Alethia Bapis & Chris Chatzis
It was destiny…
December 2, 2006

Wedding: Hellenic Orthodox Church
Reception: The Grand America
Photography by: Swensen Photography

View Chris & Alethia’s Wedding Pictures at TheBrideandGroom.com

Destiny

It was destiny for Alethia and Chris to find each other. They met on a trip in Florida.  As sparks ignited, they discovered they lived just 40 minutes away from each other. 

The Proposal

While on vacation in New York City, Chris asked Alethia to take a jog with him through Central Park. After a while of running, Chris suggested they take a rest overlooking a beautful lake. Chris proceeded to get down on one knee and ask Alethia to marry him.  

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Planning the Wedding

Their family was very important in planning the wedding.  Many of the details were suggested by family.  Most of their guests traveled to Utah to celebrate the wedding.  To add a personal touch and show the bride and groom’s appreciation for coming to the wedding, she made guest bags that guests received when they checked into their hotel. The bad included things to do, tourist information, water, snacks, and Utah memorabilia. 

The Dress

Alethia looked stunning in her Anne Barge designed gown. It was pearl colored and strapless with lace overlap to top it off – simple, yet stunning. It was the perfect dress for her. 

The Cake

The elegant wedding theme came together in a chocolate and vanilla flavored wedding cake.  The cake was simply decorated with big silver ribbons.  

The Flowers

To add to the winter wedding theme, Alethia selected white flowers with many accents.  The table centerpieces included ornaments in silver and light blue. 

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The Wedding Ceremony – Hellenic Orthodox Church in Salt Lake City, Utah

Alethia and Chris were married at the beautiful Hellenic Orthodox Church in Salt Lake City, Utah. Alethia grew up in Utah, which inspired a winter wedding theme. They picked the Hellenic Orthodox church because of Alethia’s childhood memories.

The Wedding Reception – Grand America Hotel

Their wedding reception was held at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. Alethia wanted an elegant winter theme throughout the wedding day. The entire room looked elegant: the chairs covered with silver ribbon, the tables had centerpieces with white flowers, and the Christmas tree decorated with ornaments. Everything turned out exactly how she wanted.

A Personal Touch

One unique thing about their wedding was how the guests found their table.  To find what table they were sitting at, there was a Christmas tree with silver box ornaments with the bride and groom’s name and date engraved.  Each ornament had the guest’s name and their table number. Guests loved this detail. 

Get the Party Started

Wedding guests were treated to a winter salad with berries and a plate with beef and fish.

After dinner guest enjoyed the night by dancing. The bride and groom danced their first dance to a Greek song that we call Se Agapo (I Love You).  The best part of the day was having all their family and friends in one room dancing together.

What Made Their Wedding Unforgettable 

Their wedding was perfect. All of their family and friends traveled near and far to be there.  The most important detail was that all of the guests had a great time and that it was an unforgettable day.

It was an emotional day as the bride and groom said goodbye to one life and started another.  Looking at their parents and families made it even more emotional.  The love they felt from everyone around them made it the best day ever! 

One Thing Alethia Forgot To Do …

Everything went perfect that day except forgetting to thank one of the most important people, her dad.  Thank you Dad! 

Wedding Vendors

• Wedding Cake: Mackie at the Salt Lake Country Club
• Caterer: The Grand America
• Bridal Gown Shop: Alta Moda
• Event Coordinator/Designer: Kristyn Sydorko
• Favors: Alethia Bapis (she did her own)
• Floral Designer: Val Rasmussen  Stella Posy
• Hair/Makeup: Jennifer Feroah and Lunatic Fringe Salon
• Music:
  • Live Band: Joe Muscalino Band
  • DJ: George Katsoulaki
  • Accoustic Guitar: Michael Lucarelli
• Photographer: Swensen Photography
• Videography: Iris Videos
• Ceremony Location: Hellenic Orthodox Church
• Reception Location: Grand America Hotel
• Invitations: Calligrapher Ron Tate

Mairi Leining and Ravi Adusumalli
Two Entirely Different Ceremonies
September 9, 2006

Wedding Ceremony / Reception: Log Haven & Grand America
Photography by: Davina Fear Photography

View Ravi and Mairi’s Wedding Photo Gallery at TheBrideandGroom.com

How You Met

West High School in 1991 – we started out as best friends and things evolved over the years although we were often in different places.  For college, I was at Rice and he was at Cornell.  Then he moved to NYC  followed by San Francisco  and Hong Kong for business. I moved to Georgetown for medical school, Boston for residency, Lake Tahoe for my first job….in 2005 we finally almost lived in the same place: he was in the Silicon Valley and I was in Tahoe.  Now we live in both places.   

