Whenever I told people we were getting married on the volcanic island of Santorini, the reactions were mostly the same:
“Are you mad?”
“Isn’t it all steps and steep hills – how will that work with your chair?”
And they weren’t wrong to ask.
Santorini is known for its beauty, but also for its terrain. Steps carved into cliffs. Narrow pathways. Views that often come at the cost of access.
But I had done my research. And more importantly, I trusted that with the right planning, the right conversations, and the right people around us, we could create something that worked.
Not a compromise.
Not a version of what we wanted.
The real thing.
And that is exactly what we did.
The people were the headline act.
After two weeks, by the time we left, we weren’t shaking hands.
We were hugging.
A sea of waving hands and teary eyes saw us off. And yes, we’ve already booked to return for our first anniversary.
That probably tells you everything you need to know.
TUI Blue Meltemi | A swim-up suite we’ll never forget
Before booking, we contacted TUI Weddings and Meltemi Blue to talk through accessibility properly. It’s always worth having that conversation early. Not just to ask what’s available, but to understand how things will actually work for you.
Because accessibility is rarely one size fits all.
Rolling through the doors at TUI Blue Meltemi felt like exhaling.
Our swim-up suite ticked every box. Roomy. Stylish. Thought through. A whirlpool on the private terrace and water you can slip into before breakfast, which quickly became a non-negotiable part of the day.
The team had already built custom ramps over the doorways and left a shower stool inside. No fuss. No moment of explanation. It was simply there, ready.
And while I may have made that sound simple, it isn’t something I’ve experienced often. Feeling like your presence has already been considered, before you even arrive, is rare.
We booked half board so we could still explore local tavernas, although the hotel buffet easily held its own. And then there was the Culinarium.
One candle-lit evening. Just us.
A sommelier who knew exactly what to pour and staff who somehow made the whole experience feel both five-star and completely relaxed at the same time.
The wedding – small, serene, sunny and absolutely ours
We wanted something intimate. Easy-going. Elegant. Accessible.
Just us and our parents.
Santo Wines gave us that and more.
As we exchanged vows, the caldera stretched out behind us. It felt like standing on the edge of the world, in the best possible way. A white pergola draped in roses softened the blue of the sky and sea, with the distant glimmer of white buildings adding to the scene.
It didn’t feel staged. It felt right.
While our parents headed to Savva Popeye for lunch, Martin and I followed our brilliant photographer, Lenia, through Oia’s white lanes.
She knew every angle. Every colour. Every quiet corner worth stopping for.
And what stood out most was this.
There was no attempt to edit the reality of how I move through the world. My walking aids. My wheelchair. They weren’t removed from the story. They were part of it.
Captured properly.
The result was something far more honest. And far more beautiful.
We re-joined the family at Savva Popeye.
Toes practically in the sand. Fresh red snapper straight off their own fishing boat. And Elina, the manager, treating us like old friends.
We ate, laughed, shared the happiest of tears and toasted to the future. We cut our cake and invited the staff to join us for coffee, a moment that felt just as special as everything that came before it.
Speaking of coffee, I’m already planning coffee and handbag shopping with Elina in Athens next year!
As the sky turned gold, we rolled down the boardwalk to Wet Stories for cocktails on volcanic sand. Chilled beats, shared laughter, and that soft Santorini light you never quite forget.
Back at our suite, Hayden had worked pure magic.
Petals everywhere. Candles flickering. Champagne crackling with sparklers.
It felt like walking into a film set.
Only better. Because it was ours.
The morning after – sunrise, fizz and paperwork (the fun kind)
At 05:30, still slightly giddy, Tracy from TUI met us on Perissa Beach.
With the boardwalks and our well-practised two-person “crab walk”, she helped us onto the sand for sunrise photos in our wedding outfits.
It was quiet. Pink. Completely still.
I’ve witnessed some beautiful sunrises, but this one felt different. Not just because of where we were, but because of what it meant. Held in the arms of my husband, everything exactly where it needed to be.
Back in the suite, a floating breakfast waited in the pool.
Cooked dishes. Coffee. Fresh fruit. Pastries. A cheeky splash of bubbles. And the very real, very joyful realisation that we were officially married.
We headed to Fira to sign the final paperwork, followed by celebratory cocktails with Hayden.
Somewhere in that moment, it landed.
Everything we had planned had come together.
And more than that, things we hadn’t even thought possible had been made possible.
Moments on the sand that stole our hearts
Perissa’s six-kilometre flat beachfront, combined with an accessible boardwalk, meant beach time never came with a side of stress.
Whether it was the 5am sunrise shoot or golden-hour drinks at Wet Stories, I could move easily, park my chair and forget about logistics for a while.
Which, in itself, is a kind of luxury.
Island adventures with VIP Santorini Premium Tours
Leaving the resort didn’t mean leaving accessibility behind.
Panos, our driver from VIP Santorini, laughed, lifted and problem-solved his way across the island. Alongside my husband, he carried me (and the chair) up to the highest monastery so I could light a candle.
There is something quite surreal about being carried like Cleopatra through Santorini, but here we are!
He found the easiest routes at Santo Wines for our tasting and handled every transfer, from tattoo appointments to exploring ancient Akrotiri, with the same calm, can-do approach.
If the car couldn’t reach the door, they parked nearby and got us there safely.
Every driver we met was the same.
It made exploring feel easy.
And that meant we could focus on enjoying it.
What “accessible luxury” looked like in real life
• Ramps and adaptations that blended in, not stuck-on afterthoughts
• Staff who asked, listened and acted – no awkwardness, just help
• Spa dinners and sunset cocktails without a single barrier
• Transport partners who said “let’s figure it out” instead of “that might be tricky”
Why I share this
The Inclusive Edit exists because luxury should work as well as it looks.
Sharing honest experiences, both the moments that work and the ones that don’t, helps travellers move with confidence and shows the industry what the standard actually looks like in practice.
Planning your own accessible Santorini escape?
• Stay in Perissa: flat promenade, six kilometres of beach and plenty of ramps
• Talk to TUI Blue Meltemi early: they’ll make sure the right setup is in your room
• Book VIP Santorini Premium Tours: total pros with hearts of gold
• If you’re marrying: TUI Weddings will smooth every detail, from flowers to paperwork
• And never be shy to ask: the right partners will always rise to the occasion
Final thoughts
Santorini didn’t just host our wedding.
It changed what we thought was possible.
With creativity, kindness and a touch of Greek sunshine, barriers didn’t disappear. But they became navigable. And in their place, something else appeared.
Ease.
Joy.
Possibility.
We’ll be returning in May 2026, not just to relive the moment, but to continue proving that accessible luxury isn’t a contradiction.
It is a standard.
And once you experience it done properly, you don’t forget it.