After bonding over Hootie & The Blowfish at a party, fate took its course for Dana Moretti and Athanasios “Tommy” Trastelis. “‘Only Wanna Be with You’ came on during the party, and we both sang along and started a flirty relationship from there on out,” recalls Dana when reminiscing about first meeting her future husband.
Coming home late from work one night, Dana was met with a path of special memories and meaningful items arranged by Tommy as she walked into their home. Decorated with sparklers and all things collected within their three-and-a-half-year relationship, Tommy got down on one knee as their future first dance song – “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain – played in the background and they celebrated with Champagne. “The proposal was so personal… I loved it!” shares Dana.
With a clear vision in mind for their nuptials, Dana and Tommy focused on finding the perfect venue at which to host their nuptials, taking price, location, and reviews into account when planning their special day. “We wanted somewhere close to our church that had beautiful spots for pictures,” admits the bride. Thus, the ceremony took place in front of 210 friends and family members at the groom’s family’s Greek Orthodox church. A beautiful custom aisle runner by The Original Runner Company led the way to the altar, and as the pair said “I do,” loved ones tossed rose petals in celebration.
Attendees then gathered for a cocktail hour to enjoy a violinist and keyboardist before the merriment of the night continued into the reception. The design of the aisle runner from there ceremony was brought into the reception seating chart, as well as menus and a custom floor wrap, which completely transformed the room to achieve the look the bride desired. “I wanted our wedding to be romantic and sophisticated,” confirms Dana. “We chose an array of ivory and nude flowers to keep the vibe light and airy, and I kept all the décor white with gold accents.”
Floral arrangements displayed ivory, nude, and dusty pink blooms to further continue the luxurious and romantic essence that the couple desired. Presenting four different styles of centerpieces, two large estate tables for family members, halo arrangements and floral-wrapped tables for the other attendees, the room was lush with blooms and warm, gold accents. “There was no stone unturned… All aspects reflected my personality of being extremely detail-oriented and glamorous,” notes the bride.
Guests indulged in an array of fare, which featured a Surf n Turf entrée followed by a series of desserts including the four-tiered carrot and red velvet cake, as well as coffee and breakfast sandwiches to wrap up the festivities. As a fun activity, a Polaroid camera gave loved ones the opportunity to take photos in front of a custom backdrop that included three cherry blossom trees paired with cascading roses.
“My most memorable moment was when the reception ended,” admits the bride. “My husband and I sat down in the hotel lobby and scarfed down the exit breakfast sandwiches together. We took selfies, and laughed and kissed. It was the best moment, just the two of us.”