screen! We knew right from the start this was going to be a success, not only because they’d sided with the talented duo of mom-daughter Santorini wedding designers Julia and Evita, but because their energy was that of utter happiness and glee.

Our couple’s wedding was held at Rocabella. If you have been doing your homework, you already know this is not just a simple wedding venue. This gorgeously creamy Santorini hotel is no stranger to celebrities the likes of Mick & Bianca Jagger who, back in the ’70s (actually exactly 50 years ago today) spent honeymoon mornings by its pool; the illustrious celeb-perch as it is widely known among locals has never ceased to attract the glitterati. But we are no strangers to its charms either, as we’ve shot a multifold of Rocabella Santorini weddings in the past. So it’s such a treat to work there again!

Mercedes & Jimmy’s Santorini wedding theme was island glam, which meant an entire slew of sleek details, classic florals, champagne-hued bridesmaids gowns the style of Old-Hollywood, a dreamy lace mermaid wedding dress, and all-chic wedding reception details at the hotel’s terrace with views of the caldera that would make even the unbelievers week in the knees. After a rosy sunset gave its way to the cool breeze of the night, and Edison bulbs lit overhead to serenade us under the stars, the island-glam reception came party till the wee hours; hey, this is the Greek way to do things!

Be sure to peruse every image for all the loveliness!

kind words

Mercedes & Jimmy

Having a couple as our photographers was the best decision we made! Sandy and Odysseas were absolutely amazing throughout the entire process of our wedding, from the early months of planning all the way to the day itself. As soon as we selected them as our photographers, Sandy was in touch regularly to check on planning, help with timelines, and was even excited to see my wedding dress!

It was wonderful having two photographers to capture different moments and angles, and they work exceptionally well together. They also worked well with all of our other vendors, including our videographers (who they just met for the first time!). They're extremely passionate about what they do, and selected stunning locations. Aside from being very professional and capturing some amazing photos, they were also very sweet and offered great advice.

They both went above and beyond so many times. Odysseas acted as our getaway driver after the ceremony, and they even went out of their way (well after the wedding had ended) to drive us to our after party! Sandy and Odysseas are a very talented and special couple. They truly made our wedding so memorable, and we are incredibly grateful we had the chance to work with them!

Bride

From the

How we met and the proposal

Décor and florals

We met our senior year of college in San Diego, California. Jimmy rented the apartment next to our house, and we immediately discovered that we shared the same favorite authors, musicians, movies, and passion for food and travel.

My husband surprised me with a "last minute" weekend trip, right before a vacation with friends and family. Little did I know, he had been planning this trip for weeks! It was a gorgeous surprise proposal in a beautiful cherry blossom garden next to a pond, with pink rose petals on the grass. Three days later, we left for a whirlwind vacation through Europe! We absolutely love experiencing new places, and it was so amazing being able to celebrate our engagement by traveling the world together.

The most gorgeous part of our decor was the custom seating chart that our planners designed. It was simple and elegant, which fit exactly with the feeling we wanted. We wanted to make sure our guests had everything they needed for their stay in Greece, so we gave everyone welcome bags upon arrival. Each bag had an itinerary with wedding information, necessities like sunscreen and aspirin (for the morning after!), and a little treat from a local bakery. I also worked very closely with our stationery designer/calligrapher, who created everything including our welcome bags and personalized marble name cards. They were difficult getting from the US to Greece, but they turned out beautiful!

Our florals definitely connected everything. In keeping with the rest of the "elegant yet minimalist" theme, we wanted smaller simple centerpieces with lots of greenery. We also used greenery around the cake, around the light strings, and on top of the seating chart. My planner also surprised me with white peonies for my bouquet - my favorite flower!

Why we chose Santorini

Santorini has always held a special place in our hearts - we absolutely love to travel, and our first international trip as a couple was to Greece six years ago. Santorini is one of the most romantic places in the world, and when we got engaged we knew it would be the perfect place for our wedding. Since the backdrop of the island is already so gorgeous, we chose a simple color palette of white, gold, and greenery. We wanted something elegant yet simple, with the focus on the beautiful view from our venue!

BEST PART OF THE DAY

The best part of the day, and what we looked forward to the most, was celebrating with our closest friends and family at our reception. It meant so much to us that people traveled halfway across the world to be with us on our wedding day, and there were many special moments that we shared with each of our guests that have become unforgettable memories.

Our Wedding looks

I knew I wanted a bold pattern and a stand out dress - since Santorini is such a gorgeous place, I wanted an equally stunning wedding gown! My maid of honor actually found my dress for me online - and once I tried it on, I knew it was the one. I especially loved the dramatic low back and fitted silhouette.

My husband knew he wanted a grey suit and a black tie - it's always been a very dashing look. He had his suit made at a local custom tailor, and even had our wedding day embroidered inside the collar.

Advice to other couples

It's the same advice that most couples give - definitely expect things to go wrong, no matter how much you plan! Just take the time to enjoy the day and relax. I would also recommend stepping away from the party with your significant other, and taking a minute to enjoy eachother's company. It's important to remember that the day is about celebrating your relationship, which can get lost in the storm of pictures and time with friends and family.