Dina & Mike's wedding was nothing short of an elegant winter wonderland shared with an entourage of their nearest & dearest and accented with touches of glamour plus lots of Greek tradition. With an eye for timeless detail and a knack for candid moments filled with boundless joy and love, their day was nothing short of magical.

Infusing each detail with thoughtfulness, personalization and touches of romance guided the way. Monogrammed wax seals and burgundy velvet ribbon hand tied by the bride adorned the invitation suite. Dina prepared for the day at her parent's home, filled with more family members than I could keep track of and a burgeoning collection of her mother's crocheted doilies. While Mike sported an oversized black velvet bow tie, Dina was decked with a fur shawl on loan from a family furrier, a modern twist on a geometrical art deco wedding band adorned with a single sapphire, a bouquet accented with gold gilded hypericum, and mink eyelashes that captured falling snowflakes.

Going one step further, they infused their celebration with family heritage by way of Greek Orthodox tradition. The first glimpse was the Koufeta - sugar covered Jordan almonds - scattered throughout getting ready, the ceremony & guest favors. The ceremony, hosted at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, boasted boundless intricate detailing and sacred ritual. In addition to the liturgy itself being almost entirely in Greek, all of the customs were present: a Koumbara to officially sponsor their union, a blessing of the rings during The Betrothal, a joining of their right hands, the ceremonial climax of The Crowning, a sharing of The Common Cup, and first steps as husband & wife during The Ceremonial Walk. Carrying over into the party portion of the evening, live entertainment was hosted by a traditional Greek band - spurring on time-honored circle dancing... money throwing and all!

And as if that wasn't enough to set my heart racing, it was, as always, the unexpected moments that really stole the show: Dina's mother's tear filled eyes upon reading a hand written note from her soon-to-be-married daughter. The bride texting with the groom pre-ceremony and anxiously peering out the window as the winter storm continued to pick up force. Dina stepping out of a vintage Rolls-Royce into a thick bank of snow as flurries quickly evolved into gales while Mike ascended the aisle high-fiving guests along the way. The mother of the groom beamed as she watched her son waiting for his bride, later followed by a grand ceremonial exit dotted with more snowflakes that flower petals & rice. Tears and throw-your-head-back laughter were everywhere - between Dina & Mike themselves, with their wedding party, and among their 200+ closest family and friends from around the globe. The couple's joy & love was undeniable. Their faces completely lit up when they were together and spontaneous dipped kisses made cameos throughout the day.

When Dina & Mike set out to create a place where family and friends could come in from the cold to celebrate with them, they could've never imagined just how truly that would play out... Big Fat (Snowy) Greek Wedding style!