When creative director Rebecca Long moved to London at the start of 2020, she didn’t expect to fall in love with a fellow Australian. Mid-way through the pandemic, she and her now husband Stephen Coudounaris matched on Bumble, before quickly going on their first date: a government-mandated walk in Hyde Park on New Year’s Day in 2021. “We pretty much hit it off straight from the start,” Rebecca tells Vogue. “I have a Macedonian background, and he has a Greek background, and we just had quite a lot to bond over on that front. It was just really, really easy.”
Fittingly, it was during a trip back to Australia in 2023 that Stephen proposed, with the technology lawyer organising a romantic stay at Jonah’s Hotel on Whale Beach in New South Wales. “I was just unpacking and as I turned around, he was down on one knee,” Rebecca recalls. Unbeknownst to her, Stephen had stopped off to pick up her engagement ring that same morning: a solitaire diamond set in white gold, paired with a yellow gold band. “Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous,” enthuses the bride.
Right away, the couple knew that they wanted to get married in Greece—not only because of Stephen’s heritage, but also because it’s a place they’ve often travelled to together over the years. Given that most of their guests were coming from either Australia or the UK, it also acted as a convenient location between the two. “We knew we loved the Athens Riviera,” Rebecca says, with the couple quickly settling on their venue: the Reef. “It’s sat up on the beach, but you can still see the mountains in the distance,” the bride says of the stunning backdrop.
Once the venue was nailed, Rebecca turned her attention to the dress, with her first port of call being London-based bridal brand The Own Studio—which has fast become a favourite for minimalist brides. After trying on a few styles, she settled upon a strapless drop-waist design in duchesse satin (style 82, to be precise). “They have that cool, modern It-girl factor, but [the dresses are] still timeless,” Rebecca notes. “I wanted the dress to feel bridal, but not too formal.”
When it came to the accessories, Rebecca knew she wanted to wear a veil for her Greek Orthodox ceremony—but struggled to find the perfect one at first. “I knew I wanted a heavy lace veil around the face, so I travelled to Madrid to find one at a local market, but had no luck,” the bride explains. It was only when she came across New Zealand-based brand Harriett Falvey that she was able to find the “clean, structured” veil she was looking for, working with the bridal designer to ensure that it was the right length, as well as complementing the colour of her dress. “Until the day itself, I hadn’t actually tried them together,” Rebecca says. “The veil was honestly the MVP of the day.”
On the morning of the wedding, Rebecca and Stephen had breakfast together as normal (“I didn’t want to be stressed or have anything out of the normal,” the bride explains), before separating to get ready for the ceremony. The bridal party headed to a salon in Athens to get their hair and nails done, returning to The Margi hotel for final preparations, with Rebecca opting to do her own make-up for the day. “I wanted the girls to be in a couple of rooms getting ready, helping each other out, because I thought that would make me feel most at ease,” the bride says.
From there, Rebecca and her godfather made the short trip to the Chapel of Agios Georgios, where Stephen, holding the bride’s bouquet of calla lilies, and all their guests were waiting outside, as per Greek tradition. Following the procession inside the church, the bride and groom discovered to much hilarity that the entire service was in Greek. “What was funny is that we had paid extra for it to be in English, yet there was no English,” Rebecca laughs. “But we had printed out little leaflets for our guests in English of the order of service, so they could follow along.”
After the ceremony, everyone headed to The Reef for cocktail hour on the beachfront (designed to “feel like you were on a Greek island”), before the couple entered the dinner reception to the sounds of a bouzouki, or Greek lute, with guests getting up to dance as they snaked through the tables. Keeping to the theme, dinner comprised traditional Greek cuisine, including moussaka and roasted lamb with potatoes, followed by portokalopita, or orange pie, and galaktoboureko, a custard pastry, for dessert.
Ahead of the cake cutting, Rebecca changed into a second dress: an Area minidress featuring a heart-shaped cut-out at the back, embellished with crystals. “I feel that when you come out in your second dress on the dance floor, it’s so [often] missed, and so I wanted it to be more of a statement,” the bride says. After that, it was time to hit the dance floor, with the couple foregoing the traditional first dance by inviting all guests to boogie with them to “Keep On Movin’” by Five.
