Santorini Gem Wedding Photographer Greece

Katie’s & Ben’s Destination Wedding at Santorini Gem, Greece

Hi, we’re Katie and Ben Jones from Buckley, North Wales where we’ve both lived all our lives. We first met in high school and have been together since 2009. Here’s how our journey led to our dream wedding in Greece at the beautiful Santorini Gem wedding venue.

The Proposal

I (Katie) had no idea the proposal was coming. We took our first family holiday to Halkidiki, Greece, with our baby boy, Harry, after his first birthday. Ben was incredibly secretive about a “birthday gift” from his mum, which turned out to be a box containing the engagement ring!

I came out of the shower to find Harry wearing a t-shirt that said, “Mummy, will you marry my Daddy?” I was completely blown away! It was so perfect to have Harry involved in such a special moment, and when we returned home, we discovered I was pregnant with our second child—our little girl was there with us too, just in my tummy!

Why We Chose Luxury Wedding Venue Santorini Gem

We always knew we wanted to get married abroad, and after the proposal in Greece, it made sense to tie the knot there too. I’d had my heart set on Santorini Gem for years, and when we visited Santorini in May 2023, we instantly knew it was the luxury destination wedding venue for us.

The views, the venue, the whole vibe—it was just perfect. We didn’t even look at any other venues. Plus, with some of our guests working as teachers, we decided on a summer wedding during the holidays, choosing the beginning of August. Yes, it was HOT!

Wedding Style & Inspiration

We worked with the incredible Santorini Weddings by Chelsea to plan our day. Chelsea made everything so easy, helping to create a stress-free experience. We didn’t have a strict theme, but I wanted the girls to be in neutral tones, and the bridesmaids wore multi-way dresses to ensure they felt confident and comfortable.

Ben and the groomsmen wore suits from Groom in Chester, with Ben standing out in a pale blue jacket. The traditional look of the suits added elegance to the day, despite the 35-degree heat!

Dressing for a destination wedding can be tricky, and many people worry about what to wear, but we were inspired by the natural blue tones famous with Santorini, Greece and went with that.

Santorini Gem Wedding Day

Our wedding day at Santorini Gem was perfect from start to finish. The morning was spent with our bridal party, singing, dancing, and getting ready together. My parents gave me a precious opal ring from my late grandmother, making the day even more special.

By 2 p.m., we were all ready, taking in the calm moments before heading to the venue. Meanwhile, the groomsmen were sweating it out at the villa, waiting for our grand entrance!

The ceremony lasted just 15 minutes, and from the moment we saw each other, all nerves disappeared. We then spent the rest of the day relaxing, soaking in every special moment.

Wedding Outfits

After visiting several bridal shops, I found my dream dress at Florianni in Liverpool, designed by Anna Sposa. The moment I tried it on, I knew it was “the one.” The off-the-shoulder design with flower appliques and a bold leg slit was unique and stunning. I couldn’t wait to surprise everyone.

Ben’s suit, from Groom in Chester, was perfect. His pale blue jacket made him stand out beautifully while complementing the groomsmen’s classic blue three-piece suits.

Santorini Wedding Standout Moments

One of the most unforgettable moments was when my dad saw me in my dress for the first time—he was speechless. It was such an emotional moment. Another highlight was the pure love and support from all our guests. They travelled nearly 2,000 miles to celebrate with us, and that’s something we’ll never forget.

The whole day at Santorini Gem was just magical. The weather, the food, the photography, the entertainment and the memories.

Entertainment & Special Touches

We had a few surprises up our sleeves for our guests. Louis Vlahakis sang me down the aisle and performed during the cocktail hour, setting the perfect relaxed tone. Later, Daniele Vitale, an incredible Instagram and TicTok famous saxophonist from Italy, wowed everyone with his talent.

Ain’t no party like a Santorini wedding party! After our first dance, we had a fantastic party, food, and lots of drinks and guests were surprised with sparklers and a spectacular fireworks display, which was the perfect way to end the night at Santorini Gem.

