A Destination Wedding in Greece: Amie & Brian’s Santorini Wedding
A destination wedding in Greece gave Amie and Brian the chance to bring their closest people to Santorini for a weekend that felt intimate and completely their own. With just 20 guests traveling from different cities, states, and countries, the weekend was centered around the people they loved most.
As a destination wedding photographer, this was also my first time photographing a wedding in Greece. Santorini was new to me, but I was excited to experience it alongside Amie and Brian and document a wedding that was so focused on their people.
Photographing a Destination Wedding Somewhere New
When I photograph a wedding somewhere new, I like to arrive early. For Santorini, I arrived three days before the wedding so I could explore the island, visit Cavo Ventus, and get familiar with the roads and routes between locations.
Scouting is about more than finding a few pretty places for portraits. I look at the light, how people move through a space, quieter areas, transitions between parts of the day, and what we can do if the weather changes. I also want to understand how we can make time for portraits without pulling the couple away from their guests for too long.
Knowing a venue is helpful, but it does not mean every wedding there will photograph the same way. Timelines, weather, and light all change. Some of the best moments happen somewhere you never planned to photograph. My job is to notice those things and adjust as the day goes on.
That approach matters whether I am photographing a destination wedding in Greece or a wedding locally in Chicago. A new venue or location is not something I see as a limitation. It gives me the chance to look at the space with fresh eyes while still creating work that feels like me.
Kicking Off Their Wedding Celebration
Santorini was spectacular, but the destination was the backdrop, but the people were the story. Amie and Brian brought 20 of their closest friends and family members together for the weekend.
The weekend started with a welcome dinner at Volcano Blue in Fira. With the Caldera just beyond the restaurant, Amie and Brian gathered their 20 guests for their first night together in Santorini. It was a chance for everyone to settle in, get to know each other, and start the weekend before the wedding day itself.
Their Cavo Ventus Wedding Ceremony
On the wedding day, Amie got ready at Lavadoze Luxury Suites in Éxo Gonia before everyone headed to Cavo Ventus Luxury Villa for the ceremony. The venue sits near the southern end of the island, overlooking the Caldera Sea. Volcanic cliffs and the villages of Santorini stretched out in the distance, giving the ceremony a setting that felt distinctly Greek.
With only 20 guests, the ceremony felt incredibly personal. Everyone there was someone who mattered to Amie and Brian, and that closeness carried through the rest of the day. There was plenty of time to enjoy the setting and take portraits, but the focus stayed on being together.
Their Wedding Reception
The reception was where that small guest count became almost impossible to believe. People who had known each other for years danced with people they had only met days before. Amie’s coworkers danced with her younger sister’s boyfriend. Her brother-in-law picked up and danced with coworkers. No one stayed on the sidelines.
The speeches brought more of the same energy. They moved from funny stories to heartfelt moments, with plenty of laughter in between. I love photographs of people laughing without holding anything back, and there was no shortage of those moments throughout the night.
The vendors even commented on how wild the party was for such a small group. It was so amazing to see that you don’t necessarily need a huge guest list to have an incredible celebration. You just need the people who matter most!
Making a Destination Wedding in Greece Feel Manageable
For Amie, one of the most stressful parts of planning the wedding was becoming the unofficial point person for everyone traveling to Santorini. With guests coming from different cities, states, and countries, there were plenty of questions about accommodations, transportation, flights, schedules, and plans for the weekend.
This is something I always encourage destination couples to think about early. Create one central place for travel information, accommodations, transportation, and weekend plans. Once everyone arrives, have someone other than the couple handle guest questions. That could be a planner, maid of honor, parent, sibling, or trusted friend.
Your job that weekend is to get married and spend time with your people! You should not have to spend your welcome dinner answering questions about where someone should be at 9 a.m. the next morning.
More Than a Wedding
Amie and Brian trusted me to photograph their wedding without trying to control every image. They wanted beautiful portraits, but they also wanted to have fun and actually experience the weekend. That gave me the freedom to focus on both.
I loved working with them in Santorini, and our relationship did not end when they returned home. Since their wedding two years ago, I have photographed their maternity session, newborn photos, and their son’s first birthday.
That is one of my favorite parts of being a photographer. A destination wedding can bring you somewhere completely new, but the people you meet can become part of your story long after you leave.
If you are planning a destination wedding in Greece, somewhere else in Europe, or anywhere that feels meaningful to you, I would love to be part of it. As a destination wedding photographer, I bring the same preparation, communication, and approach to every location while leaving room for the things that make your wedding unique. Get in touch to tell me what you are planning!
Destination Wedding in Greece Vendor Team
Photography: Megan Magee Photography
Venue: Cavo Ventus
Florist: Wedding Wish Santorini
Catering: Spicy Bites Catering
Video: Konstantinos Kastanakis
Rentals: Maison Trilogie
DJ & Lighting: Santorini Events
Makeup: Renia Bledaki
Hair stylist: Marianna Nomikou
Wedding planning: Stella and Moscha
Cake: Petranart
Calligrapher: Linalulu Paperie
