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CALIFORNIANS SHANSHAN AND PHILIP
TRADE THE PACIFIC FOR THE AEGEAN.
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1. TRANSPORTATION A car from
VW 1970s Vintage Beetle drove the couple
between venues. 2. MUSIC Planners Stella
and Moscha sourced local musicians for the
ceremony. 3. CAKE A cake, topped with an
olive branch, from Aressana Hotel was a sweet
treat. 4. ATTIRE Shanshan wore a gown by
Amsale while bridesmaids wore Donna Morgan
dresses. 5. GREENERY Santorini’s
Flowers provided all the flora. “We used a lot of
olive branches, as they’re a symbol of Greece.”
6. EXCURSION Klezmer-style band
Petrojvic Blasting Co. entertained guests with their
fun dance tunes. 7. DECOR Shanshan loved
the simple modern design at the Aressana Hotel.
8. CEREMONY The couple swapped vows
at the cliff-side Sun Rocks Hotel at sunset.
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photography by JEN HUA N G
Being in a long-distance relationship for six years and
living on different continents has made travel a big part of
our lives. Our families and friends are also scattered all over, so we
wanted our wedding to feel like a reunion for everyone. Since I was
little, I dreamed of honeymooning in Santorini, so it hit us: Why not
get married there so it’s even more meaningful and memorable?
Since we’d never been to the island, we relied on our planners,
Stella and Moscha, for suggestions on everything from our ceremony site at Sun Rocks Hotel to our reception at Aressana Spa Hotel and
Suites. Sun Rocks is situated on a cliff with views of the sea, volcano
and whitewashed houses — everywhere you look is like a postcard.
Keeping the celebration intimate was important to us, so we invited just 30 guests. Most stayed at Aressana Hotel, and a few booked
Villa Kisiris, a four-bedroom private villa. Everyone enjoyed hitting
the beaches, shopping in the town of Fira and tasting local wines.
The day before our Oct. 6, 2014, wedding, we arranged a sunset
sail. We went around the volcanic islands for four hours, swam in
hot springs and watched a gorgeous sunset.
We started the big day with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony and
got ready at the Chromata Hotel before heading to Sun Rocks for our
ceremony. After cocktail hour, it was indoors to Aressana. Dinner was
grilled veal and sea bass in pistachio sauce, all paired with local wine,
and the weather was so beautiful that we danced and laughed by the
pool all night under the stars. — Shanshan Li, as told to Allyson Reedy
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