Athenian Riviera Destination wedding with Greek and Korean traditions

peach floral wedding arch

Alyssa, Dante, and their guests travelled all the way from the US and numerous other countries to experience a unique Athens Riviera destination wedding with cultural touches honoring both the bride and groom's heritage. Dante’s family is originally from Greece, while Alicia is of Korean descent. Because of this, they wished to honor both of their families' traditions while having a party to remember!

Keep scrolling to see photography by Lefil Photography of exactly how they pulled this off (Spoiler: It was amazing!). Photos feature planning and design by Maria Damanaki Events, cakes and catering by Dipnosofistirion and Atene Catering, as well as florals courtesy of Studio 7. Make sure to click here to check out the full gallery of photos, also linked at the bottom of this page!

silk slip wedding dress

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classic black tux

When their dream venue had limited availability, the couple got creative

Alyssa initially contacted Maria Damanaki Events because the venue she had always dreamt of holding her reception in was not available until after 7 p.m. - how could they accommodate a ceremony and still hold the reception at their dream venue? The solution was celebrating at two different venues, moving guests with a shuttle bus from one to another and having an amazing wedding day no one had even dreamt of in the beginning!

late summer early fall bridesmaid dresses

One venue created two beautiful ceremony set-ups for the bride and groom

The couple’s preparation began at the suites the couple stayed at with close friends and family. Once they were ready, their first stop was at the iconic Island Art and Taste venue with the breathtaking Mediterranean Sea view for the two different ceremonies that the couple took part in. With soft music from the String Duet in the background, Alyssa and Dante walked down the aisle where their guests witnessed a sentimental wedding ceremony in front of a beautiful arch overlooking the sea with the couple's best friend officiating. Cocktails and a cake-cutting followed, featuring a yummy naked cake with red fruit, before heading to the next part of the celebration.

neutral floral wedding ceremony arch

simple waterfront wedding ceremony

slim-fit wedding dress

Centuries-old traditions took center stage at a destination known for its history

The second ceremony - an authentic Korean Pye-Baek ceremony to honor the bride's family and cultural heritage - followed right after this. It took place in front of a traditional Korean hammock and authentic setup, allowing centuries-old traditions to be brought to life in the middle of a Grecian summer.

Korean wedding ceremony setup

Korean wedding ceremony

Korean wedding traditions

Korean wedding attire

A spotlight rowboat entrance complemented the grandeur of the reception

Alyssa and Dante chose to hold their reception at the unique Lake Vouliagmenis venue – a place of great natural beauty. The couple's entrance was done in a rowboat via the lake, with a spotlight following them under the high natural rock formations. The beauty of the venue was complemented by elegant floral arrangements and carefully selected decor that demonstrated the couple’s unique yet classic taste. On each table, there were disposable cameras to capture moments and small signs with a QR code to share all the pictures the guests took with their mobile phones. The guestbook table was adorned with pictures of the couple and their loved ones not able to be present at the wedding, but who they wanted to honor. A telephone to leave voicemail wishes and advice for the couple was there, too, to act as an audio guestbook.

rowboat wedding entrance

Details made all the difference in creating an inclusive wedding experience

The small details throughout the evening made all the difference, from small pistachio pouches as favors (a tribute to the groom’s Greek heritage from Aegina Island) to the bilingual wedding programs that helped all of their guests participate. The night ended with all of the guests and wedding party joining together in a traditional Greek dance that truly created an unforgettable moment at this already unforgettable event!

comfortable outdoor wedding reception design