Providence Wedding Celebrates Greek Traditions

Amy & George

September 4, 2016 • Providence, Rhode Island

By Courtney Raymond | Wedding photography by Shoreshotz Photography

For Amy Carbon and George Kontoulis, their wedding day was about more than the joining together of two people—it was also about celebrating the union of two cultures. Incorporating some of George’s Greek Orthodox traditions into the ceremony and reception proved to be an interesting and fun experience for all invited.

After the nuptials during a traditional Greek Orthodox mass at the Kontoulis’ family church in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, there was more Greek heritage to come. “During our first dance, it’s tradition for guests to throw money at you to signify good luck and prosperity,” notes Amy. “Then, with our immediate family, we danced the Kalamatiano, which means ‘how beautiful our bride is’ and I led it. Eventually, everyone was on the dance floor even if they weren’t Greek, which was amazing.”

The uniqueness of Amy and George’s big day did not stop there. The couple held their reception at the Providence Marriott Downtown which had its own surprises in store. During cocktail hour, guests enjoyed beverages at AQUA, the city’s award-winning outdoor lounge with the largest and only connecting indoor/outdoor pools, as well as fire pits and music. “We looked at a lot of places,” says Amy. “The Marriott was something different and we had spent a lot of time in the area since George went to college in Providence.”

As beautiful as it was, however, Amy did not use the water at AQUA as her “something blue,” opting instead for something particularly meaningful. “I had a heart sewn in the inside of my wedding dress made from my grandmother’s shirt so she could be there with me,” she says. “That was my something blue.”

For the groom, sharing a meal and a private moment with his new wife was the most magical part of the day. “George said eating dinner at our sweetheart table was his favorite part. The world stopped for a few seconds,” says Amy.