A Midsummer Soiree With Sunset Tones at an Old Byzantine Mansion Overlooking The Sea

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January 17, 2024

The Planning

Design / Vibe / Vision

When Risha and Sebastian first began planning their wedding they knew they wanted to create an atmosphere of warmth, joy, elegance and fun against an awe-inspiring, luxurious Mediterranean backdrop. Hatzi Mansion Mansion embodied the sophistication, allure and poetic finesse that they knew would house this dream wedding. Together with the Mansion’s lead event manager Evgenia Limantzaki, the couple forged the wedding of their dreams filled with love, laughter, and beautiful memories that will be cherished forever by all who attended.

Proposal Story

Risha and Sebastian’s love story began nearly a decade before their wedding day. The two met right out of college in Risha’s home state of California, and after a year of long distance, Risha relocated to join Sebastian in Europe. From their very first date on a Santa Cruz beach to the years that followed exploring Europe, watching sunsets became a staple of their life together. So, it was only natural that Sebastian proposed to Risha at sunset during their summer vacation in Santorini, Greece in 2021. Not only did Sebastian time the proposal impeccably with the sun sinking into the Aegean sea, but he also recreated the picnic of strawberries, cheese, chocolate and wine from their first date - only this time the view was much grander and the love that had blossomed between them exceptionally deeper.

Getting Ready

Bridal Portraits

Flat Lays

First Look

The Fashion

Wedding Gown

The bride’s gown from w•too by Watters was light and airy with delicately embroidered details. A subtle slit in the blush underskirt and dreamy tulle wings completed this breathtaking ethereal bridal look.

Bridesmaid Dresses

Simple and elegant dresses from Bhldn beautifully complemented the bride’s gown. Each bridesmaid wore a unique style of her choosing, one each in the colors sedona, oyster and blush.

Groomsman Attire

The groom wore a deep navy HUGO BOSS smoking tuxedo with evening oxfords. For optimal contrast, the groomsmen donned beige suits.

Wedding Party

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

The Details

Food & Drink

The lavish, buffet-style dinner was a true highlight of the evening, taking guests on an unforgettable culinary experience of organic local and international cuisine hand-picked by the couple. Hatzi Mansion provided an array of food and drink options, including housemade lemonade, a variety of aperitifs to suit everyone's taste, and a selection of sweet and savory treats. All fresh ingredients came from the venue’s organic gardens, and the food was cooked in a traditional wood fire oven. Everything was expertly prepared and served by the venue's talented staff to ensure all guests were well taken care of. Pizza from the venue’s traditional wood pizza oven was prepared live for guests as a midnight snack, and signature cocktails were served by award-winning bartenders.

Florals & Decor

A symphony of color adorned every corner of the space. Delicate shades of pink with hints of lavender and vivid peach and gold hues in the flower arrangements embodied the essence of a summer sunset. Roses were selected as the predominant flower, honoring the flower’s title as the symbol of love and the last name of the couple. These were enriched with hydrangeas, lisianthus, wisteria, buttercups, as well as seasonal foliage. The floral arrangements were expertly crafted and placed, bringing a warm glow to the venue and adding to the overall charm of the day. The sweetheart table was a boasting, vibrant masterpiece, covered in lavish blooms and accented with blue fabric drapery and tall, slender candles. Beneath the pergola by the dance floor and lounge area, elegant, white flowers and twinkling fairy lights captivated guests all night with their enchanting brilliance.

Wedding Cake

The four-tiered cake provided by the reception venue was a true work of art. Coupled with dazzling sparklers that erupted during the cake cutting, the whole affair was a spectacular surprise and was only made sweeter by the dessert that followed - a mouth-watering medley of passion fruit, lemon, white chocolate and vanilla wedding cake.

Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs

It was important to the bride and groom that every detail of their wedding ceremony be non-traditional and unique to them. They achieved this by having the friend who had originally introduced them officiate the wedding and by creating an emotional musical soundtrack narrative to complement their self-written ceremony script. The groom and groomsmen danced into the upbeat Fire and Flame by Kip Moore, followed by the bridesmaids, who calmed the crowd with a cover of Stand By Me by Skylar Grey. The bride embraced her emotional grand entrance by entering alone under a shower of rose petals to the song World Before You by Lauren Duski. In addition to the vows made by the bride and groom to one another, the couple also incorporated a “community vow” into their readings, which requested the everlasting love and support of their attending loved ones. The ceremony concluded with the joyous song Can You Feel It by Birgir. The couple entered their reception to I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do by ABBA and danced their first dance to Poetry by Wrabel.

Special Detail #1

To make the wedding weekend extra special for their guests who had traveled from across the world to celebrate with them in Greece, the bride and groom prepared welcome bags for their 60 guests. Upon each guest’s arrival at the hotel, Risha and Sebastian made a point to personally welcome them and gift them a beach bag filled with beach and party essentials - turkish beach towels, mastiha (a traditional Greek digestive from the island of Chios), electrolyte stamina recovery packs, mints, candies, water, and a personalized welcome note.

Special Detail #2

As a dancer, the bride knew she needed a little extra sparkle once the party got started, so she changed into a dazzling mini Milla cocktail dress after the first dance. In this glitzy and glamorous, sequin-covered number, she danced her heart out all night with her new husband, family and friends.

Special Detail #3

The couple’s first dance was self-choreographed by the bride to reflect their love story. The groom, who had never been considered a dancer, surprised the crowd with his impressive frame and natural rhythm. Their first dance was sweet, romantic, and elegant.

Couple Portraits