HI Real Bride Evalyn
Photos: Alex Dobrovolsky
Sometimes, there's a wedding destination so major and a bride so fabulous that it calls for not one but two amazing vintage Dolce and Gabbana gowns. Please brace for maximum fashion impact... 💛
1. Tell us about your wedding day and surrounding events! Where did it all go down? Did you have any particular inspiration or musts when choosing the location?
We decided to do a welcome dinner on a catamaran cruise the day before the wedding for our friends and family. Although the groom did get a little seasick along the ride, it still turned out to be an amazing decision, and the sunset view was unbelievable.
We knew the minute we laid eyes on the Aeonon Villas that it would be our wedding venue. The venue checked all of our boxes; from the breathtaking views to the cliffside pools, it was the perfect location for us and our closest friends and family to celebrate with us. The cherry on top was allowing our friends and family to stay at the venue in 6 separate villas for the days leading up to the wedding and the night of.
We knew the minute we laid eyes on the Aeonon Villas that it would be our wedding venue. The venue checked all of our boxes; from the breathtaking views to the cliffside pools, it was the perfect location for us and our closest friends and family to celebrate with us. The cherry on top was allowing our friends and family to stay at the venue in 6 separate villas for the days leading up to the wedding and the night of.
2. How did you and your partner meet? What was the proposal like?
My husband and I met as high school sweethearts, and after dating for 4 years, he proposed beachside in Cancun, Mexico.
3. Describe your Happy Isles dress and/or dresses! When did you know it was the one?
The dresses I had tried on at Happy Isle were all INCREDIBLE, but two of them stood out to me the most. I could not choose between the two for my ceremony dress, so I decided to get both! They each were so different, yet complimented one another. I wore one piece during the ceremony and changed into the other for the reception.
4. What did your partner wear down the aisle and did you share outfit pics before the big day?
My partner wore a Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo to tie into the Dolce & Gabbana vintage dresses I wore. We did not share pictures before the big day; we kept everything secret until I walked down the aisle.
5. How did your guests respond to your outfit/s? Were there any standout reactions?
EVERYONE, literally EVERYONE, was obsessed with both dresses! Those two dresses had everyone in tears or with their jaw on the ground.
6. Where did you shop for accessories, and how did you style your look/s?
I borrowed a diamond necklace from my grandmother as my something borrowed item and wore a Tiffany Co. diamond tennis bracelet. After searching long and hard for earrings that would go with my dresses, I finally found the perfect pair at Neiman Marcus.
7. What was the most memorable aspect of your dress shopping experience? Is there anything you would like to highlight or share with other brides considering an appointment at Happy Isles?
The women at Happy Isle were incredibly helpful and kind and made the overall experience a breeze! They were able to quickly identify what I was searching for and what would compliment me best. I also love how private the experience was, with no one else inside the shop.
8. Okay. Your HI wedding dress is a person. What is their name, and describe their perfect date!
Omg, I love this, lol!
Ceremony dress- Her name would be Chloe, and her ideal date would be a romantic picnic directly under the Eiffel Tower, which would have bubbles and the most yummy charcuterie board.
Reception dress- Her name would be Anastasia, and her ideal date would be a night well spent getting wined and dined, ending with a rooftop stargazing moment.
9. Getting serious for a second. Did you ever feel like you were breaking the mold or challenging expectations while wedding planning? What were some ways you stayed true to yourself during what can be an emotionally complex experience?
Yes, absolutely. We decided to go with a nontraditional wedding by having an intimate destination wedding with only our closest friends and family. This did cause some disappointment and frustration within our family, considering we are both the oldest children and most of our family would’ve liked to be there. We both constantly reminded ourselves that this special day was for us and only us. It’s hard to please everyone with things like this; we just continued to stay positive and pray.
10. They say every wedding has a “wild card” moment. Did anything unexpected happen or surprise you during planning or day-of?
An unexpected schedule changed the day of my wedding due to the heat being unbearable; the wedding planner suggested pushing the start of the ceremony to later in the evening so that our wedding guests wouldn’t melt outside. This did, unfortunately, cut into how much time we had after the ceremony to take pictures together as a married couple, but the rest of the evening ran smoothly.
11. HOT TAKES: Do you have any wedding planning or dress shopping advice? Please pay it forward to our future brides!
100% get a wedding planner. I thought I could’ve done this myself in the beginning, but looking back at everything now, I would’ve crumbled at the first moment of decision-making. I’m incredibly indecisive, and a wedding planner is able to simplify literally everything for you. Dress shopping can be stressful, and the deposits can add up pretty quickly. I highly recommend scouting out what the shops have in store by locating their Instagram and TikTok. Most shops showcase their items online now through social media and can answer a lot of your questions from there. This will help you narrow down to 2-3 shops that you absolutely adore, and hopefully, this will allow you to pick the wedding dress of your dreams.
12. If you had to choose your single best wedding day memory, what would it be?
This is such a tough one. I have so many great memories from our wedding day! I would have to say, the unexpected, thoughtful speeches a few family & friends gave at dinner. The kind words that everyone had to say made our hearts so full.
13. Now that the wedding chapter has come to a close, what are some dreams you have for your future, both personally and as a couple?
Personally, I’m excited to focus on further growing my business and continuing my education to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.
As a couple, we have dreams of traveling more over the next few years before becoming parents.
As a couple, we have dreams of traveling more over the next few years before becoming parents.
14. And finally - shout out your vendors!
The team:
Planning & design: @juliaandevita
Venue: @aenaonvillassantorini|
Hair stylist: @mariannanomikou
MUA: @gram_mua
Florist: @bettyflowerssantorini
Pianist: @sunset_piano_notes_santorini
Photographer: @dobrovolsky_aleksey_photo
Rentals: @maisontrilogie
Wedding dresses: @dolcegabbana & @happyisles_salon
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