GreeK aMerICaN Weddings - The National Herald · smoothly as possible on that special day. The...

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W e d d i n g sfebruary 11, 2017

Greek American Weddings2 THE NATIONAL HERALD, FEBRUARY 11, 2017

The National HeraldA 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 Eleni SakellisProduction Manager Chrysoula Karametros

37-10 30th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101-2614Tel: (718)784-5255 • Fax: (718)472-0510 e-mail: [email protected]

Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, Athens, 10671, Greece Tel: 011.30.210.3614.598 • Fax: 011.30.210.3643.776

e-mail: [email protected]

As engagement season begins, The National Herald offers

some ideas and inspiration with our Weddings issue. As more

and more couples look to make their special day even more

special and personalized, a few simple touches can create a

fantastic impression that will live in the heart and memory for a

lifetime. Family and friends joining the happy couple in

celebrating the union between two loving people is a tradition

going back through the millennia.

Our Greek heritage and customs add so much to the celebration

and witnessing a traditional wedding in Greece is impressive to

say the least with some weddings lasting three days or more. In

view of uncertain financial times, couples may choose to scale

down their weddings, but that doesn’t mean there should be any

less attention to detail. That love still conquers all is a blessing

and should be cherished and celebrated as much as possible. As

the couple embarks on a life together, it is important to remember

that the wedding is just the start. There will be challenges ahead,

as in any relationship, but with faith and hard work, any obstacle

can be overcome. The wedding day itself may be fraught with

stress and unforeseen issues, and we often forget that our own

attitude can make a world of difference. Take a deep breath and

keep a positive outlook on the situation and on life. Make sure to

dance as much as possible and have fun. It’s your wedding and it

is a party after all.

The modern wedding as we know it evolved over time to include

many traditions that are not perhaps as old as we think. The

white wedding gown is one of those. Many will tell you that the

white dress is symbolic of the bride’s purity, but white in other

cultures is the color of mourning and red is worn for good luck.

The ancient Greeks with their white robes are often associated

with white for weddings since the color symbolized youth, joy,

and purity. In Biblical times, blue was the color of purity and was

worn by both the bride and groom as a blue band around their

wedding outfits. The 19th century rhyme, “something old,

something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a

sixpence for her shoe” for bridal attire remains popular today,

though many probably leave out the sixpence unless they happen

to be in Britain. Something old symbolizes the link to the past

Greek-American WeddingsBy Eleni Sakellis

Contents:

Page 10

Pages 4-5

Page 11

Pages 6-7

Greek-AmericanWeddings

The Top 8Wedding Day

Tips fromNewlyweds

Planning a FabulousDestination

Wedding in Greece

Page 12

Page 13

Confessionsof aBridesmaid

Today’sWeddingCakes

A FewWords aboutInterfaithMarriages

WeddingJewelryTrends for2017

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Greek American WeddingsTHE NATIONAL HERALD, FEBRUARY 11, 2017 3

and family; something new for good luck and success; something borrowed for

a reminder that family and friends will always be there to help; blue for loyalty,

and the sixpence for wealth.

Queen Victoria who married Prince Albert on February 10, 1840, is often

credited with the white wedding gown trend, though she wasn’t the first royal

to wear white. At the time, only the very rich could afford to wear white and

especially a dress that would only be worn one day since it would inevitably get

dirty and was too expensive, and likely impossible, to clean. Most brides in

previous centuries wore their best dress, whatever color it was. Victoria’s white

wedding gown settled into the consciousness of western culture in a way few

other clothing styles have. The problem with white, besides how tough it is to

keep clean, is that it doesn’t really flatter every complexion. More and more

options are available in off-white shades and subtle hues to make sure the bride

looks her best on her special day.

As engagement season begins, The National Herald offers some ideas and inspi-ration with our Weddings issue. As more and more couples look to make theirspecial day even more special and personalized, a few simple touches can createa fantastic impression that will live in the heart and memory for a lifetime.Family and friends joining the happy couple in celebrating the union betweentwo loving people is a tradition going back through the millennia.

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The Top 8 Wedding DayThe day of the wedding should be a joyful celebration of the happy couple, their family, and friends. In a perfect world, everything wouldrun smoothly that day. In the real world, things are hectic and unpredictable, but there are a few things that can help ensure things go assmoothly as possible on that special day. The National Herald asked newlyweds for their wedding day tips in an unscientific poll. Acompilation of the results of our findings is included below as TNH’s top 8 wedding day tips.

EAT SOMETHINGMany brides, grooms, and members of the bridal party

attest to this fact, the day of the wedding is hectic and

you may not even feel like eating, but you need to eat! If

you’re worried about fitting into your formalwear, it’s too late

anyway and you need energy to get through the day. There is

nothing worse than standing through hours and hours of a

Greek wedding on an empty stomach. You also need

something to soak up all the alcohol you will consume pretty

much throughout the day. Take advantage of the snacks

available at the house when you’re getting ready before the

ceremony and the bridal suite service at the hall when you get

there. The wait staff is usually more than happy to serve you

before the big entrance into the reception. Make sure to make

time to eat some dinner in between all the usual wedding

reception traditions. It may not be possible to clean your plate,

but some protein and carbs will help you dance the night away

and not faint away from hunger.

