greek-american weddings - The National Herald

The 

National 

Herald 

a b 

MARCH 3, 2012 

www.thenationalherald.com

2 GREEK-AMERICAN WEDDINGS 

THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 3, 2012 

The National Herald 

A weekly publication of the 

NATIONAL HERALD, INC. 

(ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), 

reporting the news and addressing 

the issues of paramount 

interest to the Greek American 

community 

of the United States of America. 

Publisher-Editor 

Antonis H. Diamataris 

Assistant to Publisher, Advertising 

Veta H. Diamataris 

Papadopoulos 

Special Section Editor 

Angelike Contis 

Production Manager 

Chrysoula Karametros 

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By Angelike Contis 

As a filmmaker, Greek-American 

bride Evie Michael Mpras 

knew a thing or two about setting 

a perfect scene. When it 

came to her own marriage to 

Greek-born economist Nikos 

Vasilarakis – on January 21st of 

this year in Athens – she wanted 

everything to be perfect. 

The National Herald caught 

up with the Greece-based newlywed 

– via email from Greece - 

to hear more about how she 

pulled it all together. Mpras explains: 

“Our theme was 'Old 

World Glamour.' We both love 

Renaissance and Medieval periods 

and channeled those eras 

when stylizing our wedding 

day.” 

The winter wedding ceremony 

was held at Saint Dionysios 

Church in Kolonaki with an 

intimate (for Greece) reception 

for the couple’s 280 nearest and 

dearest at the city’s most historic 

and central luxury hotel, the 

Grande Bretagne in Syntagma 

Square. 

TRADITION, THEIR WAY 

That this was a bride with a 

vision was clear to all. She had, 

for starters, a wedding book prepared 

months in advance, with 

inspirations and examples of 

what she had in mind. Mpras recalls: 

“My wedding coordinator 

at the Grande Bretagne eyed my 

Greek American 

Weddings 

Going way beyond the usual bridal 

checklist, we speak to the pros – including 

three recent Greek-American brides (pp. 

2, 3 & 5)– to cover all aspects of tying the 

knot. 

Something Old… Flowers with ancient 

Greek symbolism (p. 13), Greek Orthodox 

wedding etiquette (p. 7), and early Greek- 

Jewish-American wedding photos (p. 8). 

Something New… The latest in fashion, 

jewelry, cakes/desserts, venues, music, 

videography and photography (pp. 6, 8, 

9, 11, 12). 

Something Borrowed…Tasty wedding 

recipes from Crete and Naxos (pp. 4 & 8). 

Something Blue… The Mediterranean 

of course, with tips on getting to Greece 

for weddings and honeymoons (p. 13). 

Old World Glamour in Heart of Athens 

very detailed and organized wedding 

book and asked what my 

profession was. I answered that I 

was a director. She said, ‘Oh, that 

makes sense!’ I took great care 

with every detail, always keeping 

in mind the overall effect. This is 

similar to the work of a director 

who tries to construct a scene 

with a particular atmosphere, 

mood, and structure.” 

Mpras is currently working 

on a documentary about the legendary 

experimental Greek- 

American filmmaker, Gregory 

Markopoulos. 

When it came to Greek traditions, 

the bride and groom 

were wary of some things. 

Mpras notes: “When I was seven 

years old, I attended a wedding 

in a Greek village and swore to 

myself that I would never have 

a traditional Greek village wedding. 

I did not like the loud 

chatter and shouting during the 

church ceremony and the overall 

chaotic nature of the event.” 

The couple – who both coincidentally 

hail from the village 

of Menetes on Karpathos island 

- wanted a religious ceremony, 

however. The bride notes: “We 

both love the Greek Orthodox 

ceremony, which is so rich in 

meaning, symbolism, and deep 

faith.” 

Though the religious service 

was a solemn highpoint, acquiring 

the license for it was frustrating, 

even for two individuals 

with Greek citizenship. “At 

every turn…we were delayed, 

stalled, and encountered several 

changes to the initial requirements,” 

Mpras relates. “Two 

weeks before the wedding, a 

priest actually told me I would 

have to fly to Karpathos to get a 

certain paper signed. Once I 

started crying in disbelief and 

exhaustion, he changed his tune 

and found another way to get 

my paper signed in Athens.” 

PHOTOS: STamOS abaTiS 

The couple skipped the tradition 

where people toss money 

(or a baby boy) on the wedding 

bed. However, they said yes to 

Greek dancing, lots of it. “After 

our first dance at the reception, 

we danced the traditional 

Karpathiko and Kalamatiano 

dances for over an hour.” 

ATTENTION TO DETAIL 

Mpras says there are more 

similarities than differences be- 

tween weddings in the U.S. and 

Athens. However, her eye for detail 

gave away her American 

side, or so many guests observed. 

Among personalized 

touches were invitations designed 

by the bride and groom. 

The bride lauds the creative 

help from Kolonaki’s Drizos 

Florists. She says: “Our florist 

was fantastic. She helped to create 

a very romantic and lush 

look at both the church and the 

reception.” Delicate orchids 

hanging from chandeliers were 

among the special touches. 

THE BRIDE’S LOOK 

When it came to her own appearance 

– for the starring role– 

Mpras prepped for the big day 

not by dieting, but by observing 

a healthier diet. The recent 

bride notes: “Adopting a healthy 

lifestyle is always important, 

whether a wedding is coming 

up or not. The wedding was a 

great motivator for me to get 

disciplined. I did not follow a 

strict diet. I ate more vegetables 

and whole grains, and limited 

white bread, white pasta, and 

white rice.” 

The bridal gown, a Reem 

Acra ballgown, came from New 

York. Mpras chose a tulle of silk, 

which she points out is more 

common in Europe than the 

“nylon tulle veil with body” fa- 

Continued on page 3

THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 3, 2012 GREEK-AMERICAN WEDDINGS 

3 


Real estate attorney Stephanie 

Tsolis had met her future husband, 

Greek-born computer engineer 

Nick Makos, through 

friends years ago, she recalls. And 

they would sometimes meet in 

places like Astoria and say hello. 

Then finally, she recalls, “One 

night, we spoke a little more.” 

She thought to herself: “Wow, 

he’s interesting.” 

Flash forward to June 25th 

and the couple were wed at the 

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox 

Church in Flushing, a place not 

far from where the bride grew 

up in Bayside, New York, where 

she had been baptized and attended 

GOYA. On that day, Tsolis, 

with her elongated features and 

dark tresses was every bit the 

Grecian beauty, but this was no 

cookie cutter bride – she wanted 

to do things a little differently. 

“I knew I’d be a very handson 

bride,” the attorney explains, 

noting that no detail was too 

small to avoid her attention. For 

one, she explains: “I wanted traditional, 

with a twist.” In searching 

for a term to describe her 

wedding, she decides on “neotraditional.” 

Her unique touches began 

with the invitations, which she 

crafted together with Anastasia 

of Anastasia’s Giftshop. The bride 

took a design and changed the 

ribbons, adding a brooch (a 

theme that would follow on lambades 

candles, flower girls and 

even the personalized Wedding 

Cake by Jay). 

One memorable difference 

with 99% of weddings in the U.S. 

was that there were no bridesmaids. 

She skipped having a 

crowd at the altar in lieu of mak- 

Continued from page 2 

vored in America. When it came 

to “something old,” Mpras was 

delighted to use her grandmother’s 

wedding purse from 

the 1950’s. “That was a special 

sentimental touch in my accessories.” 

Her shoes were handcrafted 

in Greece, notes the bride: “I 

bought my shoes from Kozatsa 

creations in Athens. They make 

shoes by hand and are incredibly 

comfortable! The store was 

founded in 1936 and used to 

make shoes for stars such as 

Jayne Mansfield.” 

There was a practical side to 

the choice. “Greek reception 

halls never have a time limit as 

American reception halls do. We 

dance all night long into the 

ing little stars of the children in 

the family. 

A CLEAN LOOK 

Shopping for a bridal dress 

was no chore. “It was fun looking 

for a dress,” she recalls, though 

it took her a while to find something 

that was both traditional 

and modern. She went with a 

morning, so my shoes really had 

to be comfortable!” 

When it comes to her name, 

Mpras notes: “I will be following 

the trend in Greece and will not 

legally change my last name. 

However, I will socially go by 

A Neo-Traditional Greek Wedding 

white Ines Di Santo gown with 

Swarovski crystals and sequins, 

a drop waist and just the right 

amount of “poof.” 

When it came to her hair and 

makeup, Tsolis notes: “I wanted 

a clean look.” It helped to achieve 

a special glow by going to Helen 

Chiasson, the Greek woman who 

had cut her very thick hair since 

my husband's last name.” 

HEY, MR. DJ 

For a couple that is passionate 

about music, having control 

over the sounds heard on their 

big day was a big deal. No Greek 

she was 12 years old, for her hair 

(kept comfortably up) and 

makeup. A colorful side headpiece 

with rhinestones replaced 

a traditional crown 

The bride kept her jewelry 

simple, due to the sparkles on 

her dress – chosing dramatic 

drop earrings and a bracelet. 

When it came to her feet, however, 

the shoes were eye-catching. 

“I have a shoe obsession,” 

the newlywed confesses. She 

skipped the usual white shoes for 

a pair of pewter-colored strappy 

Giuiseppe Zanotti sandles that 

she has enjoyed wearing several 

times since the wedding. 

