Photography: Sandy and Odysseas | Wedding Planner & Floral: Soo Events | Ceremony Venue: Cycladic Gem Luxury Villa | Reception Venue: Ios Club | Videography: Yanni Hood | Stationery: Love Me Do | Rentals: Blue Event Rentals | Tableware: White Lilac Rentals | Wedding Dress: Rita Vinieris | Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Groom suit: Custom | Groom shoes: Magnani | Wedding rings: Tiffanys | Cake: Ruby Cake | Sound & Light: Avant Garde Events | Lasercut Decorations: Entypo

Ios, Cycladic Gem Luxury Villa

Sossan & Nikos

as seen in: Wedding Chicks

〝SANDY AND ODYSSEAS REALLY WERE THE INTEGRAL PART OF WHAT MADE OUR DAY MAGICAL!〞

〝When we looked through their website, we could immediately tell that they are one of the best in the industry. We were immediately drawn to how they were able to capture not just the beauty of what they were shooting but the emotions and the characters of their couples.

The day of the wedding, we felt cared for, at ease, and more natural thanks to Sandy and Odysseas. Our guests were blown away by their professionalism and their ability to politely coordinate and keep to a schedule.

Thanks to them, we have memories that were beautifully captured and that will last a lifetime.〞

Stealing the show in colorful wedding details, this couple’s modern I do’s on Ios Island Greece, and their Cycladic Gem Villa wedding reception are getaway envy!

Emerald coves and marble quarry quaint beauty? Check! Palm-fringed gardens and poolside goodness? Double-check! Stunningly pretty nuptials on what feels like standing at the top of the world? You’ve got all the right boxes checked! And, if you ask us, stealing the show in colorful wedding details, this couple’s modern destination I do’s on Ios Island Greece, and their Cycladic Gem Villa wedding reception, are getaway envy!

For California babes, Sossan and Niko -our Afghani bride and Greek groom – saying I do in Greece didn’t only mean the perfect opportunity to vow love eternal before their closest and dearest, but also hosting an incredible celebration that would be equal parts bold, romantic, modern, and fashion-forward. We wouldn’t, of course, expect anything less since Californians are all about bold hues and sunny notes. Sounds pretty awesome, right?

The beautiful couple sided with Soo Events, who brought in the beauty, combining heritage elements from both cultures. Afghan weddings are renowned for their colorful and bright punch, while many Greek island weddings come complete with the motley of bougainvillea foliage lacing their scapes.

Starting with the perfect ceremony grounds, Sossan and Nikos picked one of the most beautiful private villas on Ios island, the Cycladic Gem Villa. Perched on top of a marble quarry with commanding views over the azure Aegean, the pool-decked property comes with the most picture-perfect garden, where the couple’s vows took place.

And while we couldn’t help clicking at the gorgeous Rita Venieris gown Sossan wore, we were so touched to see the custom nautical insert of Nikos’ tux, embossed with a sweet note  “With You I’m Home,” the names of the couple, their destination, and the wedding date. Hats off to this thoughtful gesture!

A beautiful floral-adorned station welcomed the guests urging them to pick their colorful parasols, fedora hats (and flip-flops for later on), while a vibrant aisle and arbor framed Sossan and Nikos’ vows. Right after the touching ceremony, we whisked the newlyweds away for some dreamy portraits on the rocks below the villa, and  Ios Club, the couple’s reception venue, received the guests for some cocktails and amuse-bouche.

Dinner was served alfresco, with immaculate views over the Aegean and rosy sunset hues cascading down the open terrace. White tables, pink and petrol blue dinnerware, and exuberant floral installations popped against the bright setting creating a relaxed and delightful ambiance; When the last rays of the sun hit the horizon, a canopy of fairy lights went on, making things oh-so-magical. If you’re planning on hosting a gleeful, sparkling destination wedding in Greece, this little gem here is definitely one you’ll want to save!

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kind words

Sossan & Nikos

We are beyond happy that we chose Sandy and Odysseas to capture the most important day of our lives!

Planning our wedding in Greece while we lived in California was stressful to say the least. When we looked through their website or visited their Instagram page, we could immediately tell that they are one of the best in the industry. We were immediately drawn to how they were able to capture not just the beauty of what they were shooting but the emotions and the characters of their subjects.

