This Vogue Editor Bride Wore A Summer Lace Dress For Her Wedding On A Mystical Greek Island
Jasmine Contomichalos and Paul Masmejean met in January 2022 on a blind date. Their mutual friend Emma set them up because – despite being New Yorkers – they were “both European,” Jasmine recalls, laughing. (Jasmine’s mum and dad are British and Greek respectively, while Paul’s parents are French.) But despite the broad commonality, Emma was spot-on: “We hit it off instantly and even discovered we attended the same pre-school in London,” says Jasmine. A year and a half later, Paul proposed to Jasmine on the Caribbean island of Canouan.
The two decided to wed on 6 July in Patmos, Greece. The mystical Aegean isle – where John the Apostle is purported to have written the Bible’s Book of Revelation – is a meaningful place for Jasmine, the senior experiences editor at Vogue. Her grandparents bought a house there in the 1970s, while her own parents wed there a decade and a half later. “I’ve spent every summer there since birth,” she says. The only problem? Its seclusion: Patmos has no airport and is only reachable via boat.
Yet the practical challenges were overcome by the island’s nostalgic value and heart. “I was reluctant to host our wedding there at first as it’s remote and a pain to get to, but seeing all the people we love make the effort to be there, combined with the traditional magic of the island, made it all worth it.”
Their wedding festivities kicked off on Thursday, with lunch at a classic Greek taverna. The next night, Paul and Jasmine held a rehearsal dinner in the main square of Hora, a hillside town overlooked by a monastery. Guests wore all-white as Jasmine donned a blue dress by Khaite, paired with her grandmother’s earrings and her mother’s Tiffany cuff bracelets.
On Saturday afternoon, they held an Orthodox Greek ceremony at the same church where Jasmine was baptised. “We had a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony which involves a wide range of rituals, symbolism and prayers in order to celebrate the core meaning of marriage,” the bride explains. “As Greek Orthodox weddings have remained nearly unchanged since ancient Greece, it’s difficult for even native speakers to understand, but the ritualistic aspect is unique and spiritual.” The same priest who baptized Jasmine all those years ago presided over the couple as they said their vows. “His familiar presence helped me relax and truly embrace this special moment with Paul.”
For the main ceremony, Jasmine wore a lace dress by Sareh Nouri. “The dress was everything I wanted: timeless, appropriate for the church with its covered shoulders, and comfortable in the heat. It reminded me of a summer version of Grace Kelly’s wedding dress – the epitome of classic,” she said. The bride accessorised with Van Cleef & Arpels Lotus earrings borrowed from her godmother and a vintage Chanel clamshell bag. Paul, meanwhile, wore a Loro Piana fabric suit tailored by Casely-Hayford London. Jasmine’s bridesmaids watched on in custom Grecian blue dresses by Alejandra Alonso Rojas.
After their wedding ceremony – which included traditions such as the crowning of the bride and groom to symbolise their role as king and queen of their household – the couple left the church while their loved ones showered them with rice. Musicians led a wedding procession through the old town of Hora, where a vintage 1968 Mehari was waiting for them. Jasmine and Paul drove off just as the sun set.
The reception was held at Benetos, a restaurant overlooking the Aegean Sea. Dinner was served family style as the couple’s bridesmaids and groomsmen made speeches. (The latter group’s recitations involved dancing on the restaurant’s stone wall, much to the laughter of everyone around them.)
Once traditional Greek folk dancers led everyone into the sirtaki, the party didn’t stop: “We danced until the very last minute the authorities allowed us,” says Jasmine, who changed into a slinky dress by Dana Harel for the occasion. Afterward, buses took everyone to Namma in town for an after-party of burgers and martinis – which lasted until 5am.
Just over a month later, Jasmine and Paul joke that they’re still suffering a healthy dose of the wedding blues. “It was just as magical as we envisioned it,” Jasmine says.
Photo: Nikolas Kominis1/69Paul and I en route to our rehearsal dinner. The excited nerves were starting to kick in!
Photo: Nikolas Kominis2/69We wore blue the first night whilst all of our guests came in white. I felt this cornflower blue Khaite dress was both glamorous and island appropriate.
Photo: Nikolas Kominis3/69Having a giggle with my gorgeous bridesmaids.
Photo: Nikolas Kominis4/69The boys, taking the giggle to the next level.
Photo: Nikolas Kominis5/69We wanted to keep our tablescapes simple.
Photo: Nikolas Kominis6/69Our incredibly cute menus designed by Clementina Sketchbook were one of my absolute favourite touches!
Photo: Nikolas Kominis7/69It was magical to see the restaurant where I’d spent my childhood transformed into such a beautiful scene.
Photo: Nikolas Kominis8/69My hero of a father/wedding planner, Gerassimo.