THE VENUE 

While doing her venue research, 

it was love at first site for 

the bride when she walked into 

the Garden City Hotel Grand 

Ballroom. “I said, this is it,” she 

Old World Glamour in Heart of Athens 

pop or requests were allowed. 

Kefi was abundant. 

“Nikos and I chose every single 

song on our playlist. Love of 

music is one of the things that 

brought us together, so it was a 

special part of the reception for 

us. We tried to make a playlist 

that reflected our tastes, but 

that also would be fun and enjoyable 

for our guests. It was 

mostly old-school: 60s and 70s 

rock, jazz, and pop. Our favorite 

songs were (our first dance 

song) Chet Baker's 'My Funny 

Valentine', Al Green's 'I Can't Get 

Next to You,' Jethro Tull's 'The 

Whistler,' Etta James 'If I Can't 

Have You,' and Led Zeppelin's 

'Whole Lotta Love.'” 

Among the memorable audio 

treats was the scratchy, vinyl 

recording the groom discovered 

says. The room’s chandeliers and 

its palette of gold, warm colors, 

cream and silver fit perfectly into 

the wedding image in her head. 

Amidst the inevitable flurry of 

activity as the bride and groom 

celebrated with 350 guests, 

everything went smoothly, and 

the couple appreciated that at all 

times they each had a staffer 

shadowing them to help out. Before 

the big day, having a Greek 

planner at Garden City made it 

less stressful to plan an event 

with mostly Greek guests. (Accepting 

help from family members 

proved vital too.) 

The tunes – supplied by popular 

DJs Power Station/Christos 

Lambropoulos - were almost all 

Greek too. “There is more passion 

of first dance song, 'My Funny 

Valentine'. Mpras recalls: “Even 

though we were in the middle 

of a crowded ballroom we felt 

like we were having an intimate 

moment.” 

Icelandic wonder Bjork’s 

"Like Someone in Love" was reserved 

for the end, with only a 

handful of people left. The bride 

recalls: “I sang along and serenaded 

to my husband who was 

both embarrassed and laughing 

uncontrollably.” 

The event was documented on 

digital and film by photographer 

friends led by Stamos Abatis. A 

Greek filmmaker pro shot the 

event on Super 8 black and white 

film, lending an antique look. 

Having returned from a honeymoon 

that extended the Old 

World Glamour theme to Prague 

and power in Greek songs,” says 

the bride whose first dance pick 

was Marinella’s dramatic “Για Σένανε 

Μπορώ (For You, I Can).” 

After their big day the couple 

spent a few days with guests (although 

they wish there was more 

time to have enjoyed them) before 

flying to the French Polynesian 

islands of Tahiti and Bora 

Bora. In retrospect, the bride is 

glad she followed one piece of 

advice on her big day. A friend 

urged the couple to make sure – 

in the chaos of the day -to consciously 

sit back, be still and enjoy 

for a full two minutes. Amidst 

the noise, the talking and movement 

that inevitably fill a wedding, 

Stephanie and Nick will forever 

cherish those 120 seconds. 

and Vienna, the bride now has 

the pleasant task of editing the 

movie of her big day herself. 

As the Greek-American in 

Greece enjoys the afterglow of 

her successful celebration, she has 

no regrets about things she could 

have done differently. Apart from 

having had an extra taste of the 

wedding cake, the newlywed who 

planned out every last detail 

notes: “I honestly can't think of 

anything in particular that I 

would have done differently.” 

TIPS 

• Though Greece’s crisis allows 

for some negotiating 

power, don’t expect all venues 

to be open to bargaining. 

• It is becoming increasingly 

common for couples to register 

at a bank in Greece.



By Peter Minakis, 

www.kalofagas.ca 

In less than two weeks, I’ll 

be back in Greece again for my 

vacation. This will be my 20th 

time and I still get excited about 

going. 

I still have some experiences 

to share from last year’s trip. 

One of the most cherished memories 

has to be when I attended 

a traditional Greek wedding on 

the island of Naxos. 

Naxos is located in the Cyclades 

cluster of islands in the 

Aegean Sea. I was cordially invited 

by a reader of my blog, 

Maria Degaitas. I would like to 

also thank the Fragoulopoulos 

family for their endless hospitality 

during my brief stay. 

Regardless if you’ve attended 

a Greek wedding or not, attending 

one in a remote village on a 

Greek island is as fairy-tale as 

they get. 

I’ve attended numerous 

Greek weddings in my lifetime 

and the memory of the day (and 

long night) will be etched in my 

mind forever. 

For those that haven’t attended 

a Greek wedding, I urge 

you to happily accept the invite 

and DO attend the church service 

and the ensuing reception. 

The wedding service is moving 

with it’s rituals, the ceremony 

ancient, historical, spiritual – always 

reminds me of how special 

it is to be Greek. 

There are many, many details 

to relate about the Greek wedding. 

I share with you the 

“recipe for a Greek Wedding”, 

as the day unfolded in Naxos, 

last summer. 

#1: FAMILY 

The first thing you need is 

family. 

The Fragoulopoulos clan in 

Naxos is from Komiaki, a village 

clear on the opposite side of the 

island’s port town. Komiaki is 

the village of the groom. This 

old village is 700 meters above 

sea level and it was built barely 

in view of the sea, so as to not 

be a target of pirates. 

The bride comes from the 

neighboring village of Koronos, 

for years dependent on emery 

mining. Today, agriculture, wine 

production and tourism are the 

main economic concerns of Koronos. 

It is written that Dionysus 

indulged and enjoyed the wine 

of Naxos most. 

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a b 

#2: TRADITION 

The next ingredient for a 

Greek wedding is tradition. 

Family and friends related to the 

groom met in Komiaki where 

Raki (Tsipouro), sweets and 

other offerings were laid out for 

guests. Like in any wedding of 

today, many photos are taken, 

video footage is shot, the old 

folks sit and wait and the 

sounds of young children can be 

heard. 

The groom-to-be started 

shooting off his rifle – something 

I had previously only 

heard of happening in Greece’s 

southernmost island, Crete. This 

was a Kodak moment and I lost 

count of how many shells were 

strewn on the ground. 

It was early evening and we 

had to get a move-on. Many of 

the men of the village bear the 

name, Agapitos. When it was 

time to get going, I heard a lot 

of “Agapitos” being called. 

The next ingredient needed 

for a Greek wedding is music. 

The bride-to-be was waiting in 

the Koronos. 

A procession was led by a 

traditional duo of lute and violin 

players. These guys played on 

our way to our vehicles, during 

the procession from the bride’s 

home to the church, then on to 

the reception and the band 

played on….to the wee hours of 

the morning. 

The lute and violin duo took 

breaks only between travel to 

and from the villages, during 

the wedding ceremony and only 

stopping when the “glenti” or 

wedding reception ended. 

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any wedding, is a beautiful 

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Recipe for a Greek Wedding 

bride. 

At Koronos, friends and family 

of the bride gathered and 

soon they were met with the 

groom’s side of the family. Together 

we walked towards the 

church (also in Koronos) and although 

a small church (and 

overcrowded), most of us 

squeezed into the outdoor amphitheater-style 

courtyard. 

Regardless if you’ve 

attended a Greek wedding 

or not, attending one in a 

remote village on a Greek 

island is as fairy-tale as 

they get. .. 

The wedding ceremony took 

place just outside of the front 

entrance of the church and the 

couple-to-be were surrounded 

by all their family and friends. 

For anyone that’s been to 

Greece, you know the evenings 

can still be hot and I’m sure this 

amphitheater built just outside 

the church was Greek logic and 

its reply to the long hot summers. 

After the wedding ceremony, 

the many, many photos that 

were taken and the long procession 

of well-wishers that had 

passed the newly-wedded couple, 

we were off to Komiaki 

where the wedding reception 

was to take place. 

#4: MANY, MANY GUESTS 

Every Greek wedding needs 

guests…lots of family and 

friends. 

After finding roadside parking, 

we walked to the reception 

hall, kind of. In attendance for 

this wedding were some 1,200 

people! The reception was held 

outdoors in the courtyard of the 

town’s school. 

The stage for the band was 

in the center, bride and groom 

seated up front with the “Koumbaro” 

and “Koumbara” and long 

tables were squeezed into the 

courtyard with immediate family 

nearby and other relations 

seated further and further back. 

#5: GREAT FOOD 

IN ABUNDANCE 

At a Greek Wedding, you 

know that you will be fed…fed 

well! 

I was lucky enough to be 

seated with immediate family 

and each table had a tablecloth, 

bottles of water, bottles of 

homemade village wine, the 

tastiest crusty bread I had in 

years, plates of Myzithra and 

Feta cheeses (some of Greece’s 

best cheeses are made in 

Naxos), olives and Greek salads. 

The main course would be 

what Mrs. Elisavet Degaitas- 

Fraboulopoulou would call a 

Goat Kokkinisto. In Greek cuisine, 

there are many variations 

on a Kokkinisto, which is a dish 

simmered in tomatoes and other 

aromatics. 

When I first arrived at the 

village, I had passed two large, 

simmering cauldrons that were 

cooking over burning embers 

and under the watchful eye of 

village elders. FIVE HUNDRED 

KILOS of goat meat were being 

cooked up for the 1200 guests. 

