Michael Linneman and Alexandra (“Ally”) Settelmayer met in January 2016 during their sophomore year at Columbia Law School and have been together ever since. Their engagement was complete with New York City classics: a proposal in Madison Square Park with their dog Ruby in tow, a special dinner at the Bowery Meat Company (a restaurant where the couple celebrated birthdays, professional achievements and “just good days in (their) relationship”) and an after-party at one of their favorite watering holes in the city, the Half Pint.

Their decision to marry in Greece was a summation of all the good things in their relationship and a nod to the bride’s Greek heritage and “(her) incredible grandparents Yiayia and Papou,” but the couple’s friends may have predicted this destination years ago.

Read on to learn more about this special Santorini wedding with a touch of New York.

A wedding predicted years ago in Greece

Santorini, Greece was an inevitable choice for the couple’s wedding. Not only was it a nod to Ally’s Greek heritage, but the groom says, “Six years earlier, we were in Mykonos with our closest friends after graduating from Columbia Law School. Our friends teased us about getting married in Greece. It was so early in our relationship that Ally shyly rejected the idea, not knowing that the proposal would later become a reality.”

An intimate experience

Ally and Michael began their wedding preparations by carefully putting together their guest list. Ally recalls, “We were most excited about having all of our favorite people in one place. We knew we wanted to have a fairly intimate celebration – one where we knew everyone in attendance.”

With 65 of the couple’s closest family and friends in attendance, this celebration was an experience not to be missed.

Individual and curated invitations

Wanting to infuse the emotions of their love story in the Big Apple throughout the wedding planning process, the couple decided to create a custom invitation set with local business Greenwich Letterpress on Christopher Street. The invitation was embellished with gold leaf foil and used a custom ink blend for the perfect shade of French blue, a nod to the weekend’s airy European color palette.

A dazzling dress

Searching for an ethereal, romantic and whimsical dress, Ally was immediately drawn to the designs of Liz Martinez. From the first time she tried on her dress, Ally knew it was the right one. “It was everything I was looking for and exactly how I wanted Mike to see me on our wedding day,” says the bride.

A first look over the Aegean

Perched on a cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea, Ally approaches Michael to see him for the first time. “Our first look is probably one of my favorite memories of our wedding day. I don’t think anything compares to the sheer joy of finally seeing his face,” says the bride.

A private exchange of vows

With a view of the sea, the couple wanted to enjoy this special and intimate moment and exchanged their wedding vows privately after their first look.

A groom to beware of

Michael wore a tailored black tuxedo with a black bow tie. He also wore velvet loafers and a watch that Ally had given him as a wedding gift.

Something old, something new, something for the bridesmaid, something blue!

Ally’s bridesmaids wore beautiful, assorted blue dresses. “I liked the idea of ​​my bridesmaids choosing their own dresses and finding something that fits their personality,” she says.

Aegean aesthetics

The groomsmen continued the Greek blue theme. They wore tuxedos of their choice, but Michael gave them “each a light blue pocket square to match the Aegean aesthetic.”

A random ceremony

In keeping with Greek tradition, Ally’s bridal party accompanied her to the cathedral. “Seven incredible women who were there for her through all of life’s ups and downs,” she says.

After Michael emotionally presented her with a pastel-colored bouquet, the couple entered the glittering, golden Greek cathedral accompanied by the orchestral version of Taylor Swift’s “Invisible string.”

Unexpected bliss

“One of the most incredible details of the day was actually completely unexpected: My Aunt Connie surprised me by attaching a pin with a photo of my Yiayia and Papou to my bridal bouquet – as a reminder that they were always with me,” the bride recalls.

Selected cocktails

For cocktail hour, the couple had two signature cocktails for guests: a watermelon margarita and an Aperol spritz. These light and refreshing drinks helped capture the “European garden party aesthetic.”

Music and snacking

A traditional Greek band kept guests entertained as they dined on classic Greek appetizers like sea bass ceviche, mini kebabs with pita bread and tzatziki, and grilled halloumi cheese bites with mushroom jam. The couple also had acoustic guitarist Irwan Easty perform during cocktail hour, who charmed guests. “His set continued through dinner and added to the atmosphere of the evening,” notes the bride.

A banquet-style party

To match the intimate nature of the wedding, the couple loved having everyone seated around a long banquet table with stunning ocean views and decorated with pastel-colored flowers. With guests’ names on macarons, this wedding was definitely a “sweet escape.”

A personal touch

Ally and Michael wrote handwritten cards addressed to each guest and placed them at their place at the dinner table. “In the weeks leading up to the wedding, we sat down in the evenings and talked about each wedding guest, their role in our lives, and what we wanted to say to them. It made our wedding day feel even more intentional,” Ally recalls.

A magical sunset

The reception decor continued to reflect the pastel Greek color scheme of the weekend, with the table adorned with white and gold plates, gold silverware, pale purple napkins, and a mix of pink, blue, and gold-rimmed glassware.

The dining table overlooked the sea and by a lucky coincidence, guests were treated to an incredible sunset that somehow matched the flowers on their table perfectly.

A Greek meal with a New York touch

To honor the brides’ Greek heritage, their dinner consisted of traditional dishes such as tzatziki, dolmades, spanakopita, tiropita, lamb chops, moussaka, sea bass, and chicken with lemon sauce. For dessert, guests dined on baklava with vanilla ice cream, paired with their cake – a delicious three-tiered chocolate cake with white frosting, adorned with a flowing light blue organza bow. Late-night appetizers included gyros, loukamades, and coffee in Anthora coffee cups – a nod to their New York love story.

The first dance

The couple’s first dance was to “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac. The groom says: “I love 80s music and we both liked the feeling of being together everywhere – this song also seemed particularly fitting for a destination wedding.”

Start the party with a bang

At the end of the first dance, “Lover” by Taylor Swift enchanted the guests while the fireworks ushered in the evening. “I love fireworks more than I can put into words. The feeling of putting my arms around Mike, surrounded by all of my favorite people in the world while watching the fireworks is definitely an amazing moment in my life,” says Ally.

Dance all night

After the spectacular fireworks, the Brightlights Band opened the party with live music, a perfect mix of 1980s and 1990s music and current songs. “We’ll never forget dancing to ‘500 Miles’ by The Proclaimers and ending the night with ‘All the Small Things’ by Blink 182. When the live music ended, we continued dancing into the night while a DJ played,” says the bride.

Words of wisdom

As they reminisce, the couple say: “There’s something magical about being surrounded by all your loved ones in one place, so try to absorb this very special moment as much as you can.”

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