Hanna and Mireya: A Mykonos Sunset
It was the Greek island of Mykonos that Hanna and Mireya chose for their destination wedding. Neither of the brides had ever visited Greece before. Still, the idea of a Greek Island wedding immediately appealed to both Hanna and Mireya where the Mediterranean Sea played backdrop to this spectacular celebration.
Photographer Eva Rendl Photography and Kimon | Location Mykonos, Greece
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How and when did you meet?
Hanna: We met back in 2014 at a friends birthday party.
Tell us a little about the first time you met?
Hanna: The first time we met, Mireya was in a relationship, so we met as friends. It wasn't until exactly one year later, at the same friends birthday dinner, that we met and saw each other as more than friends. That night was the beginning of everything.
Mireya: Well, I would be lying if I said I didn't notice Hanna the first time I saw her. But, I most definitely was not supposed to. For a brief second, I forgot I was in a relationship when I first saw her walk into the room. She was the only thing I saw, and for a few seconds, I forgot everything else around me existed. It was sheer luck that our paths crossed again and I am beyond grateful.
What was the first thing you noticed about each other?
Hanna: I first noticed Mireya's smile and her charisma. She was so charming, I couldn't see how anyone wouldn't want to get to know her.
Mireya: The first thing I noticed about Hanna was her ability to walk into a room and put it at ease. She has a presence that makes people feel automatically safe and trusting. I felt that, and it amazed me.
Have you ever had to endure any issues of non-acceptance?
Hanna: My dad is a pretty conservative Christian. He truly believes that I am living in sin and will likely end up in hell when this life runs out. But, he still loves me and talks to me on occasion.
What does marriage mean to you?
Mireya: Marriage is the word we use to symbolise the unshakeable foundation of love, commitment and servitude to our partners in life.
Who proposed, and how?
Mireya: I don't think it's accurate to ask the question who proposed, it's more accurate to ask... when did you each propose? I was the lucky girl who proposed at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy. The sun had set, the lights were lit, and the tourist had dispersed enough to make our way to the front. I had a pretty lovely speech planned out, but could only manage to say less than ten words when the time came.
Hanna: After Mireya proposed to me, I thought that she should also feel the same excitement (and nervousness) that comes with that massive question. I proposed to her two weeks later, in the pouring rain, on our last day in Paris. I wanted to wait until the last day, and I wanted the twinkling Eiffel Tower to be the backdrop. Unfortunately, our last day didn't have more than an hour without rain, so we made do.
When did you get married?
We got married on October 3, 2019.
Hanna and Mireya’s story continues below ↓
What was the primary influence behind your wedding day?
Mireya: We are often asked, "Why Greece?" and to be honest, it was just a place we hadn't visited yet. When we finally decided to do the ceremony overseas, we both gravitated to Greece almost immediately.
What was the most important thing to you surrounding your wedding?
Hanna: The most important thing to me surrounding our wedding was that it was about us and our love. I didn't want to have a wedding that was about pleasing everyone else or inviting people who we didn't really want to be there because of obligation. We wanted our guests to have a great time, but we also didn't want to forget that the day was a celebration of love above anything else.
Any standout suppliers?
All Greek Villas was a beautiful villa, and Miltos Kokkinos who works for All Greek Villas was wonderful with helping us choose other vendors, as well as coordinating the day. Eva Rendl was a fantastic photographer, and Nikos Dimou was an equally amazing videographer. Julia Popova did hair and makeup for us and made us feel absolutely beautiful. The DJ, Apostolis, picked the perfect music after we gave him a general list of our music taste and 'must plays'. And finally, our chef booked through All Greek Villas made the most amazing Greek dishes.
Did you choose to follow more common traditions?
Hanna: There were times where we struggled with how we should arrange the ceremony. Choosing our wedding party was the simplest. We chose our best friends, regardless of gender, and ended up with beautiful blended wedding parties. The most difficult was deciding how to walk down the aisle. In the end, we chose to do a first look, and then walk down the aisle together.
What was the most challenging thing about planning your wedding?
Hanna: Planning a destination wedding without having visited the venue was probably the most difficult. I had to rely on photos and trust the All Greek Villas team.
Any advice for other couples planning their wedding?
Hanna: Remember it's about you and your partner. Anyone who comes to celebrate your love should feel the same. Make your choices based on what the two of you want, not what you think everyone else will want.
Mireya: Wedding planning is going to be stressful at times. Odds are, more for one person than the other. Try to remember the key things that matter to you both. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make beautiful memories.
Suppliers
Photographer Eva Rendl Photography and Kimon
Videographer Nikos Dimou
Venue Villa Thalassa 5, Mykonos, All Greek Villas
Stationery Mint.com
Makeup Julia Popova
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