The main ingredients of the dish 

THE 

were goat meat, onions, garlic, 

tomatoes and famous potatoes 

from Naxos. 

The meat fell off the bone, it 

was succulent, it was delicious 

and it had a slight smoky finish. 

I was sure some smoked paprika 

was added into the mix but on 

second thought, cooking over 

burning embers will give such 

flavor. 

The band played on and on. 

I cut-out around 3am and slept 

with the sounds of wedding 

guests parting until sunrise. 

I want to leave you with my 

rendition, my ode to this Goat 

Kokkinisto that was such a delight 

to eat on the occasion of 

this marvelous Greek Island 

wedding. I’ve substituted goat 

with lamb shanks. I’m braising 

and then roasting the dish to 

best emulate the flavors I experienced 

that evening. 

I’ve added some smoked paprika, 

browned some lamb 

shanks, deglazed with wine and 

placed them covered in the oven 

to braise for about an hour. After 

that, the potatoes are added 

into the mix and everything gets 

baked (uncovered) for another 

45 minutes or until the potatoes 

are cooked and the meat flakes 

off the bone. 

Braised Lamb Shanks 

With Potatoes 

(serves 4) 

• 4 large lamb shanks 

• 1/4 cup olive oil 

• 2 large onions 

• 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced 

ONE WEDDING AT A TIME 

• 1 red bell pepper, sliced 

• 1 tsp. smoked paprika 

• 3 bay leaves 

• 1 cup of dry red wine 

• 2 Tbsp. of tomato paste 

• 2 cups of vegetable stock 

• 6 large potatoes, peeled and 

cut into wedges 

• salt and pepper to taste 

Pre-heated 350F oven 

Season your lamb shanks 

with salt and pepper. Place your 

olive oil in a large skillet and 

over medium-high heat, brown 

your shanks on all sides. Reserve 

in a baking vessel/Dutch oven. 

Deglaze the brown bits skillet 

by adding your stock and red 

wine and bring to a boil while 

scraping/lifting with a wooden 

spoon. Reduce to medium, add 

your onions, garlic, peppers and 

bay leaves and simmer for 5-7 

minutes. 

Transfer the liquid to the vessel 

where your lamb shanks lay 

and pour it in (should just cover 

your lamb shanks). Put the 

cover on and place in your preheated 

oven for an hour. 

Take the cover off, take out 

your lamb shanks and place the 

potato wedges in the sauce. 

Gently toss the potatoes to coat 

and adjust seasoning with salt 

and pepper. 

Place the lamb shanks on top 

of the potatoes. 

Place back in the oven and 

bake uncovered for another 30- 

40 minutes. The lamb shanks 

will turn a deep-brown, your 

potatoes will cook through and 

your sauce will thicken. 

Remove the bay leafs and 

taste to see if any adjustments 

in seasoning are needed. Serve 

each plate with some potatoes 

and a lamb shank and spoon 

some sauce over. 

Serve with a dry red wine, 

like a Paros Moraiti. 

This piece first appeared on 

Peter Minakis’ website 

www.kalofagas.ca on July 23, 

2009. It is reprinted with permission 

of the author. Minakis 

is a Canadian of Greek descent 

born in Toronto. He is a 

financial advisor with a passion 

for travel (especially to Greece) 

as well as food. His website 

Kalofagas.ca: Greek Food and 

Beyond focuses on Greek and 

Mediterranean food. He contributes 

to publications 

including the Nostimies Greek 

gastronomy web portal. 

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5 


Opting to hold their wedding 

at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden 

was an easy choice for Chrysoula 

Koukiotis and George Savidis. 

Says the recent bride: “I thought 

it was like renting 52 acres in 

Brooklyn for your wedding, 

pretty amazing.” 

The choice of church was 

easy too, Brooklyn’s Kimisis 

Theotokou Greek Orthodox 

Church, due to their connection 

to it. 

Brooklyn is home for both 

Koukiotis, a kindergarten 

teacher who was born in Greece 

and came to the U.S. at age one 

and Savidis, an investment 

banker born in Manhattan and 

raised in Brooklyn. 

In fact, the couple knew each 

other growing up only a few 

blocks from each other. They got 

to know each other better, however, 

while chatting as fellow 

commuters on the X28 bus into 

Manhattan. Recalls Koukiotis, 

then, a few years later, he asked 

her out. “At a mutual friend’s 

birthday party, he asked to go 

out to dinner the next night.” 

The two were wed five years 

– to the day- after that first date: 

October 2, 2011. Working as a 

team, they did all the planning 

themselves, together, in just six 

months. 

PANIGIRI PRACTICE 

With many family members 

flying in from Greece and the 

need to show non-Greek friends 

a few Greek dance moves, the 

bride and groom held a backyard 

“panigiri,” or party, two 

days before the wedding. There 

was goat on the spit, lots of great 

Greek food and a terrific chance 

for everyone to mingle – plus a 

chance for neighbors and colleagues 

alike to learn Greek 

dancing basics. 

Then, the morning of the 

wedding, the bride’s quiet street 

in Brooklyn learned the big day 

had arrived – as the bride’s family 

danced in front of her house. 

Koukiotis explains that she had 

seen her cousin do the same in 

Greece before his wedding. “I 

knew that if I ever got married, 

I wanted to bring that tradition 

and do the same.” So out came 

the iPod, the speakers and the 

40 guests – to perform a traditional 

Greek Kalamatiano dance 

of joy with the bride. 

The bride wore a Badgley 

Mischka dress she had spotted 

at a bridal trunk show. A fan of 

the designer, she had originally 

considered a drop-waist cut, 

Wedding Blossoms in Brooklyn 

then went for the A-line “Lexington” 

strapless dress of lace 

and organza. 

She chose a Bobbi Brown 

PHOTOS: JOy Glenn 

makeup artist for the big day because 

of their natural approach. 

“I’m not a girl who wears a lot 

of makeup,” notes the teacher, 

who usually only applies a bit of 

mascara and lip gloss. 

BACK TO THEIR ROOTS 

The religious service itself 

was invested with extra meaning 

due to the groom’s long friendship 

with V. Rev. Fr. Damaskinos 

Ganas. “It was great, because we 

have a real connection,” notes 

the bride, who enjoyed the 

priest’s words about her husband 

– and his sharing a photo 

of him as a boy - during the service. 

Transported by a Rolls Royce 

limousine to the Botanic Garden, 

the couple continued their celebration 

at the garden’s elegant, 

glass Palm House. With the exception 

of the fact that the cocktail 

hour had to be held inside 

and not alongside the lovely Lilly 

Pond (due to the sole, 15-minute 

stint of rain on their day), the 

event was flawless. 

“The flowers are my favorite 

part,” says the bride, adding: “I 

didn’t want to do just white.” 

Guests first had a taste of the 

floral colors that would greet 

them in the bride’s bouquet of 

bold yellow calla lilies with a 

purple band. 

When they entered The Palm 

House, the 275 guests were 

greeted by yellow and purple 

floral décor. At alternating tables, 

first yellow, then purple, 

orchids, roses, hydrangeas, calla 

lilies and other flowers were 

placed in varying sized vases by 

Ariston Flowers of Chelsea. The 

colors were not by chance: the 

yellow was inspired by the 

bride’s yellow diamond Tiffany 

engagement ring and the purple 

was inspired by the purple 

amethyst gold ring she wore on 

that day, a gift that had belonged 

to the grandmother of the 

groom. 

The couple also arranged for 

a host of lanterns to be placed 

throughout The Palm House and 

the pond outside – which set the 

tone and also made great gifts, 

along with bunches of flowers, 

for the guests as they left. There 

were also Lenox ice buckets as 

boubonieres. 

GREAT MOMENTS 

One of the evening’s special 

moments was when the bride 

and groom took to the floor for 

their first dance - and surprised 

everyone with some dance 

moves, to the tune of Nat King 

Cole’s “L-O-V-E.” A friend had 

coached them. “We did a basic 

swing, but we pulled it off,” recalls 

Koukiotis. 

The food and cake were great 

– provided by the garden’s caterers, 

Charles, Sally & Charles– 

but the action was largely on the 

dance floor. The DJ and band 

of Mylos Entertainment provided 

a 60% to 40% mix of 

Greek and non-Greek tunes. The 

bride lauds them for the high 

energy of the event, noting: 

“They knew when to slow down 

and start up again.” 

After being pampered while 

honeymooning on what the 

bride calls “Paradise on Earth” - 

Sandy Lane, Barbados and five 

months of post-wedding life, two 

wedding memories stand out the 

most for newlywed Koukiotis. 

The first is, she says, “this big 

feeling of just being surrounded 

by love.” The second is the last 

song, which was "Time of My 

Life" by The Black Eyed Peas. 

“There was still so much energy 

on the dance floor, so much happiness 

and love. Even after the 

last song played, people were 

still on the dance floor wanting 

more… They literally had to remind 

us it was over.”



TNH Staff Writers 

We spoke to the experts at 

Venus Jewelers in Somerset, 

New Jersey, about the latest 

trends and tips when it comes 

to wedding rings and other jewelry 

and accessories – which not 

only are important on that big 

day, but for many years to come. 