THE EMERGENCY KITPacking a wedding day emergency kit could help avert

many big day disasters. Backup hair accessories, bobby

pins, hairspray, makeup, face powder, lip gloss, lipstick,

deodorant/antiperspirant, safety pins and hemming tape for

quick repairs, traction pads for heels, panty hose, an umbrella,

shawl, stain remover, and tissues, could all be included in your

emergency kit. A list of your music choices could also be added

to the kit. It also helps if the bridesmaids are familiar with the

bride’s wedding gown construction. Knowing what type of

bustle she’s working with can save time, especially if the

groom accidentally steps on the dress and some tearing occurs.

One bridesmaid was able to salvage the bride’s French bustle

with the skillful use of safety pins.

BE PREPAREDMake sure to get the limo driver’s cell phone number on

the day of the event. An office number won’t be much

help when you need to contact the driver directly. When it

comes to vintage luxury cars, be prepared for a breakdown, or

two, or three, on the day of your wedding. No matter how

great those “vintage” cars look, they are still old cars, so

always make sure there is a back-up plan for transportation.

You should also review your rental agreement carefully since

you may want your money back if a car issue ruins your day.

Or they send you a replacement limousine that also breaks

down. If a third limousine arrives and also breaks down, you

might want to rethink the whole wedding, God could be

sending you a sign. Also, make sure your bridal party has a

way to get home. Stranding your attendants at the end of the

reception is not cool.

COPY EDITINGYes, that is write… right, I mean. Copy editing may seem

out of place on a list of wedding tips, but it can save time

and headaches later on. Several days in advance, check your

printed materials including place cards, table numbers,

menus, and programs for typos and the little errors that can

be annoying or completely confusing on your wedding day.

The correct spelling of Greek names should be of special

concern since you want your guests to be able to find their

place cards and be seated at the correct tables.

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Tips from Newlyweds

HAVE FUNWITHIN REASONSome couples told TNH that their wedding was a blur and it

can be difficult in the moment to step back and actuallyenjoy the celebration. A simple pause for a deep breath and alook around at all the smiling faces of your loved ones shouldremind you that this special day is just one day, a newbeginning, so appreciate it and have some fun. Dance thedances and enjoy your cake. You may be tempted to drinkexcessively at your wedding reception, but don’t. Drunk peoplerarely look good in photographs or videos and those remindersof your behavior that day will be with you for the foreseeablefuture. Party within reason and you’ll actually be able toremember your wedding and how much fun it was.

THE MUSICCouples might be tempted to submit a list of their favorite

music to the band and/or DJ because it is their day and

they should celebrate their wedding with the music they love,

right? Within reason is the correct answer. There are all ages at

your wedding and probably all music tastes, so try to

accommodate some classics to go along with your favorite death

metal. Traditional Greek weddings have certain songs that are

expected to be played and danced to, depending, of course, on

the region of Greece. Do you really want to disappoint Yiayia

and Pappou, your aunts, uncles, and cousins? Let them dance

the traditional dances and be proud of the culture and heritage

that made you who you are. It is after all good luck for everyone

to dance at your wedding. Consult with your family about

which traditional songs should be on the list if you’re unsure

about what to include on the list for the band/DJ. It will also

help other members of the extended family feel included in the

planning of the big day.

Selecting an experienced and highly recommendedphotographer/videographer can make this aspect of the

wedding a lot easier. An organized professional will know whatshots to take, but don’t leave the decisions all up to thephotographer. If you have a certain shot in mind and you wantcertain groups of family and friends to be photographed, makesure you let the photographer know. Creating a schedule for yourphotographs will save a lot of time on the day of the wedding.Make sure you discuss with your photographer about exactlywhom you would like photographed and make sure the familymembers and friends are on time for the scheduled shoot.Designating a friend or family member as the person who willround everyone up can also be helpful since they probably knowall the people that should be included in the photograph, and thatgoes for both sides of the family. Remember, that this might be theonly chance to photograph the whole family all together, until thenext big event. Especially if your relatives live overseas, as manyGreeks do, you might never have the opportunity to gathertogether again and share a few special moments and memorieswith your loved ones. Make sure to order copies of the big familyphoto for your loved ones. They will be touched by yourthoughtfulness, as one newlywed couple noted. They hadintended to send out the family photo with their handwrittenthank you notes, but the photos were delayed and it ended upbeing a much-treasured Christmas gift. Letting your family knowin advance if you’re sending a photographer to their house is alsoa good idea; in advance means a few weeks or days, not twohours before a stranger shows up at the door with a camera.Unless the photographer is a family member, no one likes asurprise photo shoot in their house no matter how neat and tidythey are. There are always things that need to be put away and

