A wedding at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West

The one where the Greek architect and American journalist got married.

After orbiting each other’s worlds for years in New York, they finally met on a chance date mid-pandemic in Texas, where their respective research—which was uncannily aligned—had led them. This was a wedding that was so clearly written in the stars.

Emily and Kyriakos, Taliesin West, and the desert sun.

Photographed on a balance of film and digital, this gallery captures the elegance, intimacy, and timeless details of a celebration that was as intentional as it was extraordinary. I’m honored to share a glimpse into the highlights of their unforgettable day.

Getting Ready

Emily did not want to spend too much time in her getting ready photos - she wanted no moment to be or feel forced. My job was to solely capture things exactly as they happened. This couple chose this location, time of year, and venue very intentionally. She grew up in the desert of Arizona, and wanted the location to display her favorite aspects of her home. He is from Greece, and some of the landscape also reminded them of the Greek islands. He is an architect, and wanted the wedding photos to display the architectural impressiveness of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West. During the “getting ready” portion of my day, I dedicated some time to capturing the location and venue.

Welcome Drinks

So much thought was put into the guest experience through this wedding. As the guests arrived to the property, they were welcomed with drinks and saxophone music. They were able to spend their time socializing with old friends and family, and to explore the stunning Taliesin West, and lounge in the frozen-in-time rooms that the property features.

Ceremony

Once it was time for the ceremony to begin, the Saxophonist led the guests around the pond, and into the stunning ceremony space. As the saxophonist led people down the aisle, and passed the concert cellist waiting at the front of the ceremony, the music transitioned seamlessly as the guests found their seats. The ceremony was officiated by a friend of the couple, who knew them and was a part of their meant-to-be fairytale meeting. It was beautiful, both visually and emotionally.

Portraits

This part of the day is always among my favorites - the rare, quiet moments when a couple can step away from the energy of the wedding and simply be with one another. Emily & Kyriakos’ first look was natural and emotional. She crossed a bridge, while he watched in awe and took in her bridal aura, and I captured it all. After the ceremony, we were able to take a few portraits around Taliesin West before leaving for cocktail hour - it’s always an honor to take photos, especially on meaningful days. But to be able to combine that in an iconic and historic architectural feat, was breathtaking.

Family Photos

Family photos are always such an important part of the day, and with family photos here, we really wanted to combine the importance of the family members, with displaying the beauty and architecture of Taliesin West. (and keeping the family in the shade on this hot afternoon, of course!)

Cocktail Hour

At the bride’s family home, the guests gathered around, with a cocktail in hand, to watch the sun set over the valley that the bride calls home.

Decor

The planner and florist for this day, Angelic Grove, was a family friend of the bride’s family, which was a huge benefit to this couple. They currently live in Texas, so having a planner that they were familiar and comfortable with, and was also local to Arizona, was so helpful. The design and decor were stunning, and the couple was right to trust their team on this one!

Dinner

Excited greetings, candlelit conversations, loving toasts, and the celebratory buzz of the guests eating dinner. Dinnertime is a often under-photographed part of the day, but usually has so many intimate and sweet moments happening in every direction the lens points.

The Party

The Greek traditions from the groom’s side, really came out during the reception. The dance floor was filled with Greek music - Dart Collective did an excellent job mixing between the classic American dance floor hits and bouzouki and sirtaki classics. It was so fun to see all of the guests participate in the Greek dancing, and really just to be having such a fun night. I loved being a part of every second!!

Vendors:

Photo: Jess Living Photo

Ceremony Venue: Taliesin West

Planning & Florist: Angelic Grove

Bride’s Dress: Markarian

Groom’s Suit: Dries Van Noten

Hair: Sari Yanishefsky

Makeup: Lisa Stevens

Music / Band: Dart Collective