The Ceremony

The marriage was officiated in the same Greek Orthodox Church where Mara was baptized. It's an elaborate space with gold arches and hand-painted ceilings, but it still wasn't big enough for 600, so some people had to sit outside on the steps. We used 6,000 rose petals to decorate the aisle and it was absolutely breathtaking, says Mara. The bridesmaids appeared as her singer aunt and a fellow performer sang Come What May from Mara's favorite movie, Moulin Rouge. The bride made her entrance to a traditional Greek song. During the ceremony the couple chooses a Koumbaros who becomes their orthodox wedding sponsor (kind of like a best man). Mara's Uncle Mike received this honor. A ceremony ensues in which the bride and groom wear special crowns and the Koumbaros exchanges them. Although it was not required, Randy converted to the Greek Orthodox church a few months before the wedding.