Mary Natsis
Peter Nicholas Bouras
Sunday, July 7, 2002
St. Louis, Missouri

ABOUT THE BRIDE: I graduated from St. Louis University. I recently was the Director of Catering Sales at the Starlight Roof at the Chase Park Plaza. I am currently residing in Alexandria, Virginia with my new husband.

ABOUT THE GROOM: Peter graduated from Rockhurst University and worked on his master's degree at the University of Florida. He currently is an officer in the United States Navy.

HOW WE MET: Our church hosted a scholarship fundraising dinner and both of us attended. I looked across the room and noticed this very handsome bachelor whom I did not know. The hunt began to find out who he was, but in the meantime, we kept looking at each other across the room and flirting with our eyes. Finally, we were introduced, we chatted, and exchanged numbers. He called two days later on Monday and we talked for over an hour. Then, on Wednesday, I was surprised at the office when he sent me flowers for Valentine's Day. He drove into St. Louis that weekend to take me out on our first date (Peter was living in Chicago at the time). After that initial date, we saw each other every weekend and talked on the phone every day.

ENGAGEMENT: Six months to the day that we met, Peter and I went out to dinner. I had my hopes to get engaged because Peter was leaving in three weeks for Officer Candidate School. We wouldn't see each other for three months. That night I went to his house and I received a dozen red roses and a beautiful music box that had a young sailor with his girl sitting on a park bench. I figured this is such a beautiful and thoughtful present that there is no way we are getting engaged tonight. We left and went to the Sydney Street Café for dinner and then to Ted Drewes for dessert. After not cooperating with his plan to walk around Francis Park, Peter decided to ask me to marry him right there. He pulled out a beautiful antique platinum ring. I said yes!

PLANNING: The planning was crazy. Peter was away with the Navy so it was very difficult to get his opinion on anything. I knew exactly who I wanted to use and what I wanted to do because I was already in the business. The major decisions were made within two weeks of being engaged and then during the next ten months I fine-tuned each and every detail. All of the vendors we worked with were amazing and made the planning period for me all the more fun.

ATTIRE: Peter wore his mess dress military uniform and I wore a Mon Cheri Gown from Clarice's and a veil made by hand by Susanna Designs.

THE CEREMONY: The ceremony was a traditional Greek Orthodox wedding held at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. We had seven bridesmaids and groomsmen, one koumbaro, one koumbara, and three flower girls. My childhood priest even made it in from North Carolina to help officiate.
*The koumbaro/koumbara are the sponsors during a Greek Orthodox Wedding*

THE RECEPTION: It was a fairytale come true. We held it atop the Chase Park Plaza in the Starlight Roof at the Chase, which overlooks Forest Park and downtown St. Louis. We had an amazing cocktail hour where an array of hors d'oeuvres were served butler style. The Signature Starlight Service during dinner amazed our guests and drew applause as each table was served simultaneously. The tables had organza tablecloths and white damask chair covers from Sitting Pretty. We chose five-prong candelabras as our centerpiece.

HOW WE PERSONALIZED THE WEDDING: The Starlight Roof offers friandises to all of the guests... I decided to make them in the shape of the Navy Anchor and Navy Seal. We also planned the wedding during the July 4th weekend. Our guests were able to view the Fair St. Louis fireworks display from the eleventh floor terrace. We also hired a Greek/American DJ from Chicago to play at our wedding so that we could include everyone in the festivities.

THINGS WE LOVED: We loved that so many of our friends and family were able to come in from out of town to be with us. We felt so honored that people from as far away as Canada came to help us celebrate. We loved the whole event... everything was perfect.

VENDORS WE USED:
Event Coordination by Details Event Coordinators
Reception Venue: Starlight Roof at the Chase Park Plaza
Photo credits: Warwick Photography
Florist: Petals
Linens: Sitting Pretty and BBJ
DJ: Marcon Productions (Chicago based)
Dress: Clarice's Bridal Shop
Veil: Susanna Designs
Hair & Makeup: The Face Company
Church: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church