RINGS 

The experts at Venus Jewelers 

report that platinum and 

white gold are much more popular 

today than yellow gold. For 

wedding bands, men are in- 

Have the perfect proposal idea 

in your mind, but need help in 

making it happen? Or do you 

have the perfect guy or gal to 

wed, but no clear idea on how to 

get them to say “Yes?” 

Then you need a professional. 

Marriage Proposal Concierge Rocio 

Jimenez, of the Garden City 

Hotel in Long Island has helped 

25 guests with their dream marriage 

proposals in recent years. 

Whether it’s freezing an engagement 

ring in a cocktail icecube, 

projecting a videotaped proposal, 

or spelling out “Will You 

Marry Me” in rose petals on a 

bed, Jimenez makes it happen. 

“Everything is customized to what 

the guest wants,” she explains. 

Jimenez, who meets with the 

groom-to-be in advance to brainstorm 

about ideas and/or logistics, 

can work with as little or as 

much time is available. With two 

decades plus of experience at the 

hotel (her other title is Rooms Division 

Director), she can cover all 

the details. 

Some grooms-to-be have a 

clear idea of what they want, 

while others need guidance, she 

notes. One masterful plot involved 

a fluffy Akita pup, with 

the ring in a box attached to a 

creasingly matching the color of 

gold, but not necessarily the design, 

with their bride-to-be. The 

men often skip the more intricate 

designs for simplicity although, 

as the experts at Venus 

Jewelers note, some of them 

prefer designs specifically 

made for today's professional 

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Designer engagement 

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with the round 

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princess cut diamond. As Venus 

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Whether you want a massive 

ivory cake with edible goldbeads 

and floral touches for an 

Indian wedding of 1,000 guests, 

or a cake for a smaller marriage 

decorated with hearts and the 

Manhattan skyline, Artopolis 

bakery/patisserie can create it. 

Regina Katopodis, co-owner 

and manager of the Astoria establishment 

explains: “When I 

sit down with a couple, I want 

pily, the recession has not affected 

long term investments in 

engagement rings, wedding 

bands and bridal jewelry. The 

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store with distinguished clients 

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BRIDAL PEARLS 

The popularity of pearls continues 

to give brides that glamorous 

final touch. Extravagant, 

drop style freshwater pearl earrings 

are popular for brides at 

Venus Jewelers. Especially when 

their gowns are strapless, many 

women opt to skip wearing a 

necklace, leaving the neckline 

bare. 

While tiaras seem to be 

to know their background, what 

they like and I try to incorporate 

it into the wedding cake somehow.” 

She quizzes them on venues, 

colors, and flowers in order to 

create the perfect cake. 

Katopodis promises: “I ask 

what you want to spend and I’ll 

make you the cake of your 

dreams with what you have in 

your pocket.” 

One solution is a beautiful 

dummy cake, with a pier of real 

trending 

out, the experts at Venus Jewelers 

point to an increasing popularity 

of bejeweled hair pieces 

that are worn on the side of the 

head. 

GIFTS 

Cuff links are as popular as 

ever for presents for the men in 

wedding parties, while brides 

have a range of choices for gifts 

to their bridal party. Color-co- 

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red ribbon around its neck. “The 

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It’s all about taste and the details. 

Jimenez points to a romantic 

wintry scene the hotel staged recently 

in their Grand Salon, 

where candles, a fireplace, dim 

lighting and roses set the perfect 

scene. 

Sometimes she must steers eager 

proposers away from awkwardness. 

“Everyone wants to put 

the ring inside food,” she says 

with a chuckle. Instead of plopping 

the ring inside a drink, she 

nudges them towards more elegant 

choices, like specially-made 

desserts showcasing rings. 

Guests are only responsible for 

extra costs, such limos or major 

“props.” 

While until now, she has consulted 

men popping the question, 

Jimenez says her specialty can be 

useful to a broader group. She 

welcomes proactive brides-to-be 

as well as same sex marriage couples. 

The site of a teary-eyed brideto-be 

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cake and another of Styrofoam, 

and guests served from a sheet 

cake. However, she says, Greeks 

don’t tend to go for that. “They 

go more towards the real cake.” 

And when it comes to wedding 

day sweets, she notes of 

her compatriotes, “They don’t 

skimp.” Greek couples tend to 

order tray after tray of Artopolis’ 

traditional Greek sweets, from 

mini-baklavadakia to melomakarona. 

With regards to cake flavors, 

Katopodis has observed that 

Greeks tend to go for traditional 

options, though she tries to 

tempt them with the likes of exotic 

passion fruit. 

However they exhibit more 

experimentation when selecting 

Artopolis’ imported Hatziyiannakis 

koufeta (sugar-covered almonds), 

with everything from 

tiramisu to island-inspired flavors, 

like Corfu kumquat. 

“Edible” boubonieres (wedding 

favors with koufeta) are 

popular. Artopolis makes little 

packages of mini-pastries, spoon 

sweets or amygdalota (almond 

ordinated earrings, necklaces 

and bracelets are great options. 

Venus Jewelers has a line of 

items for flower girls too. 

Many grooms traditionally 

present their fiancees 

with a bridal gift of jewelry 

– be it a pair of diamond 

stud earrings, 

pearl earrings or a necklace 

- the day before the 

wedding, to be worn on 

the couple’s big day. In 

turn, the bride-to-be often 

reciprocates with a wedding 

watch. 

LAST-MINUTE SHINE 

Venus Jewelers recommends 

that all the pieces are brought 

to your favorite jeweler to be 

cleaned and polished the day 

before the wedding. Engagement 

rings especially - which 

have been worn, often for 

months, may look scratched unless 

prepped for the big day. 

How to Propose, 

Garden City-Style 

Place engagement ring in 

sugar-glazed-creation inside 

a glass of champagne, served 

by a butler. Or hide it in a 

heart-shaped chocolate box, 

a bed of shredded coconut 

or under a triple chocolate 

dome. 

Arrange a day out, complete 

with limo transport and 

dinner. Then return to a 

room full of rose petals to 

pop the question. 

Surprise her with your 

timing. When a bride-to-be 

thinks she’s just going to a 

pal's bridal shower, bring her 

into a romantically set up 

room, with candles and a lit 

fireplace, and propose. 

Send a rose each day for 

11 days, leading to dinner at 

the hotel’s Rein, where you 

present your bride-to-be with 

a dozen roses. Just when she 

thinks that that’s all - when 

you get back to your room, 

present a 12th long stem 

rose…with an engagement 

ring wrapped around it. 

cookies) for them. 

Since opening in 2003, 

Katopodis has noted a trend towards 

smaller cakes and weddings. 

While extravagance is still 

around, there is plenty of costcutting 

too. Nonetheless Artopolis’ 

co-owner was surprised by a 

do-it-yourself bride who showed 

up in jeans to pop her elegant 

cake in the car, between the centerpieces. 

But regardless of the economy, 

Katopodis remarks, “People 

are still getting married.” 

And whether or not your 

cake is big or small, it will be 

made from scratch and when it 

comes to chocolate, only Belgian 

chocolate is used. 

The bottom line, to 

Katopodis, is: “When anybody 

walks out of here, bride, groom, 

mother of the bride, I want 

them to be smiling - with the 

wedding cake of their dreams.” 

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7 

a b 

Greek Wedding Etiquette 

Whether it’s your first or your 

1000th Greek Orthodox wedding, 

you may have questions about the 

meaning and proper actions at 

one. TNH caught up with Marilyn 

Rouvelas, author of now-classic 

Greek-American culture guide A 

Guide to Greek Traditions and Customs 

in America, to answer these 

questions. Lutheran-raised Rouvelas, 

who grew up in Washington 

and discovered the traditions 

through marriage, wrote the book 

to benefit the Ladies Philoptochos 

Society of St. George Greek Orthodox 

Church in Bethesda, 

Maryland. Over 67,000 copies 

have been sold. 

TNH: What are the most unusual 

features of the service? 

MR: For one, length: The service 

is long, lasting anywhere 

from 45 to 60 minutes. Some 

parts of the ritual are repeated 

three times. The number three is 

an important symbol in the 

church because it reminds the 

faithful of the Holy Trinity: the 

Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

Secondly, one of the most unusual 

features is the crowning ritual. 

The crowns (stefana) are traditionally 

made of small white 

wax flowers, beads, white leaves 

and joined together with a white 

satin ribbon. The priest crowns 

the groom first by making the 

sign of the cross with the wreaths 

on the groom’s head and says 

three times: “The Servant of God 

[name] is crowned to the servant 

of God [name] ...” He places the 

crown on the groom’s head, and 

then crowns the bride the same 

way. The koumbaro (Orthodox 

witness) stands behind the couple 

and exchanges the crowns over 

their heads three times. 

The Dance of Isaiah is another 

key element. After readings from 

the bible, prayers, and partaking 

of the common cup, the bride and 

groom, still wearing their crowns, 

are led three times by the priest 

around a small table that holds 

the items used in the sacrament. 

The koumbaro walks with them, 

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holding the crown ribbons. This 

is called the Dance of Isaiah because 

it proclaims the church’s 

joy at the new union, similar to 

the joy of Isaiah the prophet who 

saw the Messiah in a vision 900 

years before Christ’s birth. 

