Getting Married at Islet Santorini - My Big Fat Greek Wedding - REVIEW

Our Wedding in Santorini – A Day of Love, Sunset Views, and Greek Magic

On Tuesday, May 27th, 2025, Graham and I got married in Santorini, surrounded by 20 of our closest family and friends. We tied the knot at Islet Santorini, a brand-new wedding venue perched above the Caldera with views that quite literally take your breath away. Every part of the day felt like something from a dream, and I’m so excited to finally share all the details.

The Night Before – My Last Night as an Asbury

We kicked things off the night before the wedding with a private BBQ dinner at Madame Sousou on their brand-new wedding terrace. This place holds a special place in our hearts—we had eaten there during our venue scouting trip back in July 2024 and knew we wanted to return. The view over the island and the sunset was fabulous, even though the evening air turned a little chilly (bring layers!).

The food was amazing—live BBQ, heaps of meat, Greek salad, chips, and delicious sides to keep everyone full. We paid €250 for the live BBQ chef and €500 to hire the terrace privately for our 20 guests. This eliminated the need for a minimum food/drink spend, which worked perfectly for our plans. The staff were just as warm and welcoming as we remembered.

The Morning – From Suite to Bride

I woke up at Serra Exclusive Suites in Akrotiri, a peaceful, tucked-away corner of Santorini with Caldera views and close to the Akrotiri lighthouse. After breakfast, it was time to start the transformation.

Renia, my makeup artist, arrived at 11:30am and completely blew me away. I had never had my makeup done professionally before, and I truly felt like a princess. I chose the airbrush option, which was sprayed on rather than brushed—and it lasted all day and night, despite the sun and the happy tears. Renia was so calming and kind, and honestly, one of the highlights of the morning.

After my makeup, I moved into the suite at Islet Santorini—the very suite where we would later return as husband and wife. It was here I next saw Mary from Red Knot Weddings, our incredible wedding planner, who coordinated the entire day seamlessly. Mary worked directly with all of our handpicked suppliers and ensured everything went off without a hitch. If there were any problems—I never knew.

I also finally got to meet Dimitris Diamantis from DJ & Events Santorini, who I had been working with closely since late 2024. He was in charge of DJing, lighting (Big letter Mr & Mrs Carter lights and fairy lights), fireworks (both ground and sky), Greek dancing, and plate smashing—the full party experience. He made a huge part of our wedding wish list possible and was incredibly kind, upbeat, and professional. Weddings in Santorini aren’t cheap, but Dimitris made sure we got so much value without compromising on quality. And after months of emails, meeting him in person felt like meeting an old friend.

With things in full swing, I was handed a glass of zero-alcohol Prosecco—I was 13 weeks pregnant, after all! Islet Santorini made sure I had just as much to celebrate with as everyone else, with plenty of non-alcoholic options on hand.

The rest of the bridal party, including my mum and bridesmaids, began arriving. Marianna Mikou, my hair stylist, came to work her magic—and magic she did. Just like Renia, Marianna was a joy to be around. I showed her some inspiration photos and she knew exactly what to do. I had no trial for hair or makeup, but it didn’t matter at all. Both Marianna and Renia absolutely nailed it.

Moments Before "I Do"

As my hair was being finished, our photographers from Dreamodd arrived. They began capturing the morning details, and were discreet yet everywhere—our photos are absolutely beautiful and so full of emotion and colour. They didn’t miss a thing.

Through the window, I caught a glimpse of Anna Edelweiss doing a soundcheck with her violin. She would soon be playing the song that would take me down the aisle: Taylor Swift’s “Enchanted.” And truly, enchanted is the perfect word for how the whole moment felt.

Walking Into Forever

The time came to head downstairs. The sun was shining, the heat beating down, and Mary was ready to cue me in.

Now, I usually hate being the centre of attention. I had worried that the nerves would catch up with me—but somehow, they didn’t. There were no cold feet. No panic. Just peace.

