Eve & Christopher | VIP Country Club | New Rochelle, NY

Eve Alexandra Yanakis & Christopher Peter Kohlios

Their Vendors

Ceremony: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Shrine Church
Reception: VIP Country Club, 914.235.1500, vipcountryclub.com
Gown: Anne Barge, at Kleinfeld, NYC
Tux: Baroni, at Bell Formal Wear
Bridesmaids: Jenny Yoo
Photographer & Cinematographer: William Thomas Photography, williamthomasphoto.com
Hair Stylist: Lilly Hair
Makeup: Makeup by Besa K
Cake: VIP Country Club
Florist: Arcadia Floral Co.
Jazz Band: Louis Pettinelli Entertainment
Cigar Roller: Cigar Maestro by Jeffrey Avo Uvezian
Transportation: M&V Limousines, mvlimo.com

“Dinner Was Phenomenal”

We’ve known each other since we were kids because Chris was, and still is, best friends with my first cousin, so we’ve been family friends for years! Our romance didn’t start until the summer of 2018. Our first date was at the Oasis Cafe in Queens on September 19th, 2018. Chris proposed to me on the beach at sunset in Aruba on June 17th, 2023.

Aesthetically, VIP Country Club had everything both Chris and I were looking for in a venue. We both fell in love with it and had that “this is the one” feeling. It was stunning both inside and outside. Some of our favorite features were the color scheme in the ballroom, the bronze tin ceiling, the French doors and windows, the cocktail room, and their outdoor grounds.

Working with the VIP team was an absolute pleasure! We couldn’t have asked for a more  flawless evening, thanks to Vinston Joy, Tom Esposito, and my bridal attendant, Alyssa, as well as Tiffany, who toured us around the venue. My family and our guests were wowed by everything and couldn’t stop praising VIP’s team. Everyone was so helpful, knowledgeable, and attentive.

Thanks to the VIP team, our night was truly perfect and the planning process was so relaxing and fun. Throughout the entire process, we felt so confident that we would have an amazing wedding due to their professionalism. Truly, a dream team.

We had a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony at the church we both grew up in.

The cocktail room at VIP was one of our favorite features of the venue. We loved its NYC lounge aesthetic. We hired a four-piece jazz band during cocktail hour and had a cigar roller outside during both cocktails and the reception. The bridal attendant put together a private cocktail hour for Chris and me in the bridal suite. This was a really nice moment for us to wind down and spend time together. The spread Alyssa put out for us included a bit of everything and it was all so delicious. The Himalayan salt, tapas, classic New York deli, and hibachi stations were big hits!

Because the ballroom has such a beautiful color scheme and outstanding features, we kept our décor simple. We chose flowers to complement the colors and accents in the ballroom. Our flowers included white hydrangeas, ivory roses, peach spray roses, Israeli ruscus, seeded eucalyptus, and toffee roses. We had a five-piece Greek band from Greece and the popular Long Island, NY DJ, Spyro Kostaras. Music was split between Greek and American, and the dance floor was full all night.

Coming from a family of restaurant owners, food and service were top priority and everyone was beyond impressed. Dinner was phenomenal from start to finish. Our guests were raving about the food and the impeccable service. Each table was attended to by its own staff and a wine cart was brought around to each table. They also included a chef’s special for our wedding, which was lamb shank, and everyone was blown away at how delicious it was.

The other delicious dishes included filet mignon, red snapper, and a vegetarian option. Guests loved the abundant array of desserts in the Viennese which spanned from wall-to-wall and included a s’mores and creme brûlée station, a crêpe station, and a boutique chocolate station. They did a beautiful job designing our cake and it was an absolutely delicious vanilla sponge cake with a cannoli filling. After dinner cordials and cocktails were part of the Viennese too. In addition to premium, top-shelf liquor, they offered mocktails and a signature drink for the bride and groom! Bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches were served at the end of the night as guests were leaving.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to our parents, siblings, grandparents, bridal party, family, friends, and guests for being part of our special day and celebrating with us. We are so grateful for all of you and feel blessed to be surrounded by so much love! Thank you to VIP Country Club and to each of our vendors for an exceptional wedding. You are all amazing, and we cannot express our appreciation enough!

VIP Country Club, New Rochelle, NY, 914.235.1500, vipcountryclub.com