Janice and William Brooks met at The Galleria mall in Houston, where she was attending college and he was just visiting friends. They gave their long-distance relationship a shot for two years, before she moved to New York City from Texas. After 10 years together, he proposed on New Year’s Eve on a boat ride with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
The adventurous engaged couple decided to elope in Greece at the Kapari Natural Resort. Janice planned the entire thing with help from the hotel’s coordinator.
“The day was simply about our love, that was our focus in planning when Will and I decided together to elope in Santorini,” the bride says. “It was a surreal decision, as it was a location we dreamed of visiting, so to be truly present in the moment, it simply had to be just us two—no guests, wedding day checklist, or any other distractions that would overshadow the beauty of this incredible new journey in our lives as one.”
The bride wanted to look like a dolled-up version of her everyday self on her wedding day, so she wore her hair in natural, signature curls and applied her own makeup. A slip gown was an effortless choice, and Janice fell in love with an A La Robe design at Spina Bride. To complete her look, she paired the dress with rose gold Prada heels. And the groom looked handsome in a linen suit, appropriate for the island’s summer heat, from Suitsuppply and Salvatore Ferragamo loafers.
“We remember waking up that morning so relaxed like, ‘Let’s do this,’” the bride explains. “A memorable moment right before our ceremony that I vividly remember and will never forget is seeing the look on Will’s face after our first look. I never felt more beautiful.”
Finally the two exchanged heartfelt vows and a magical first kiss with a stunning view of the Mediterranean. “We forgot for a moment where we were, until we heard cheers from bystanders that stopped to catch a glimpse of our day and cheer us on,” Janice says. For their reception, the newlyweds had a romantic dinner under the stars at the hotel’s restaurant.
A few months after they returned to the United States, they had an additional celebration in New York City, where they shared their wedding video and photos with family and friends. “Everyone was blown away and was in tears, and although they weren’t there with us, watching it made them feel like they were a part of the day,” Janice says. “We had our daughter a year after we got married, and we can’t wait to show her our magical day in Santorini.”
