The stunning venue of Ktima Hatzi, surrounded by lush gardens and blooming flowers, became the perfect setting for Elizabeth and Napoleon’s dreamy summer destination wedding. After Napoleon’s heartfelt proposal in New York, the couple exchanged vows of eternal love in an atmosphere filled with emotion and beauty. The vibrant floral arrangements, carefully chosen to harmonize with the estate’s natural blooms, added a unique and personal touch to the day’s décor. As the bride beautifully shared, «The seamless integration of the colors, floral design, style, cultural elements all point to a team that’s done this before—many times. Only those with a wealth of experience, like the professional team at Ktima Hatzi, were able to pull the wedding off with such perfection». From the touching ceremony to the enchanting reception under the starry summer sky, every moment of this special day was truly unforgettable. Come along as we relive their most beautiful day!
Captured by Jacobo Pachon Photography.
«Napoleon and I met in Chicago in September 2020 after an introduction from Napoleon’s father’s friend and my grandma. I left NYC to be with family in Chicago and Napoleon was living in Chicago after he received his master’s degree. Of course in the middle of the global pandemic, the most important thing to Greeks is that their grandchildren and children are married and this is all they talk about with their friends and family. So grandma comes to my home with a phone number and the name “Napoleon”. This was in the middle of the pandemic, before the vaccines came out, when everyone was stuck inside, but my sister decided to text Napoleon even though we had no idea who he was technically because there was no last name and eventually I found out about the text and agreed to meet for coffee. We decided to meet at a Starbucks for coffee because this was one of the only places that you could sit outside and still socialize. We stayed in Chicago for 6 months until I had to go back to NYC and Napoleon and I moved in together because it was obvious that the relationship was getting very serious. After dating for some time, Napoleon and I were celebrating the New Year in Vail Colorado on a ski trip. Napoleon proposed me very privately on New Years day.»
«For my wedding dress I wanted something that matched my philosophy and simplicity. I wanted something that reflected who I am. A dress that’s not ornate, but intricate. Not trendy, but modern. Not revealing, but alluring, the Scarlet gown felt like kismet when a friend recommended the NYC-based designer Danielle Frankel. The dress was the perfect embodiment of what I was looking for. The pleated silk wool column silhouette and corded lace felt modern and romantic. The gown was not the stereotypical bright, pure white and instead had a soft pearl hue. The detachable train caught the light beautifully. Its delicate lace and natural drape mirrored the effortless beauty of the landscape. I knew there was something that drew me to it- there was potentially a resonance with the Grecian simplicity of the Delphos gown. I had two other dresses that I had bought to change into. In the end, its delicate lace and natural drape made me feel both grounded and ethereal. I didn’t end up taking it off.»
My favorite reception decoration was the floral arch (lush, asymmetrical, frames the background and captures a scene in someone’s memory). There was a variety of flower types, roses, hydrangeas, pink blooms, yellow flowers and additional greenery. The arch had a natural, organic shape, with flowers cascading in a way that’s paradoxically not perfectly symmetrical, but it somehow was natural and looked wild and curated at the same time.
Elizabeth , Bride
«For style and general philosophy I wanted to avoid overdone styles and instead achieve effortless beauty through: being authentic over trendy. Understated elegance and beauty can be acheived through simplicity, quality and being authentic (complement the natural beauty). I wanted to avoid overdone styles in favor of effortless beauty which also came out in the other details as well (wedding dress, etc). Sage green, warm terracotta, soft blush pink, creamy off-white, earthy peach, pale yellow (authentic to the landscape, avoided garish colors and the balance of eathy tones and soft pastels) . Perfectly complements the natural beauty of a Greek summer, something that I adore.»
«For my bridal bouquet I chose an extension of the environment (organic, elegant, perfectly in place but effortless). Ikebana style translates to using a few high-quality blooms in the above colors. They were arranged with intention to reflect the same ethos and style goals. The flower arrangement adds a layer of refined simplicity, ensuring the focus remains on us (the couple getting married) and that the guests truly Felt the novelty of experiencing a wedding in Greece, on the Athenian coast, in the middle of summer, with visuals that somehow seem to perfectly remain consistent whether they were at the ceremony and then at the reception. The focus was not on: over-the-top embellishments and being ‘extra’ – it was an overall sensory experience that they will remember.»
The advice I would give to a bride who is now planning her wedding is: It’s your day. Everyone will have an opinion, but in the end it’s yours and no one else’s. If you don’t know what you want, someone else is going to tell you what you want and will take that experience away from you.
Elizabeth , Bride
«We finished taking our pictures, and were ready to walk out to the reception. The DJ started announcing us as newlyweds and we walked out of the doors to the back of the venue. We stepped out hand in hand, a wave of emotion hit me as I saw our guests—childhood friends, relatives, coworkers who’d become close friends, my extended and nuclear family. Everyone together, their faces created this mosaic of my life’s chapters. It felt surreal, as if I’d lived multiple lives in one lifetime, now converging in this single moment. People who’d never met, who’d never shared the same space were suddenly side by side, celebrating an important day of Napoleon’s and my life. Yet, in that same moment, I felt happy but also a sad. I started thinking of those who couldn’t be there and who were missing from this ‘picture’: my grandmother who couldn’t travel, my late grandfather who I spent nearly every summer in Greece with, dear friends who dreamed of coming to Greece with me since we were young. Overwhelmed, I felt like I was floating through a dream. Tears welled up as I ran to my sister, her baby in her arms, and broke down, sobbing. Everyone who’d ever impacted me had come together to support our new chapter. It was a unique moment of connection. It was one of those few times where it felt like time had stopped. It’s a memory that serves a reminder of what truly matters: the people who shape our lives.»
«The seamless integration of the colors, floral design, style, cultural elements all point to a team that’s done this before—many times. Only those with a wealth of experience, like the professional team at Ktima Hatzi, were able to pull the wedding off with such perfection. If you think it’s easy to translate a client’s vision into reality, just think about the colors. The perfection comes from years of working with diverse palettes and understanding how colors interact in natural light, especially in a setting as dynamic as the sunset in the summer (is not static and moves quickly through time). Their experience allowed them to create a day that feels effortless and perfect, embodying the paradox of simplicity we’ve discussed, while ensuring every detail was meticulously handled behind the scenes.»
«This all brings me to the coda (final reflection) – this entire curated experience, decoration, captures the paradox of simplicity. It took immense complexity to make something look effortless. Guests left the wedding enchanted, but there was no consistency in what people told me after about precisely what it was about the wedding. And it’s most likely because of this paradox. They saw the final result, a wedding that looks like it came together effortlessly, with colors, flowers and styles that feel perfect for the moment. But no one could see the layers of expertise, editing and intention that went into it. The complexity is hidden in plain sight.»
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