PLEASE CLICK HERE HONEYMOON REGISTRY

Hello and welcome to our wedding website!

We are excited to announce that our wedding ceremony will be held at the Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church in Haverhill, MA on January 9th, 2016. Followed by our reception at the elegant Black Swan Country Club located in Georgetown, MA. 

We hope that all our close friends and family members are able to join us on this joyful occasion. Our reception will be a mixture of Portuguese and Greek with lively music, excellent food and a good time! We are excited to see the fusion between both our cultures on this day and forever. 

With a large wedding comes a very large bridal party! We are honored to have the following friends & family as members of our bridal party:

Matron of Honor & sister of the bride - Kristina Cliffe 

Best Man - Thomas Kakavitsas

Bridesmaids - Ashley Mardis, Cassandra Whitney, Jennifer Silviera, Nicole Gargano, Kelly Vieira, Nicole Tedoldi, Kimberly Topping, Cristina Silva, & Christina Tsantarliotis 

Groomsmen - Ricky Mendoza, Adam Conceicao, Stathi Papanikolaou, Evangelos Souliotis, Theo Souliotis, Taso Souliotis , Angelo Souliotis, Matthew Cliffe, Garrett Whitney, & Philip Vieira 

Thank You for making your way to the honeymoon portion of our website! 

As most of you know Tommy and I have been living together for the past couple of years. We have aquired most of what you need for home life. So we have decided to skip the traditional un-wrapping of gifts at the bridal shower and spend more time with all of you. We love to travel and with your help we can have the honeymoon of our dreams. 

Tommy & I would be delighted to have you make a contribution to our dream vacation in lieu of traditional bridal shower gifts. Thank you! 

Please Click Here to see our Registry!

Our ceremony will be filled with wonderful Greek traditions that may include:

The Ceremony Table

The priest performs the ceremony standing in front of a decorated table placed in the middle of the Soleas area of the church. Upon the table is the Holy Gospel, a cup of wine, the rings and the stefana (wedding crowns). Either side two candles are lit as a reminder that Christ is the Light of the world. A typical ceremony lasts for about an hour and includes strong references to the Trinity with many of the rituals performed three times.

The Blessing Of The Rings

The wedding rings are traditionally blessed twice. The priest will bless the rings when the couple get engaged after which they wear the rings on their left hands until the wedding day. The rings are blessed a second time during the first part of the wedding ceremony. The priest takes the rings and with them makes the sign of the cross on the foreheads of both the bride and groom, signifying the equality of man and woman in the eyes of God. The rings are placed on the couple’s right hands, after which the Koumbaro or Koumbara steps forward, and crossing his or her hands first, takes the rings and exchanges them (over and under) on the same fingers three times.

The Crowning Ceremony

The bride and groom are adorned with two stefana (crowns), connected by a single strand of ribbon. The adornment signifies the eternal union of the couple and the nobility of marriage. This is the climax and focal point of the ceremony. The Koumbaro or Koumbara exchange the crowns between the bride and groom three times whilst the priest and chanter sing.

The Dance Of Isaiah

Following the crowning ceremony, the priest leads the bride and groom in their first steps as a married couple in a procession around the ceremony table three times. This is a symbolic dance of joy. The Koumbaro and Koumbara also follows in the profession keeping the stefana in place. It is also the custom at this point in the ceremony for the guests to throw rice at the couple to bless them with fertility.

Removal Of The Crowns

During a prayer the priest removes the stefana from the bride and groom. Most married couples keep their stefana, and it’s important to keep the connecting ribbon in tact as it represents the lasting unity of the bride and groom.

Sugared Almonds (Koufeta)

Symbolizing the bitterness and sweetness of life, the sugared almonds are presented in an odd number which is indivisible, just as the couple shall remain undivided. The white color of the sweets symbolizes purity, the egg shape represents fertility, and the hardness of the almond the endurance of marriage.

At the church the koufeta (almonds) on the ceremony table are given to single people to put under their pillows that night and dream of their future husband or wife. At the reception they are given as party favors to the guests.

The Money Dance 

Traditionally a focal point during the reception, the bride and groom dance holding a handkerchief between them and as they do this family and guests pin money to the clothes of the couple or sometimes toss money into the air. From this point on, the very lively reception continues with music and dancing until the very early hours of the morning.

The Mother City, home to soaring Table Mountain, golden beaches and bountiful vineyards, is an old pro at capturing people’s hearts.

Why I Love Cape Town

By Simon Richmond, Author

Mother Nature surpassed herself when crafting the Mother City. Whether jogging along Sea Point Promenade, climbing up Lion’s Head in the dawn light, clambering over giant boulders at Sandy Bay or driving the amazing coastal roads down to Cape Point, I never fail to feel my spirits soar as I take in the breathtakingly beautiful vistas. You don’t need to break a sweat; sipping wine on a historic farm in Constantia or enjoying a picnic at an outdoor concert in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are equally memorable ways to commune with Cape Town’s great outdoors.

Natural Wonders

Table Mountain National Park defines the city. The flat-topped mountain is the headline act, but there are many other equally gorgeous natural landscapes within the park’s extensive boundaries. Cultivated areas, such as the historic Company’s Gardens, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Green Point Park, also make exploring the city a pleasure. Follow the lead of locals by taking full advantage of the abundant outdoor space. Learn to surf; go hiking or mountain biking; tandem paraglide off Lion’s Head; abseil off the top of Table Mountain – these are just a few of the many activities on offer.

Proudly Multicultural

Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and traditional African beliefs coexist in this proudly multicultural city. Given South Africa’s troubled history, such harmony has been hard won and remains fragile: practically everyone has a fascinating, sometimes heartbreaking story to tell. It’s a city of determined pioneers – from the Afrikaner descendants of the original Dutch colonists and the majority coloured community to the descendants of European Jewish immigrants and more recent Xhosa (isiXhosa) migrants from the Eastern Cape. They all bring unique flavours to Cape Town’s rich Creole melting pot.

Design Delights

The World Design Capital 2014 is in the process of using innovative design to transform the city. It’s already one good-looking metropolis, from the brightly painted facades of the Bo-Kaap and the bathing chalets of Muizenberg to the Afro-chic decor of its restaurants and bars, and the striking street art and innovation incubators of The Fringe and Woodstock. The shack communities of the Cape Flats are a sobering counterpoint, but even in these deprived suburbs there are enterprising projects that put food from organic market gardens on tables, or stock gift shops with attractive souvenirs.

Beyond the City

Wrenching yourself away from the magnetic mountain and all the delights of the Cape Peninsula is a challenge, but within an hour you can exchange urban landscapes for the charming towns, villages and bucolic estates of Winelands destinations such as Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Hermanus is a prime whale-watching location and also a base from which to organise shark-cave diving. Further afield, the delights of the Garden Route unfold with more inspiring scenery to be viewed on thrilling drives down the coast and over mountain passes.