As “Enchanted” began to play, Mary whispered that it was my turn. I took my dad’s arm, took a deep breath, and we walked.

Step by step, escorted by my Father, one Jimmy Choo in front of the other, I made my way down the steps of Islet Santorini and out into the light. Ahead of me stood Graham, wiping his eyes, surrounded by the most incredible pinks, blues, and whites from Amela Santorini Flowers and the dreamy aisle and podium set-up by Weddings & Whimsy.

And just like that, the world melted away.

It was just me, him, and forever.

Anna Edelweiss was absolutely fabulous, we had so many compliments on her performance, and she even stuck around a little bit longer so we could have our song Paper Rings by Taylor Swift when our colour bomb went off.

Sunshine, Vows & a Sparkling Send-Off

After the ceremony, emotions were running high and the joy was radiating from everyone. With the sun beaming down and the Caldera glowing behind us, it was time for group photos and some individual couple shots of the brand new Mr & Mrs Carter.

Just Us – A Caldera Escape

Soon after, Graham and I were whisked away from the venue in our wedding car, headed to one of our favourite spots on the island—Imerovigli. It was here, almost exactly a year earlier, that we had taken our engagement photos. Now, we were back—but this time in full wedding glory: me in my Madison James Gala ball gown, and Graham looking absolutely perfect in his wedding suit.

We ended up doing a bit of a hike (yes, a hike in a wedding dress!) down the cliff front to a tiny white church with a rooftop you can stand on. From there, we had full panoramic views of the Caldera, made even more stunning by the bright sunshine and the magic of the moment.

We were away from our wedding party for about an hour, and honestly? I wouldn’t change it for the world. That time was just for us. The day was always about us—and I didn’t want to be parted from Graham at all. We stayed side-by-side for every moment, and that little escape to soak it all in together, in the middle of the most beautiful place in the world, was one of my favourite parts of the entire day.

All the while, our incredible team at Dreamodd was capturing every moment on camera and video, including drone footage that we can’t wait to relive forever.

A Grand Entrance & The Perfect Meal

When we returned to Islet Santorini, it was time for our grand entrance as husband and wife. To no one’s surprise, we walked in to Taylor Swift’s “Love Story”—a full-circle moment of joy, hand in hand, beaming.

Before dinner, we had our speeches, which were full of laughter, emotion, and love. Graham's Dad had so many wonderful things to say about my new husband, and our relationship. My dad, as Father of the Bride, spoke beautifully too. and finally Graham himself, who brought it home with heartfelt words that had us all teary-eyed.

For food, we had chosen Mario Catering’s Volcano Buffet Menu, which was everything we hoped for and more. We weren’t keen on a formal 3-course meal—we wanted something authentically Greek, relaxed, and delicious. The buffet included:

Pork Souvlaki

Chicken Fillet

Lamb Chops

Salmon Fillets

Greek Salads

Delicious Greek-style sides

It was honestly my favourite meal of the week. The team at Mario Catering were phenomenal, and every single guest—from toddlers to grandparents—raved about the food.

Sunset Vows & Sparkling Nights

As the sun began to dip, Graham and I snuck away to the ceremony area, now quieter but still dressed in blooms, for a moment just between us. There, we read our private vows—just the two of us, golden light, and the Aegean behind us. I’ll never forget it.

Back at the reception, it was time to cut the cake—courtesy of Petranart, a local bakery that came highly recommended (and for good reason). We chose a vanilla layer and a chocolate layer, brought our own decorations, and Mary (our planner) styled it to perfection.

Then… the party began!

Our first dance—to none other than Taylor Swift’s “Enchanted”—was straight out of a fairy tale. As we danced, ground fireworks lit up around us, creating a scene that looked like something from Beauty and the Beast. We were totally swept away in it.

That was just the beginning. Dimitris, our incredible DJ and event magician, had planned:

Aerial fireworks

Traditional Greek dancing

Plate smashing

And a surprise belly dancer (who somehow got me up dancing too—which, if you know me, is absolutely unheard of!)

