Sunday, July 6th - Preparations

Dear blog,


The big day is here. Operation Hanoumaki is under way. Wedding shoes must be broken in to facilitate dancing till dawn. The floor manager is busy preparing table numbering while the bride offers her full support.

The bride shows intense concentration as the coiffeuse starts working on her hair.

The floor manager and best woman look optimistic about the success of the event.

Downstairs, the groom rehearses his super-top-secret greek speech for the floor manager, who's very impressed.

Back upstairs, steady progress is happening on the coiffure front.

With everything that has to go through the hands of a floor manager, a manicure is badly needed.

With only minimal effort, the groom and the brother of the bride are looking dashing and ready to go.

Finally, the groom, the brother of the bride, and the floor manager are on their way to Afytos. The floor manager will make sure that everything is in order at the fish taverna Galera, while the other two will chill at the church and wait for the bride.

Meanwhile, back at home the bride makes her grand appearance in front of her proud mother and admiring guests.

She's now ready to go and have the wedding of the century.

As she leaves, accompanied by her father, she practices her trademark presidential wave for the reception.

Saturday, July 5th

Dear blog,


Tension is mounting as the big day approaches. The floor manager clearly means business as she arrives in Afytos to discuss party details with Yannis, owner of glamorous fish taverna Galera.

The bride inspects the premises at Galera with full attention to detail.

After an intense organizational session, Yannis (middle) informs the bride and floor manager: "I see all women sexually."

Upon hearing this, a female swordfish commits suicide.

All details have been finalized and the bride can now enjoy some homemade tsipouro with her brother and the floor manager, ...

followed by a carefree night with friends.

Friday, July 4th

Dear blog,


Our odyssey today brings us to various temples of womanhood to finalize plans for the bride's beautification. Our mission is challenging but the bride looks determined.

So far so good. Hair styling plans are made in an efficient and straightforward manner. There will be perky curls and a side-swept do with minimal vegetation. Big hair, updos, tiaras, veils, and all other forms of cheesiness will be avoided at all costs.

A white lilly, slightly smaller than the one pictured, will be the vegetation of choice. Hot!

On to our make-up specialist. Endless layers of cosmetic products are caked on each other, different color schemes are applied on each eye, patiences are tested, stomachs are left complaining, pledges are made to never get married again in the future.

In the end it is decided that the color green is better left for Shrek, that corners are good on pies but not on eyes, and that our definition of "subtle" is different than that of the local bride market.

At the end of the day, the bride and floor manager have had enough of this shit and are in urgent need of some dodgy greek entertainment.

Sadly, Tamta fails to provide the right level of dodginess. The night ends in disappointment.

Thursday, July 3rd

Dear blog,


Stress levels have been rising among the wedding party. To combat the stress, the bride and groom started their day with some much-needed beachbarification in Psakoudia.

The floor manager strategized on table arrangements over a frappé.

The social and ogranizational schedule of the day was hectic. The wedding party schmoozed with newly arrived guests shortly in Afytos...

before the bride and floor manager had to hitch a nightmarish ride with the father of the bride...

to inspect flower arrangements.

Then it was back to picturesque Afytos for more wedding planning...

before chilling with the Luxembourg investement banking sector in Kallithea.

Wednesday, July 2nd

Dear blog,


Traffic was bad in Thessaloniki today but morale among the wedding party has been high.

Our meeting with the band representative, Zissis the klarino player, went smoothly, other than an 1-hour delay. The bride and groom provided him with their lounge and salsa compilation CDs to play before the onslaught of live greek music. Zissis suggested playing a waltz when the couple enters but DJ Tiësto was voted as a more appropriate choice.

After their mission for the day was accomplished, the bride, groom and floor manager were ready for a much-deserved break on the cosmopolitan Thessaloniki waterfront.

The floor manager caught up with the best woman.

After some drinks (with a disappointingly low alcohol content) everyone was ready to leave the city and get a good night's sleep in the countryside.

Of course, each person's definition of a good night's sleep in the countryside is different.