tidied up before a house and its residents are photo-shoot-ready.As for the video of the event, make sure the team is recording avariety of people and not just propping up the tripod by the dancefloor and leaving the room. You might end up with the same threepeople dancing through your entire wedding DVD as if no oneelse attended your wedding, one bride complained, noting thatshe didn’t even want video of her wedding and only agreed to itto make her mom happy. Taking a look at examples of the videoteam’s work is always a good idea since recording the events ofthe day is only part of the process. Editing should never beoverlooked since it can make the difference between a watchablevideo and one you have to fast forward through. Tell the videoteam that you don’t want random songs playing on the videosoundtrack and give them a list of your wedding songs to use forthe edit. One couple received a video that was basically a photo

slideshow to terrible music they hated. The groom noted that hecould have done better with his iPhone. Technology is prettyadvanced these days and even cell phone videos can look prettyprofessional in the right hands, but don’t take choosing thewedding videographer for granted. Remember, you’ll be forcingyour relatives to watch it with you eventually, and you don’t wantto hear the complaints for years afterward.

Check with vendors, confirm arrangements, make sure theflorist, makeup artist, hairdresser,

photographer/videographer, limo drivers, and other professionalshave the directions to wherever they need to be for your weddingday, and everyone has the correct contact numbers. Make a list ofthe vendors that need final payments and set aside envelopes fortips to the appropriate people with their names on them andinclude the correct amount of the tip, and seal the envelopes. Youmight want to bring along extra cash in case other tips are

appropriate during the day. As one New Jersey newlywed noted,“Sometimes, someone goes above and beyond the expectationsand is just so helpful you have to tip the person.” When your vendors collect their final payments, make sure theysign a note that it was received, in case they can’t give you anofficial receipt on the spot. Also, let the vendors know what time the wedding ends since theymight have to charge overtime fees if they stay later than theagreed amount of time.

PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER

MONEY MATTERS

By Eleni Sakellis

With wonderful packages available inexotic locations, destination wed-

dings are increasing in popularity. Wed-dings in Greece are especially sought af-ter with the perfect weather and naturalbeauty of the country just two of the rea-sons Greek-Americans book the big dayin the ancestral homeland. Getting intouch with their roots and the exception-al service provided by many venues arealso reasons why couples choose Greece.At first glance, it may seem complicated,but with a little forethought and the won-derful wedding planners and teams avail-able, your destination wedding in Greecewill be an unforgettable experience foryou and all your guests. Among the loca-tions to consider are Grand Resort Lago-nissi near Athens, Elounda Beach Hotel inCrete, and Melenos Luxury Hotel in Lin-dos, Rhodes.Situated on the beautiful seafront knownas the Athenian Riviera overlooking theSaronic Gulf, by the south suburbs ofAthens, the 5-star Grand Resort Lagonissienchants its guests with a spectacular set-ting, romantic ambiance, and majesticsea view. Special wedding packages areavailable, inviting couples to say I do atone of the most spectacular weddingvenues in Athens, while enjoying the 5-star luxury. The setting offers a wonder-ful backdrop for weddings and receptionsfor up to 1200 guests. Exclusive weddingpackages offer the help of experts whowill plan the wedding down to the lastdetail. The resort’s wedding planner cantailor any wedding in Athens to the cou-ple’s needs and help make their dreamscome true. The resort invites couples tolet the professionals work their magic.The services include the personal wed-ding planner, renowned chefs available tosuggest creative menu options, pastrychefs for fabulous wedding cakes anddesserts, private party planning arrange-ment in the comfort of a hotel suite or bythe beachfront, professional designers foryour flower arrangements- on table andfor the venue decoration, DJs and techni-cal support for state-of-the-art sound andlighting, specialized services such as pho-tography, special effects, and limousinerentals, the exceptional HoneymoonSuite, special bridal treatments and beau-