From the moment we first interacted with them (through facetime) we immediately were put at ease because we felt that they both had our best interest at heart. When we finally met in person (one day before the wedding), they graciously offered to spend some time with us and get us to be at ease in front of the camera - something that we personally needed. We spent a couple of hours capturing some beautiful shots in the amazing island of Ios.

The day of the wedding, we felt cared for, at ease, and more natural thanks to Sandy and Odysseas. From our pre wedding day pictures, to the guests photos, to the portrait session, every moment was captured beyond beautifully.

When we look back at our pictures, we are transported back to the island of Ios and all the feelings come rushing back as if we're reliving the moment over and over again. One of the best parts is that because of the pictures, we don’t feel like we missed out on guests feelings and reactions to our big day. Their happiness and tears of joy are all captured by our amazing photographers. Our guests were blown away by their professionalism and their ability to politely coordinate and keep to a schedule.

When wedding planning from halfway across the world, you quickly realize the caliber of people in the business. It is safe to say that the best decision we made for our wedding was to go with Sandy and Odysseas as our photographers. Looking back, we cannot imagine it any other way. Thanks to them, we have memories that were beautifully captured and that will last a lifetime. We cannot wait to be reunited with them either in Greece or the US in the near future!

Bride

From the

How we met and the proposal

Our Wedding looks

It’s a story as old as time. A boy from Chios crashes at his friend's couch and as fate would have it, meets the girl of his dreams. Needless to say, Nikos found more than a place to crash, he found his home away from home. And the rest is history.

We met through a mutual friend Tala. Sossan and Tala randomly met when they both needed a roommate. They met in person and there was an immediate connection and a friendship. Tala also happened to be very good friends with Nikos who she met at UCLA when they were doing their masters program.

Because we chose a destination wedding and it was a fusion of so many backgrounds and cultures, we wanted to keep the fashion very classic. I (the bride) chose to wear a Rita Vinieres Rivini Dress that I thought was simple, yet sophisticated, and elegant. It had a dramatic detachable mesh skirt that made it modern and fun while the dress itself was classic and minimal. The groom wore a custom suite in blue perfect for the Greek summer.

MOST ANTICIPATED MOMENT

Sossan: Then most special moment was when I walked down the aisle with my father towards Nikos

Nikos: Hearing the heartfelt speeches of our loving family and friends

THE INSPIRATION BEHIND OUR DAY AND HOW WE INCORPORATED CULTURAL TRADITIONS

The wedding was inspired by our love for our friends and family and our sole motivation was to have a big party celebrating our love with the most important people in our lives. The emphasis was on making it a fun and memorable event. Additionally, we wanted it to be an experience for everyone and incorporate our diverse cultural backgrounds and traditions in the three day event. Our welcome party was Afghan themed – consisting of afghani dancing, food, and clothing. The wedding day was a mix of the American culture upbringing and influence meshed with the Geek and Afghan traditions.

I feel like the whole day was personalized. Every single song was personally handpicked by us. Our favorite part of the wedding was getting to share it with people we love. Looking around and seeing so many people happy for us was overwhelming in the best way possible.

SPECIAL MOMENTS OF THE WEDDING

During our father daughter dance we did a dance to a popular pop Korean song called Gangnam Style. In the middle of the song, my step father jumped in for the dance! That was a personalized moment for me and both fathers. Also, my step dad officiated the wedding. That was a special moment because we are very close and I wanted him involved in big way.

Advice to other couples

Concentrate on the big stuff, don’t sweat the small details – they will all workout at the end. ENJOY THE LITTLE MOMENTS – it will be over in the blink of an eye.

Décor and florals

The décor was curated based on colors and inspiration I love and was drawn to. Our wedding planner helped bring our vision to reality. We wanted the wedding décor to be fun and bold. We chose to use color to invoke a feeling of warmth and summer. The colors were inspired by the afghan clothing and traditions against the blue and white backdrop of the Greek Cycladic architecture.

Our flowers were a mix of many textures, and bold bright colors. Bougainvillea is our favorite flowers and a staple in Greece and that was the base of the floral arrangements.

SANDY AND ODYSSEAS

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