The party continued well into the night, with guests enjoying a mix of traditional Greek dancing (including the famous zeibekiko dance) and classic hits until they were “ripped off the dance floor” at 3am. Looking back on the day, Rebecca and Stephen wouldn’t change a single thing. “A lot of people have been asking, ‘Are you sad it’s over? Did it go so quick?’” the bride says. “But honestly, the whole day was so perfect.”
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1/45“One of my favourite moments of the day was getting ready with the girls. Staying in the same hotel gave the morning an effortless, communal energy.” – Rebecca
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2/45“We chose to do our own make-up, and a room full of energy and laughter made getting ready everything I could have wished for.”
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3/45“I wore a drop-waist gown by The Own Studio. I wanted something modern, minimal and elegant, and the drop waist was non-negotiable. The no-train silhouette surprised me most, it gave the dress such a modern edge.”
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4/45“Floating on cloud nine!”
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5/45“Moments before leaving the hotel for the ceremony.”
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6/45“I spent the day with my eight groomsmen, who have been my best mates for 30 years, and my dad.” – Stephen
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7/45“Stephen wore a custom-made suit by P Johnson with Mr P loafers and Moscot sunglasses.” – Rebecca
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8/45“Stephen outside the chapel with the bride’s bouquet – a tradition in Greece.”
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9/45“Before the bride arrived, our guests gathered outside the Chapel of Agios Georgios in Vouliagmeni.” – Stephen
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10/45“Bursting with excitement as we arrived at the chapel.”
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11/45“An ethereal flower arrangement tied to our wedding car.”
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12/45“It was all smiles walking towards the chapel doors, hand-in-hand with my godfather.”
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13/45“Filled with excitement, I was held tightly by my godfather as we reached the chapel doors.” – Rebecca
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14/45“As is tradition, Stephen and I took our steps down the aisle together ready for the ceremony to begin.”
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15/45“The beginning of the ceremony. I chose a heavy mantilla lace veil, designed and handmade by Harriett Falvey in New Zealand. It felt timeless, feminine and traditional.”
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16/45“Our ceremony at the Chapel of Agios Georgios, a space adorned with religious art and sparkling chandeliers.”
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17/45“The Ceremonial Walk circles the altar three times, symbolising the couple’s first steps together in marriage and the blessing of the Holy Trinity.”
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18/45“The priest getting ready the stefana, koufeta and rings for the ceremony.” – Stephen
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19/45“The exchange of the stefana crowns.”
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20/45“The ceremony felt traditional, intimate and incredibly special.” – Rebecca
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21/45“During the wedding ceremony with our two priests.”
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22/45“Our first steps as husband and wife.”
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23/45“We had our guests throw rice after the ceremony for fertility, prosperity and good fortune.”
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24/45“The love and happiness in the air was truly infectious.”
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25/45“The most unforgettable moment.”
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26/45“The first of many kisses.”
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27/45“We chose an antique wedding car for the drive from the ceremony to the reception.”
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28/45“Arriving at our wedding reception held at The Reef on the Athens Riviera.”
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29/45“We wanted cocktail hour to feel like you were on a Greek island, so we set it by the water, with cocktails and canapés served in the sun-drenched golden hours.” – Stephen
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30/45“Our first photos as husband and wife, captured by the water in the golden glow of the sunset.” – Rebecca
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31/45“So much love.”
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32/45“Sundrenched moments.”
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33/45“Rebecca, pictured with me and my eight groomsmen.” – Stephen
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34/45“Our family portrait.”
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35/45“Making our way from portraits to cocktail hour, soaking up every moment with our guests.”
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36/45“We had three beautiful long tables set up for a shared, family-style dinner serving modern Greek cuisine.” – Stephen
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37/45“Our tablescape bloomed with ethereal roses and calla lilies, complemented by stationery designed by graphic designer, KatCoudaDesigns.”
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38/45“For the reception, I styled my hair in an updo to showcase the keyhole back of my wedding dress.” – Rebecca
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39/45“Entering the reception as the bouzouki player snaked through the crowd.” – Stephen
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40/45“Dancing to the Greek bouzouki.”
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41/45“During our joint wedding speech.” – Rebecca
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42/45“My second look was a minidress by Area.”
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43/45“The back featured a giant heart cut-out, lined with sparkling crystals.”
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44/45“We were surprised with Champagne and fireworks during our cutting of the cake.”
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45/45“Every moment and speech was met with awe and appreciation for the day.”
This article was originally published on British Vogue.
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