ty facilities, and romantic dinners by theprivate pool prepared by a personal chef.The resort’s exclusive wedding and hon-eymoon packages offer romantic and ele-gant luxury sea view suites, a beachfrontbungalow, or a private villa right at thewaterfront for newlyweds to enjoy. Moreinformation is available online at lagonis-siresort.grElounda Beach Hotel in Crete is a beauti-ful location for your destination wedding.As noted on the hotel’s website: “Themost special and happiest day of your lifedeserves all of our dedicated assistanceand first-rate experience. In a variety ofchoice settings, surrounded by the splen-dor of beautiful skylines, sea views, andendless gardens, we will design yourwedding in a charming way that suitsyour every whim and dream.We will be happy to organize the ceremo-ny under your guidance and fulfill thewedding of your dreams.” The hotel of-fers a choice of venues for large or smallweddings with sea views to lush gardensavailable. Among the services on offer area private picturesque chapel for the cere-mony, buffet settings made to order, pri-vate parties in the suites or by the beach,a variety of entertainment options, pro-fessional photographer and floral ser-vices, exclusive Mediterranean Suite forhoneymooning couples, special bridaltreatments and hairdresser facilities, andlimo transportation for the guests. Addi-tional services include traditional CretanLyre music during the ceremony, a specialchildren’s menu, a clown or magician forthe children’s entertainment, and a fire-works display at the reception.More information on the wedding pack-age and the services offered is availableat eloundabeach.grThe National Herald asked: What doGreek-American couples look for themost when they book their wedding withyour hotel as opposed to what Greek cou-ples look for? Are there any major differ-ences, either in scale or preferences?How many guests attend an averageGreek-American wedding at your venue?Helios Hotels & Resorts replied, “Whenbooking a wedding at Helios Hotels & Re-sorts’ two leading hotels Elounda BeachHotel & Villas and Grand Resort Lagonis-si, the Greek-American couples’ mainconsideration is hosting the wedding and

guest accommodation in the same loca-tion.As it is a destination wedding, guest con-venience is the key. When booking theirwedding at our hotels, Greek-Americancouples reserve the chapel, the receptionvenue, and accommodation for theirguests all in the same location.The picturesque white chapels located onthe cliff-side offer majestic views or in alush green garden in the center of the re-sort. Ceremonies taking place during thegolden sunset present the perfect back-drop for exchanging eternal vows. Greek-American couples can choose from anumber of wedding venues in both re-sorts which evoke a sense of grandeurand refined elegance.Friends and relatives able to attend andtraveling from the States will be payingfor airline tickets and accommodations,so Greek-American couples try to mini-mize any additional expenses. Grand Re-sort Lagonissi is located only a short dri-ve from the International airport and 45minutes from the center of Athens. At thesame time, Elounda Beach Hotel & Villasis only 1 hour drive from Heraklion Air-port on the island of Crete and is locatedin the picturesque village of Elounda.Guests combine attending the wedding ofa loved one with enjoying their holiday inluxury sea front summer resorts. BothGrand Resort Lagonissi and EloundaBeach offer plenty of restaurants andbars, the revitalizing spa facilities byChenot Company, sports activities, andentertainment choices. Our concierge ser-vice can organize special travel arrange-ments, shopping assistance, VIP transferservices, all tailored to cater to every in-dividual desire.The average Greek American weddinghosted at our resorts ranges from approx-imately 100-150 guests.”TNH asked: What should Greek-Americancouples be aware of when they decide toplan a wedding in Greece? Do they needspecial paperwork or permission?“Planning a destination wedding inGreece can be a little challenging asGreek American couples will be planningit from abroad. The experienced salesteam of Grand Resort Lagonissi andElounda Beach Hotel & Villas will be withthem every step of the way. They willprovide them with all necessary paper-

work requirements, introduce them toprofessional vendors, assist in menu plan-ning, everything to ensure an exceptionalwedding celebration that exceeds all ex-pectations.Specifically, the following documentationis required 10 days prior to the weddingdate, which must have been translated byan authorized representative of the GreekEmbassy:• Local Authority Permission and Certifi-cate of non-impediment• Originals of full birth certificates• If previously married and divorced the“Decree Absolute” is required

• Copy of the passportsEach document should also be accompa-nied by an apostille from their govern-ment’s foreign office. (This is a legaliza-tion certificate, which confirms that thesignature, seal or stamp on each docu-ment is genuine).”TNH: What kinds of packages are avail-able now for weddings and honeymoons?“Grand Resort Lagonissi and EloundaBeach Hotel & Villas offer the below ex-clusive wedding packages. When choos-ing one of them, the couple leaves every-thing to the hands of the professionalexperts making their wedding and hon-eymoon a dream come true down tothe last detail.”

Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas:Wedding Package – € 1,000• A dedicated consultant• Roundtrip airport transfers for the

wedding couple• Civil ceremony outside of the Hotel’sChurch Timia Zoni or at their preferredlocation.• Bridal bouquet, groom’s boutonniere,decoration of the club car• Bottle of sparkling wine and Greekwedding sweets after the ceremony forthe bride and groom• Music (taped) during the ceremony• Blessings by a Greek Orthodox priest• A complimentary room for the prepa-ration of the groom on the wedding day,from 2 PM until the wedding ceremony• Room upgrade on the wedding day

and for the rest of the stay (accommoda-tion type subject to availability)• An exclusive bridal turn down service• Romantic wedding gift• Relaxing massage for the bride andgroom the day prior to the wedding• Wedding cake• Breakfast in bed the following morning• Escorted transfer to the relevant au-thorities for the registration of the wed-ding

Honeymoon PackagesFor Minimum Five Night Stay:• Confirmed upgrade by one category


