Elegant Wedding at a Historical Castle in Athens, Greece

As soon as they decided to tie the knot, the multinational couple knew that a destination wedding was in the cards as the bride is from Lebanon and the groom is from India and they both live in the USA! They dreamt of celebrating their special day in an exclusive setting in which their families and friends could gather and in many cases, meet each other for the first time. They settled on Greece as a perfect middle ground for guests flying in from all around the world. Lama and Gautam aimed for a classic and elegant affair in which the venue itself would serve as the stage for their nuptials. Pyrgos Melissourgou, an ancient castle in the south of Athens was selected for its history and old charm, lush olive grove and picturesque chapel. The 15 acres private estate with gorgeous sea views provided the ideal backdrop for both the ceremony and reception. A highlight of the event was the diversity of multi-cultural guests mingling and dancing to international music. Undulating tunes of Middle-eastern and Indian origin on a backdrop of a magnificent Hellenic edifice made for a magical atmosphere.

The stunning Tony Ward wedding dress beaded with leaf-like silver sequins was elevated by a plunging V-neckline and complemented with a cascading detachable train. Lama dazzled in this modern figure-hugging gown.

The menu consisted of Mediterranean food with local delicacies and seafood from Greece. Delicious welcome bites were passed around during the welcome hour followed by a three course menu and a dessert buffet with large cakes and smaller sweet treats. A live stand of “Loukoumades” (traditional Greek donuts dipped in honey) was set-up delighting the guests with a burst of sweetness!

The styling reflected the esthetics of the unique location and included timeless décor elements with a chic undertone. The flowers were a gorgeous mix of classic choices such as white peonies and blush garden roses contrasted with bolder maroon sciabiosas and dark red hydrangeas. The evergreen foliage consisted of eucalyptus and myrtle leaves. Provence tables were decorated with an oat-colored runner and paired with Louis chairs. Long gold candleholders with blush candles matched the elegant set-up while burgundy menus created a beautiful contrast with the gold rimmed tableware. Oak wooden signs were used to display table numbers and instructions for all stations such as the refreshments and toss bar, the photobooth, the place cards and the guestbook table. At the setting of the sun, lights hung on olive trees suddenly lit up, basking the whole reception in a soft light that infused an element of magic and imparted a fairy-tale feel!

The white four-tiered cake with hand-crafted burgundy sugar flowers perfectly interpreted the beautiful understated mood and color palette of the wedding. It was displayed on a wooden stand that fit with the rest of the oak elements.

The bride walked down the aisle with her mother at the Greek Orthodox ceremony where several ancient rituals were performed such as the crowning of the couple with greenery wreaths as a symbol of glory and honor. Lama and Gautam also took three sips of wine from a shared cup which represents life and symbolizes the mutual sharing of joy and sorrow. Following the common cup ritual, the priest led them around the altar three times on which rested a bible and a cross. In this final act, the couple took their first steps as a married couple.

Lama and Gautam wanted their guests to leave with a favor to remember them by. They received a burgundy box embellished with a gold foiled monogram of the couple which included an evil eye symbol from Lebanon, tea from India and sugared almonds from Greece.

The couple chose the lotus as their wedding logo as a nod to the groom’s heritage and representing both immortality and longevity in India. A lotus insignia was showcased on the wax seal of the stationery suite and the menus as well as on the edge of the petal cones.