Eloping on Milos - Georgina and Brad

Georgina and Brad holding hands on sculpted white coastal rocks above a broad arched inlet and dark blue sea, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Eloping on Milos puts the landscape at the heart of the day: white volcanic rock, a blue Aegean horizon and space to make promises that belong to the two of you. This island in the Cyclades offers a remarkable setting for a small celebration, with time afterwards to explore the Greek islands together.

For Georgina and Brad, that was the appeal. Six years together, an engagement in Korea and a first trip to Europe gave them plenty to celebrate. They wanted beautiful views and a day that felt like them, with a holiday around it. Their story began with a match on Tinder, a bar in Wellington and a shared jug of sangria.

An intimate elopement at Sarakiniko

They got ready at Adriana Luxury Villas before heading to Sarakiniko. Milos’s volcanic origins have shaped a coastline full of colour and unusual formations; here, smooth white rocks meet deep blue water. Greece’s official Milos guide gives a lovely sense of what makes the island distinctive.

The ceremony brought everything back to the two people standing there. Josh Withers was their celebrant, with personal vows read from their own books, hands held and a ring exchanged above the sea. Giasemi, Eleni Tsirigoti’s florist on Milos, made Georgina’s white bouquet. Its roses and soft floral shapes sat beautifully against the sculpted rock and her simple halterneck dress.

Britt Withers planned their elopement and brought the team together. With our Australian Elopement Collective team and a local florist, the experience could stay small, personal and thoughtfully arranged.

Time to enjoy the Greek islands

George Bowden photographed the ceremony and their wander through Sarakiniko. The gallery moves from the villa to the coast, through their vows and into the evening: a veil caught in the breeze, reflections in a rock pool, a twirl beside the water and the moon above them as the sky deepened. Milos gave them a spectacular backdrop and plenty of room simply to be together.

An elopement here can become part of a longer Greek island holiday. Leave time for the villages, swimming and a dinner overlooking the water; consider your travel connections, the wind and the light when shaping the ceremony day. May, June, September and October are alternatives to the busiest summer months, as Discover Greece’s Milos guide explains.

For Georgina and Brad, the photographs hold the feeling of choosing a celebration on their own terms. If you picture your vows beside the Aegean, explore eloping on Milos or tell us about your Greek island elopement.

The white villa terrace with dining chairs, a timber pergola and views towards the sea, at Adriana Luxury Villas on Milos, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Wedding rings on Georgina and Brad’s personalised vow book, beside perfume, pearl hoop earrings and white flowers by Giasemi, at Adriana Luxury Villas on Milos, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

A white rose bouquet by Giasemi with green stems, beside pearl hoop earrings on a pale surface, at Adriana Luxury Villas on Milos, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Brad wearing a white jacket, black bow tie and sunglasses beside a stone wall beneath the villa’s timber pergola, at Adriana Luxury Villas on Milos, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina smiling in a villa doorway in her white halterneck dress, holding a white bouquet by Giasemi, at Adriana Luxury Villas on Milos, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad holding hands and walking towards the sea across white rocks, with her Giasemi bouquet, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad facing the camera and holding hands, with her Giasemi bouquet and pale coastal rocks behind them, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad walking beneath white cliffs beside blue water, casting long shadows across the rocks, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad standing together against a sculpted white rock wall and blue sky, with her white Giasemi bouquet, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad embracing beside an inlet, with white cliffs behind them and her Giasemi bouquet in her hand, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Pale sculpted rock formations surrounding a narrow inlet of calm blue water, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Rear view of Georgina and Brad holding hands as they walk across white rocks, with her veil and Giasemi bouquet trailing behind, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad walking along a sculpted white rock ridge beneath a pale sky, with her dress lifted above the ground, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad holding hands on a white rock ridge beneath a broad blue sky and a small visible moon, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad standing together in a curving white rock gully, with her white bouquet by Giasemi, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad walking across pale rocks beside a small pool reflecting their figures, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

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A white coastal rock arch and headland surrounded by deep blue water, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad holding hands and walking towards celebrant Josh Withers, who is waiting on the rocks above the sea, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Celebrant Josh Withers speaking as Georgina and Brad hold hands during their ceremony, with the sea and white rocks behind them, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

A soft-focus view of Brad holding his vow book and Georgina’s hand as she faces him, with seawater behind them, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina reading her handwritten personal vows from an open book as Brad smiles and holds her hand, with her veil moving in the breeze, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad facing each other during their ceremony, with celebrant Josh Withers between them and the rocky coastline behind, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Black and white photograph of Georgina smiling as she places a wedding ring on Brad’s finger beside the sea, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad kissing after their ceremony, with the blue sea behind them, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad seen from behind holding hands as they walk beside an inlet in warm evening light, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad standing together on a white cliff slope above blue water and dark shoreline rocks, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina holding Brad’s arm beside the inlet, with rippling blue seawater filling the background, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

A white cliff headland and rock arch above dark blue water, seen across open pale rocks, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Close view of layered, weathered white rocks forming an arch above blue water, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Black and white photograph of Georgina and Brad walking across pale rocks below a large dark opening in the cliff, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad seen from behind walking down a smooth pale rock slope towards an inlet, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Black and white view of Georgina and Brad looking across an inlet towards two visitors standing on the white rocks, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad embracing on a broad smooth white rock plateau beside a dark inlet, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Close view from above of Georgina and Brad’s hands and wedding rings as they sit together, with her dress, his trousers and woven shoes visible, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina smiling beside an inlet with her veil held over her shoulder, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

A portrait with intentional motion blur of Georgina and Brad smiling and embracing, with her hand against his face, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad holding hands as they step across low rocks beside the water, with the white coastline behind them, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad embracing among pale coastal rocks beneath a soft evening sky, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Brad raising Georgina’s hand to twirl her beside the sea in the evening light, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina resting her head on Brad’s shoulder as they walk together across the rocks, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

A soft-focus portrait of Georgina and Brad kissing beneath a small moon in the blue evening sky, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

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Black and white photograph of Georgina hugging Brad around his shoulders as he smiles, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Pale coastal rock slopes beside the sea, with distant island hills beneath an evening sky, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina leaning close to Brad for a kiss as they sit together on pale rocks, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Georgina and Brad kissing and embracing in a curved white rock gully beneath a deep blue twilight sky, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

Black and white photograph of Georgina and Brad embracing in a white rock gully beneath a dark sky and visible moon, at Sarakiniko on Milos in the Cyclades, Greece, during an Elopement Collective elopement. Photograph by George Bowden.

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