Planning a Fabulous

ELOUNDA BEACH

• Exclusive rose petal turndown service• Welcome bottle of sparkling wine andbasket of fruit• Use of gym and tennis courts• Express check-in and check-out

For Minimum Seven Night Stay:• Confirmed upgrade by one category• Exclusive rose petal turndown service• Welcome bottle of sparkling wine andbasket of fruit• Use of gym and tennis courts• Express check-in and check-out• His and Her bathrobes

TNH: How far in advance should couplesbook the hotel for their wedding?“We suggest reserving the wedding venueand room accommodation at least oneyear prior to the wedding event, asGreek-American couples must allow timefor their guests to make arrangements fortheir Greece holidays.”Melenos Luxury Hotel in Lindos, Rhodesoverlooking the Aegean Sea offers a pic-turesque location for a destination wed-ding with remarkable attention to detail.“Imagine the day and we will make ithappen,” as noted on the Melenos web-site. For small, intimate weddings orlarge, extravagant ones, the Melenosteam will work with the couple to createa dream wedding. The hotel suggests re-serving the entire hotel venue for at leastthree days to allow for a relaxing stayand an opportunity for guests and thecouple themselves to de-stress for the oc-casion. With high professional standards,the team provides guests with thoughtful,personal attention. Couples can choose acivil ceremony, symbolic wedding, or atraditional Greek Orthodox service. Thewedding planner will take care of paper-work, organizing document filing, mar-riage license registration, governmentand administrative fees, to help reducestress for the couple. The wedding coor-dinator will work with the couple to helporganize tasks, plan the budget, and as-sist on creating a detailed itinerary ofevents. Among the services available for wed-dings are seasonal flowers arranged bylocal florists, menus based on Greek tra-ditional cuisine with south Mediter-ranean influences as well as authentic lo-cal Lindian recipes, and skilled chefs whowill create personalized menus for thosewith specific dietary requirements or foodallergies. Let the staff know in advanceabout dietary requirements and/or aller-gies as they are happy to accommodatetheir guests’ preferences. Among the ser-vices available are: a rehearsal dinnerwith the wedding guests on Melenos’ ter-race; a pre-wedding cocktail party to wel-come friends and family; professionalphotographer and videographer services;hair and make-up artist for the bride andher guests; and DJ or live traditionalGreek music for the reception can bearranged by the staff. Couples can en-hance their wedding experience with aprivate guided tour led by a professionalarchaeologist to explore the most beauti-ful parts of the island and by booking aprivate boat trip with their weddingguests to sail to the exotic hidden spotsand beaches around Lindos. The hotelcan also arrange for local transportationfor guests and even donkeys to transportthe bride and the groom to the venue.Maria Fegkou, Sales & Reservations Man-ager at Melenos Lindos Exclusive Suites& Villas spoke with TNH about whatGreek-American couples look for whenbooking the venue, noting that “MelenosLindos has a wonderful setting. A Greekauthentic touch and a wonderful viewthat together with the top quality foodand service offers any event the Greekfeeling at once. This is what the Greek-Americans are looking for. The number ofguests usually attending a Greek-Ameri-can wedding here is 100-150 people.Greek couples are looking for the qualityand the nice view. Fegkou added, “Forthose who would like an Orthodox wed-ding ceremony, they should contact theAdministrative staff of the local Metropo-lis for detailed information regarding thepaperwork and permission.” When asked about packages availablenow for weddings and honeymoons andhow far in advance couples should bookthe hotel for their wedding, Fegkou said,“Weddings at the Melenos Lindos are tai-lor-made. That means that we work to-gether with the couple long before theirBig Day, we share our thoughts so thatwe organize their event the way theyhave dreamed it.” More information is available at me-lenoslindos.com.

Grand Resort Lagonissi:Silver Package €1,000:• Upon arrival at the International Air-port of Athens our wedding service be-gins as you will be greeted by dedicatedresort host who will be with you throughyour entire wedding experience. Your dri-ver will assist you with clearance of yourluggage and transportation to Grand Re-sort Lagonissi.• From the moment you book your wed-ding with us you will have contact withour wedding planner. Once you have set-

tled into the resort your wedding plannerwill meet you to go over the final details,to ensure that extra special personal at-tention is given to your event.• The wedding couple will receive acomplimentary romantic MediterraneanBungalow for the wedding night where abottle of wine and Greek wedding sweetswill await their arrival.• Documents arrangement for the Wed-ding Ceremony.• Wedding Ceremony arrangement in St.Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church locat-ed on the Grand Resort Lagonissi premis-es.• The morning after the wedding recep-tion, the newlyweds will enjoy breakfastin bed.• Relaxing massage for the bride andgroom on the day prior to the wedding• Spa Manicure and Pedicure for thebride

• Private use of the selected weddingvenue• White chair covers for the weddingdinner• Wedding cake• Italian Sparking Wine with the wed-ding cake for the couple and their guests• Security• Guest loyalty rates for your guests• Romantic wedding gift for your 1stwedding anniversaryGold Package € 1,500 Includes all the amenities provided in theSilver Package plus:• The wedding couple will receive acomplimentary romantic MediterraneanSuite for the wedding night where a bot-tle of wine, fresh seasonal fruits & Greekwedding sweets will await their arrival.• The wedding day a bottle of cham-pagne with fresh strawberries will beserved in the couple’s room.