First Date

Jr Prom

How He Proposed

Ravi proposed with a scavenger hunt leading to roses, 100 candles, wine, chocolate and eventually the ring in our home in South Lake Tahoe, California.

The Wedding

Best Parts of the Day

There are too many great moments to pick one.    Of course, the vows and the kiss.  In the evening,  our high school friends surprised us by singing “One” by U2 but changed the lyrics to make fun of us.   I also loved dancing with all of our friends/family in the Grand America courtyard.  At the end, we jumped in the fountain.

What Went Perfect/What Went Wrong

Perfect - we had so much fun (I expected to be worried about details but instead everything flowed and we had an all day party with our favorite people.

Wrong – it almost rained during the evening ceremony… very windy but the weather added to the drama of the Indian ceremony.  We had to move the appetizers inside.

What was your “big splurge”

My big splurge was my Angel Sanchez wedding dress from Mark Ingrams Atelier in NYC.  

Most Important Detail

Most important detail – we really wanted people to have a great time so we ordered lots of appetizers, a chocolate fountain, open bar, etc….many people told us it was the most fun they had ever had at a wedding.

What did you do to save money or add your personal touch?

Our morning ceremony was very personal.  My older sister, Catherine, wrote and conducted the ceremony; our golden retriever, Sundance, was one of our flower girls; we had a bagpiper and several other Scottish traditions since my mom in from Edinburgh; we wrote our own vows; my father plays the banjo and joined a bluegrass band on stage. 

In the evening, we had a South Indian ceremony to honor Ravi’s family followed by Indian appetizers and a buffet partially cooked by Ravi’s aunt, who is an Indian chef.

What influenced the theme, location, music and other elements of your wedding?

We wanted to represent both cultures but most importantly, represent our relationship.  During the early years of our relationship, we listened to a lot of music together/went to many concerts.  So, for our save-the-date we had concert tickets made (using an internet site).  Our morning ceremony invitation was a CD (also made using an Internet site) with several of our significant songs and we used the insert/CD itself to list the wedding information such as venue, date, etc…  

I love the mountains and wanted to get married in the mountains (we really liked the intimate and rustic atmosphere at Log Haven).  Ravi and his family wanted the Indian ceremony to be big and fancy, so we chose Grand America and sent invitations, which were made in India.  We had a South Indian priest conduct the ceremony.

Wedding Dress

My wedding dress was an Angel Sanchez dress from Mark Ingrams Atelier in NYC.   My sari for the ceremony and gagra for the dinner/party were from Southern India.

Wedding Colors

Light blue – but really a multitude of colors between the two ceremonies

Wedding Cake

The wedding cake was a chocolate multi-layer, decorated with white and red roses – absolutely delicious, even one year later.

Wedding Flowers

I love sunflowers and wildflowers and I wanted lots of colors

Wedding Decor

Each location had its own decor/personality.  We didn’t add much more than the flowers with the exception of the stage for the Indian ceremony (in the Grand America main courtyard).

Menu Selections

Morning:  smoked salmon benedict,   fresh fruit, chocolate fountain, mimosas  by Log Haven.  
Evening:   Indian appetizers/buffett by Grand America and Ravi’s aunt.

Reception Entertainment

Morning: bag piper, bluegrass band
Evening: DJ, Indian drummer

First Dance Song

All I Want Is You by U2

Honeymoon Location

Peru/Ecuador.    We hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu followed by a cruise in the Galapagos Islands

Wedding Ceremony – what do you remember most? 

The morning ceremony was very personal with my sister conducting the wedding, a bagpiper, our own vows, our dog, my mom had us drink whiskey from a special cup (Scottish tradition),  the weather was perfect, we had a blue grass band in the background, the food was delicious.

The evening ceremony was very powerful and symbolic from the clothing to the priest, the steps of the ceremony, having our parents sit next to us on the special stage, the Indian drummer.

