Tommy & Simona // Detroit, Michigan

There are some wedding days that feel like so much more than a wedding. Tommy and Simona’s was one of them.

Their day was a beautiful mix of family, faith, culture, incredible food, and the kind of celebration that makes you feel lucky just to be there. From their Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony in downtown Detroit to their reception at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe, every part of the day felt meaningful and completely personal to them.

Simona and her family are Bulgarian, and throughout the day they incorporated Bulgarian wedding traditions that were so much fun for us to experience and photograph. One of our favorite things about weddings is getting to see the traditions families carry with them, especially when those traditions have been passed down through generations. Their wedding was full of those moments.

Tommy’s family has some pretty special Detroit roots of their own. His father and family own Astoria Pastry Shop in Greektown, so of course we had to make a stop there for photos. Photographing Tommy and Simona in a place that has been such a meaningful part of his family’s story made those images feel even more special — and honestly, you can’t have a wedding connected to Astoria without talking about the desserts. They were incredible.

After their ceremony, everyone headed to The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe for the reception, and the celebration that followed was one we won’t forget anytime soon. The food was amazing, the desserts were amazing, and the dance floor was basically impossible to stay away from. They had a live Greek band, which brought so much energy to the night and made the reception feel like a true celebration of both families coming together.

But what stood out to us most about this day was Simona and Tommy and their love for their friends and family. They are the couple who makes everyone around them feel important. Throughout the wedding day, we watched them intentionally greet guests one by one. Later, on the dance floor, I noticed Simona moving from person to person, pulling people in and making sure everyone felt included in the celebration. On a day that could have easily been completely about her, she was constantly thinking about the people she loved. These moments spoke to the heart of who these two are.

Tommy and Simona, thank you for letting us into the family for your special day. Every moment of it was so incredibly special and memorable and we are beyond thankful for the opportunity to be a part of your big day. We want to do it all over again :) Congratulations!

Vendors // Justin Alexander Bridal / Piera's Bridal Couture / The War Memorial / Astoria Pastry Shop / Bellasario Florist / Moraine Jewelry / Enigma Greet Entertainment / Florella Strings / DJ Matti / Da’Stanza & Allison / Primp Me Up