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Take a Peek at Our Unforgettable Vow Renewal in Santorini—20 Years Later! 💍

We eloped in 2003 thinking we’d have a wedding later… but surprise, baby! 😂 Fast forward 20 years, we secretly renewed our vows—because why not do it again, but way more fabulous?!

Sandra Serrano

Nov 17, 2024

Transcript

Hello, fabulous!

It was my #besthusbandever, aka Speed, who kept pushing for a vow renewal—he’s had this dream for years of seeing me as a bride, walking down the aisle in a beautiful white dress. Last year in October, we finally did it. Although a month late, here’s a look back to our amazing day, pro tips included. Plus we have to share our 8 million photos with SOMEONE. We hope you love it as much as we did! 💖

P.S. This one’s a bit too long for email, so be sure to open it in the app or your web browser to catch all the details!

Why Now?

Back in 2003, we were in the middle of a military move, driving across the country with barely two nickels to rub together, and thought, "You know what? Let’s make this trip REALLY memorable." So, we rolled into Las Vegas with nothing but a couple of suitcases, a dream, and our first Pomeranian baby, Cisco, riding shotgun.

Already engaged, we figured, “Why not get married here and knock out the base housing paperwork while we’re at it?” Makes total sense, right!?

We woke up early, got our marriage license in hand, and decided on the most romantic option: the drive-thru window at "A Special Memory Wedding Chapel." Because who has time to get out of the car when you’ve got a road trip to finish? Cisco even served as our witness in the backseat.

We handed over $50, said “I do,” and sped off to California like we were checking off a grocery list. In less than 24 hours, we went from engaged to married—and it was the wildest, quickest wedding you’ve ever heard of!

To be fair, we DID plan for a big wedding a year later, but—surprise! Max was on the way, and that plan quickly turned into “we’ll do it later.” Of course, “later” turned into years of military moves, raising a baby, helping out family, buying homes, and managing life. You know, all those little distractions that make time fly. Totally understandable, but...

Then my brother passed away last year and everything changed. It hit us like a ton of bricks: life doesn’t wait. That realization was both heart-wrenching and eye-opening. I’d always imagined my two brothers by my side, walking me down the aisle, but we’d let too much time pass, and that once-in-a-lifetime moment was gone.

That’s when we knew—no more waiting. We’d already had a trip to Santorini, Greece in the works, so we hired a wedding planner, threw our wallet at her, and somehow pulled off the most epic, gorgeous day of our lives in just under two months. The views were unreal, the day was pure magic, and every little detail came together perfectly. It was everything we’d dreamed of and more!

First Look

It was my #besthusbandever who kept pushing for the vow renewal—he’s had this dream for years of seeing me as a bride, walking down the aisle in a beautiful white dress. So, what you’re seeing now is Speed’s dream finally coming true: me, as a bride, walking down the aisle just like he’s always pictured. ✨

Pro Tip: Make sure to ask the groom what HE wants too! It’s not just about the bride - it’s about you BOTH. Make it unforgettable together!

The Day

We wanted the day to feel like our relationship: intimate, fun and full of laughter. Mission accomplished. 🌹

Pro Tip: Instead of telling your photographer what exact poses you want, tell them how you want the day to feel. A good photographer will make sure to capture all the right moments to bring that vibe to life!

Special Touch

Speed and I first hit it off back in military tech school when I asked him for a ride to the store. His roommate had left for the weekend and handed Speed the keys to his car. Naturally, I got all dolled up—because, yes, Speed was already on my radar thanks to those killer arms and abs! He was HOT, what can I say!? But what I didn’t expect was how hilarious he was. I laughed so hard that day, and to this day, I swear that’s why I fell in love with him. So, when I saw this vintage car was available for the vow renewal, we had to include it!

Pro Tip: Make sure to include something really personal and fun into your day! Even if it seems frivolous at first, trust me - it’ll be well worth it!

In Memory of My Brother Angel

My sister and I got matching tattoos in memory of our brother, Angel. The Phosart team was so incredible. They not only made us look like movie stars but Joanna and Milto snuck this one in and pulled on ALL my heartstrings.

Pro Tip: Even the smallest ceremony can include little touches to honor your loved ones—those tiny moments make it feel like they’re right there with you.

The Venue

We’d already booked our trip to Santorini, Greece for February 2023, with plans to stay in the Diamond Suite at Cavo Tagoo for some much-needed R&R. But once we decided in August to have the vow renewal, we knew we wanted something a bit more intimate and private for the big moment.

After scouring every corner of the internet, I found the perfect spot—Erosantorini. We stayed for 5 nights in their Family Suite (which is actually two suites combined, since the whole place only has five suites total), and it included the use of their stunning white chapel for our ceremony and our two-person reception.

The Family Suite, which includes two rooms connected by a lanai and a huge private pool in your very own huge private courtyard.

What made Erosantorini over the top was the staff! They were absolutely incredible. Nicholas, the concierge, and Juan, the F&B Manager, were both next-level.

It’s wild how this place is such a hidden gem—because they have the best views, location, service, privacy, and hospitality we’ve ever experienced BY FAR. Highly recommend for anything—events, romantic getaways, family reunions…basically, if you draw breath, you should totally go!

Pro tip: If you can’t change where you are, make the most of what you’ve got! We feel beyond lucky to have had our ceremony in one of the most beautiful places in the world. But honestly? If our backyard had been the only option, we’d have made it work, no question. At the end of the day, it’s not about the location; it’s about how much you adore each other.

Final Thoughts

Our vow renewal turned out more magical than anything we could’ve pulled off in 2003. After 20 years together, the vows we exchanged were packed with all the love, laughter, and craziness we’ve been through.

We’d booked our Santorini trip long before “vow renewal” even crossed our minds. But once we decided to go for it, we faced a big choice: invite everyone, knowing most of our closest family and friends couldn’t make the trip, or keep it intimate and make it just us. Inviting a few wasn’t an option, and flying everyone out just wasn’t in the budget.

So, we kept the day for ourselves, with zero regrets because the alternative was to have nothing at all.

But what we have changed anything? Oh, YES.

I wish my brothers had walked me down the aisle.

I wish my sister had stood by my side as I took my vows.

I wish my son had seen us celebrate a healthy, loving relationship that has stood the test of time.

I wish my aunt Lucy, who we lost to cancer in 2019, and Speed’s aunt Sondra, who passed unexpectedly in 2004, had been in the crowd with all of our family, loudly cheering us on.

I wish our closest friends—the ones who knew us before we were even married, who’ve witnessed every triumph and hardship along the way, and who have been by our side through it all—had there to witness our love and be part of our day.

Most of all, I wish my mom had been there to see me as a bride, knowing her love and guidance are the reasons I was able to choose such an amazing life partner. 💖

So my final Pro Tip is this:

If you’re debating between having a wedding or buying the house, I’d say… have the wedding. Celebrate with everyone you love RIGHT NOW. Hire the photographer, book the videographer, and splurge on what matters to you most.

The house, the honeymoon, the “later” things? You’ll figure those out. But the memories you create with the people you love who here with you today!? Those are absolutely priceless. 💖