Real Bride Taylor in Kate by Monique Lhuillier at Her Wedding in Greece

Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?

We actually started out as coworkers turned real friends at the Miami Heat in the group sales department. The hours were long, so our little crew would grab drinks after work to unwind, and somewhere in there, "coworkers" turned into "best friends." We'd hang out on weekends, talk about absolutely nothing and everything, and just genuinely enjoy each other's company. After COVID, we ended up working together again at my new job, and one shared burger later, something shifted. Suddenly the friend zone was gone and all I could think about was how much I wanted to kiss him and hug him. He was also amazing with my Great Dane, Barkley, and the two of them loved each other right back. He'd always been the friend who showed up for me, and now he gets to show up as my husband. Honestly, it was probably obvious to everyone around us long before it was obvious to me! We dated for four-plus years and just celebrated one month of marriage, and I love every chapter of our story.

When you started planning your wedding, what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?

Honestly, our wedding ended up somewhere we never even let ourselves dream. It felt like the kind of wedding that only happens for influencers or celebrities! We knew from the start we wanted something small: good food, good drinks, beautiful decor, and our favorite people all dressed up. But if you'd told us early on  back when we were just starting to talk about engagement and weddings that we'd end up getting married in Greece, we simply wouldn't have believed you.

What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?

We wanted it to feel deeply romantic  a day where we got real, quality time with the people we love, while still feeling completely immersed in the fact that it was our day. We knew it would fly by in an instant, so soaking up time together was non-negotiable.

How did you decide on the location?

It all started when I found our planner on Instagram. We hopped on a Zoom call with her, and she happened to be in Greece at the time, a place my mom always described as the most romantic destination in the world. We'd always pictured something small and intimate (we'd even floated the idea of eloping), so Greece felt like it could never disappoint. We'd never even visited before we went in on full trust in our planning team, knowing the views would be stunning and the food would be fresh and delicious. And we were so right.

Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!

I found it the very first time I tried on dresses as a bride. I think it was the third or fourth one. I smiled ear to ear, teared up, and just knew it was the one. I felt so bridal, and I remember thinking, "my husband is going to be obsessed." I loved where it sat on my waist and the incredibly detailed lace. I still tried on more (because every bride says you should!), but I never stopped thinking about that first dress. In the end, it was exactly the one I'd always pictured, and I never looked back. I loved her so much.

How did your family, friends, etc. play into your wedding planning and wedding day?

One of our closest friends actually worked with us at the Heat, and the three of us were inseparable long before my husband and I ever started dating. He watched our whole story unfold  friends to something more to engaged  so it felt only right to have him be part of our day. He officiated our wedding, and having someone who truly knew our journey say those words made everything feel so genuine and calmed all our nerves. Another close friend read a Bible verse and prayed over us during the ceremony. My nephew and nieces were our ring bearer and flower girls, and we kept our bridal party small and intentional just long-term friends and family standing beside us and of course my dad walking me down the isle. 

What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget?

We're still in awe of this one days later, we couldn't stop talking about it. We surprised all our guests with fireworks, timed perfectly as we cut the cake. Everyone was facing us, and right as we cut in  boom, fireworks lit up the sky, with "All That Really Matters" by Illenium and Teddy Swims playing at the exact same moment. Even though we'd planned it, living in that moment felt completely surreal  such a total pinch-me moment. We still rewatch that video all the time.

How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?

I'll be honest  I fully trusted my hair and makeup team. I did my trial two days before the wedding and told them I wanted to look like myself, just elevated. There were no notes on my makeup and she didn't have me in the chair for two hours. My dress was strapless, and anyone who knows me knows I love my hair up, so I asked for a bun. My stylist nailed it on the first try and even designed it so I could easily drop it into a sleek ponytail for the reception party later.

Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?

Our planner, Maria Sila of Tie the Knot, made everything painless  from tracking our budget to bringing our vision to life. She exceeded anything my Pinterest board could have dreamed up. I wouldn't change a single detail, and I'm still in disbelief looking back at the pictures that this was actually our day.

Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?

Since our wedding was in Santorini, we stayed two extra nights there to fully unwind, then island-hopped to Paros and Mykonos. We spent our days by the water, eating incredible food, and just truly being together no schedules, no responsibilities, just each other. It was a beautiful reminder of everything that makes us work as husband and wife: knowing when to relax and when to adventure, canceling reservations just to stay in and order room service, and even the ferry rides between islands (which everyone warned us would be a hassle) ended up being one of our favorite parts. Being somewhere so romantic for our first trip as a married couple we honestly couldn't have asked for anything more.

We know not everyone could go so blindly in planning a wedding. We did no tastings, booked our venue without ever seeing it and did everything really by stalking places and peoples social media, but if you asked me we'd do it all over we would. The element of being amazed by everything for the first time in the moment made it even better.

Planner: @tietheknotbymariasila

Photography: @adovasio_photography_studio

content: @dreamerscontent

video @magic_videography

makeup @makeup.santorini.renia

hair @mariannanomikou

venue @cavo_ventus_luxury_villa