• Relaxing massage for the groom on theday prior to the wedding• Spa Bridal Package (5 hours duration):A full program for brides-to-be to en-hance your glow for the most beautifulday in your life. Enjoy a luxurious indul-gence in beauty and pampering. Yourchoice of Hydro aromatherapy bath withspecialized water jets for the ultimatesense of well-being paired with body ex-foliation treatment under the healingtherapies of our Vichy showers givingyour body a healthy glow and leavingyour skin silky soft for weeks to come.Aromatherapy full body massage and acomplete Bioenergetic Facial treatmentto transport you to an alpha state of re-laxation (including 1 Hydro aro-matherapy, 1 Body peeling, 2 Facialtreatments, 2 Tendon muscle mas-sages, Hair care for the bride, BridalBeauty Make Up treatment)


Destination Wedding in Greece

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GRAND RESORT LAGONISSI


TNH Staff

Your relatives will probably need you to participate in aceremony or two, when most of your non-Greek

friends may never even attend a wedding until theythemselves are of marriageable age. It is an honor andprivilege to be a part of the big day, and for some that canmean several big days. For one serial bridesmaid, thenumber is an impressive 27. How you might ask is that possible? If your family is bigenough, you have tons of cousins. First cousins, secondcousins, even first cousins-once removed will start to haveweddings before you know it. Add a long list of friendsand the number makes sense. If your mom has 8 siblingson her side and your dad has 9 on his side, and each oneof those aunts and uncles has at least one child, you’realready at 17 weddings. If the family is close-knit and yourparents’ cousins are also as numerous and blessed withchildren, the number of weddings doubles at least, to 34weddings, and that’s just the family. Factoring all that in,you might wonder how many weddings the young womanin question actually attended without being a bridesmaid,or missed entirely. So, with all this bridesmaid experience, the serialbridesmaid certainly has advice to share for those

accepting their best friend’s or cousin’s invitation to jointhe bridal party. Accept only if you truly want to be abridesmaid. Being a reluctant bridesmaid is not fun.Sometimes you feel obligated to say yes, in that case,make the best of it and stay positive. It’s just one day, butyour attitude can make a world of difference. AShakespeare quote can help, “For nothing is either good orbad but thinking makes it so.” Keep an upbeat attitudeand remember to smile, the photographer is takingpictures, as most of the family is as well. Part of keeping that positive attitude is letting go of thecrushing weight of expectations you might be investing inthe experience of being a bridesmaid. There are noguarantees in life. You might not catch the bouquet. If youdo, it doesn’t actually mean anything. Unless the bouquettoss is fixed, and in many cases it is, when it just happensto fall into the arms of your friend who has been in a long-term relationship forever. If you’re single and you catchthe bouquet, there is no guarantee that the groomsmanwho caught the garter is Mr. Right. In fact, some weddingsjust skip the tossing of bouquets and garters altogether as

antiquated rituals. So, don’t get caught up in the momentand raise your expectations unspeakably high just to endup feeling crushed. Live for the moment, appreciate theexperience of sharing a special day with friends and lovedones, and be grateful for what you have.

In the curious selection of bridesmaids’ dresses, many abridesmaid has struggled with conflicting emotions. Whenthe bride says she will definitely allow you to choose yourdress, be prepared to be told what dress you will bewearing by that same bride. By the time you are asked tobe a bridesmaid, you usually have some idea what style ofdress most suits your figure. Be a helpful bridesmaid andmakes suggestions to the bride on a style that wouldflatter most, but in the end, remember that the bride hasthe last word. Though the bride will tell you emphaticallythat you will definitely be able to wear it again, youshould accept that you most certainly never will wear thatdress again. It’s a bridesmaid’s dress, it looks like abridesmaid’s dress, so unless you can manage to convinceanother bride to choose that same dress for herbridesmaids, it will never ever be worn again.

Traditionally, the role of the bridesmaid was to protect thebride from the evil eye, helping to disperse the evil amonga group of young women instead of allowing it to focus onthe one lucky lady. The dresses for bride and bridesmaidswere usually identical to confuse evil spirits and minimizethe effect of the negative energy. The lighter the color ofthe bridesmaids’ dresses supposedly augurs well for thebride and groom. The darker the dress, the more problemsthe couple will face. The serial bridesmaid managed to collect a rainbowassortment of dresses, but most leaning towards thetraditional pinkish hues, especially since most weddingsare held in spring and summer. The curious reader willask, “What did she do with all the dresses, 27 in all, to beexact? The serial bridesmaid assured us that they are nottaking up valuable closet-space. She donated them to acharity that collects dresses for girls who can’t afford promdresses. More information on donating bridesmaidsdresses is available on beccascloset.org.

