So here we are—finally settled in Santroni, Greece. We are staying in Perissa Beach, which is the beach that Craig and I worked on in the summer of 2007. Santorini is divided into 5 main parts… and we decided to stay in Perissa so that we could be on a beach, and be in the place where we truly fell in love. Since being here 4 years ago, so much has changed, yet everything is the same. Everywhere we go, we recognize people from that summer. Everyone asks what we are doing here and we tell them we came back to get married. After 2 or 3 days, the word has spread. Everywhere we go, everyone knows who we are. This probably also has something to do with the fact that we have brought 36 people with us, and many of them are loud Americans.
On July 6th we do the sunset dinner cruise of Oia, the hot springs and the volcano. We do this with the entire group! It is a very great thing to do—THE thing to do if you ever visit the island. The dinner is definitely optional, as it was mediocre. However, the sunset tour is truly amazing and a great way to see Santorini. Everyone loved it. On board, when it is time for dinner, they tell us to go to a special area. “The Big American Family,” they say, we need to eat from a different buffet. And from here on out, we are known as the Big American Family here for the Big Fat Greek Wedding.
After the sunset tour, which was meant to take 4 hours and took nearly 7, we were scheduled to have the (3rd and 2nd respectively) bachelorette and bachelor parties. Despite the fact that we were exhausted, we sure did just that. Craig’s brothers had planned a fabulous “Stag Due” (aka bachelor party) in Fira, but by the time we got back and showered, it looked as if we were all going to be staying in Perissa for the evening. So the girls and the guys split up—knowing we would eventually meet at Beach Bar anyway. (Beach bar, by the way, is where everyone ends up every night in Perissa AND where Craig actually introduced himself to me!) Craig’s evening was filled with lots of drinking and just about everything else you can imagine—including the Greek cliché plate breaking (which is amazingly fun btw)! The ladies’ evening was filled with many cocktails and free shots… Oh, and possibly some dancing on the tables/bars by the younger ladies ;)
The following morning at the (seemingly) very early hour of 11:00am, we had our rehearsal at Santo Wines Winery. About a year ago when I told Craig about the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner—he was very confused. So confused, in fact, that he inquired why American’s need to rehearse the dinner? I found this absolutely hilarious until his mother and brothers all asked the same thing. Apparently this is an American thing.
However, at this “American thing,” my family got to see Santo Wines. While they had always been supportive of us coming to Greece for our wedding, I think they always thought we were a little crazy. However, I think as they walked up to Santo Wines and saw the view, they finally completely understood. The view from Santo Wines is BY FAR the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, and apparently the most beautiful place most people have been. The view is truly magical and the pictures, although amazing, cannot do it justice. As we practiced walking down the aisle, in our “Team Bride” shirts which my A.M.A.Z.I.N.G maid of honor Kayla made, I felt a true feeling of calm and happiness. After a year and a half (or 10 years if we are honest) of planning, the day was finally so close we could taste it!
After the rehearsal, we had my rehearsal hair-do. Because of this, we decided to do some of our pictures that day. Because Oia, where we want to get pictures, is 40 minutes away, going there on the day of the wedding is just really unfeasible. I guess it is possible, but it would have been miserable. So, at the suggestion of our photographer, we put on the dress and kilt and got them out of the way on the 7th. It is a long and hot day but the experience in Oia was truly inexplicable. Thousands of people congratulated us, took pictures with us, and even threw flowers off their balconies as we walked. There aren’t really many words to explain how amazing the experience was—but there will be pictures ;)
That night, the Sangria and Ozou flowed, and Greek food was served till we were stuffed. Some tear jerking speeches from my Uncle Mike and Uncle B brought the night to a close, and it became very apparent that all 36 of these people had come SO incredibly far just for us. We are truly lucky and blessed people.
The day of your wedding is supposed to be the picture perfect day. Every woman pictures getting ready in her bridal suite, all her closest people around, a glass of champagne in her hand, feeling the calmest she has ever felt. Enter: reality. When you decide to have a wedding in GREECE and have the family that I do, the day may or may not go as smooth.
The entire 5 days we have been in Perissa, I have been meaning to go out to Fira to where we are having the reception dinner to meet with the owner and prepare some things. I have had loftly plans of this every single day and every single day I failed. Somehow, hosting 36 people in a foreign country got in the way and I absolutely did not have time. And somehow, this means I am heading up to Fira today. Being that we will be there for dinner in a matter of hours, it seems I have no choice. But, this will not be an issue, right? Fira is a quick 15 minute drive, and I should be back within the hour.
Ha.
Ha.
I wake up and my Maid of Honor Kayla has an infection in her feet. Both of her feet are basically three times the normal size. As Kayla has been the best maid of honor EVER, she has taken on a great deal of tasks. And as her feet are so swollen she cannot walk, it seems someone else needs to take on these tasks. Delegate, right.
So instead of leaving at 10am, we leave around 11. The girls are getting ready in the suite at 12pm but my appointments aren’t until 2. I have pleantyyyy of time………………….
In Santorini, everyone rents 4 wheelers (or quads) and motorcycle scooter things to get around. Our family has had a number of these both throughout the trip. Being that the island is only 8 miles long, it is very easy to get from here to there and they are also very fun. Craig and I have had a “quad” but this morning it is out of gas. Since we are already late, we decide to take a scooter which is full of gas. This was a GREAT idea, people, let me tell you.
Apparently my soon to be husband has never ridden one of these, or if he has, it hasn’t been in a LONG time. We are sitting parked on the left side of the street and my Dad is sitting on the right. As we go to take off, Craig literally swirves and comes within inches of crashing into my Dad and sister. Let me remind you, this is ON. MY. WEDDING. DAY. The bride, groom, father of the bride and maid of honor are all fairly important people in the wedding and all of us almost died. Craig will protest that I am exaggerating, but anyone who was standing nearby will tell you the opposite. It was effing scary.
So, Craig recovers and starts driving in a semi straight line but I am officially in freak-out-I-almost-died-mode. Since all of you have met me, you can understand how dramatic this may have been. I was screaming. For my life. He finally pulled over and let me off the bike. I screamed at him for almost killing us but he eventually talked me into getting back on the bike. He explained to me that me screaming at the top of my lungs somehow did not make him any better of a driver (hmm?) and so as I got back on the bike, I did my best to stay as quiet as possible. For 15 minutes we drove and I was (on the outside) as calm as possible. Cool as a cucumber. On the inside I am saying “Hail mary full of grace…” over and over again. I think I went through and entire rosary in the 15 minutes of driving. He also then nearly crashes about 3 more times. I attempt to stay as calm as possible and continue to pray for my life.
Then Craig makes a wrong turn and so we basically stop in a parking lot. I ask him if I can get off for a minute, he obliges, and I definitely start hyperventilating. I have never hyperventilated before, and I have had “mini freak out modes” in the past—but this was a full on I-cannot-breathe, crying-hysterically, I-will-never-get-on-the-back-of-that-bike-with-you-again-mode. People were coming up from the stores giving us water and asking if we were ok. I was literally not ok. Our phones worked over there so I called my Mom. I told her I have never been so scared in my life and I cannot possibly get on the back of the bike with Craig. She sends my Dad out to pick me up on a quad and the 3 of us go to Fira together. I eventually calm down, come back, and begin to have my picture perfect wedding day….
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