Four years after Hinge brought Meredith Matsakis and Alec Schwartzman together, he proposed during the holidays in Asheville, North Carolina—a place the couple came to know well after spending much of the pandemic there. He planned a hike to a scenic overlook near Meredith’s childhood neighborhood, where he asked the question at sunset.
From the beginning, Meredith and Alec knew their wedding would feel personal and rooted in place. For Meredith, that place was Karpathos, the Greek island where her family has lived for generations. Her grandparents were married there in 1961, making this the first Matsakis wedding on the island since—a rare and powerful full-circle moment.
With the help of Nymfee Wedding Planning, the couple brought their vision to life on June 28, 2025, across two unforgettable settings. The ceremony took place at the cliffside chapel of Kyra Panagia; its white walls and red dome overlooking the Aegean Sea. Just below, the celebration continued at Kelaria Taverna, a seaside space carved into the cliffs. Many of the vendors were longtime family connections, while others traveled from Athens and blended seamlessly into the island’s close-knit community.
The aesthetic was best described as seaside romance: soft whites, natural textures, and ancestral charm. Meredith and Alec leaned into the island’s raw beauty rather than competing with it. Olive branches swayed in the breeze, the sea stretched endlessly behind them, and every detail felt considered yet effortless. Florals by Fragkiskos Oikonomidis echoed the surrounding landscape, allowing the setting itself to speak.
The wedding day began at Meredith’s Yia Yia’s home in the village of Aperi, a traditional Karpathian house filled with history. Hand-embroidered tapestries created by Meredith’s great-grandparents—last used for her grandmother’s wedding—were rehung for the occasion, grounding the morning in memory and tradition.
In keeping with Karpathian custom, Alec arrived at the home for a quiet first look, where a series of family rituals unfolded. Meredith’s grandmother gifted a pomegranate, symbolizing abundance, while Alec’s mother placed a gold coin bracelet on Meredith’s wrist. Meredith’s mother tied a silk scarf around Alec’s shoulders. Live music and poetic mantinades, played by cousins, filled the courtyard with emotion.
Meredith approached her wedding wardrobe with intention, choosing pieces rooted in family and craftsmanship. For the welcome party, she worked with The Collection, a custom bridal atelier in Brooklyn, to reimagine her mother’s 1980s wedding dress. The silhouette was refined, and lace from the original train was repurposed for the skirt, with a small piece stitched into Alec’s shirt as a subtle, sentimental detail. She completed the look with Susan Alexandra’s Princess Violetta earrings.
For the ceremony, Meredith wore the “Habenaria” gown by Alena Leena, featuring soft silk layers, floral appliqués, and chiffon bows that moved effortlessly in the sea breeze. Her hair was styled half-up with baby’s breath by Elisavet Hair, with makeup by Antonia Zanakis. She accessorized with pearl drop earrings by Mejuri, a gold coin bracelet from her Yia Yia, her Cartier Trinity ring, an antique engagement ring by Andria Barbone, and a custom wedding band by Ruth NY.
Later in the evening, Meredith changed into the Lucina dress by Clio Peppiatt, a celestial, hand-beaded design that shimmered under the stars.
Alec worked with Bode on a custom suit crafted from dead-stock vintage green fabric sourced from 1970s London, pairing the look with Officine Creative loafers and a butter-yellow silk scarf secured with a gold Greek coin gifted by Meredith’s grandmother. He completed the look with a Cartier Tank Française wedding band.
At the chapel, the ceremony blended Greek Orthodox and Jewish traditions. Meredith and Alec shared the circling ritual together, symbolizing equality, while Meredith’s Yia Yia placed the Stefana crowns and led the ceremonial walk herself. Family members recited the Sheva Brachot as the couple exchanged handwritten vows, the sun dipping behind the mountains as waves echoed below. Every moment was captured beautifully by photographer George Liopetas and videographer Aenaon Films.
The reception at Kelaria Taverna celebrated Meredith’s Greek roots through food and tradition. Guests shared calamari with lemon, fried feta drizzled with honey, and macarounes, a beloved local dish. Dessert was lovingly prepared by Meredith’s aunts and included baklava, kourabiedes, koulourakia, and spiced pears.
Toasts from parents and siblings were followed by dancing under the stars. A live local Greek band played traditional music before DJ Vasilis Koutonias took over, carrying the celebration late into the night. At midnight, confetti poppers erupted, transforming the seaside taverna into a joyful, open-air dance floor.
The celebration didn’t end with the wedding night. Guests gathered the following day for a beach outing, followed by a sailboat excursion along the island’s rugged coastline. Meredith and Alec later honeymooned in Lisbon, Portugal—a fitting close to a wedding weekend defined by connection, beauty, and legacy.