Weddings hold a special place in the hearts of many young girls. We are taught froma very young age to expect the progression, if lucky, from flower girl, to bridesmaid,to bride. In most cases, the number of people in your average Greek-American ex-tended family means you will attend several weddings in the course of your lifetime.

Confessions of a Bridesmaid

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By Eleni Sakellis

Wedding cakes have evolved over the centuries from

a bread that was cracked over the head of the bride

in Ancient Rome for good luck to the fanciful, tiered

creations most often displayed at the reception before the

bride and groom cut the cake and feed it to each other to

symbolize their unity and that they will always provide for

each other.

The earliest wedding cakes in Britain and the thirteen

colonies were more like fruit cakes than the typical cake

served at weddings today. Full of dried fruits and nuts, the

cakes were often soaked with wine and the top tier was

meant to be kept and eaten at the christening of the first

child born to the couple. In the Middle Ages, cakes were

stacked on top of each other for the happy couple to kiss

over the top of the stack. If they succeeded, they could

expect a prosperous marriage. It was a bad sign if the

couple couldn’t manage it, or the cakes were knocked over.

Traditional Greek wedding cakes featured honey, sesame

seeds, and quince, symbolizing the couple’s commitment.

Cypriot glystarkes, a type of bread is also traditionally

served at weddings, hearkening back to the ancient

tradition of bread at the wedding. Almond cakes are

popular in Greece for wedding cakes using traditional

flavors. Try the following recipe sweetened with your

favorite flavor of Greek honey. A thyme and wildflower

honey works well in this recipe.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9-inch round springform baking pan with a light brushing of olive oil. Line

the pan with a circle of parchment paper and brush with additional olive oil. Set aside.

Place the whole almonds in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely ground. In the bowl of a stand mixer with

the paddle attachment beat the egg yolks with the 1/2 cup of honey, the vanilla, baking soda, and sea salt until well

combined. Reduce the speed of the mixer, or switch it off entirely, and add the ground almonds. Beat until just combined.

Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl with the whisk attachment of the stand mixer until very foamy, white, and

doubled in volume, but not stiff enough to hold peaks, about 1 to 2 minutes, depending on the strength of the mixer. Be

careful not to over-beat the egg whites or the cake will sink in the center as it cools. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold

the egg whites into the ground almonds and egg yolks mixture until just combined.

Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan, using the spatula to scrape all of it from

the sides of the mixing bowl and into the pan. Bake for about 30 minutes or until a

skewer or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean and the cake is golden

brown. Cool the cake on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing it from the

springform pan. Run a knife around the cake to loosen it from the ring before removing

it. Slide the cake with a large offset spatula between the cake and the parchment paper to

transfer it to a serving platter. Drizzle the top of the cake with the 2 tablespoons of honey,

sprinkle with the toasted, slivered almonds, and serve.

To toast the whole almonds, spread them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake

at 350 degrees F, stirring once, until fragrant, for about 7 to 9 minutes, depending on the

strength of your oven.

To toast the slivered almonds, cook in a small dry pan over medium-low heat, stirring

constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, about 2 to 4 minutes.

To bring the eggs to room temperature, set them out on the counter for at least 20

minutes or submerge them in their shells in a bowl of lukewarm, but not hot, water for 5

minutes before using.

Almond Cake1 1/2 cups whole almonds, toasted • 4 large eggs, at room temperature, sepa-rated • 1/2 cup Greek honey • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract • 1/2 teaspoonbaking soda • 1/2 teaspoon Greek sea salt • Topping • 2 tablespoons honey1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted • Olive oil for greasing the baking pan

Today’s Wedding Cakes

TNH Staff

In the Greek-American community, itsometimes seems like all we hear

about, when it comes to weddings, is thatso and so is marrying a xeno or xeni.Studies have been made and the numberscalculated and Greeks marrying non-Greeks is nothing new; most familiesmake the best of it. They take a page outof My Big Fat Greek Wedding and maybetheir life doesn’t turn out quite like themovie, since it’s always funnier whenthings happen to other people, but theydon’t fall apart either.

For the parents, it cansometimes feel like they’vefailed somehow, and grownchildren should understandthat and see their parents’point of view. They workedhard and sacrificed to give youa better life, they want only thebest for their child, and

struggling with languageissues, religious and culturaldifferences seem likeunnecessary impediments tohappiness. In the end, whatother conclusion can be drawnexcept that marriage is difficultfor all couples, if they are trulyhonest.

