a note from me

By eloping you are deciding to put your happiness, peace and most importantly, yourselves first. You have decided to throw tradition and societal norms out the window and have taken control of your wedding day- congrats!

Having done hundreds of weddings and elopements, my biggest piece of advice is to remember that this is a day like any other. This day doesn’t need to be perfect, it doesn’t have any expectations and you certainly don’t need to spend time stressing over it. You will enjoy this whole experience by remembering what the fundamental reason for getting married is; which is to share your vows and commit your lives to one another.

Let the day unfold naturally, have fun during the planning process, soak up each moment because the day will fly by. Ultimately this is a great adventure with your partner and it will be fulfilling in every way. You both are going to have such an amazing time and I will be right there to capture it all.

Love, Nick.

5 Helpful Tips

• It’s just all about the two of you!

  By eloping you are bringing the focus back to what the day is truly about. This day can truly be catered to you both whether it's just you two or surrounded by close friends and family. Think about all of your favorite things that you love to do together or new things that you would love to try and now combine it into one amazing epic day where you were also committing your life to that person – that is what eloping is all about.

• Things to Do

  Athens
  Your bucket list task is to go to Acropolis! Tickets are about $20 and the hike up isn’t that bad; just wear good walking shoes. If you can, do before sunset to witness the gorgeous light coming through the columns and architecture.
  Dine at Zonar’s next door for gorgeous views of Acropolis at night- great food!
  
  Must Do’s
  - Tour the Ancient and Roman Agoras
  - Watch the sunset at Lycabettus Hill or at the Acropolis
  - Stroll through Little Kook
  - Walk the National Gardens
  
  Other things to do:
  - Electric Bike Tour
  - Greek food tour
  - Cooking class or Wine tasting
  - Sail the Athenian Coastline in a Catamaran (link)
  
  Santorini
  Of course besides eloping, here are some amazing things you can do in Santorini!
  - Walk the main street in Oia and visit all the shops, bars and restaurants
  - Explore Fira
  - Do the Fira to Oia walk (bit of a hike)
  - Swim in beaches (Red & Black Beach)
  - Eat dinner at sunset at Classico
  - Rent chairs at Seaside Beach Club
  - Go on a boat tour to see the coastline and Volcanic rocks!

• How to’s

  How to pack your wedding attire
  Depending on how big your dress is- you can either keep it in the dress bag from the shop or roll it up to put in your suitcase. Your bridal shop can probably recommend the best way to do this. If your dress has beaded or glittery bodes, then you can line parchment or wax paper around it to avoid it getting caught on other parts of your dress. The same goes with packing your suit. You can buy an inexpensive steamer from Amazon (link here) to iron out any wrinkles that may occur in transit. Your photographer and videographer will make sure you look the best on camera!
  
  How to include family that is not physically present
  My biggest recommendations is to ask your family members to write letters for you to read on your elopement day. In life we get so few times to share our feelings this way and this is a great opportunity to do so and feel close to them without them there.
  
  How to write your vows
  -Start by reflecting on your relationship: Think about the moments that brought you and your partner together, what you love about them, and how they make you feel. Consider the milestones in your relationship and don’t be afraid to bring up the challenges you have overcome together.
  -Write from the heart: Your wedding vows should be an authentic expression of your feelings and emotions. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable, use personal anecdotes, or even humor, as long as it feels true to you.
  -Make promises: Wedding vows are a commitment to your partner, so make sure to include promises that are meaningful to you. Consider what you want to pledge to your partner, such as promising to always support them, to be their biggest cheerleader, or to be faithful and loyal.
  -Keep it concise: While it's important to express your feelings, remember that your wedding vows should be concise and to the point. Try to keep them around two to three minutes long.
  Don't worry too much about making them perfect – the most important thing is that they come from the heart.
  
  How to plan a post-elopement party/mini reception
  You can still have the “big wedding” feel by having a party after your elopement. A lot of couples are hosting parties at their house, their neighborhood clubhouse or any inexpensive venue and inviting anyone they want. And just like your elopement, your post-elopement party can be just as unique by doing exactly what you want. You can make it as elaborate or as casual as you want and your guests will love anything you put on.
  Since wedding photos take months to get back, you are able to showcase your elopement photos at your party since you will receive them within a couple weeks! Show your story of your day and create a slideshow of all your favorite photos to show.
  You can use your We Eloped cards as a “Save the Date” for your party and get your guests excited to see more of your epic day.

• Elopement Day Expectations

  Just like I said in my note (see above) just sit back, relax and enjoy the day! Your elopement day is almost like a traditional wedding day but way better and far less limits. By eloping we can hop around, explore, do things, take epic photos and just enjoy the whole day! Here is what to expect the day to flow:
  
  Beginning: Usually we start off the day slow by capturing you both writing your vows. There is something still so romantic by putting your thoughts on paper instead of having it typed out or on your phone. I will also shoot your details like rings, flowers, wedding attire, etc. You don’t have to worry about where this happens as I will be using my creativity to do the heavy lifting :). Next we will capture you both getting ready separately before your first look. Brides will be about 99% ready before we start shooting this while groom’s will wait til I cue in the suite jacket and any other accessories.
  
  Middle: The start of the fun! This is the meat and potatoes of your day- capturing your first look, exploring the town and any spots we visit for epic photos! I will capture a combination of scenic photos, close ups, wide shots and everything in between. I will give you prompts for shots that feel natural and comfortable for some good photos. Don’t worry about posing because I will guide you through everything.
  
  End: Usually we will hold your ceremony at sunset when the light is at it’s best! I will coach you through the entire thing so you don’t need to prepare anything other than your vows. After we finish photos then you are free to enjoy the evening as husband and wife!!

• Have fun!

  Probably one of the best reasons to elope is that you bring that intimate part of a wedding and carry it throughout the entirety of the day. Enjoy every moment, soak in every emotion and have the biggest adventure yet! No matter what weather we come across, I have seen and done it all and it always comes out amazing.
  Like I said before, I will help guide you throughout the ceremony so you two can feel everything and be in the moment as much as possible. This way it will feel like nothing else in the world matters beyond what is happening right in front of your eyes.