Family Visits Lead to Happily Everafter

Years before Nicole and Richard met, their parents were friends and members of the same Naples, Fla. country club.

On February 14, 2009, when both Richard and Nicole were in Naples visiting their families, their folks decided to invite them to a Valentine’s Dinner the Moorings Country Club was hosting. Richard and Nicole immediately hit it off, not knowing that Richard’s mother orchestrated the couple meeting this particular evening all along. Nicole was particularly impressed with Richard’s passion for volunteering and helping others, something the couple now enjoy doing together in their spare time.

“I ended up sitting next to Rick and the rest is history,” Nicole says. “He took my breath away. I knew God used Rick’s Mother as a vessel to bring us together.”

The pair spent the rest of the week in Naples playing tennis and getting to know each other better. Since Richard lived in Virginia Beach, Va. and Nicole in Chicago, a long distance romance began. But the long distance didn’t last long. By May, Richard and Nicole were visiting LaJolla, Calif. for a family wedding. On a Saturday afternoon, Richard walked into their hotel room overlooking the Pacific Ocean and proposed.

“He got down on one knee and said ‘Will you marry me?’” Nicole recalls. “‘Yes, of course,’ I screamed. He gave me the diamond and my heart didn’t stop pounding.”

Nicole and Richard’s wedding was a family-centered affair that combined Greek traditions with a French flair.

The bride and groom exchanged vows at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, a place that was particularly special because Nicole’s grandmother was baptized there in 1913. Nicole wore a breathtaking Vera Wang Luxe silk organdy and platinum satin modified mermaid gown. Her bouquet featured white Polo Roses from South America with teardrop crystal sprayed stems tied in an ivory ribbon. Nicole’s maid of honor carried a delicate arrangement of ivory Polo Roses, blue hydrangeas, and stephanotis with diamond pins for added detail.

“When I walked down the aisle, I praised God for being at the center of my marriage and said ‘Thank you for giving me the desire of my heart,’” Nicole says. “It was a honor and blessing to participate in the sacred sacrament of holy matrimony.”

Following the ceremony, festivities kicked off with a celebration at the Elysian Hotel Chicago. Reception décor included black chivari chairs, silver peek-a-boo tablecloths, and elegant votives. For a touch of sparkle, white Casablanca lilies, white hydrangeas and Nile green amaranthus with teardrop crystal strands cascading from sterling silver compotes were placed at each table.

“I played off the room décor,” the bride says. “They had these incredible hanging crystal chandeliers.”

The couple’s decadent three-course dinner menu included pan-seared sea bass, slow roasted beef filet and asparagus, roasted baby carrots and fingerling potatoes. For dessert, guests indulged themselves with chocolate wedding cake featuring dark chocolate ganache. Each slice of wedding cake was decorated with a special photo cake topper of the couple. As an added treat, a sweets table boasted an array of Greek goodies, including homemade Spartan baklava, and thiples—yummy strips of dough fried in hot oil and drizzled liberally with honey.

A traditional Greek band playing live bouzouki music kept the crowd on their feet. The celebration continued with an exclusive after-party on the second floor of the Elysian that included 40 of Nicole and Richard’s closest friends and family. For the late-night festivities, Nicole changed out of her gown and into a short, three-tier lace dress.

“It was unbelievable,” Nicole says of her wedding day. “I enjoyed every minute and didn’t worry about a thing.”

Something Old
Nicole’s great grandmother Regina’s antique earrings

Something New
Hanky panky lace underwear

Something Borrowed
Nicole’s grandmother Georgia’s handkerchief

Something Blue
Nicole’s grandmother Georgia’s handkerchief

Skip to: Their Romance

Don’t forget to enjoy the moment!

Enjoy your family, friends and the festivities.