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!
Describe your wedding in three words: Romantic, magical, fun
What was the most unique aspect of your wedding? I think my Greek heritage made it unique - especially the Greek ceremony. It was really special to be able to include my roots in such an important day. My friends really enjoyed Greek dancing at the reception.
What was your favorite part about wedding planning? It was fun to create the timeline and imagine all of the parts of the day coming together!
What was the toughest part about wedding planning? Worrying about if everything would go as planned was tough, but I realized once we had solidified everything I just had to let go and have faith!
What advice would you give to a newly engaged bride embarking on the planning journey? Don’t stress out so much that you let it ruin any excitement for your big day. Things may not always go exactly as planned, but looking back, you will realize it turned out perfectly!
What is your favorite memory from the wedding day? My favorite memory was getting to see Bo and his reaction at the end of the aisle because he had absolutely no clue what I would look like and what my dress would look like! It was definitely worth the wait!
What was your favorite design element? I loved getting to add the blue my bridesmaids’ wore to aspects of the ceremony and reception! Their bouquets had hints of blue and we added in some blue to each guest table.
What's something that you splurged on? My shoes for the day-of.
What's something you saved on? Flowers. We found the most incredible florist who created custom bouquets for us with amazing pricing!
How many guests were present at your event? Around 200.
Venue: Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation and The Biltmore Ballrooms
Catering: Bold Events
Planning: Slauer Events & Design
Photography: Vue Photography
Videography: Justin Peay Productions
Floral design: On Occasions
DJ: Jimmy Economos
Cake: Classic Cheesecakes
Gown designer: Amsale
Gown shop: Britt Wood Designs and Bridal Salon
Bridesmaid gowns: Jenny Yoo
