Weddings

Sun Herald

Sunday February 11, 2007

By Andrew Taylor

Who: Kiriakoula Karathanassis and Luke Scerri.

Where: The Star Room, IMAX Theatre Complex, Cockle Bay.

FRIENDS can make woeful Cupids, but Paula Gentilini can claim a success after matching Luke Scerri, a work colleague, to her friend Kiriakoula Karathanassis.

Paula arranged for the couple to meet at a New Year's Eve fancy dress party in 2003. The theme was Hugh Hefner's pyjama party so it was no surprise that Luke and Koula should end up as a couple. On their third anniversary, Luke had planned to propose to Koula while on holiday at Port Douglas. He had obtained all the necessary permits from parents, and planned to hide a ring in a pipi and spring it on Koula during a beach stroll. That plan was foiled by a lack of pipis.

Luke then decided to surprise Koula with the ring while snorkelling. However, a grey, miserable day and stinger season meant wetsuits were required, and anyone who's tried to hide an engagement ring under tight Neoprene will realise that Luke had again backed the wrong horse.

Finally, he settled on a walk along the beach at sunset, with the engagement ring in his pocket.

Koula could hardly contain her excitement when Luke asked her to marry him. "I cried and jumped on him and shouted 'Yes, yes, yes!'," she says. "I bought my first wedding magazine the very next morning."

Koula, who chooses to remain coy about their ages, says she shocked everyone, including herself, by arriving a few minutes early to her wedding at The Annunciation of Our Lady Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Redfern.

Luke and Koula entered the reception to The Throne Room from Star Wars and then performed their bridal dance to Elvis Presley's I Can't Help Falling In Love With You. At the entrance to their reception, Koula and Luke had a signing book and photos of their parents and grandparents on their wedding days.

Koula says no plates were smashed by her relatives, but there was plenty of Greek dancing and a few sore heads the next day.

Koula and Luke spent their wedding night at the Park Hyatt in The Rocks.

"The first thing we did was pour a glass of champagne and order a bowl of pasta and a plate of hot chips,"she says. "We were too nervous throughout the whole evening to eat anything and by that time we were famished."

The couple sunned themselves in the Mediterranean during their two-month honeymoon.

The dress: Koula wore an empire waistline, full-lace gown with long train, by Spanish designer Maggie Sottero. The gown was beaded with pearls and Swarovski crystals, with a full-length, pearl-fringed veil.

The flowers: Koula carried a classic tear-drop bouquet of blooming ivory roses, lisianthus and Singapore orchids, by B&M Florist.

The cake: A vanilla and chocolate mud swirl, two-tiered cake, finished with pearls and sugared roses with a splash of green leaves, by Des Barmakelis from Marrickville Quality Cakes.

The food: The menu included grilled Tasmanian salmon on a bed of seaweed linguini covered in Shanghai vinegar butter, a Cointreau and strawberry sorbet and a vanilla bean panna cotta with raspberry puree, garnished with seasonal berries for dessert.

The wedding party: Koula's sister, Vicky Karthans, served as her matron of honour. Alexia Karthans and Bianca Profilio were Koula's bridesmaids.

Q&A

What was the highlight?

Luke: "Walking into my wedding reception, hand-in-hand with my new wife, to the sound of the Star Wars theme."

What do you love most about your partner?

Luke: "Koula shows me the world from a different perspective. We always have fun and laugh together and I look forward to sharing the rest of my life experiences with her."

BEST WEDDINGS

Who: Patricia Pirozzi and Josip Zaja.

Ceremony: St Anthony's Croatian Catholic Church, Summer Hill.

Reception: Waterview function centre, Homebush.

Patricia declined to be Josip's date to his year 10 formal, but five years later she relented and the couple began dating. More than 200 guests saw them perform their bridal waltz to Aerosmith's I Don't Want To Miss A Thing and a show by magician Adam Dean. The next day, Josip's parents put on a spit roast for the wedding guests.

Picture: Divinity Photography

Who: Rachael Hammond and Martin Robertson.

Ceremony and reception: Simmer on the Bay, Walsh Bay.

Martin waited an astonishing 12 years to make Rachael his wife. "Marriage was never a priority for either of us," Rachael said. "But when Martin proposed on my birthday in June last year it seemed like the perfect thing to do." For the ceremony, Martin's mates dressed in white suits as a tribute to their cricket team, the Mighty Ducks. A polaroid booth provided entertainment for the 75 guests.

Picture: Patrick Boland

Who: Melissa Kirchner and Jason Brock

Ceremony: All Saints Anglican Church, Ainslie.

Reception: Rydges Capital Hill, Forrest.

Melissa met Jason while pumping iron at Gulliver's Gym on the Gold Coast in 2005. When Melissa moved to Canberra with the Australian Federal Police, Jason followed her with an engagement ring and marriage proposal. During the ceremony, prayers were offered to Jason's mother, father and brother who had recently died, and to Melissa's grandmother.

Picture: Red Photography

We'd love to see your wedding snapshots. Please send them to Andrew Taylor, GPO Box 506, Sydney 2001. We apologise, but photographs cannot be returned. Or you can send digital pictures to weddings@sunherald.com.au. They should be 15 centimetres wide at 1Mb in jpg format.

© 2007 Sun Herald

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