Wedding Reception – what was your favorite part?

Our big reception was in the evening in one of the Grand America ballrooms.  I loved the dancing – everyone let loose.

What made your wedding unique, emotional, funny, outrageous or all the above?

Unique because we have known each other for so long, and although complicated at times, our relationship has spanned many years and many different locations:  NY, Houston, Washington DC, Boston, Hong Kong,  San Francisco, Lake Tahoe – we had friends and family present from all over the world who had plenty of stories with which to roast/toast us.   Our wedding day was also unique because we had two entirely different ceremonies, which perfectly represented us. 

Initially, I just wanted to either elope or do something really simple.  I was an atypical bride in that I never really imagined my wedding day beyond being somewhere in the mountains…  it was really important to Ravi to have a ceremony.   I never guessed how much fun I could have at a wedding and now I tell everyone that they have to plan a ceremony – totally worth it!    Also, Davina Fear is an absolutely amazing photographer who managed to capture all of the emotions, colors, cultures, moods of the day.   I would recommend her to everyone!

Wedding Vendors

Ceremony Location:  Log Haven, Grand America.   We chose SLC since we both grew up there and our parents still live there.
Ceremony Officiant: My sister Catherine and a South Indian Priest
Reception Location: Log Haven, Grand America
Cake Designer: Grand America
Floral Designer: Twigs Flower Co ….great to work with!!!
Hair / Makeup: Salon NV:  Celeste did my hair and make-up and she is awesome
Music:  Bag piper = Andrew Morrill.   Blue Sage Band (blue grass)
Photographer:  Davina Fear - totally amazing!!!!
Videographer:  STC Digital
Wedding Invitations:  Concert tickets (our save the date): admitone.com;   invite CD’s: mixonic.com; reply postcards: vistaprint.com; Indian invitations from India 

Elegance – Refinement, grace, and beauty in movement, appearance, or manners. Tasteful opulence in form, decoration, or presentation.

Class – Elegance of style, taste, and manner.

Luxury- Indulgence in and enjoyment of rich, comfortable, and sumptuous living.

ELEGANCE, CLASS, LUXURY – The Grand America

Photo Courtesy of Swensen Photography

With its white Bethel-granite exterior, this 24-story luxury hotel dominates the skyline a few blocks south of downtown. Inside the beveled-glass and brass doors, you step into a world of Italian marble floors and walls and pure old-world style—think English wool carpets, French furniture and tapestries, and colorful Murano-glass chandeliers. The posh guest rooms average 700 square feet. Most have views and small balconies. This is a great place to sit back with room service and revel in some pampering. The big outdoor pool and indoor spa are among the best in the city. – Fodors.com

Photo Courtesy of Swensen Photography

Located in the heart of Salt Lake City lies the valleys only 5 diamond hotel.  This beautiful hotel has everything a bride needs to help her create her perfect wedding.

Your wedding will be a lasting memory of one of your life’s most important milestones.  Let us make that memory truly extraordinary. The Grand America Hotel promises magical settings, exquisite details and exemplary personal service backed by a rich history of excellence. Venues  at the Grand are unmatched in style and design. Choose from an intimate reception in the Grand Salon, with its Italian marble accents, French doors and access to a private Renaissance-style garden patio, or entertain guests at a grand banquet in the Imperial Ballroom, dancing beneath hand-blown Murano chandeliers.  The Garden Courtyard, with its impeccably landscaped parterre beds and classic water fountains, sets the scene for a romantic day or night wedding. This Five Diamond Hotel is the perfect compliment to the glamor and class of the ring adorning the bride’s left hand.  As the only hotel in Salt Lake City with the prestigious honor of AAA Five Diamond recognition, you are sure to experience the difference that designation makes in service, food and overall ambiance.  Our team of Executive Chefs are available to create custom menus including Indian, Cajun, Persian, Halal and more to make your culinary experience one to remember.  With an amazing on site Pastry Kitchen, we can create everything from small chocolate truffle favors to a wedding cake that reaches over five feet tall and tastes just as spectacular as it looks. – GrandAmerica.com

Photo Courtesy of Swensen Photography

The Grand America is the host of the 2012 Winter Bridal Extravaganza on January 14th.  This is one show you do not want to miss.  Over 125 of Utah’s very best wedding professionals that cater to all types of brides and budgets in will be on hand in Utah’s most luxurious location.

