Lorraine Kefalas and Dimitris Boukis
September 18, 2004
Monrovia, California
Lorraine Kefalas and Dimitris Boukis were engaged in London, when Dimitri proposed on the Millennium Bridge. Although it didn't come as a total surprise to Lori (they had been dating for three years), the proposal was romantic and symbolic, as the bridge represented a new century and a new life together for the couple. Both avid travelers, Lori and Dimitri met when he was studying in Los Angeles and interning at Lori's church. Although Dimitri moved back to Greece and Lori was traveling back and forth between Athens and Los Angeles, she still made time to plan the wedding herself. She personally designed the invitations and reception menus so she could incorporate her own creativity and flair. The invitations were made to look like an airline ticket, as a tribute to the couple's frequent travels, and were so realistic that people mistakenly thought they were real! As an added touch, Lori innovatively included Jordan almonds, a traditional Greek favor, inside the menus.
Lori's top tip for brides-to-be is that it's best to decide what you want your wedding to look like before you start searching for locations and vendors, because the more you see, the more confusing it gets. She also suggests making a detailed budget to decide which aspects are worth spending the most money on. Speaking from experience, Lori has one final warning: "Never try on a dress over your price range," says the bride who had to try on (and purchase) an exquisite Atelier Aimee gown on a supposedly just-for-fun trip to a Beverly Hills salon. "Chances are, you will fall in love with that one and never be the same again!"
