NAME

Alina Pappas

WEDDING DATE

September 29, 2023

NUMBER OF GUESTS

110

LOCATION

Hotel Cipriani, Venice, Italy

YOUR LOVE STORY...

Serge and I met at a college party nearly a decade ago. A tall, handsome born and raised New Yorker locked eyes with me and the rest was history. Fast forward a couple of months we transitioned from dating to a couple, but he was older and graduation brought heartache as he moved back to New York, casting uncertainty over our future. Two years of long distance followed, with short summer breaks filled with carefree unforgettable moments in the city during my internships.

Our bond strengthened over the next 9 years after I moved back to the city, weathering the challenges of career, city life, and life's rollercoaster of highs and lows. He finally proposed in a picturesque garden at the River Caf in Brooklyn and our wedding not only marked forever, but a decade with the love my life, best friend and life partner.

FINDING YOUR DRESS...

When I visited the Bond Street Kyha location with my mom and future mother in-law we fell in love with the KYHA brand. The Davis was the perfect timeless modern dress for our romantic garden ceremony and the first dress I tried on that had both my mom and mother in-law in tears when I came out. The luxe material and off the shoulder arms made me feel like a modern-day Cinderella. I didnt know you could have two dream dresses until I tried on the Nile. This dress was an absolute showstopper and I new this was the dress I wanted to make our entrance to dinner and have our first dance in. The dress sparkled from head to toe under the gorgeous Murano glass chandeliers and mirror dance floor.

THE INSPIRATION AND AESTHETIC FOR THE DAY...

Old world timeless luxury the Venetian way with a modern twist of romance by day and ultimate glamour at night. Hotel Cipriani really checked off that box with its old-world venetian style and it is one of the rare venues that evokes a very different experience throughout each chapter of the day. The ceremony backdrop was in a romantic garden with an Italian vineyard, cocktail hour was by the water with sunset views of Venice's iconic St. Mark's Square and dinner reception was the ultimate glamourous night in the Longhi ballroom with exposed brick and stunning Murano chandeliers. We didn't want to take away from the Murano chandeliers so we decided to line the tables with high low candles, cover the floor in white and add a mirror dance floor to achieve that glamorous look.

THE NON-NEGOTIABLES...

Luxury boats to and from the event to give our guests a Venice Film Festival experience. This was probably the most challenging aspect of our wedding to plan, but all of our guests said it was an unforgettable way to attend a wedding. The other non-negotiable was incredible live music. We hired Alessandro de Angelis and they really took our wedding to the next level.

A HIGHLIGHT FROM THE DAY...

Unfortunately, we had lost my dad to COVID two years ago and he wasn't able to be there. I wanted to honour him and my parent's marriage in a celebratory way by re-creating a modern version of their wedding cake. Serge and I arrived by boat to our cocktail hour and cut our cake upon arrival with all of our friends and family around. It was such a special moment that I will hold in my heart forever.

HONEYMOONING...

I knew we were going to be too busy the week before our wedding to enjoy Venice so we stayed a few days after to soak everything in before heading to Greece. We started in Santorini, moved on to Crete and then ended in the Athens Riviera before heading back to New York. It felt amazing to relax and enjoy all that Greece had to offer with my husband after the high of an incredible wedding weekend.

A WORD OF ADVICE...

Don't be afraid to challenge traditional wedding norms and make decisions based on what is most authentic to you as a couple. This is your chance to curate your ideal day and evening. Everyone's version of their ideal day looks different and that is the beauty of weddings so try not to focus on the opinion of others.

THE DETAILS

Ceremony: Davis Gown

Dinner Reception: Nile Gown

Shoes: Jimmy Choo Anise 95 @jimmychoo

Jewellery: Chosen by Kyha Thelma Crystal Earring

Hair & Makeup: Jonida Gjinaj @jonidaginaj

Wedding Planner: My Venice Events @masha_myvenice @myveniceevents.it

Location: Venice, Italy

Venue: Hotel Cipriani, Venice Belmond @belmondhotelcipriani

Florist: Mopis @mopis_decor @mopis_wedding

Photographer: Anisa Alsabri @anisa.alsabri

Videographer: Family Tree @Familytree.film

Celebrant: Grooms brother Bob Fohngho

Stationary: Emily Baird Design @emilybairddesign

Other special mentions: Band Alessandro De Angelis @alessandrodeangelis; Lighting and Sound Ravaservice @ravaservice