Lauren and Evan’s love story is as romantic as their wedding in stunning Santorini, Greece. With breathtaking views of the caldera as the backdrop, their celebration was just a dream. The decorations featured a stunning mix of blue hydrangeas, chamomile, and bold red and yellow florals, which perfectly complemented the white buildings and deep blue waters of Santorini, making their wedding day an absolute unique. Under the guidance of their wedding planner, Santorini My Wedding, the couple created a day filled with unforgettable moments, heartfelt vows and pops of color in jewel tones.
Captured by Lighthouse Photography.
«We met the old-fashioned way, at a restaurant in LA. During COVID outdoor dining, I was sitting at a table with some friends when I got a tap on the shoulder from Evan, who, after some whiskey, got the courage to ask me for my number. After weeks of saying no, I finally accepted a date with Evan, and it was the best first date either we had ever been on.»
«The next summer, being born and raised in California, I went with Evan to visit his home state of Wisconsin for his sister’s wedding. We loved our time on the lake in Wisconsin and the slower pace of life, but LA was our home… for now. We fell in love slowly and all at once, enjoying car rides up and down the California coast and trying new restaurants together. Exactly two years from our first date, Evan bought a house in Wisconsin… without confirming with me the exact plans for a cross-country move. I moved to Wisconsin a few months later, and as we settled into Midwest life, we knew we wanted to build a future together. In July 2023, Evan surprised me with a private train car dinner for our family and friends at our favorite restaurant in Madison, where he proposed, and I said yes! Evan throws out the idea of a destination wedding at that dinner…»
Chic and Stylish Weddings helped me at the initial inspiration. Planning a destination wedding can feel like a big commitment, but seeing and reading about other brides doing it made it more accessible and got me excited about the idea.
Lauren , Bride
«I found all my vendors through my wedding planner, Katerina at SantoriniMyWedding.»
«Probably the thing I was most nervous about in planning a destination wedding was the decoration. The florals play such a huge role in the feel of the day, and we were blown away by the work of the RedBoxDays team. I knew I didn’t want the standard neutral florals vibe, instead envisioning pops of color in jewel tones to complement the white buildings of Santorini and the incredible caldera views. We opted for a big garland on our ceremony arch, with full, organic arrangements along the aisles. For the dinner tables, we loved the idea of bud vases and candles down our two long tables to allow guests to connect and share the meal family style. My bridal bouquet was beyond gorgeous—I have never seen peonies in those pink and maroon shades before, and it was a highlight of the day for me.»
«We wanted to add a few personal touches to our day while still letting the venue shine, including a welcome sign, a champagne wall for guests to find their seating assignments, and a Polaroid photo booth guestbook table. Illumniography captured our vision perfectly, and the pieces fit well with the natural beauty of the venue. We knew we didn’t need to go overboard with the table details, again focusing on the guests feeling connected and enjoying Greece’s natural beauty, but we loved renting blue cups and napkins from Maison Trilogie to add a little something extra to the tables.»
«I have two moments tied for my favorite! One of my favorite moments from the wedding was exchanging our personal vows. It was such a special moment, and the words were unique to us. At the end of the day, committing our lives to each other through our vows was the only thing that truly mattered—the rest of the day was just the cherry on top. Watching the video back and seeing all the love and the beautiful landscape of Santorini surrounding us made the moment perfect. Another favorite moment was surprising our guests with fireworks at the reception. Standing at the edge of the dance floor, holding Evan’s hand, and looking out at all of the guests staring up at the sky is an image I will never forget!»
«I didn’t go into wedding dress shopping with a specific idea of what I wanted. I was open to trying on a range of dress styles (and definitely did). Imagining standing overlooking the caldera in Santorini in each dress, I decided on a fitted, sparkly dress. I loved the intricate detail and the way it shined in the light.»
This is your day! Focus on what you and your groom want and build your day around that. It is worth putting in a ton of time and effort into planning the details before the wedding so that on the day of, you can relax knowing that every detail has already been taken care of.
Lauren , Bride
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