Nikita’s words moved Gabrielle to tears of joy. ‘I will keep it forever.’

The moment when bride and groom had their first kiss at the church alter was captured in a photo that Gabrielle rates as her favourite of the day. ‘Every part of the image makes me feel  so much.’

Guests celebrated the couple’s union at The Tannery, with a reception that had all the right ingredients for an unforgettable night, including Greek dancing and plate smashing! A Greek-inspired grazing table provided a feast of cheese, cold meats, pita bread, crackers, hummus, tzatziki, olives, taramasalata, chocolate and more. The venue was styled in champagne pink, dusty blue and white.

‘Imagine if you could organise a party with everything you enjoy and love and then being submerged in it with the most important people in your life – there’s no better feeling. We were so happy to see everyone having a good time!’

The whole day provided bride and groom with a string of beautiful memories to cherish. The couple celebrated their wedding and years of being in a loving relationship with a romantic honeymoon in Fiji.

A sore throat first drew this couple together. Gabrielle had been playing the bouzouki in her family’s Greek band at the Greek restaurant Santorini (owned by her Uncle Costa and Auntie Despina).

During one of the set breaks, she’d gone back into the kitchen to ask her Yiayia Marika (grandmother) to fix her something to eat and mentioned that her throat was sore from singing.

‘Nikita, who worked as a chef in the kitchen, overheard me and over he came with a hot cup of lemon and honey tea. It was so kind and caring of him and led us to our first date – that was 10 years ago now!’

Nikita proposed on Kaikōura beach after a New Year’s trip to Nelson. They had just finished admiring the sea views and enjoying a glass of wine together when Nikita dropped to one knee.

‘I was quite overwhelmed – I’m the luckiest person for having found him!’

A traditional ceremony in Christchurch’s Greek Orthodox Church reflected the rich cultural heritage of bride and groom Gabrielle and Nikita.

With their roots in Greece and Latvia respectively, the couple wanted a wedding that would be deeply meaningful for both themselves and family members.

‘We are both Orthodox and were happy to be wed in the Greek Church,’ Gabrielle says, adding that they did not write their own vows as the entire ceremony is sung and spoken by the priest. ‘We did, however, take part in traditional acts during the ceremony.’

On the morning of their wedding day, the couple each read a letter they had written to the other.

Q&A

How did you choose your wedding dress?

I always had my sights on an Israeli designer. Their stunning designs are a mix of modern, intricate and feminine. I had looked at designs by Michal Medina before … when I saw the dress I ended up choosing, I knew it was perfect and very me!

Where did you have your photos taken?

We had photos taken with family and extended family at the church. Then our photographer (Sarah Clements) whisked Nikita and I away to Sugarloaf. I’d asked her for an earthy location and it couldn’t have been more perfect. We then had photos at The Tannery, which gave a beautiful, moody, French, rustic feel to the photos with the wedding party and into the night.