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The music kept going, the drinks kept flowing (though I was still sipping my zero-alcohol fizz), and the dance floor was full until midnight, just like Cinderella. Graham may have been slightly tipsy by the end of it all, but seeing him so carefree and full of joy was one of the best feelings of the entire day.

Just Us

As the clock struck twelve, our carriages arrived to take our guests back to their accommodation. The lights dimmed, the music faded, and we were left alone at Islet Santorini—just Mr. Carter and the new Mrs. Carter, finally still, finally alone, with hearts full to the brim.

Our Santorini wedding was more than we ever dreamed. It was elegant but relaxed, stunning but real, magical but deeply personal. Every detail had been thought out, but nothing ever felt forced.

And the best part? I got to marry the love of my life, pregnant with our baby, dancing under fireworks, surrounded by the people who love us most.

Santorini, you were everything.

Dress: Madison James Gala Ballgown

Shoes: Jimmy Choo Sacaria 120

Hair: Marianna Mikou

Make Up: Renia

Planner - Mary - Redknot Weddings

Photography/Videography: Dreamodd

Aisle/Podium: Weddings & Whimsy

Violinist: Anna Edelweiss

Flowers: Amela Santorini Flowers

DJ: Dimitris Diamantis - DJ & Events in Santorini

Lighting (Fairy Lights/Big Letter Lights): DJ & Events in Santorini

Ground/Aeriel Fireworks: DJ & Events in Santorini

Greek Dancing/Plate Smashing/Belly Dancing: DJ & Events in Santorini

Catering: Marios Catering

Planning a Wedding in Santorini

There’s a kind of magic in Santorini that you just can’t find anywhere else. Maybe it’s the way the sun sets in blazing orange over the caldera, or how the whitewashed buildings and blue domes feel like something out of a dream. When I first imagined my wedding, I wanted it to feel timeless, intimate, and full of soul—and Santorini delivered all of that and more. But planning a wedding on a Greek island? That’s a whole story in itself.

Why Santorini?

I’d always been drawn to Santorini for its natural beauty and romantic atmosphere. The idea of exchanging vows with the Aegean Sea as our backdrop felt surreal. We didn’t want a massive wedding; we wanted something personal, where every guest felt part of our love story. Santorini felt like the perfect blend of elegance and escape.

The Planning Process: What I Wish I Knew

Planning a destination wedding isn’t for the faint of heart—especially when you’re doing it across time zones. Here are some things I learned along the way:

Hire a Local Wedding Planner

Many of the venues in Santorini will require you to have a wedding planner regardless. We hired one before we flew out to scout out the venues in July 2024. This was a practical decision decision as we knew that on the day we would be thankful to have someone else who wasn't emotinally involved steering our ship. 

Our planner knew the ins and outs of the island—what paperwork we needed, which vendors were reliable, and even the best time of day to schedule the ceremony based on lighting (yes, that’s a thing!). Communication was key, and having someone on the ground saved us from so many logistical headaches.

That being said, yes our planner had a great wealth of knowledge that was incredibly valuable to us as a couple booking a wedding abroad, but don't be fooled into thinking that they will give you prefrential rates  when it comes to booking suppliers. When I recieved those very first quotes detailing how much the lighting would cost and how much decorations would be, I grew very worried. I worried we had bitten off more than we could chew.

Don't be Afraid to Get Independant Quotes

With the wedding planners quotes in hand, I took to Instagram to see if I could obtain some independent quotes. I spoke to companies providing flowers, Musicians, Wedding Cakes, DJ set ups, Fireworks... You name it, I had it quoted.

With the independent quotes in hand, I could see that there was a very substantial mark up on many of the services which catagorically ruled them out. In some instances, delivery fees were added for items that just didn't need it... For example Greek dancers coming to perform and provide plate smashing. Dancers who were coming to our wedding anyway wanted €80 to deliver the plates to the wedding venue, after we were already being charged €6 a person for the plate smashing.

