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My wedding website says that I have 31 days until the big day. I’ve never particularly liked countdowns. They make me feel as though I am ticking my life away, making me forget that it’s not just the milestones in life that matter, but the moments in between. I dislike putting so much weight onto one day, event, or holiday. Countdowns make them so exceptionally fleeting, they become immediately replaced with nostalgia and a framed photograph or Facebook memory.
wrapping paper that covered the gifts, now just a memory of a wonderful day. There is no reason why the wedding shouldn’t feel like this multiplied tenfold, and much of me is consumed by wanting to say “SLOW DOWN, I’m not ready for the planning and anticipation to be over!” But time is never listening. Philosophizing aside, I am beyond excited. Seeing all the plans, the Pinterest boards, the screenshots, the dog eared pages of magazines coming to life is the stuff of little girls’ dreams. And I’m blessed that I’ve been indulged by my partner and my parents to have my dream wedding on the island of Crete. It is not the easiest place for guests to get to, its distance meant my parents could not join me for walk throughs with wedding coordinators, and compromises have been made to allow for cultural differences and logistical necessities. But even from afar, there has been a lot of joy in planning, and I hope everyone feels just as indulged as I in 31 days’ time.
had a special day, but being called by a number at City Hall like you are at a deli waiting for a pound of ham wasn’t the ‘wedding’ we’d always dreamed of, and it was important to us to have our family and friends celebrate in our union and love. I keep picturing September 21st over and over in my head, though I hope to let most expectations go on the big day and just celebrate and enjoy whatever unexpected or crazy thing happens. If DJ Nikos misses a few ‘must-plays,’ or the flowers don’t turn out Pinterest perfect, or the meltems in Crete is so strong my hair comes undone and tangled, it won’t matter. I’m ready to soak in the fact that Murat and I put up with years of long distance, and that in turn, my family and friends are willing to travel long distance to rejoice in our long-awaited wedding.  Spinalonga Island of Elounda, Crete. Clear water that is a siren's call for a swim.
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Do you ever have a moment where you just feel like you truly belong somewhere? Something about a place speaks to you, and makes you feel at “home.” I’ve had that beautiful feeling with Greece each time I have visited, and my love affair with the country just grows exponentially.
Like a siren call, I keep getting pulled back to the country on the sparkling Aegean Sea. Family vacations, a semester aboard, my three years aboard a cruise ship, and soon my own wedding this coming September have ensured I keep returning to this magical and special place.
After seeing it was Greek Independence Day on March 25th, I've been reminiscing all week about my time spent in Greece, and wanted to share ten special and funny memories.
10. My 25th birthday coincidentally falling on the day Seabourn docked in Mykonos. I spent all day exploring each beach and every every nook and cranny of the island on an ATV. It was magic.
9. Being put in a different Mykonos hotel with my fiance on vacation because the hotel we booked wasn’t actually ready for the season yet. At check in, there was a gallant attempt to distract us from this error by the Receptionist's constant promotion of their not one, but TWO shopping boutiques on the hotel premises!
8. Celebrating Greek Easter with my family during my first trip to Greece, and feeling fascinated and familiar with the country all at once.
7. Finding ourselves adrift...Navigating the ferry system in Athens to find a way to Santorini with my best friend. We had booked a flight, but the planes were grounded due to...what else? A strike!
6. Testing out bathrobes at three different hotels with my fiancé while trying to determine where we should have our wedding. By the way, we did not make our decision solely based on this criteria.
5. The many school trips while studying abroad, including a visit to Meteora which ended in us stranded on the mountaintop for hours after the bus broke down!
4. Strolling along the Thessaloniki boardwalk on a nearly daily basis during my semester there.
3. Discovering the port of Spetses with my mom, when she visited me while I worked on Seabourn.
2. Needing to get back the ship when the shuttle bus was nowhere to be found, and hitching a ride on the back of a local Myconian’s trailer.
1. Hiking the caldera in Santorini, then swimming in the Sulphur pools.
Many more memories to come, especially after the very exciting event happens this September! Maybe one day I'll end up running an inn there like Donna in Mamma Mia....here's hoping!
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