Couples should understand in 

advance that there is no option 

to personalise the sacrament. The 

ritual and language in Greek Orthodox 

sacrament of marriage 

was solidified at the end of the 

sixteenth century, and remains 

the same today. Couples cannot 

insert wording, change the order, 

or add a verse, poem, or song. If 

you’ve seen one Greek Orthodox 

wedding, you’ve seen them all - 

and have the opportunity to appreciate 

the beauty and symbolism 

more each time! I recommended 

that couples read the text 

of the entire service ahead of 

time, find beautiful words that 

express their contemporary sentiments, 

focus quietly together on 

these before the wedding, and include 

them in their wedding program. 

My favorite prayers are for “a 

tranquil life, long years, mature 

judgment, love for each other in 

the bond of peace, long-lasting 

posterity, grace on their children, 

and a crown of everlasting glory” 

and a prayer that the couple “may 

Thank you for your ongoing trust and support 

they see their children’s children 

like newly-planted olive trees 

round about their table...” 

Note that rings are placed on 

the right hand, not the left. The 

priest puts the rings on the right 

hands, as the right hand is considered 

stronger because it performed 

miracles. 

American brides or grooms 

note: There are no “I do’s.” Nor 

does the priest say, “I pronounce 

you man and wife.” So when is 

the marriage complete? Since 

marriage in the Orthodox Church 

is a sacrament, the marriage is 

sanctified by the end of the service. 

The emphasis is not on vows 

to each other, but the mystery (in 

Greek word “mystirion”) of the 

husband and wife becoming one. 

“Yoke them in oneness of mind; 

crown them into one flesh...” It is 

a profound approach to marriage. 

The service is full of references 

to married couples in the Old Testament. 

Our Jewish friends are 

surprised at the number of references 

to Isaac and Rebecca, Abraham 

and Sarah, Jacob and 

Rachel, Joseph and Asenath, 

Zacharias and Elizabeth - which 

highlight the strong link between 

the Jewish and Christian people. 

TNH: Any tips for the party? 

MR: One is to wait for the 

food to be blessed by the priest 

before eating. Also, if there is 

Greek music, be sure to wait for 

the family to do the first line 

dancing. The traditional first 

dance Greek dance begins with 

the bride leading a dance called 

the Kalamatianos with her husband 

next in line. Then the family 

members and close friends 

take turns “dancing the bride” by 

assuming the lead in the line. 

An expanded version of this article 

can be found at: www.thenationalherald.com/article/53989 

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Something Old, New for Jews of Ioannina 

The brides look dazzled, 

adorned in their bridal best. The 

grooms strike the pose of husband, 

alongside them. There is 

only a hint of a smile on some 

faces, but all the eyes glow from 

the the newness of the situation. 

These are images from the 

family albums of the historic Kehila 

Kedosha Janina Synagogue 

and Museum on New York’s 

Lower East Side. They were displayed 

in the wedding exhibit 

“Something Old, Something 

New” held there over two years 

ago. 

Museum Director Marcia Haddad-Ikonomopoulos 

explains 

that, as in the old country, these 

studio images are primarily of 

arranged marriages of immigrants 

with modest means. 

“Probably every single one was a 

rented gown,” she explains. 

They depict a group – which 

dates back to Roman times in 

Greece’s Ioannina- under change. 

While in Ioannina Jewish couples, 

like Christians, used stefana 

(wreaths) in their wedding ceremony, 

in the New World, this 

practice was abandoned. Back in 

Ioannina, there was no need to 

wear white to prove a bride’s purity 

in the tight-knit Jewish com- 

From Dianna Farr Lois’ 

Feasting & Fasting in Crete 

This is the traditional pilaf 

served at weddings and baptisms 

in western Crete, modified 

for home use. Its every grain 

symbolizes a wish for the young 

couple’s wealth and prosperity. 

Whenever Cretans talk about 

this dish, they become even 

more animated than usual, as if 

it triggers a host of wonderful 

memories. 

Although no seasonings are 

added, the dish is made in such 

quantities that the broth in 

which the rice is cooked is a 

heady extract. For example, a 

pilaf made with seventeen 

chickens is not considered out 

of the ordinary. In the past, 

when chickens were still a luxury, 

they were preferred over 

lamb by those who could afford 

them. 

Now some people make the 

pilaf with a combination of 

chicken (free range, if possible) 

and year-old kid (tzigouri) or 

lamb, but broth from many ani- 

munity. Notes Haddad- 

Ikonomopoulos: “There was no 

doubt that the bride was a virgin. 

What else would she be?” The 

American gowns were very different 

from the traditional wedding 

dresses on display at the 

museum. 

One tradition that Haddad- 

Ikonomopoulos says she’s only 

seen evidence of in early images 

from Kehila Kedosha Janina, was 

of men taking off their hats and 

women holding up their napkins 

Sophie Negrin and Abraham 

Malta, 1922. Both were born 

in Ioannina. 

mals is more the norm at large 

celebrations. 

Adding to the extravagance, 

several spoonfuls of bubbling 

staka [a rich Cretan cheese] are 

swirled into the pilaf before the 

hungry guests, who may number 

high in the hundreds or even 

into the thousands, tuck in. You 

will have to omit this luxury, but 

crème fraiche, mascarpone or 

even hot clarified butter makes 

a reasonable substitute. 

With thanks to Katerina 

Farandaki for sharing this 

recipe. 

• 1 lb lean lamb 

• 3-4 lb free range chicken 

• 8 cups chicken or meat stock 

(optional) 

• 2 cups rice, preferably 

medium grain (Arborio, Valencia, 

Nyhaki) 

• 1/4 cup lemon juice and an 

extra lemon 

• salt and freshly ground black 

pepper 

• 2-3 tablespoons warmed 

staka, crème fraiche, mascarpone 

(optional) 

The wedding of Rabbi Jessoula 

Levy's youngest daughter 

Rachel in 1942 in Kehila Kedosha 

Janina, on New York’s 

Lower East Side. 

as the new couple passed. Are its 

origins from Ioannina? The Museum 

Director says it is very hard 

to know, as the city’s Jewish population 

was decimated in World 

War II, with only 151 of a population 

of 2,000 surviving. “No one 

can go back and ask,” she regrets. 

The Ioannina Greeks in America, 

she explains, often married 

Jews from other groups and lost 

traditions along the way. But a 

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fascinating tradition –whose evidence 

remains – are the femalefavoring 

ketubahs, or wedding 

contracts. The Jews from Ioannina, 

says Haddad-Ikonomopoulos 

drafted much more favorable 

“prenuptual” agreements than 

those of other Jewish groups. She 

believes it has to do with the 

greater legal protection women 

had in Byzantium, where women 

could study and own property. In 

the Ioannina ketubahs, brides’ 

property was listed in great detail 

- down to the last spoon- so that 

she was covered in case of divorce. 

Today, the Kehila Kedosha 

Janina Synagogue remains a popular 

spot for weddings. In 2009, 

for instance, Daniela Smolov and 

Morris Levy (the great-grandson 

of the synagogue’s Rabbi Jessoula 

Levy) were wed, as the historic 

site’s website notes, in “a confirmation 

of our continuity and continuance.” 

To see more photos from the 

“Something Old, Something 

New” exhibit online, visit 

www.kkjsm.org, clicking on “Exhibits” 

and “Previous exhibits.” 

New immigration exhibit “Memories” 

opens at The Kehila Kedosha 

Janina Museum on May 6. 

Wedding Pilaf (Gamopilafo, Western Crete) 

Place the meat and chicken 

in a large soup kettle and cover 

with cold water or stock. Bring 

to the boil, season with salt and 

skim well. Simmer for 1 hour or 

longer until you have a rick 

stock (skim off the fat if you 

wish) and remove the meat to a 

platter. 

Pour 6 cups of the stock into 

a clean saucepan and bring to 

the boil. Add the rice and simmer 

until the rice has absorbed 

most of the stock. Stir in the 

lemon juice and salt and pepper 

to taste. Cover the saucepan 

with a clean dish towel and the 

pan’s lid and remove from the 

burner. 

Let stand 5 minutes, pour in 

the staka, and serve. Slice the 

meats, sprinkle with more 

lemon juice, and serve them 

separately. Serves 4 to 6. 

Note: You’ll get a richer broth 

if you bring chicken to the boil 

from a cold start, but you’ll get 

whiter, better looking meat if 

you add it when the liquid is 

boiling. 

Reprinted with permission of 

the author from Feasting & Fasting 

in Crete: Delicious Mediterranean 

Recipes (Kedros, 2001, 

www.kedros.gr). Dianne Farr 

Louis’ book also includes the essay 

“Ingredients for a 

Traditional Western Cretan 

Wedding,” with a rundown on 

all that is needed to have an authentic 

Cretan wedding feast 

and celebration. 

What’s Hot When Tying the Knot 

*New Jersey’s Adelphia Restaurant is heading towards its 

25th Anniversary. Says Adelphia’s Evelyn Balis, “We cater to all 

types of weddings here and pride ourselves in making each 

event unique for the bride and groom.” Adelphia prides itself 

on customizing everything from specialty linens to menu preferences 

to please a range of tastes and ethnic traditions. She 

adds: “Making each wedding special and memorable is rewarding 

not only for our brides, grooms, and their families, but also 

for us on a business level.” www.adelphiarestaurant.com 

*New York travel agents Crown Peters, who have been in 

the business for over four decades, have perfected the art of 

crafting honeymoons in Greece. Their Crown Romance I and II 

packages, which start at $1750/person and $1475/person, respectively, 

pamper couples. Why not focus on the special person 

you just married in fantastic settings like Athens, Mykonos, 

Patmos, Rhodes, Crete and Santorini - instead of worrying 

about tickets, transfers, hotel bookings and the details? 

http://crownpeters.com 

*Located in Manhattan’s chic Tribeca area, restaurant 

Thalassa offers, as general manager Tasso Zapanti calls it, “the 

ideal boutique wedding location.” 