My own research found me the most fantastic company, Santorini Entertainment and the owner Dimitris Diamantis. He has sourced our DJ set up, Lighing, Greek dancing - with complimentary plates and NO delivery fee, fireworks, ground fireworks and big Mr and Mrs Carter letters. He was incredibly priced and his personal, friendly service on the run up to the wedding has been absolutely fabulous. I highly recommend Dimitris and will provide a full review once we are married!

This additonal bang for buck popped up a number of times during the planning process, and I very quickly booked up everything myself. With the suppliers booked with a deposit, I then provided all of the details back to our wedding planner so that she could communicate with them and finalise the details.

Initially we were concerened this may be an issue, but we have got on very well with our wedding planner and she has been super. We just had to accept that she would be adding a % on to the hire fee.

Start Early—But Be Flexible

Things in Santorini run on “island time.” Venues book up fast, especially during peak wedding season (May to September), so by the time we started planning our wedding in July 2024... We were already behind the curve. Our wedding has come together in 11 months, when many people plan for years ahead of their date! 

We were lucky in regards to available dates, as we opted for a new venue that had not yet done it's first season. This gave us the pick of the dates. I talk more about the venues in this post - How to choose a Wedding Venue in Santorini.

Trust the Local Aesthetic

When it came to planning our wedding in Santorini, we knew one thing for sure: the island itself would be the main character. With the breathtaking caldera views, whitewashed buildings, and that endless blue sea, it didn’t take much to make the setting feel magical. But we still wanted to add personal touches—something that felt like “us.”

So we struck a balance: minimal but meaningful, romantic but unfussy. Here’s how we approached our wedding décor in Santorini and why we wouldn’t change a thing.

As the sun dips and the sky turns pink and gold on May 27th 2025, our fairy lights will begin to glow. We will have them strung across the reception space, creating a canopy of twinkling light that make the evening feel intimate and almost otherworldly. There’s something about warm lights swaying gently in the breeze that makes everything feel a little softer, a little slower, a little more special.

At night, those lights will transform the space. It won't just be pretty—it will feel enchanted.

A Few Practical Tips

Legal Ceremony or Symbolic? We opted for a legal ceremony in Santorini and handled the legal paperwork at home on the run up to the big day. Considerations that must be allowed for are needing to go to your local registry office to obtain a CNI (Certificate of No Impediment) which costs around £42.00. This has to be dated within 3 months of your wedding date.

Once you obtain the CNI, which will take around a month due to the 'cooling off period' where the document is kept in the public domain, should someone wish to object to your marriage. After this period you will have another appointment to collect your document. With your CNI in hand, you must now send it off to be Apostille Stamped.

Apostille Stamps legalise documents, and we had to have a birth certificate each and a CNI each. If you allow enough time, you can use the goverments standard service. However with our wedding at the end of May, and only getting our CNI's back at the begining of May... We were running out of time. We opted to spend £410 to have a next day service with a company called 2E Apostille. 

We sent our documents off on Wednesday 7th May 2025 and had them back Apostille Stamped and ready to be sent to our wedding planner for translation into Greek on Saturday 10th May 2025.

Accommodations: Our wedding planner advised us to instruct all of our guests to book accomadation in Kamari. That plan quickly went out of the window, with both of our families booking Pygros and Vourvoulos, while we were heading to Akrotiri. It became clear that we would need our guests to organise their own transport to and from the wedding venue. We laid this out ahead of time, to allow everyone time to get transport organised. 

Don’t Skip the Food Tasting: Greek cuisine is amazing, and most venues will let you sample ahead of time. We did however skip the food tasting, as we didn't make it back out to Santorini as we hoped to taste the cake and the food choices we had made. However we have read very good things about both of our selections, Marios Catering and Petranart. I will update post wedding!

Would I Do It Again?

Absolutely. Planning a wedding in Santorini took patience, flexibility, and trust—but it also gives us a celebration beyond our wildest dreams. There’s nothing quite like watching the people you love fall under the island’s spell right alongside you.

