Both Jon and Brittany traveled prior to meeting each other, so when they got together, it quickly became a shared passion. A year after they started dating, the two almost ended up going to Santorini, Greece (where they’d eventually say “I do”), but they opted for Patagonia instead. That’s the primary reason the couple knew that’s where they wanted to get married.

“It’s been an allusive location for us primarily because of distance, but we knew our wedding would be a perfect time to combine our passion for travel and officially merge lives together,” the couple says.

To Jon and Brittany’s surprise, most guests were excited after getting the news. Also, to help ease the worries that did arise, the couple handled the flight and hotel research and provided guests with as much information as possible.

When it came to heavy lifting, that’s when they leaned on their planner Lydia and her team from Stella and Moscha. “Being able to coordinate our wedding from the other side of the world with two different native languages and nailing our wedding doesn’t happen easily,” Brittnay says. Luckily, another perk of Santorini helped the couple add more ease to the planning process. “Because we chose an island, the options are limited.  The bad part is that any options outside of the island get expensive quickly.  If you’re willing to work within the vendors available, the limited options is great because you don’t get decision fatigue,” the couple says. 

A decision the two made with complete ease, however, was to make the destination wedding coincide with other wedding events – like the bachelor and bachelorette parties. In fact, Jon and Brittnay opted to have a joint bachelor and bachelorette party with 25  of their close friends on the island of Mykonos.

Although the couple and their guests spent a chunk of change on the wedding, Jon and Brittnay feel certain that all of their family and friends that could attend loved the trip. “Our close friends, a couple who attended our wedding, actually got engaged on their extended vacation and are planning a destination wedding in Italy next year! We’d like to think we were the inspiration for that,” the couple says.

In addition, a talented family member (with the help of friends) got the chance to design save the dates, wedding invitations, wedding pamphlets, menus and amazing geodes with everyone’s name on them for the seating arrangements. “They even hauled these rocks in a separate suitcase to get them there for our big day,” the two say.

In the end, nothing could have been more “Jon and Brittnay” than their Greek wedding. And, although there were a few invitees who couldn’t make it due to time and/or money, “our relationships with those people are unfazed because our family and friends know that’s the kind of people we are, and we know that not being able to come to our wedding doesn’t mean they don’t love us,” the couple says.

Jon and Brittnay leave all future destination wedding couples a simple yet profound message: “Do what feels right for you.” After hearing their story, we certainly couldn’t agree more.

Vendors: Photography: Sandy and Odysseas; Wedding Planning and Styling: Stella & Moscha Weddings; Videography: Phosart; Wedding and Reception Venue: Cavo Ventus; Catering: Spicy Bites; Flowers and Decor: Wedding Wish; Lights and Sound: Events in Santorini; Wedding Cake: Petranart; Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo; Hair stylist: Marianna Nomikou; Makeup Artist: Renia Bledaki