A Romantic Destination Vow Renewal At Ambassador Aegean Luxury Hotel in Santorini, Greece

Marie Elaina Michael and George Zacharia met during the summer of 2010 at a trendy cocktail bar in North London. “I was captivated by his Cheshire cat grin,” Marie says, and it was her future maid of honor who made the initial introductions. Only a few smiles were exchanged that night, but fate led them to bump into each other again a few months later–and as they say, “the rest is history.”

One winter night, George surprised Marie with a romantic dinner and overnight stay at London’s Savoy Hotel, meticulously planning out the whole evening. His timeline led them to the stunning Thames Foyer at the heart of the hotel, within a glass dome. 

Beneath was a winter garden gazebo, which he walked her to before getting down on one knee and proposing. “I was overcome with happiness and a true sense of contentment,” Marie describes. “My beautiful yellow diamond engagement ring that George designed was perfect in every way.” Despite a daunting wedding planning process, as the couple wanted to personalize each detail of the day, their 250-guest wedding in London was a complete success. 

Marie and George took the same approach when planning their vow renewal in Santorini, Greece. Not only is Santorini, Greece one of their favorite islands, but it also reflects their Greek culture. While their wedding was fun and energetic, the ambiance of the vow renewal was much more relaxed and dreamy. Headed by Mitheo Events, the vision and concept for the renewal was luxury, finesse, classic beauty, and high esthetics. 

“We had the honor of collaborating with some extremely high-end Greek brands, including Mitheo Events who delivered on every detail, as well as truly fantastic and sought-after London brands such as John Nassari for our beautiful photography,” says Marie. “We also collaborated with Paul Antonio Scribe for our wedding menu and bride and groom signs in highly crafted calligraphy.” 

Their London wedding was a wonderful experience, and it was quite overwhelming to feel the generosity of their guests. Santorini, however, allowed the pair to experience new memories more privately, in a breathtaking destination setting. Hosted by the Ambassador Hotel, live Tango dancers provided entertainment for the guests during a sunset dinner. The décor included cascades of white orchids and candles, with a magnificent swimming pool and incomparable views adding to the romance factor. 

The bride and groom reveled in their vow renewal day, grateful to be able to celebrate their love once again. “We felt truly blessed to have had the opportunity to experience the closeness we shared at our London wedding all over again, and honored to have had so many admirable industry professionals work with us to capture our new memories.”