Two Hearts Finally Aligned at the Lotte New York Palace: Calliopi & Brian's Meant-to-Be Marriage

Love Story

Raised in the same small Connecticut town, attending the same schools but existing in parallel worlds, it seemed these two souls were destined to be ships passing in the night. Their lives crisscrossed from coast to coast - Calliopi building her career in NYC while Brian landed in San Francisco, only for their roles to flip just as the other relocated cities. It was like an elaborate game of grammatical antonyms - miss, hit, dodge, connecting in a cosmic dance.

But the stars finally aligned in 2018 at a happenstance company happy hour that Calliopi nearly skipped. As fate would have it, she opted out of that SoulCycle class, and the two New Canaan natives who had been orbiting each other for years were suddenly united. From that serendipitous meet, a whirlwind romance bloomed. Calliopi moved back to her beloved New York,where they nested in the Upper East Side, and after many trips visiting family and plenty of travels and triathlons in between, their love and commitment to each other has only become stronger with time.

It was on a dreamy summer night in 2022 that Brian confirmed Calliopi as his eternally-bound soulmate, proposing at the very place that held her childhood memories - Astir Palace in Vouliagmeni, Greece. With the Manhattan skyline twinkling, they'll soon say "I do" in the iconic church,where Calliopi's grandmother wed decades prior. These two have finally landed in each other's arms for good.

The couple went all out to make their "Grand New York Affair" wedding a showstopper for the ages. With a guest list of 140 nearest and dearest, the planning spanned an impressive 10 months of tireless effort. As Calliopi revealed, "Our vision for the wedding was a 'Grand New York Affair' – I definitely wanted to infuse my Greek heritage into the wedding, but also keep it very traditional and classic New York."

Every aspect was carefully calculated to perfectly encapsulate their "Traditional chic, all white!" concept. From the fall timing that paid homage to when they first met to holding the ceremony in the same iconic church Calliopi's grandparents married in back in 1952, sentimentality reigned supreme. "We chose to wed in the fall as it is our absolutely favorite season in the city and the same time of year we met," the bride explained.

Keeping her Greek roots at the forefront was of utmost importance during the meticulous planning process. "Greek traditions and making sure everything felt true to our style" was what inspired Calliopi most.

When reflecting on the whirlwind of their dream wedding day, one very personal moment stood out as particularly meaningful for the besotted bride. Calliopi got misty-eyed as she reminisced, "Looking at my husband cry as I was walking down the aisle with my dad! And my twin brother's speech" were the key moments she'll forever cherish.

Morning details

Every last detail was utterly swoon-worthy. For the all-important invitations and wedding stationery suite, Calliopi and Brian turned to the talented Michelle Iadarola-Cruz of Art Scroll. As Calliopi raved, "She was phenomenal!"

When it came to selecting her wedding rings, Calliopi stayed true to her classic aesthetic. "I went with something timeless - a round solitaire," she shared. But it was her accessories that carried the deepest sentimental value. The bride beamed, "My tennis bracelet was passed down by my grandmother." Those cherished family heirlooms made her bridal look all the more meaningful.

From the chic stationery that announced their "I dos" to the sparkling rings and jewels they'd soon exchange, every component of the morning's preparations was like a delicately orchestrated prelude setting the scene for their fairytale union.

Bride getting ready

Calliopi's bridal preparations were the stuff of sartorial dreams! For her first look, she slipped into a romantic Mira Zwillinger gown that stopped her in her tracks. "It was probably the 10th dress I tried on and I instantly knew it was the one," the bride gushed. But Calliopi's second dress held even more significance - a restored Elizabeth Arden masterpiece, the very same stunner her grandmother wore over 70 years ago on her own wedding day!

Surrounded by her immediate family and a trio of close relatives - her SIL and two first cousins - as bridesmaids clad in Show Me Your Mumu dresses, Calliopi had her glam squad commence in the gorgeous Jewel suite of the Lotte New York Palace. She accessorized her final look with a sweeping Mira Zwillinger veil, sparkling Tiffany studs, and chic Manolo Blahnik heels.

For her bridal bouquet, Calliopi went with an elegant, classic choice - "I chose white stephanotis," she described, with lush blooms by Floralies in NYC. Every detail was impeccably curated for her walk down the aisle towards her waiting groom.

Groom getting ready

Brian opted for a classic Thom Sweeney tux. He looked like a total dream boat as he prepped with his crew at the posh Lotte New York Palace Hotel. We can just imagine Brian excitedly telling his groomsmen, "I can't wait to see my bride!"

First Look

Could this first-look moment be any more romantic?! As Calliopi descended the stairs in her suite, she and Brian locked eyes and just melted into a puddle of love. "We both cried and fell in love with each other all over again," she gushed. Calliopi reminisced, "I couldn't wait to see my husband." Grab your tissues, because we're bawling! This is what fairytale weddings are made of.

Photoshoot before the ceremony

Using the upscale Lotte New York Palace as their backdrop, this gorgeous couple slayed their pre-ceremony photo session. Every snap oozes elegance and crazy amounts of love. As Calliopi put it, "We used the hotel as there were so many beautiful places to take pictures inside."

Ceremony

Prepare to swoon again! Calliopi and Brian's ceremony at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity pulled out all the stops for tradition and emotion. "In the Orthodox tradition, the wedding ceremony is actually two services in one. The first is the Service of Betrothal, during which the rings are exchanged. The second is the Service of the Crowning of the bride and groom in marriage, sharing the common cup and the joyous procession around the altar table. We had a traditional Greek Orthodox wedding service," Calliopi explained.

Not only did they exchange rings and get crowned per customs, but Calliopi wowed walking down the aisle to "Here Comes the Bride" as her man teared up. "I remember looking at Brian and my mom walking down the aisle and Brian shedding a tear," she reminisced. All the feels!

Wedding Venue & Decor

When it came to choosing their venue, the vibe was everything for this couple. As Calliopi explained, "We wanted it to feel right and we could really picture ourselves getting married there!" Clearly, their venue choices resonated perfectly to set the scene for their special day.

With a crisp white and gold palette, Calliopi and Brian's "traditional chic" vibe came through in all the most stylish ways. We're obsessed with their cute customized touches like the Greek "boubounieres" favors! As Calliopi described, "We designed "boubounieres" which are traditional Greek party favors with koufeta (Jordan almonds) inside in acrylic boxes for guests to take home."

Reception

This reception was the ultimate party! As Calliopi and Brian danced their first dance to "I Found Love" by Forest Blakk, you could just feel the love radiating. From Calliopi's nephew adorably crowdsurfing to her uncle breaking plates Greek-style, it was one big joyous celebration. And hello, cake by the legendary Ron Ben Israel? Get out! These two have impeccable taste.

In their own words: "We loved each and every one of our wedding vendors - they were so professional and brought our special day to life!" Ugh, we're in love with this super stylish wedding from start to finish!