The venue is especially 

popular with couples 

of different backgrounds 

who enjoy the sea-inspired 

setting and food. A wedding 

at Thalassa may begin 

with 40-200 guests enjoying 

cocktails in the 

bar/lounge area, before the 

wedding ceremony in the 

Wine Cellar room and cocktails, 

dinner and dancing above in the third floor Gallery Loft. 

www.thalassanyc.com 

* At Towers on the Green, in Floral Park, New York there 

is always “good food, good service,” and, Harry Savvides adds, 

“a nice scenic view of the 18-hole golf course.” He’s noticed 

that at Greek weddings, there is not just the Greek music and 

food, that people request, but a Viennese table too. “We, as 

Greeks, like to have the elaborate dessert table.” 

*What’s changed in the wedding biz since George Andreakos 

played guitar for his dad’s Bill Andreakos Orchestra 26 years 

ago? Weddings are today “a lot more elaborate,” he says. With 

his International Sounds DJ entertainment company, his 

Event Décor NYC event furnishing company and Eros Music 

NY live Greek orchestra, he’s part of that trend. Want a space 

transformed by special colored/LED lighting or drapes? He’s 

your man. Want to create a trendy lounge area within a ballroom? 

Ditto. When it comes to Greek music, people still ask 

for classic “Ωραία που είναι η νύφη μας (How Beautiful Our 

Bride Is),” but, many Greek-Americans are up-to-date on the 

latest Greek hits, such as those by artists like Νikos Vertis. 

Today, too “The brides certainly know what they want,” the 

wedding pro says. He vows to deliver, noting: “We’re very 

meticulous, we are perfectionists.” 

http://internationalsounds.com, www.eventdecornyc.com, 

www.erosmusicnewyork.com 

* Demetra Lecourezos of shop 

Given with Love in Tarpon Springs, 

Florida, which carries a host of wedding 

items, sees a trend towards “the 

ivory and natural colors, with just a 

splash of a bold color (teal, eggplant, 

fuschia).” When it comes to wedding 

candles, she reports that “bling's the 

thing,” with lace, silks, Swarovski 

crystals and pearls. 

35-20 Ditmars Boulevard 

Astoria, N.Y. 

(718)721-3724 

www.glandmarkella.com 

Creating memories 

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9 


Elaborate stefana (wedding 

wreaths) fit for royalty and striking 

Byzantine crosses with vibrant 

gemstones are some of the 

works of jeweler Paraskevi Polychronis 

Antonopoulos that have 

adorned people at landmarks in 

life for decades. 

Ancient Greece and Byzantium 

live in the creations of the 

Wisconsin-based jeweler also 

known as Vivian Paul Anton. 

Her Stefana Eternal line, with 

its wreaths of gold, silver, and 

pearls, have a clear influence 

from the past. Pointing to visits 

to Greece and its museums, she 

notes: “All of the ancient 

wreaths are so incredibly inspirational.” 

She has studied the ancient 

craftsmanship on display in 

Athens as well as in Thessaloniki, 

including the famous 

Macedonian royalty’s gold 

wreaths of Vergina. 

Her Olive Leaf style stefana 

are among the most popular 

and symbolic of her creations. 

She says: “Since the olive 

wreath generally symbolizes 

peace, it is a wonderful style to 

incorporate within a wedding.” 

Antonopoulos may be in the 

Midwest, but her works are 

everywhere. “It is gratifying to 

send a set of stefana to South 

Africa or a Byzantine cross to 

Jewelry That’s Beautiful Inside and Out 

Alaska!” Her pieces have 

splashed across fashion magazines 

like Vogue, Mademoiselle, 

Harper’s Bazaar and Bride. 

She is most proud, however, 

of a pair of vermeil wreaths 

commissioned by the Annunciation 

Greek Orthodox Church of 

Milwaukee as a gift to Archbishop 

Demetrios of America for 

the Wisconsin parish’s 100 year 

anniversary. 

JEWELRY WITH MEANING 

The jewelry designer operates 

out of Paul’s Jewelers, a 

company created by her father 

Polychronis in 1967, after he 

had made his way from a village 

near Olympia, in Greece’s Western 

Peloponnese, to Milwaukee. 

“My father, Polychronis ‘Paul’ 

and my mother, Marousa raised 

my brother and me in this business,” 

notes the jewelry designer. 

At her father’s prompting, 

she went beyond her degree in 

secondary education to study at 

the Gemological Institute of 

America and the Kulicke-Stark 

Academy of Jewelry Arts. She 

also studied for a summer at Ilias 

Lalaounis’ Athens workshop. 

It was her father’s wish that 

she apply her talents to making 

Byzantine crosses too. With the 

arrival of her first child, Apollon, 

she did so, creating a rose gold 

cross with pomegranate-hued 

gems and the hand-engraved 

letters IS XS NI KA (the abbreviation 

of “Jesus Christ Conquers”). 

The Crosses Byzantine 

Collection was born as she customized 

and named crosses after 

each child, nephew/niece 

and godchild. 

Antonopoulos notes that 

matching crosses (starting at 

$75) serve for a couple as a present 

“to commemorate their 

marriage to one another with 

God as an integral part.” 

She also has a line of engagement 

rings coming soon. 

Paul’s Jewelers has been, 

over the years, not just a place 

where family created and 

worked together, but also a 

classroom of life, says 

Antonopoulos: “My father’s 

greatest dream was that his fam- 

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ily would always stick together 

and his most valuable lesson… 

‘Never give up!’” 

For Antonopoulos, each piece 

is invested with meaning. She 

notes: “My art and my craft are 

truly more than just a ‘job’ to 

me. My art, craft and my faith 

are inseparable from one another. 

It is my great joy to use 

precious metals and gems to 

create Orthodox wedding 

crowns and crosses. These 

pieces represent God, His sacrifice 

for us and His interest in 

being part of our wedding, marriage 

and daily life. What an 

honor for the medium itself to 

be used in this way. It is an 

honor for me to be able to do 

this work as well.” 

www.ParaskeviforPaulsJewelers.com



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11 

Nature is an inspiration not only for brides and grooms, but for the photographers who snap their 

wedding memories. TNH asked Philadelphia-area New Leaf Photography to open their albums and 

Lush Spring 

Love for All Seasons 

What better representation then the 

lush new greens of spring? In this photograph 

we captured the couple's first 

sight of each other on their big day. 

Fall Foliage Train 

There wasn't much around the wedding location 

,but we found this perfect spot on the train 

tracks behind the hall. You can see the crisp 

dry fall leaves decorating the ground. 

Catering & Banquet 

Party facilities, Restaurant 

WWW.nleaFPHOTO.COm 

share some of their seasonal favorites. 

Co-owner/photographer Nicole Hope Matthews describes the thinking behind each composition. 

PA N AT H E N I A N B A N Q U E T H A L L 

A N D B A R 

Summer Glow 

Every wedding photographer knows that time is of 

the essence and weddings very rarely run on time. 

We captured this shot of the McCoy's within a quick 

six-minute shoot following their ceremony, which 

lasted 30 minutes longer than scheduled. They are 

glowing with excitement. 

Wintry Celebration 

Only Adelphia can combine fine dining services with 

nightly entertainment in the best location in Central 

Jersey. 

Chefs from all around the world have helped in developing 

American, Mexican and any other international cuisines. 

We are willing to make any foods that aren’t on the menu. 

The PANATHENIAN Ballroom which seats 

500 people provides the perfect atmosphere 

for casual dining or banquets. 

Have your Wedding Reception, Bridal 

or Christening Party at Adelphia’s. 

Organizers of concerts. 

Call for reservations and ask for Evelyn. 

1750 Clements-Bridge RD, 

Deptford, NJ 08096 

856-845-8200 

www.adelphiarestaurant.com 

It was a cold New Year’s Eve. This was a fun shot to capture 

as this couple walks through an arch of sparklers following 

their wedding ceremony. It was worth a burnt sleeve to 

capture this moment. In the second image: Being nighttime, 

our goal was to find a spot with unique lighting. We chose 

this large tree that was decorated with lights from Christmas. 

Then, to spice it up a bit, we set up a light behind the 

couple to highlight them against the night sky.




Choosing the right wedding 

look is one of the hardest parts 

of planning a wedding. But 

there are a handful of Hellenic 

designers – with an international 

presence - that can offer 

brides and grooms plenty of inspiration. 

From Demetrios’ practical 

new two looks-in-one 

dresses and Sophia Kokosalaki’s 

goddess-themed gowns to John 

Varvatos’ decidedly hip tuxedos, 

these top designers can help the 

stars of weddings look their absolute 

best. 

Here’s a look at the latest 

ideas from these fashion leaders. 

