Weddings
SYDNEY STRONG + MICHELLE GEANNAKAKES SEPTEMBER 28, 2019
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hen the helicopter landed, surrounded by a landscape of ice, it wasn’t just the scenery that took Michelle’s breath away—it was the question that Sydney had in store, as their tour of Colony Glacier in Alaska became the perfect setting for a proposal. It wasn’t long before Michelle popped the question in return, on the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver, British Columbia. Their adventurous proposals, however, were only the start of building their life together. Yielding an incredible view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hotel Domestique in Travelers Rest was the setting for their wedding day. Sydney and Michelle were each walked by their parents down a branch of a Y-shaped aisle, then met at the center point and continued toward the altar together. Personal touches to the ceremony included
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MARCH 2020 I t o w n c a r o l i n a . c o m
a reading from the monumental Obergefell v. Hodges decision that deemed all love equal when it comes to the right to marry. Details of their reception drew upon comforts of the brides’ homes, from the inclusion of their own artwork to a color palette of deep blues, gold, and subtle rose. Live music by The Retreat accompanied plenty of dancing until the night came to a close, as loved ones lined up with sparklers to celebrate the radiant couple. Not yet sure where they will plant their roots, Sydney and Michelle split time between Greenville, where Sydney is a jewelry designer with llyn strong fine art and jewelry, and Atlanta, where Michelle is a nurse practitioner at the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta.—Olivia McCall By Red Apple Tree Photography