Here, at Fashion Journalwe make no secret of our love of weddings. We have a soft spot for a little romance and a soft spot for weddings that are a little different, whether it’s a secret Las Vegas wedding or a huge, lavish party.
It’s fitting that Melbourne-based author, inclusion activist and content creator Ruchi Page and her now-husband Kostas Moutsoulas met backstage at a musical he was performing in. Almost a decade later, the couple’s wedding day was full of theatrical wonder and heartfelt emotion.
An extravagant and joyous fairytale event awaited the 120 guests who traveled to Kalamata, Greece for the duo’s wedding. It was a celebration of love and culture, of Kostas’ Greek heritage and Ruchi’s Indian roots and Australian upbringing. “We had both of our families and friends in one place, which will most likely not happen again. Seeing my family and friends dancing, laughing and crying with my now-husband’s family and friends on the other side of the world (enhanced) what already seemed complete,” says Ruchi.
Read on to learn about Ruchi’s custom dress made by her oldest friend, why she decided to do her own wedding makeup, and how the couple danced the night away (with the help of Beyoncé, of course).
How did you meet your partner?
Being born in India and Greece and growing up on opposite sides of the world, it was always hard for us to understand our “beginnings”. In 2015, we simply met backstage at a musical in my hometown. He performed, I congratulated friends and we were introduced to each other. Later that night, he simply sent me a Facebook request and soon he had a direct message on Messenger asking me for our first date.
How did the marriage proposal come about?
In 2022, we were finally able to travel again after the lockdown. We were visiting my now husband’s family in Greece and decided to take a trip to the island of Zakynthos. We took the last boat still in operation to Navagio Beach to see the iconic shipwreck lying between crystal blue waters and white sand; it was one of the beaches we were keen to visit.
While we were filming, I was taken away to take “the picture” behind the shipwreck. As I peered through one of the cracks in the rusted wreck, I turned back to the camera and saw a small blue box. That’s when the tears started to flow and he asked me to marry him.
Which location did you choose for your wedding and why?
For our reception in Kalamata, Greece, we chose the monastery of Ieros Naos Evaggelismo tis Theotokou Kato Vergas and Ktima Lygeri. It wasn’t just the mountains towering over each venue that won us over, but also the fairytale greenery and secluded location that made us say “yes.”
The scenic drive up the mountain was one thing, but marrying my best friend in a holy monastery overlooking his hometown and the Mediterranean Sea was another entirely. The entrance to our reception was decorated with a fairytale tree growing out of a pool, and it was large enough to have both an indoor and outdoor space. The secluded location meant we could listen to Beyoncé and traditional Greek music until 4am.