DEMETRIOS 

With over 400 gowns to 

choose from, this long-standing 

bridal favorite offers plenty of 

choices. For his Spring 2012 collection, 

this designer helps 

brides be more versatile than 

ever. In his Young Sophisticates 

collection, there are gowns 

whose long skirts are removable 

– aiding the bride to reveal a little 

leg - and dance a little easier. 

Belts are in, Demetrios believes 

– and he has introduced 

a collection of detailed belts – 

even in black. Though you may 

store your dress for all eternity, 

the belt you can take out and 

wear in the meantime. 

Lace is a material that has a 

powerful romantic presence in 

many of his new gowns. His 

strapless Ilissa gown, for instance, 

fits lace over a net 

sheath, following the curves of 

Greek-American weddings often 

feature Greek rituals, music 

and food. Why not “Greek” flowers 

too? We consulted with Jennifer 

Gay, landscape architect, 

gardener and author of Greece, 

Garden of the Gods, for a few 

ideas on the topic. 

Myrtle (Mytria, Myrtus communis) 

is a flower with ancient 

symbolism, as U.K. native Gay 

observes. “Myrtle was traditionally 

woven into the bridal bouquet 

to signify love and fidelity. 

Myrtle was sacred to Aphrodite 

the Goddess of Love and it came 

to symbolize youth and beauty. 

The ancient Greeks used it to 

decorate temples and sanctuaries. 

Sadly it is rarely used now - 

I asked several women who had 

recently married whether they 

would consider using myrtle and 

none knew of this tradition. I 

adore it for the aromatic leaves, 

the beautiful creamy star-like 

flowers - and it is often flowering 

in August/September, a popular 

time for weddings.” 

Today, splashier flowers predominate, 

however, notes Gay. 

“Tropical orchids are very popular 

now, as are lilies and roses, 

and subtler flowers are often 

overlooked, though they may be 

very beautiful.” She notes, however, 

that Basil has become a 

popular wedding table-top decoration. 

Pomegranates – also rife with 

symbolism- are a great choice 

for autumn weddings. Gay recalls 

a row of them at an October 

wedding: “An avenue of 

pomegranate trees (Rodia, 

Punica granatum) on approach 

to the church was lovely - they 

were fruiting and still with leaf.” 

The couple also used Pomegranate 

fruits in the table decorations. 

Gay approved: “It was seasonal 

and completely 

appropriate as Pomegranate is 

associated with Aphrodite (Goddess 

of Love and Beauty), Hera 

(Goddess of Marriage) as well 

as Demeter (Goddess of the Harvest), 

and was a symbol of fecundity 

and life for the ancient 

Greeks.” 

the body, before flaring out – 

flamenco style, before the knee. 

With over twenty stores in 

the U.S, locations around the 

world (including several boutiques 

in Greece), his For the 

Bride Magazine (which just celebrated 

20 years) and countless 

trunk shows, Demetrios is an 

enduring bridal presence. His 

philosophy? It’s not the trends 

that are important to follow, but 

what’s flattering to each woman 

In Greece, fragrant local options 

may offer a unique alternative 

to the flashier 

flowers imported from 

The Netherlands. Gay 

points out: “Imported 

out of season flowers 

can be a bit 

green 'blingish'. 

The native flora 

tends to be 

much more 

subtle and less 

showy. But you 

can make 

charming, delicate 

and intricate 

arrangements of 

great beauty with a 

little thought and 

Following Hellenic Fashion Lines 

KOKOSalaKiS 

that matters. 

http://demetriosbride.com 

To watch the gowns in motion, 

see Demetrios at Bride 

Fashion Show, Amsterdam, 

2012 video. 

http://youtu.be/ZnhXtyMFtzQ 

SOPHIA KOKOSALAKI 

The gowns carry names like 

Cassandra, Cythera, Ariadne 

and Galene. And the look is 

what a caryatid would resemble 

if she were a hip contemporary 

woman. Greek-born, Londontrained 

designer Sophia Kokosalaki, 

is turning heads with her 

new bridal collection, designed 

exclusively for Net-A- 

Porter.com. 

The line, which was unveiled 

in January and will be made 

available later this month, takes 

a clear cue from ancient Greek 

sculptures in its gowns as well 

as bold jewelry created with 

Greek jeweler Ilias Lalaounis. 

The gowns, strapless or leaving 

a single shoulder bare, feature 

silk and tulle and touches 

like a thin studded belt or 

Swarovski crystals. An island or 

ancient temple would be a perfect 

backdrop. 

“Chevron pleating, hand 

draping and sculptural shaping,” 

as Net-A-Porter describes 

Kokosalaki’s touches, are in evidence. 

The designer says in a 

press release that the gowns are 

aimed at brides who love fashion: 

“I wanted my wedding 

dresses to feel very precious, 

help the bride to feel beautiful, 

but never saccharine. An alternative 

dress that never goes 

Ancient, Local Flower Power 

imagination.” 

For instance, when a bride 

asked Gay for local flora suggestions 

for an early September 

wedding, there were 

many options. “I 

suggested creating 

small herbal 

table arrangements, 

using 

r o s e - 

Demetrios now has two-in-one wedding gowns that allow the 

bride to remove her organza skirt to go mini. 

over the top, something cool 

with an edge.” 

The Lalaounis jewelry (Ster- 

mary woven around a container 

(another herb of fidelity and remembrance) 

and a mixture of 

herbs such as fresh lavender (Lavandula 

spp), oregano (Origanum 

spp), and chaste tree (Ligaria, 

Vitex agnus-castus) 

arranged in a posy, along with 

delicate seasonal color from the 

beautiful blue flowers of chicory 

(Chicorum intybus), and wheat 

ears.” Flowering in mid-late 

summer, notes Gay, the chaste 

tree is said to symbolize purity. 

She adds: “Hera, Goddess of 

Marriage is said to have been 

born under a chaste tree.” 

Gay points out that the extravagant 

royal wedding in the 

U.K. last year was an example 

of going local for bridal flora. 

She says: “I love the trend which 

Catherine Middleton either began 

(or is part of) towards a 

more environmentally-friendly 

style. Her bridal bouquet was 

small and subtle and almost 

looked like it could have been 

picked in the garden.” Gay adds: 

“She only used flowers in season, 

and all of them had a significant 

meaning in the 'language 

of flowers' - lily of the 

valley represents 'trust,' while 

myrtle (she used it!) represents 

'love and hope.’” The trees too 

placed within Westminster 

Abbey, says Gay, “lent a springlike 

feel to the proceedings.” The 

trees were also symbolic. She explains: 

“hornbeam means 'resilience' 

while maple means 'humility 

and reserve.’” The 

landscape artist adds that it wasn’t 

just good ecology that the 

trees were replanted on a royal 

estate, but also symbolic of 

growth in marriage. 

Jennifer Gay, Landscape Architect, 

gardener and garden 

columnist for Athens News can 

be reached via email at medlandscapes@gmail.com. 

She 

and partner Piers Goldson are 

based in Greece, where they design 

and create gardens with a 

strong ecological basis. A recent 

example of their work is Corfu’s 

Rou Estate. 

445 PARK AVENUE 

9TH FLOOR 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022 

800 468 3562 

INTERNATIONALSOUNDS.COM 

ling silver covered in gold) includes 

big cuffs and dangling 

earrings sculpted not for a 

blushing wallflower but for a 

bold, diva of a bride. 

www.sophiakokosalaki.com, 

www.net-a-porter.com 

MORE HELLENIC DESIGNS 

Another exciting contemporary 

line with Hellenic origins 

is Christos. The 2012 collection 

is by designer Amsale Aberra, 

who took over from Cypriot 

founder Christos Yiannakou 

when he retired in 2005. Silk 

organza and micro-sequins are 

the textures of the highly romantic, 

long-gown looks. 

http://christosbridal.com 

For men, John Varvatos may 

have established himself as the 

source of cool, fashionable 

clothing for the likes of band 

Green Day, but he also has 

clothes that could suit a groom. 

The options include dark and 

light layered suits and tuxes that 

can be worn casual/Bohemian 

(ala Johnny Depp) or more formally. 

The groom can sport his 

Italian-made leather shoes or 

Converse high tops alike. 

www.johnvarvatos.com 

U.K.-based fashion 

expert/journalist Natasha Giannousi-Varney, 

who previously 

was editor of Greece’s White 

Wedding magazine, also points 

to the following Greek designers 

for the fashion-conscious bride: 

Chara Lebessi, Christos Costarellos 

(www.costarellos.gr), Konstaninos 

Tsigaros (www.konstantinostsigaros.com), 

Erifilli 

Nikolopoulou, Konstantinos 

Melis by Laskos (www.konstantinosmelis.com) 

and Anem 

(www.anemcollections.gr). 

A still from one of Lee Bakogiannakis’ wedding videos, where 

details, texture, color and music set the tone. 

Shaking Up the 

Wedding Film Genre 

On wedding videographer 

Lee Bakogiannakis’ site 

www.2dgstyle.com, the trailers 

of happy couples’ wedding 

videos look like commercials for 

a delicious product called love. 

From Stefanos & Margie’s wedding 

in Athens, that rocks to 

song “Living on a Prayer,” to Filipino 

couple Rod & Leilani’s 

Venice marriage full of Italian 

romance, the bride and groom 

are featured in stories with clear 

narratives and texture. 

