LUXURY CLIFFSIDE ELOPEMENT IN SANTORINI OVERLOOKING THE AEGEAN SEA

wondering why a couple would decide to plan a luxury cliffside elopement in santorini overlooking the aegean sea? for #aandbabe jessica and jeff, a wedding trip to greece perfectly blended their unique love story and obsession with travel. making sure to infuse their personal style with santorini’s stunning sunsets and cliffside settings, jessica and jeff’s intimate santorini elopement was romantic and blissful.

first date at the beach

jessica and jeff met in 2015 when they were both working at a resort in carmel valley, california. their professional relationship soon turned personal when they followed each other on social media and eventually went on their first date in 2017. their first date was a foreshadowing of their future together, as they spent the day doing the same activities they would later enjoy on their wedding day. “we spent the afternoon wine tasting followed by a beautiful sunset at the beach and dinner.”

after their first date, jessica and jeff began spending more time together and spontaneously decided to book a trip to spain. in barcelona, they officially began dating and their shared love of traveling the world together became apparent. their love of adventure as well as their want to keep their wedding day simple and intimate, ultimately led to jessica and jeff planning a destination elopement in greece.

small wedding in santorini, greece

relaxing wedding morning on an island

jessica shares, “we always knew that we wanted a small wedding but our love for exploring the world and desire for a more intimate ceremony led us to our decision to elope in santorini.” with a focus on themselves and their unique wedding vision, much of jessica and jeff’s wedding morning was spent in solitude, admiring the island and their journey to this day.

“the day of our elopement, we watched the sunrise from our villa and spent the early afternoon soaking in the views and writing our vows. we jammed to our curated elopement playlist while my stylist worked on my hair and make-up.”

modern long sleeve wedding dress and classic bridal accessories

once jessica’s hair and makeup was complete, she began to add the final touches to her wedding look while jeff went outside with their photographer to capture individual photos. jessica found her modern long sleeve wedding dress in colorado at a&bé denver. knowing she wanted a simple statement wedding dress, vagabond’s ‘ventura’ gown was an ideal mixture of classic bridal style with contemporary flair. this fitted wedding dress had a draped crepe bodice that was traditional, while the removable pleated tulle sleeves added a twist of playfulness that was perfect for their santorini elopement.

after putting on her wedding dress, jessica grabbed a pair of pearl earrings and placed them on each ear. after adding her jewelry, she stepped into white bridal heels with an acrylic cutout. these lulus wedding shoes had a comfortable block heel that was ideal for their cliffside wedding ceremony and reception.

jessica also sprayed jo malone cologne that had a peony and blush suede scent. this sweet aroma completed her bridal prep and she was ready to see jeff for their first look and seaside elopement ceremony.

santorini cliffside wedding ceremony with sea views

when jessica approached jeff for their first look and the start of their ceremony, she walked out of the bridal suite to ladyfingers by herb alpert and the tijuana brass. while excitement was at an all time high, she distinctly remembers every minute of her walk down the aisle. “jeff was standing amongst clouds of baby's breath, with the aegean sea stretched behind him.”

their peaceful cliffside wedding ceremony consisted of their officiant reciting a beautiful speech and jessica and jeff sharing the vows they had prepared for one another. upon exchanging rings and kissing, both jessica and jeff were whisked away to a nearby village to take wedding portraits together.

romantic candlelit balcony wedding dinner in santorini

upon returning to their villa after photos, their balcony had been transformed into a cozy candlelit dinner for the two of them. their baby’s breath floral installations from the ceremony surrounded their elegant dinner table that overlooked the ocean. “we popped champagne, cut into our petite wedding cake (lemon cake layered with lemon curd, complete with vanilla buttercream!) watched the famous santorini sunset dip below the aegean, took more portraits and had a four-course dinner.”

as the sun disappeared into a watercolor sky, jessica and jeff sat in the candlelight, listening to the waves crash against the rocky coast below them. their destination elopement in santorini was every bit as magical as they imagined, an adventurous start to forever and one of the many thrilling trips they'll experience together!

dress designer: vagabond / bridal shop: a&bé denver / photographer: kimon kaketsis / venue: villa elidami / planning and styling: julia & evita / florals: betty flowers santorini / hair and makeup: morgan belleville / cake: alexandra's cakes / catering: spicy bites / rentals: maison trilogie and spicy bites