A Blueprint for Happiness Styled Shoot in Greece

Elegant bride in stunning dress by the ocean at sunset

In times of hardship creating can provide a sense of inspiration that helps you grow and flourish. While experiencing a few setbacks due to COVID-19, this team rallied and made their vision come to life in the most inspiring way. An incredible blue and white wedding setting exuding a sense of serenity. The Bride's sparkling dress in the natural light is absolutely gorgeous and the glowing sun makes for a gorgeous scene.

Panos Demiropoulos Studio was there to capture all the fun details, Jim Labraco with the amazing florals, and Ioanna Karatza Events planned every detail. You can see all the images in the full gallery

Whitewashed village with blue domes and sunny Mediterranean sky

Elegant blue wedding shoes with flowers and a perfume bottle

Elegant beach wedding decor with Bride and Groom place cards Beach wedding invitation suite with watercolor map and floral details

Elegant wedding rings on a blue invitation card, Greece

Elegant aquamarine ring set on a white coral backdrop for a romantic feel

Elegant sea-themed wedding invitation suite with blue watercolor florals

Moody Blues

Elegant woman in a silver sequin dress poses dreamily

Blue is the color of mindfulness, serenity, and spirituality, and when it comes to weddings one of the most versatile hues as its palette is practically inexhaustible. When we began to design our shoot earlier this year, our thoughts were all about inspiring couples to consider a destination wedding that goes deeper than the typical getaway and gravitates more around conscious traveling.

Narrow street with arches and flowers in white stone

We wanted to present a location where the enthusiasm for life's simple pleasures is infectious, and taking lungfuls of crisp ocean breeze would have them sense true presence and meaning in their nuptials. What better place than Ios Island in the Cyclades whose little-trodden trails are still unspoiled by tourism, and what better palette than the blue one to resonate with our concept.

Woman with arms raised in artistic pose with a ring

Woman in dress on white building overlooking the sea White Greek church with a cross on the dome in bright sunlight

Elegant bridal bouquet with pink ribbon and protea flowers

Mishaps and Hopefulness

Elegant bride in sparkling gown under flowering tree

While we were still in the design process of our shooting, travel took a massive U-turn and unforeseen restrictions pointed out how fragile our casual traveling liberties were. An atmosphere of uncertainty pervaded, destination events were postponed if not utterly canceled, our access and ability to wander fell through. However, if 2020 has taught us anything this was the way humanity always tries to find solutions, to reinvent itself from scratch.

Elegant bride wearing a headpiece and sparkling dress with a floral backdrop

As one month melted into another we began to witness a complete shift in the mindset of destination wedding couples. The thought of freedom transcended the current moment and offered a blueprint for what destination nuptials can become within the world's new context. Couples refocused on what is essential, and eventually, their island-hopping blues turned to a rekindled interest in experiencing something substantial and momentous.

Bride in a sparkly wedding dress with a sea view background

Elegant bride in a gown on a terrace with a scenic sea view

We understood we had to go on. We gathered our team again, got into discussions with our floral designer, our venue, our vendors, and our initial palette, that of blue, now seemed more relevant than ever because apart from spirituality, serenity, and contemplation, it also symbolizes idealism, communication, and hope.

Elegant white rose and greenery floral arrangement close up

Elegant cocktails with flower petals for a refreshing drink

Soon as restrictions on traveling loosened up for Greece, we jumped on a boat and set the scene. Ios' skyline looked brighter than ever, the pasty streets and churches cleaner and the colors around so much more vibrant than before. We imagined a fete where the guest list is small but the setting laden with possibilities; ample, airy spaces, stunning vistas, a sense of wonder and exclusivity.

Bride in a sparkling wedding dress, beautiful hairstyle, and a bouquet

Major Wedding Details

Elegant bride in a sparkling dress stands by floral wedding arch

Our details included an arch to symbolize the inner circle, the circle of life, and the motion of things and feelings, a seated dinner scape with an open view over the crescent of the bay, topped with sea elements, and a pillar of a cake stand decked with a gateau that looks as if a white rock has just emerged from the depths of the ocean.

Elegant beach-themed table setting with coral and candles on a blue runner

Elegant table setting with floral centerpiece and ocean view

Elegant wedding table setting with menu and floral details

Elegant seaside table setting with floral centerpiece and coral

For the styling of the bride, we chose a shimmering gown paired with ethereal makeup and hair jewels to match the twinkles of lights across the chora as the sun went down. Every detail became a nod to this idea that past any vogue or trend sealing your joined destiny does not have to be ostentatious but rather like water; able to find its way through the stone, making life flourish again, and help one move through places they could not during wintertime.

Elegant bride poses near a wedding table overlooking a stunning view