{athan + sarah} yellow & grey backyard wedding

Thank you to Summer at Grey Likes Weddings for featuring Sarah + Athan today! What a thrill!

Sarah and Athan met at grad school. Sarah is now a lawyer, and Athan is a teacher. They decided to theme their wedding around “school” since they met there – very cute decorations. Athan is Greek and his family hosted the wedding AT THEIR HOME, entirely! They transformed it and it was breathtaking! The food was largely Greek-themed, with Baklava, Mythos Beer and Phyllo Dough! Wonderful dessert table display, and traditional Greek dancing.

They should rent their home out for weddings, it looked so spectacular!

Amazing highlight: their dog with yellow “paw-lish”

What was your theme/inspiration?

Family.   Simple as that.  We had a wedding (instead of eloping on a beach or mountain somewhere) because we wanted to bring our families together and celebrate.  For us, family (which includes close friends that have seen us through our good times and bad) is the absolute most important thing.  It’s what led us to our venue (my now-husband’s parents’ backyard) and led to lots of our details (including our favors, which were homemade Greek pastries baked with love the week leading up to the wedding).  We used long tables and served family style meals so that the whole event would feel like a big family gathering.  A big, fat Greek/Midwestern wedding, if you will.

Do you have any advice for those planning?

Make your decisions and don’t look back.  I spent far too much time thinking “what if” after I made a decision.  It does no good, and it just makes you crazy.  Trust your instincts and me — a classic over-thinker:  Your day will be spectacular because it’s the day you get to start your new life as a married couple.  It’s an amazing event, and you’ll be surrounded by love.  The “other” cake, the “other” dress . . . . they don’t matter.  And on the day, don’t sweat the small stuff.  Just sit back and relax.  Finally, try to get everything done at least 48 hours before guests arrive.  Once your friends and family are in town, just have fun with them.  You’ll never have the same crowd of people together again.  So sit back and enjoy every moment.