Marie & Bo | Greek Wedding at Biltmore Ballrooms
Bo and Marie’s wedding was such a dream, and I’m so excited to share more from this lovely February day! The sweetness of their relationship shines through in all of these photos, captured by Genya of Vue Photography.
As I mentioned on instagram, Bo and Marie are high school sweethearts. There’s something so romantic and rare about that. What’s doubly special is that Bo and Marie actually went to the same high school as I did, so reconnecting with them and their families was a fun treat. Watching them celebrate all day was so sweet!
Marie’s comes from a Greek background and it was a privilege to learn more about this culture and its traditions. The Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony is a bit different from what I’m used to, and it took a little extra time for me to understand the flow of the ceremony. It is full of rich symbolism and meaningful ritual. One of the symbols I was struck most by was the Stephana; two crowns placed on the bride and groom’s heads to symbolize the glory and honor that God bestows upon them as they participate in the sacrament of marriage. What a beautiful image! And how adorable is this gaggle of flower girls?
After Bo and Marie were officially wed, guests headed to The Biltmore Ballrooms for the reception, and it was the most perfect setting. The Biltmore is so ornate with grand, romantic detail. It reminded me of the beautiful cathedral where the ceremony took place! Guests arrived and were welcomed into the luxe pre-function space to sip cocktails and enjoy the soft lounge seating while Bo and Marie took photos. The highboys donned blue linens (to match the bridesmaids gowns) and petite floral arrangements surrounded by the warm glow of gold votives.
As we were planning the reception, it was important to Bo and Marie that their cake stood out and made a statement in the space. The detail on the cake was designed to match the lace on Marie’s gown, so we definitely needed to showcase that! We decided the dance floor was the perfect placement where everyone could admire it before digging in. The Biltmore staff promptly moved the table after the cake was cut, allowing room for lots of dancers on the dance floor- and dance they did! They opened with a traditional Greek dance. Marie’s family was the first to hit the floor, and other guests joined in as the got the hang of it. I felt like I was in a scene from My Big Fat Greek Wedding!
The celebration that took place at this reception was just so joyful. I loved seeing this couple’s friends and family lift them up and lavish them with love as they take this meaningful step into their life together.
I was so honored to work with this special couple on their day. Check out the bride’s thoughts about the day below!
