My oldest maternal cousin, loved from the minute she was born as being my only cousin at the time on that side, and loved even more now that she has grown to a beautiful young woman and friend. I cant wait to have such an important person in my life stand next to me on the day we get married.

I was so honored and excited when Savannah, my cousin, agreed to be a bridesmaid in our wedding. We have so much fun together from watching and swooning over the Twilight cast, girls day pedicures, late night movies, and shopping. Savannah is such an amazing teenager! She is so excited to be included in the wedding party, and I cant explain how excited I am to have her.

Alexandros and I have been best friends since we were 4 years old. He is more than a friend to me. Apart from our genes he is the closest person I have as a brother. We have grown up together and have been constantly involved in every aspect of each others life. Our entirely different sets of character elements and values, evident almost immediately, complement us perfectly and we have been able to maintain a rare friendship through years of living away from one another (even as children we lived in different parts of Athens). Alexandros is my best friend and one of the people that as long as is out there I feel the world can't be a all that much of a bad place. His professional and personal growth over the last 8 years has been remarkable and added so much more potential to his person. More than being happy to be his friend, I am honored. There is no one else that would be a better man than my best man, my koumbaros.

Possibly the sweetest and most thoughtful person I know, Maria is an amazing friend to anyone who is blessed to have her in their life. She gives the absolute best advice, throws the best parties, and loves the color pink. I met Maria while working at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NY almost 4 years ago and we have been friends ever since. She is an absolute blast to be around, someone who you know will always be there no matter what. Our late night long phone calls and facebook messages keep the anxiety down from missing her so much, I am honored to have her by me as a bridesmaid.

How can I begin to describe my mother and the relationship we share. My mom is my hero; she has shown me more than anybody what it means to work hard and bathe in the rewards of it. She has also taught me what it means to sacrifice for your loves and dreams and what it means to love someone so much that you would give anything for their happiness. I would definitely not be the person I am today if it wasn't for my mother. As a child she allowed me to fulfill my love for animals and creatures by allowing me to have a mini-zoo in my room, accepting my desire to become the only vegetarian in my family at age 9, and encouraging my wishes to start the family in recycling after learning about it in the second grade. My mother, more than anybody, has shown me what it means to be a compassionate person. She is my compass when I am lost and searching for myself, she is my ground and stability when I am searching for my goals and dreams, she is my best friend and the person who I can confide in and talk to more than anybody else in this world. Love, respect, gratitude, admiration, friendship, devotion are just a few words that come to mind when I think of my mother. She truly is a super woman and I am so blessed that I can call her "mom".

I think from the very first day of my life, I could call myself "daddy's little girl". As a young girl, I remember the endless lessons my dad would give me on music and The Beatles. It seems like yesterday when I was young enough to sit on my dad's knee while he would tickle my knees with his monster hands and my neck with his scratchy beard, laughing until it hurt. I remember on Friday's when he would pick me up we would pass this palm tree that was bent so much that it shaded the other trees in its vicinity and how my dad would always point to it and tell me how that was "our tree". As an adult, I see all my memories in a different way. That palm tree still stands, guarding and protecting the other trees in its shade just as my dad has done for me. All the times we would sit at our favorite gelato place and my dad would help me with my math homework really showed me that learning can be fun which is evident in the dedication to STILL being in school. My father is a man of many wonders. He amazes me with his devotion to his business and community service. I admire his quest for knowledge for this is a man who went to college at the age of 53 just to be able to learn. He is brilliant, just read one of his amazingly composed letters or ask him anything to do with aerospace engineering. He can manipulate a hamradio to talk to people around the world and often tries to explain to me "sun patters" and things regarding better signal for hamradios which makes even this scientist's head spin. He has helped blossom my love for rock and roll and there is nothing I enjoy more than waking up early on a Sunday morning at my dad's house and watching him listen to "Breakfast with the Beatles" with his hot cup of coffee while watering the pool. He is the ultimate animal lover which is shown in the way he cares for his teacup poodle that can fit in the palm of his hand or the protection he gave an injured pigeon when no rescue group would take it in. I am so proud of the man my father is and I know, even on my wedding day, I will always be "daddy's little girl".

The groom's personal assistant...

Our beautiful flower girl #1

Beautiful Sierra Liu, accompanied by her equally as beautiful mother, are planning on coming to Greece to help us celebrate our Greek vows. I have known Melissa (mother Liu) now for a few years and can say she is one of the people in my life I know will always be there. We worked together in NY and it just so happened we also both moved to Southern California. I have been so blessed to watch Melissa's life unfold, from her earning her PhD, to buying their first house and new cars, to her first pregnancy and birth of beautiful Sierra. I am so honored to have such wonderful friends that would travel all the way to Greece to help us celebrate our special day, we know our wedding will be that much more beautiful with these two Lius involved.