Athens-based Bakogiannakis 

– whose company is called 2dg 

Style - has shot destination weddings 

in every corner of Greece. 

He says he used to know every 

priest in his native Thessaloniki, 

but is now going global, shooting 

in the U.S too. The Wedpro 

Alliance member is also a master 

editor with a deft, hip touch. 

With roots including Egypt 

and Australia, multicultural 

Greek weddings are his specialty. 

Before each wedding, he gets 

to know his clients. “Depending 

on what kind of feeling I get, I 

start working.” He describes his 

shooting style as “run and gun.” 

He travels light, with the latest 

digital (DSLR) cameras allowing 

him to avoid the distracting 

lights of most Greek night weddings. 

At seven feet, he can go 

from “very high to very low, in 

seconds.” At the same time, he 

is discrete. “I don’t ever talk at 

weddings,” he says. 

He tries to avoid narration 

and any monotony, instead capturing 

a slice of life, using details 

that “will trigger memories 

in a decade.” His rule is “to go 

with the flow of things,” even 

including the inevitable bridal 

panic. Each wedding has a different 

mood to capture. 

He covers about 20 weddings 

a year, admitting he’s “one of 

the most expensive in Greece.” 

On destination weddings, he often 

shoots for several days - and 

loves screening the final cut 

with clients on their couch. 

While weddings are the (unmarried) 

filmmaker’s 24/7 main 

gig, he calls his work on baptism 

videos “my personal playground.” 

He’s also made the 

award-winning 48 Hour Film 

Project short in 2010 and, most 

recently, a wonderful promotional 

spot for the Theotokos Rehabilitation 

Center for Children 

and Young Adults with Intellectual 

Disabilities in the U.K.. 

One story at a time, he captures 

life’s magic, (2dg) style. 

MUSIC 

LIGHTING 

DECOR 

VISUALS


13 


When sisters Stella and 

Moscha Chanioti launched their 

wedding planning company 

Stella and Moscha, which specializes 

in Greek island weddings, 

it was a return to their 

roots. They were following, after 

all, in the footsteps of their 

mother Evangelia Mendrinou, 

founder of Weddings in Santorini, 

one of the first wedding 

planning and design companies 

in Greece. Their grandfather 

Palamas Mendrinos was one of 

the island’s first hoteliers and 

the family remains in the hotel 

business, owning the historic 

Theoxania hotel and Aressana 

Spa Hotel & Suites. 

Yet returning to Greece and 

to the wedding biz for the sisters 

took some years. Stella’s background 

was in business event organizing 

(with IQPC in London) 

and then, more recently in a 

management position with 

Chios mastic gum distributors 

Mastiha Shop. Younger sister 

Moscha also took the business 

route in her studies in the UK, 

but worked in advertising. Yet 

both sisters felt something missing…Santorini. 

They followed 

their heart when they launched 

their company in 2007, entering 

the family business and helping 

others realize their dream weddings. 

The boutique wedding planners 

specialize, as the sisters 

note in an email communication 

with TNH, in “the Greek Island 

wedding of your dreams,” one 

that is perfect when it comes to 

décor, choreography and hospitality 

while expressing a couple’s 

unique character, style and destination. 

The inimitable Greek islands 

are an easy sell for couples 

around the world. About 90% of 

Stella & Moscha’s clients are 

from abroad, from countries like 

the US, Japan, Germany, Qatar, 

and Australia. The planners add: 

“Around 30% are second/third 

generation Greeks who wish to 

honor their inheritance and celebrate 

this very important day in 

their lives in Greece.” 

AN ISLAND FOR EVERYONE 

As for their island of Santorini, 

the sisters point to “magical 

sunsets, azure waters and 

spectacular views.” Wedding 

venues there include whitewashed 

churches overlooking 

the Caldera, beaches and luxury 

hotels alike. They note that 

there are many sides of the island. 

“There are ‘many’ Santorini 

Weddings: a couple can 

either celebrate on a whitewashed 

chapel literally hanging 

of the cliff with a spectacular 

view of the Caldera. For beach 

lovers, why not organize a 

unique beach wedding on a 

black sandy beach with a reception 

dinner to follow full of 

lanterns and candles creating a 

truly memorable event? And 

how about a Castle wedding? 

Get married in one of the eldest 

churches on the island within 

the Venetian castle of Pyrgos 

and continue the celebration in 

a nearby Relais & Chateaux hotel; 

guests will walk through the 

castle alleyways to get to the reception 

venue lit with torches 

creating a true medieval environment.” 

© WR 

Yet Stella & Moscha also specialize 

in marriage events with 

5-star hotel service on other 

Greek islands too. There is certainly 

an island for every style of 

wedding. They point to Paros, 

Mykonos or Rhodes for a “cosmopolitan 

fete,” Sifnos, Folegandros 

and Ios for those seeking 

tradition, Koufonisia, Amorgos 

and Chalki for off-the-beaten 

track events and The Venetian 

Castle in Naxos for the Romeo 

and Juliet-style romantic. 

Regardless of location, as the 

sisters explain, a planner’s job is 

the same: “Ultimately, a wedding 

planner’s role is to ensure a couple’s 

wedding day is as imagined 

while minimizing stress throughout 

the process.” They make a 

point of introducing ideas the 

couple may not have initially 

considered and helping them 

each step of the way, whether in 

selecting bridal gowns, bridesmaid 

dresses or finding venues 

and vendors. The sisters add: 

“We are also responsible for the 

not-so-fun aspects, such as managing 

the budget, planning the 

timelines and wrangling with 

vendors. On the wedding day, 

we make sure that we keeps 

everyone (wedding party, guests, 

and vendors) on schedule, orchestrate 

all the details and man- 

Artopolis, a bakery with the sweet flavors 

of Greece, where each mouthful 

is an adventure in taste, quality and 

freshness designed to please every 

customer. 

For Showers, Weddings, Engagement Parties, 

Sweet Sixteens, Anniversaries and other events. 

All baking done on premises. 

Let us Be Part of Your Special Day! 

Helping Island Wedding Dreams Come True 

age myriad other tasks.” 

The difference with the competition, 

pledge the sisters, after 

two decades in the family business, 

is in a personal approach. 

They write: “You’ll find warmth, 

passion and pride in all we do, 

down to the smallest of details. 

We treasure every surprise entrance, 

blue-domed church “I 

do,” Caldera side reception, father 

of the bride speech and getaway 

under the stars.” They take 

the historic significance of each 

special day seriously. Their 

mother remains very much a part 

of the business. 

GREEK STYLE IS “IN” 

In recent weddings, they’ve 

noted “a huge trend for ‘All 

things Grecian,’” whether in 

bridal gown fashions, jewelry or 

venue décor. The wedding planners 

note: “Couples love the idea 

of introducing these into their 

wedding concept; they love the 

simplicity and elegance of a Grecian 

look. Grecian dresses and 

shoes as well as jewelry have 

dominated big fashion houses 

such as Versace, Dolce & Cabana 

and Diane Von Furstenberg.” 

Today’s couples are increasingly 

ecologically-conscious too. 

They skip printing and mailing 

invitations, preferring customized 

e-invitations instead. 

AGORA PLAZA 

23-18 31 ST STREET • ASTORIA, NY 11105 

Tel.: 718-728-8484 • Fax: 718-728-0066 

www.artopolis.net • e-mail:customerservice@artopolis.net 

FREE PARKING AVAILABLE 

WE EXCLUSIVELY IMPORT THE AWARDED 

KOYFETA HATZIGIANNAKI 

THE BEST FROM GREECE 

In many flavors: choco, almond, champagne, 

strawberry, coconut, lemon, orange. 

The best choise for your WEDDING 

and all other occasions. 

Artopolis has been awarded with 

the Excellent & Extraordinary 

Zagat Award continuously 

from 2004 to the present. 

Brides opt for silk or paper flowers 

in lieu of real ones and often 

go local when it comes to selecting 

menu ingredients. 

While the global and Greek 

crisis has affected the Greek 

tourism sectors and clients from 

abroad alike, word-of-mouth is 

spreading fast on the sister’s 

weddings. They write: “Through 

careful consideration of our 

product offering in relation to 

WeDDinG DeSiGn: STellaanDmOSCHa.COm, PHOTOGRaPHy by: GeORGe lizaRDOS 

our pricing, couples trust us with 

their weddings and we are proud 

to say that we have friends of 

past couples being referred to us 

over and over again.” 

The buzz has been helped 

along with references to their 

work in the Style Me Pretty and 

Merci New York internet blogs. 

Apart from this PR reward for 

years of hard work, feedback 

from brides around the world is 

“ Voted #1 Banquet Facility of Central Jersey 

by The Home News Tribune, 

Readers Choice 2004-2011 ” 

Now we’re better 

than ever. Meet 

our Catering Manager 

Vicki Antonakakis 

a major job perk: “There is nothing 

better and more rewarding 

than receiving an email from our 

brides when they get back home 

saying how much they miss our 

emails. They consider us part of 

their family and invite us into 

their homes; this is what keeps 

us going!” 

Stella & Moscha’s website: 

www.stellaandmoscha.com



C O N T A C T S T E L L A H A R A L A M B O P O U L O S 

5 1 6 . 8 7 7 . 9 3 0 4 ~ S H A R A L @ G C H O T E L . C O M

greek-american weddings - The National Herald

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