~Helicopter rides and soggy brides~
Santorini is one of my favourite places in the world. No matter how many postcards you see nothing can prepare you for the drama of the real thing. It is known as a lovers paradise, and with it's otherworldly landscapes and the awe inspiring blue domed houses, it's easy to see why. This island is just made for lovers, spend the day soaking up the sun by the pool and eating authentic Santorinian cuisine all washed down with wine made from the local Assyrtiko grapes, or you can take advantage of the island's beaches, walk around the ancient ruins and visit the traditional towns. The list goes on. It's no wonder Frances and Paul chose this island to celebrate their wedding day, and I was so pleased they chose me as their Santorini wedding videographer.
Frances and Paul chose to have their bid day in the Thermes Luxury Villas in the popular area Megalochori, a luxurious idyllic location where Cycladic quality meets "classy mood sophistication". It overlooks the grand Caldera and has a perfect view of the one-of-a-kind sunset. Frances got prepared for her big day with her family, friends and the popular make up artist Popi Margerti. Frances chose to wear a stunning spaghetti strapped A-line dress which was just perfect for the heat of the Santerían sun. When Popi was finished with Frances she looked so beautiful and classy.
The amazing thing about the Thermes Luxury Villas is that it has it very own private ceremony space, perched on the edge of the cliff with breathtaking Santorini Caldera as a backdrop. This space is perfect for an intimate experience with your family and friends. Frances descended down the winding stairs from the villas, everyone was in awe of how gorgeous she looked. The smile didn't leave Paul's face. In the afternoon heat of the Santorini sun Frances and Paul exchanged their vows. It was an elegant ceremony and you could see the love and happiness in the eyes of this fantastic couple.
After the ceremony the guests enjoyed some drinks whilst Frances and Paul had their portraits session. Finding a location to get some killer shots can sometimes be a struggle, but in gorgeous venues like this the struggle is picking one!. We utilised the the awe inspiring cliffs to get some breath taking shots. They both emanated happiness and the shots captured here are pure real emotion. there are so many plus sides to using the same company for photography and videography, it's one less company to deal with, you know your going to get the best quality from your photography and videography as the process has been done over and over and is now a fine tuned machine. It's something I think every couple should think about when booking their wedding photography and videography.
This was a double-barrelled celebration as not only was it their wedding day, it was also Paul's 50th birthday.
I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate a birthday than getting married to the love of your life. Frances seriously pulled out all the stops for Paul and no doubt that this was a birthday to remember. She broke tradition and decided to make a speech at the wedding. The speech was so touching, she revealed to Paul that she had also got him the gift of a helicopter ride around the island. As if that wasn't enough! she then put her singing skills to good use and entertained everyone with moving performance of 'In the arms of an angel' by Sarah Mclachlan. Everyone was so impressed, by the time she had finished it was difficult to find a dry eye in the house.
At weddings people tend to have a favourite part of the day, whether is be the ceremony, the meal, the first dance etc. At Frances and Paul's wedding my favourite part was the completely unplanned trash the dress! :D I've never seen it done on the actual day itself before. I have to say it made this wedding truly unique and one that will forever stick with me. At the Thermes Luxury Villas you have full use of the pools on the day and night of the wedding. Once everyone's had the first couple of drinks and the party is in full swing, the pools start to look very appealing, especially after a full day in the hot Santorini sun. With the drinks flowing and the music playing of of course all of our fully clothes guests started jumping in the pool, this was so much fun to capture. I'll let you watch the highlight film below so you can see how it all pans out. Its moments like this that make me love being a Santorini wedding videographer.
Frances and Paul pulled out all the stops for their big day. The luxury venue and the amazing gifts. But, you could tell that the day was really centred around family and loved ones. The first dance stood out to me also, with Frances Father not present she danced with her Mother and all her family in a circle, it was a poignant moment. I think weddings are a time for the celebration of life but also a great way to remember loved ones, and I think Frances paid a touching tribute to this in the decoration of her bouquet. Frances and Paul's big day was unique, romantic and wet. Very wet. It stood out to me as one of my most memorable weddings of the year.
I wish Frances and Paul all the best for their future, thank you for letting me tell the story of your big Greek wedding! All the best, from your favourite Santorini wedding videographer.