Testimonial: Our Santorini Gem Wedding Photographer

We’ve known Wes Simpson for years, as he photographed my sister and brother-in-law’s wedding at Villa Antiche Mura in Sorrento, Italy back in 2015. We also saw him at a friend’s wedding in June – Rachal and Nathan’s wedding at Highfield Hall in North Wales and instantly knew we wanted him to capture our day.

Even though we had already booked another photographer in Santorini, after speaking with Wes, we cancelled our original wedding photographer and booked him to photograph our wedding at Santorini Gem. We’re so glad we did.

Yes, there was an extra cost in getting Wes, a UK-based wedding photographer to Santorini, but he’s worth every penny. It wasn’t about all the awards he’d won, although these are impressive. We love his natural and creative style. We wanted a photographer we could trust and relax with. You can’t buy that.

Wes brings such a calm, positive energy, which makes us feel completely at ease. His professionalism and experience shine through. Even when we needed a break after the ceremony because of the heat, he completely understood, and the photos we got were beyond amazing.

We needed to have a Santorini wedding photographer we could trust, relax with and who would understand our vibe. We could easily communicate with Wes before, during and after the wedding back home. This was also important.

Wes has also designed a custom-made storybook wedding album. We have had input in the design process and are completely in love with the results. I don’t think we would have got the level of service, input and communication from a wedding photographer based in the resort of Santorini or recommended by the planners.

We can’t recommend Wes enough to anyone planning their destination wedding in Santorini or elsewhere. He captured every moment, and those pictures are memories we’ll cherish forever. As it says on his website – Memories, Not Just Photos.

Katie x

Katie and Ben’s Recommended Santorini Gem Suppliers:

• Venue: Santorini Gem
• Wedding Photographer: Wes Simpson
• Wedding Planner: Santorini Weddings by Chelsea
• Saxophonist: Daniele Vitale
• Singer: Louis Vlahakis
• Florist: Motango Santorini Flowers
• Dress: Florianni Liverpool
• Suits: Groom Chester
• Décor: Illuminography

Santorini Gem Wedding Photographer BTS

During the wedding, I try to get some behind-the-scenes footage as I go through the day. Usually grab shots filmed on my iPhone for Instagram, TikTok and FaceBook. But largely for my memories.

I see wedding photography as a collaboration. Even though I’m there to photograph the day for my couples, I’m on the adventure too. My best photos come when I’m truly present and I feel connected with the couple, their guests and the celebration.

Often, after a wedding, I am emotionally drained. I’ve been on the “ride” with the couple. It doesn’t help that I’m an empath and I throw myself into each wedding 110%. People invite me into their lives and I get a front-row seat to the best day of their lives. And for that, I’m truly grateful that I get to do this for a living.

Here is a little BTS from Katie and Ben’s Santorini Gem wedding celebrations…

Special Memories from Sorrento to Santorini

I first met Katie and Ben nine years ago while photographing Ben’s sister Zara’s wedding to Ryan (Sav) at Villa Antiche Mura in Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. That wedding gave me one of my most “iconic” wedding photos: Zara and Ryan walking across a busy street in the middle of Sorrento Square.

Our paths crossed again while I was photographing their friend’s wedding, Rachel and Nathan, at Highfield Hall in North Wales. Since Zara was a bridesmaid and Ryan the best man, we thought it would be fun to recreate the iconic street-crossing shot.

When Katie and Ben got married in Santorini, with Zara as a bridesmaid and Ryan as an usher, it only seemed fitting to recreate the photo for a third time, this time including their two children in the picture.

Your Santorini Wedding Photographer

Getting married at Santorini Gem is a dream come true, and having the right photographer to capture those moments is key. I’m passionate about documenting weddings in Santorini and other luxury venues across the globe. My goal is to capture the real, candid moments that tell the story of your day authentically and timelessly.

I’d love to hear more about your plans if you’re planning a destination wedding in Santorini or elsewhere. Let’s create beautiful memories together.

Contact multi-award-winning wedding photographer Wes Simpson Today to discuss your Santorini wedding photography.

Useful links:

Destination Wedding Photography: How It Works

Zara and Ryan’s Sorrento Wedding

Rachal and Nathan’s Highfield Hall Wedding