If you’re considering a Santorini wedding, take a deep breath, embrace the adventure, and prepare for a celebration that’s every bit as magical as the island itself.

Finding Out I Was Pregnant… 9 Weeks Before Our Wedding!

March 25th, 2025 — a date I’ll never forget. I found out I was three weeks pregnant. Not three months, not even four weeks — three. Barely there and yet already everything had changed.

The funny thing is, I don’t even know why I took the test that morning. My cycles have always been so unpredictable, and we had been preparing ourselves for the possibility that it might take a while to conceive — especially after the wedding. But lately, Graham had started dropping these casual little hints, saying things like, “Well, if it happened now, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world…”

Little did he know — it had happened.

It was early morning, and I had to go to work. I took the test almost out of habit, no real expectations. But when that faint second line appeared, I froze. I stood there staring at it, heart pounding, mouth dry, trying to wrap my head around it. Then I did the most difficult thing imaginable — I kept it to myself all day.

We’d always said we wanted to make “the moment” special. Not just a rushed whisper in the kitchen or a text message with a photo. So I zipped my lips, carried on with my day, and somehow managed to stay upright at work.

As soon as I finished, I headed straight to Tesco. I needed a digital test — because let’s be honest, it only ever feels real when it says the words: Pregnant: 1-2 weeks. I didn’t need the loo yet, so I sat in Costa with a latte, nervously sipping and waiting for nature to do its thing. Eventually, I took the test in the Tesco bathroom (classy, I know) — and there it was. Clear as day.

From there, it all snowballed beautifully. I dashed to Next and bought a little white Babygrow that read “Born in 2025” and a mug that said “Daddy – Est. 2025.” I wrapped it all up with the positive test inside, knowing I still wouldn’t get a quiet moment with Graham anytime soon.

That evening, he picked me, his sister, and my stepdaughter up to go to my wedding dress seamstress appointment. Yes — on the same day I found out I was pregnant, I also tried on my wedding dress. Life’s timing is funny like that.

In the middle of the fitting, I had to whisper to the seamstress that I was newly pregnant — quietly enough so Graham’s sister and daughter wouldn’t hear. She gave me a knowing hug and gently moved my next appointment to May, “just in case anything changes.”

By the time we got home, it was nearly 9pm. My stepdaughter went off to bed, and we started making dinner. Graham, again, casually mentioned how it wouldn’t be a disaster if I fell pregnant now. That maybe we could stop trying not to.

I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

I ran upstairs, grabbed the wrapped package, and handed it to him. He looked at me with a raised eyebrow and said, “That better not be a positive pregnancy test…”

It was.

His face as he opened it — the surprise, the joy, the emotion — I’ll remember it forever.

So yes, March 25th will always be the day I found out I was pregnant. And also the day I stood in a wedding dress, knowing that the next chapter of our lives was already beginning.

Sometimes, life doesn’t wait for perfect timing. But it always has perfect moments.

We are having a BABY!

We hadn't been trying for a baby, not yet anyway. The plan, the dream always was to get married and THEN start trying for a little baby all of our own. 

On the run up to our wedding in Santorini this May 2025, we had been mindful that getting pregnant at certain points could be pretty detrimental to our big day. It would be far less than ideal if I could no longer fly there to get married!

As the days and weeks turned into months, and the impact of falling pregnant reduced, we became much more relaxed. Graham starrted saying things 'If you fell pregnant now... It wouldn't be the end of the world!' and it became a regular topic of conversation between us.

On the 25th March, the day of my very first seamstress appointment. The crucial appointment where they were going to be pinning my dress and pulling it in at all the right places... Was the very day that I got a positive pregnnacy test.

I found out in the morning beforr work. Ironically I don't know what possessed me to take that cheap line test that day... I did the test and brushed my teeth, not even glancing back at the test on the side. I certainly didn't expect it to come up positive with such a distincly clear second line. A line that I hadn't seen since my pregnany with Louis back in 2020.

 

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