Wedding | Emily & Kyriakos

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We’re a Greek architect and an American journalist. After orbiting each other’s worlds for years in New York, we finally met on a chance date mid-pandemic in Texas, where our respective research—which was uncannily aligned—had led us.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

In having our wedding in the US, we knew we wanted to get married in the desert where Emily grew up. We were set on late spring, when the day is long and the cacti and palo verdes and ironwoods are in bloom—there’s nothing else like it.

Our ceremony was at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, a total dreamscape of a place that holds great meaning for us both individually and as a couple. Our reception followed at Emily’s family’s home, outside, looking up at the red mountain in the middle of the city and down at the lights that blanket the valley. 

How many guests did you have?

We had about 100 guests. Another party at Kyriakos’ family’s home in Greece followed in summer with the many relatives who couldn’t make it to the US. For couples whose families lives across the world from each other, you might want to make peace with having two celebrations. 

Tell us about your outfits.

Kyriakos wore a Dries Van Noten suit. Emily wore a Markarian dress. 

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

Architecture and landscape were to be the stars of the show. We did not want anything to be fussy or over-produced, and, in that spirit, we wanted to keep planning as simple and streamlined as possible. Having the wedding in Emily’s hometown meant that we got to work with a number of vendors whom the family has known for decades, which helped.  

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

It was important that Greek traditions be woven into the festivities, especially dancing. DJ Adam from Dart Collective seamlessly incorporated bouzouki and sirtaki classics.

Any tips for couples getting married?

A wedding is a container for this gorgeous alchemy of love, joy, and collective presence. At the end of the day, everything else is beside the point.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

Photographer Jess Livingston brings a very particular sensibility to her work and has a wonderful aura—it shows in her pictures. 

Diana Yusupov is a concert cellist of exceptional talent. She played selections from Bach’s cello suites for our ceremony, and it was divine. 

Middle Eastern Bakery & Deli on North 16^th Street in Phoenix makes some of the best baklava you can find outside the Mediterranean. An absolute gem of an establishment. 

Photographer: Jess Living Photo @jesslivingphoto | Planning & Flora: Angelic Grove @angelicgrove | Ceremony Location: Taliesin West @wrighttaliesin | Reception Location: Bride’s family home  | Celebrant: Friend of the couple  | Makeup: Lisa Stevens | Hair: Sari Yanishefsky @sarihair | Catering & Beverages: M Culinary Concepts @mculinaryconcepts | Cake: Ruze Cake House @ruzecakehouse Baklava: Middle Eastern Bakery & Deli @middleeasternbakery | Stationery: The Paper Place

@thepaperplaceaz | Entertainment: (pre-ceremony) Max Schwimmer, (Ceremony) Diana Yusupov

@dianayusupovvcello & (Party) Dart Collective @dartcollective | Dress: Markarian @markarian_bride | Suit: Dries Van Noten @driesvannoten