My husband, Dimitri, and I were married in April in Greece with his family and have been planning for months to host a small and intimate wedding celebration to be with my side of the family and our friends in New Orleans in November. With a somber heart, I'm now also planning a celebration of life and burial arrangement for my mom.

A big portion of our funds for the wedding celebration ended up going towards my mom's cremation this past week. Due to the unforeseen timing of my mom's passing, we are at risk of having to hold off until next year to do our wedding celebration, unless we can somehow rally up the remainder of what we need to still continue on with this special event and also reserve some additional funds to give my mom a proper send-off as well. ️

With emotions high and very limited resources available in our family, I'm reaching out to ask those who loved and cared for my mom, "Sista Mary," to contribute anything possible to help support our special day happening and also to help with my mom's celebration of life and burial arrangements.

Dates of Events:

Wedding Celebration in City Park - Saturday, November 8th at 1 p.m.

Celebration of Life - Sunday, November 9th

(Location TBD based on funds)

I'm also asking everyone who will be attending our wedding celebration to PLEASE not bring any physical wedding or baby gifts. I'm already sorting through so many belongings between my mom and my Godmother that I don't have any mental or physical space to accept gifts at this time.

If you are thinking of gifting anything, please consider contributing here or show your support by reserving a bottle(s) of our Bariamis Family Olive Oil (which can be picked up at our ceremony) so that we can use the funds received from that to also aid in making these two events possible in such a short period of time. That is the most meaningful support one can give right now.

I truly had the highest hopes that my "mothers" would have undoubtedly been there with me on my special day, especially since they couldn't make it to Greece for the church ceremony. But God had other plans for them to be together in heaven to cheer us on from above.

A little backstory:

My husband, daughter, and I relocated to New Orleans, LA from Asheville, NC after Hurricane Helene in September of last year. Little did I know at the time, there was a divine reason that I was brought back home after leaving for 8 years.

I was called to be here to care for my mom in her final days. I'm endlessly grateful that we were able to make those memories with her and also my Godmother for about a year. They were both able to spend time with my daughter, Anastasia, and they adored her so, so much!

My mom, Mary, and my Godmother, Ava, loved me more than anything on Earth. They have been sending me signs daily of their presence and love. I give this time of difficulty to God and my guardian angels to anchor and navigate our family. Some days are more difficult than others, but I know that there is more to this life than being sad. Moving forward and bringing light and celebration to those we love is so much more valuable to me than grieving and being in sorrow.

I know that my mom and Ava would want nothing more than for me to look up and enjoy every moment of this beautiful time in life. The ending of a chapter only means the beginning of another. Now I walk with more wisdom and strength than before, but I also bring with me the memories of their beautiful spirit, as I'm sure many others who knew them also do. ❤️