Guys. You know how we feel about Santorini, yeah? Carizza, Director of Marketing + PR at 24 Carrots + her photographer beau Mike just sent over their Santorini elopement. They both work in the industry, so when it came time to tie the knot, they wanted it to be a bit different. And believe us, it was! Wait till you see all the photos Benj Haisch captured, along with a few tips from C + M for all you considering an elopement…
Hi, most drop dead gorgeous shoes on the planet!
Isn’t her Hayley Paige gown stunning too? (It’s actually up for grabs, btw).
Pro-tip for anyone doing a destination wedding or elopement: Book a day-after session with your photographer! We let Benj dictate our timeline, working around his preferences for lighting, etc., and though we didn’t think we needed another full session, the unexpected weather cut our portraits short on the wedding day. The day-after session allowed us to approach photos in a more relaxed manner, without the pre-vow jitters or stress of a timeline (and with better weather!). As destination weddings have more unknowns, I would highly recommend booking that extra couple of hours to take some pressure off, especially if photos are your priority!
The movement in this dress is pretty incredible if you ask us. They knew they had to be up for anything, but weren’t exactly expecting 50+ mile an hour winds. Carizza says, Eventually we just fell into each other’s arms and started laughing at the ridiculousness of it all. We had come so far to get away from the stress of wedding planning, made it a priority to keep things as simple as possible, and we were being taught that we were definitely still not in control. When we first started planning, I just kept saying, “I want to wear a pretty dress and get married on a cliff.” And at the end of the day, all my dreams really did come true.
Mike has been following Benj Haisch forever, so they booked him before he even bought a ring! His talent with elopements sealed the deal. See more in the gallery!
Eloping isn’t for everyone. We realized quickly that it has its own set of consequences and like all wedding planning, it’s a process of weighing all feasible options and making the best choice possible. I had to be okay with things like flying 700+ miles with a wedding dress in tow and not knowing our ceremony location until less than 24 hours prior. I would encourage everyone considering an elopement to not view it as a way to run away from the wedding option, but rather, to explore it as an alternative, intimate way to celebrate. It was just as special to us as a traditional wedding, and in many ways, so much more personal as a unique and incomparable experience.
As far as travel tips, they are all for booking that full-service experience with someone known for hospitality, like Millhouse Suites.
Congrats to Mike and Carizza!
Photographer: Benj Haisch / Location: Santorini, Greece / Accommodations: Millhouse Suites / Bride’s Dress: Hayley Paige from JLM Couture / Shoes: Sophia Webster / Accessories: Styled by TC / Groom’s Tuxedo: Black Lapel / Shoes: Ted Baker
