Ten years ago, Nick and Erin were first introduced through mutual friends in Huntington Beach, California. Physical attraction was there, but it was their strong shared desire for success which served as the linchpin that drew them closer. Coupled with their individual abilities to maintain a balanced life, always finding time to spend with family and friends, it was clear that Nick and Erin were the perfect match.
During Christmastime in 2014, the couple decided to take a vacation together in order to decompress from their hectic schedules. After sightseeing in Ireland and experiencing Hogmanay in Scotland, Nick patiently waited until the end of their trip – when they were at Tower Bridge in London – to ask for Erin’s hand in marriage. The moment was filled with joyful tears, and Erin couldn’t remove her glove fast enough to accept the proposal.
“THE SMILE ON HER BEAUTIFUL FACE IS SOMETHING THAT WILL FOREVER BE ETCHED IN MY MIND” NICK BENEKOS
With Nick’s Greek heritage, it didn’t take long for the newly engaged couple to decide on hosting a destination wedding in Greece. At first, the wedding planning process was met with a bit of apprehension, as it’s difficult to coordinate the details via email; but Divine Weddings Santorini stepped in as the wedding planner and assisted in making Nick and Erin’s destination wedding a dream come true.
The night before the wedding, the bride and groom-to-be spent the night in separate villas at the magnificent Celestia Grand. While sipping Greek coffee and overlooking the caldera, Erin was filled with a comforting sense of peace, allowing her to enjoy her upcoming wedding day.
After spending hours on hair, makeup, and wedding photos being captured by Vangelis Photography, the bride laughed hysterically as her driver repeatedly honked his horn while transporting her to the ceremony, alerting the entire town she was on her way. Live musicians greeted her as her father helped her out of the car, and she made her entrance down an aisle covered with white rose petals.
“The smile on her beautiful face is something that will forever be etched in my mind,” says the groom.
The wedding celebration took place at the Santorini Gem, located at Santorini’s highest point. A simple, traditional Grecian theme served as inspiration behind the wedding décor, which included a color palette of white and olive tones, blue hues, and a touch of slate. With such breathtaking views of the caldera as the background, the newlyweds didn’t want too many details taking attention away from Santorini’s natural beauty.
Guests were treated to a joyous night filled with love, laughter, savory selections of local cuisine, traditional Greek dancers, and a night sky lit with fireworks. Beyond thrilled with their destination wedding experience, the newlyweds simply describe their wedding day as “nothing short of absolute bliss and serenity.”
>Written By: Lauren Malamala
WEDDING TALENT
Location: Santorini Gem, Santorini, Greece; Floral and Event Design, Planner: Divine Weddings Pyrgos, Santorini, Greece; Wedding Dress: Berta
