Mia and Dyllan
Intimate, Loving, Magical
How Mia & Dyllan found their dream microwedding on the cliffs of Chania and discovered a whole new life along the way.
June 12, 2023
Chania, Crete
Sea View by En Kipo
Real Wedding Story
Their story
A softer, more editorial retelling of Mia and Dylan’s day with moments, details, and imagery woven through the story.
Dyllan is a merchant marine. Two weeks home, two weeks at sea, a rhythm that doesn’t easily accommodate the sprawling logistics of a traditional wedding. So when Mia and Dyllan began dreaming about their big day, they decided to compress the wedding and honeymoon into one unforgettable chapter. Greece was the answer.
The idea came through Mia’s godparents, who had travelled often to Rethymno and painted vivid pictures of Crete’s beauty. A little research later, including a practical post asking for Santorini vibes without Santorini prices, and Sea View by En Kipo appeared. They fell in love with it immediately.
“It was absolutely magical. Once we stepped foot inside, all of my worries washed away, it was everything I had dreamed of.”
Mia
Trust the process
Venue booked in October, wedding in June: an eight-month runway that felt tight to Mia but was ultimately enough, thanks almost entirely to one person. After reaching out to more than twenty planners in Crete with a firm budget and a clear vision, most said it couldn’t be done. Barbara at BPerfect Weddings said yes.
Barbara handled the timelines, the vendors, and the moving parts, leaving Mia to wrestle with the one thing no planner can fix: the anxiety of letting go. As someone who likes to be deeply involved, trusting the process was the hardest part. But once they arrived, everything clicked into place.
The day itself
The drive up to the venue gave little away a winding road through a residential neighbourhood that revealed nothing of what was waiting beyond the gate. Then it opened, and so did everything else: a private terrace overlooking the sea, flowers arranged exactly as discussed, and an evening that softened beautifully as the sun dropped.
The dinner became the heart of the day. Nine of their closest people, chandelier light, authentic Greek food served family-style, and Nektarios Kostakis playing live saxophone created an atmosphere that felt intimate, warm, and unforgettable.
“The conversation, the toasts, the food, the saxophone — the atmosphere was so incredible I watch videos from that time often.”
— Mia, on the dinner hour
As the night drew to a close, the saxophone player set down his instrument and picked up a bouzouki. He and Barbara then taught the entire wedding party a traditional Greek dance. It was one of those unscripted moments that could never be planned, and exactly the kind of memory that makes a destination wedding feel so personal.
The vendor team
Six standout names behind Mia and Dylan’s celebration.
PLANNER
★★★★★
An absolute godsend. Executed the vision perfectly and made it happen within budget when no one else would.
VENUE
★★★★★
Private, secluded, overlooking the sea. Worth every moment of the nerve-wracking drive up.
FLORIST
Flower Creations by En Kipo
★★★★★
Required with the venue but they didn’t disappoint. Beautiful florals, exactly as discussed.
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO
Triantafillia & Vasilis Tsagkarakis
★★★★★
Best value in the whole budget far better work than photographers with triple the price at home. The beach shoot was the most romantic moment of the day.
MUSIC
Nektarios Kostakis — Saxophone
★★★★★
A highlight of the whole wedding. Intimate during dinner and the bouzouki finale was pure magic.
HAIR & MAKEUP
Natasha Bridal Makeup & Hair Greece
★★★★★
No trial, no problem. Used inspiration photos and daily makeup references to create a look that felt completely herself.
After the Wedding
A trip that changed everything
Many guests bailed in the final months the distance proved too far. Mia and Dyllan found solace in the love that filled the smaller table, and in the post-wedding days they spent exploring Rethymno and the Kourtaliotiko Gorge. It was their first real trip together, and Greece changed everything. One anniversary honeymoon became a habit. Their one year old son has already travelled with them. None of it, Mia believes, would have happened without Crete.
“Crete gave us more than a wedding day. It gave us a version of our life we never want to stop returning to.”
What would you say to couples considering a wedding in Greece?
“Absolutely do it. You won’t regret it, and it will be a dream come true.”
MIA’S ADVICE TO FUTURE COUPLES
1. Research the weather. Greece can be gloriously warm in June and scorching in August know what you’re planning for.
2. Trust your planner, but speak up. They’re there to execute your vision. If something doesn’t feel right, say so early.
3. Focus on each other. It’s easy to get swept up in every detail. The people who did that looked back and realised they missed time with the person they married.
4. Encourage your guests to island hop. Several guests used the trip as a launchpad for the journey of a lifetime, they wouldn’t have gone otherwise.
Their song
What a Wonderful World — the Thomas Law version.
More love stories
Browse more real weddings, planning ideas, and editorial features from The Planning Edit.