Save Time and Money – Pre Register To Attend Today

Photo Courtesy of Christine Olsen Photography

Photo Courtesy of Swensen Photography

Planning your dream wedding comes with a lot of hard work, decisions, talent & creative ideas.  Making a decision on your wedding colors is one of the first decisions you will make.  Once your colors are picked the planning can begin.  Color coordinating your wedding is a must.  Wedding Dreamer shared this fun wedding color scheme from one of their 2011 weddings with us.  We thought it might peak many of our brides interests as the color scheme might be something you are considering.  Tiffany blue & red were this brides choice of colors.  This wedding was held at Noahs located in South Jordan.

Wedding Dreamer was able to create the perfect look & feel & taste that this bride was looking for.  Not only does Wedding Dreamer handle wedding planning & coordinating but they offer a variety of other services including: Flowers, decor, catering & much more.  Be sure to visit their website HERE to see more of their work or to find out more about their services.

Be sure to come and visit Wedding Dreamer at the upcoming bridal show, January 14th at The Grand America.

Pre-Register for the show HERE.

Mark your calendars for the wedding planning spectacular next Saturday, January 19th at The Grand America Hotel.  You don’t want to miss the biggest wedding event of the season.

Here are just a few things you don’t want to miss out on:

The first 150 Brides win a 2 night get away

Free Wedding Magazines for Brides that attend

Bridal Fashion Show

Wedding ideas & inspirations

See the latest styles & wedding trends

Awesome Prizes

Amazing food samples

Get beauty tips from incredible professionals

Meet unique vendors for your special day that you won’t find any where else

Plan your honeymoon

Meet & Hire wedding professionals all at one location to plan your wedding

Over 125 of Utah’s finest Wedding Professionals

One lucky couple will win a night stay at The Grand America in one of their suites

One lucky couple will win the ultimate honeymoon courtesy of All Points Travel to the All Inclusive El Dorado Royale in the Mayan Riviera

Picture Yourself Here!!!

You don’t want to miss out on the wedding event of the season!!

Click HERE to Pre-Register

Photo Courtesy of Terra Cooper Photography

Photo Courtesy of Terra Cooper Photography

Photo Courtesy of Terra Cooper Photography

Photo Courtesy of Terra Cooper Photography

Photo Courtesy of Terra Cooper Photography

Photo Courtesy of Terra Cooper Photography

Photo Courtesy of Terra Cooper Photography

January may seem like it is still forever away, but with the hustle and bustle of the upcoming holidays, the new year will be here before we know it! With the new year comes Bridal Show Season here at The Bridal Extravaganza!  We will be having TWO shows in January: The Northern Utah Bridal Show on Saturday, January 16th, 2016 and the extremely popular Grand America Bridal Show on Saturday, January 23rd!

WEDDING VENDORS! We want you to come and be a part of our shows! The Bridal Extravaganza is the #1 wedding show producer in Utah. We have more brides come to our shows looking to book wedding vendors than any other show in the state!

To learn more click HERE!

VENDORS CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR OUR NORTHERN UTAH BRIDAL SHOW!

VENDORS CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR OUR GRAND AMERICA BRIDAL SHOW!

BRIDES CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE NORTHERN UTAH BRIDAL SHOW!

BRIDES CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE GRAND AMERICA BRIDAL SHOW!

The Grand America Bridal Extravaganza has always been the biggest and best Winter Bridal Showcase and is located at one of Utah’s most luxurious locations! This year’s amazing show on Saturday was no exception! With over 90 of Utah’s best wedding professionals set up with some outstanding booths and over 800 brides attending, this show was even bigger and better than we anticipated!

A big THANK YOU to all of the participating vendors and to all of you beautiful brides-to-be that attended! Congratulations to everyone that won some fabulous prizes, and we hope everyone had a great time and were able to take care of most, if not all, of your wedding planning needs. There was so much to see and hopefully you got some wonderful ideas. Maybe (hopefully) you even booked some vendors, or at least decided who and what you want!

Stay tuned for more post show details and pictures from the Grand America Bridal Show!  For now, check out this adorable couple who attended the show!  So cute and we LOVE their shirts!

If you are wondering what to do now, check out THIS blog post that gives some post show tips and advice!