Hollywood may sell us animage of happily ever after, butreality is not a fairy tale. Ittakes work to make asuccessful, healthy marriagelast. There are plenty ofunhealthy relationships allaround to use as examples.Couples can often benefit fromseeking counseling even beforethey embark on marriagebecause no one is perfect. Eachperson has his or her issuesand could benefit from taking

a moment to examine theirlife, goals, and dreams.Whether or not faith plays arole in that examination isentirely up to the individual,but if you were raised as aGreek Orthodox Christian, itmight be worth thinking aboutfaith as well, especially if youwould like to raise children.

Honesty is paramount.Many relationships havefoundered on religiousdifferences simply because thecouple never bothered to havethat conversation. Views may

change over time as well. Anatheist in his youth may findGod later in life, or Buddha,who knows?

Communication is vital.Sharing thoughts and viewsearly on ensures that peopleunderstand each other. Secrecyis poisonous to all relationshipsand if you need to sneakaround and pretend to besomeone you’re not, how canyou expect to have ameaningful connection toanyone?

There is often a disconnect

between perception and realityand the clergy can offerperspective that is lacking formany people. A chat with yourpriest can be transformative.The rules are strict about whocan and cannot be married inthe Greek Orthodox Church, soit might be worth talking to thepriest to fully understand theobstacles. If you have yourheart set on a Greek wedding,it is a good idea to find out therequirements. If someone isconverting to Orthodoxy fromanother Christiandenomination, will a baptismbe necessary or onlyChrismation?

There are many couples thatdecide to keep their separatereligions, and it seems to workfor them, celebrating both. Thechildren are sometimes askedto choose which religion theywould like to follow,sometimes surprising theparents. This can seemappalling to those raised in areligious family.

Father Charles Joanides,Greek Orthodox priest in theGreek Orthodox Archdiocese ofAmerica since 1980, has a PhDin Human Development andFamily Studies with a specialtyin Marriage and FamilyTherapy. A Licensed Maritaland Family Therapist, aClinical member of theAmerican Association ofMarriage and FamilyTherapists (AAMFT) and anAAMFT approved supervisor,he lectures, teaches and writeson intermarriage, maritalenhancement, and premaritalpreparation. Married and thefather of two children, FatherCharles offers helpful insightsfrom his unique perspective. Inhis work, he addressesintermarriage challenges,parenting challenges inintermarried households,conflict resolution, problemsolving, America's divorceculture, Christian marriage,spouse abuse and finding helpif you are in a conflictedrelationship, among manyother topics. His extensiveresearch related tointermarried couples and theirfamilies in the Greek OrthodoxArchdiocese of America, isshared in his book When YouIntermarry: A Resource forInter-Christian, InterculturalCouples, Parents and Families.The book contains informationfrom 376 couples whoparticipated in the InterfaithResearch Project of the GreekOrthodox Archdiocese ofAmerica and is availableonline. As Father Charlesnotes, “About 80% of ouryoung adults areintermarrying… The InterfaithResearch Project (IRP) beganin an effort to (a) develop aclearer understanding of thispopulation's unique challenges,and (b) seek to minister moreeffectively to this growinggroup of faithful.

One outcome from thisresearch has been theemergence of an Orthodoxdevelopmental ecologicalgrounded theory of interfaithmarriages in the GOA.”


A Few Words about Interfaith Marriages

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Wedding jewelry is a sure way to make a statement on your wedding day. This

year, the trends offer some striking styles to add sparkle to your look. If you lean

towards the more traditional, don’t worry, there is something for everyone this season

in wedding jewelry trends.

The shoulder duster earring takes the chandelier-style to extra lengths. Not everyone

can pull off this look, but it definitely adds drama to a bride’s ensemble.

Because the look is so bold, don’t wear any other jewelry with this look, except, of

course, for your rings. The hoop earring is an unexpected look for a bride walking down

the aisle.

The trend this year for the modern bride is a huge, yet thin, hoop.

A more traditional dress paired with hoop earrings creates a unique impression, edgier

than your average bride. Cocktail rings are always popular, but perhaps overlooked for

wedding jewelry. A big statement piece can add glamour to any bride’s look.

A pop of color can add interest without going overboard. Delicate jewelry paired with a

flowing wedding dress can make a strong statement as well, especially for brides who

are not into the big jewelry trend. Indeed, the more delicate pieces can be worn more

casually and even every day, if preferred. Chokers have also made a comeback this year

in wedding jewelry trends.

A wider choker can be paired with strapless gowns and sleek looks for dramatic effect.

A thinner, more delicate choker works well with layered gowns and voluminous skirts.

For the groom and groomsmen, classic cufflinks are the way to go on the day of the

wedding, but a whimsical cufflink can be a great choice for a more casual celebration.

Jewelry is also a nice gift for your bridal party and many couples choose to give

something the gang can wear on the big day.

Choose simple, yet elegant styles that can be worn again and your bridesmaids and

groomsmen will cherish the gift and remember what a great time they had at your

wedding every time they wear the piece.


Wedding Jewelry Trends for 2017

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