When you see Eleftheria and Daniel’s elegant, romantic winter wedding, you’ll never guess what their week before had been like. Eleftheria and Daniel had more than their fair share of challenges to overcome in getting to their wedding celebration, but thanks to their loved ones and some very talented professionals, the day was the funky, fun soiree they had dreamed of. They treasured every single moment, knowing that each person there, and life itself, is precious.
The Goals: Eleftheria and Daniel had two top priorities in planning their wedding day – they wanted to start their new life together in the Greek Orthodox church she was raised in, and then they wanted a fantastic party to celebrate! It was important to them that their guests have an evening of fun revelry, so they made sure the music kept everyone moving and that there was plenty of food and drink to keep the energy level up throughout the celebration. The couple had the extra challenge of losing their caterer three days before the wedding, but are eternally gratefully that Crystal Bay Caterers stepped in, took over the job, and just blew everyone away with the amazing meal they produced in three days!
The Design: The couple describes their day as soft, elegant, and funky! They chose a white, lavender and gray color palette for a romantic look that was also modern and clean. They incorporated the soft purple shade on the ties for all of the men, the candy bar, and even had guests throw actual lavender flowers as they exited the stunning Greek Orthodox church. The beautiful antique car they took to the reception was the result of a happy accident and a little gumption…Eleftheria saw someone driving it down the road one day and actually stopped him to ask if he’d chauffeur their wedding. I love a bride that knows what she wants and makes it happen!
The Look: Eleftheria loved everything about her breathtaking Vera Wang gown and it’s layers and layers of silk. She accented it with a pair of blue Badgley Mishka shoes that were the color of the Florida sea. It was the perfect combination to create the simple and elegant look she was going for. She also wore “something old” – a pair of earrings her parents gave her when she graduated college – and “something borrowed” – a Greek keepsake called a filakto. It belonged to her maid-of-honor, who had also worn it on her own wedding day. Eleftheria kept the look understated for her bridal party with pale lavender dresses; but then added a splash of funky style with layers of draped pearl necklaces for her girls.
The Moments: For Eleftheria and Daniel, their wedding day was bittersweet. They lost three loved ones the week of the wedding which was devastating, and also meant many other dear family and friends were not able to attend their special day. It was a reminder of how precious life is, and made their first look, first dance, and Eleftheria’s dance with her father all the more memorable. They said that it was so important that they just be present, step away to take it all in and soak up every moment. Eleftheria said “At the end of the day, we knew our loved ones that we lost were shining down on us! That made us smile!”
The Pros: Check out Eleftheria and Daniel’s page in our Real Weddings Library for more about the talented team that helped to create the couple’s elegant wedding day.
What a gorgeous day, Eleftheria and Daniel! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
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