LOVE & TRADITION: Christina Patronis and Dylan Singletary
BY OLIVIA CROSBY PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAUL JOHNSON
For Christina Patronis and Dylan Singletary, January 26, 2019, was the most beautiful day of their lives, a day steeped in family history and tradition. The couple said “I do” at the altar of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Panama City, the exact same location where Christina’s parents, along with her entire family on her father’s side, have held wedding ceremonies for generations. The special place and venue brought back sweet memories for many of the guests and it is certain that Christina and Dylan’s special day will be cherished for many years to come.
Christina recalls her favorite memory of her wedding day with a smile. “When I walked the very first step down the aisle towards the love of my life, all I could think about was becoming Dylan’s wife,” she says. “I was also very aware that the same step I took on that aisle is the same step the women in my family have taken before me. Many of my hopes and dreams had become reality. Marrying Dylan, I felt so much love knowing that the women in our family had been here before me.”
The day held many more special moments for the bride and groom. With its roots in Greece, the Patronis family upholds and celebrates Greek wedding traditions to honor their ancestors. One of these traditions is the betrothal service. The priest asks God with several meaningful prayers to grant the betrothed perfect and peaceful love, salvation, and to bless them with fair children.
Another Greek tradition the couple included is the ceremonial walk. Here, the priest leads the couple around a table on which are placed the Gospel and the cross, Christ’s symbols of hope and redemption. These first steps as partners emphasize the focus of their “life’s walk” together. During the walk around the table, a hymn is sung reminding the newly married couple of the sacrificial love they are to have for each other in marriage—a love that seeks not its own, but is willing to sacrifice all for the one loved.
The reception took place at Capt. Anderson’s, the restaurant owned and operated by Christina’s family that generations of locals and visitors have come to love. Christina literally grew up in the family business. Some of her earliest memories are of the restaurant and countless family dinners and events where the family gathered. Christina currently works as a baker at Capt. Anderson’s, creating many of the delicious cakes that have the homemade taste the restaurant is renowned for.
The bride’s dress complemented her fun-loving personality; she dazzled in a V-neck ball gown by designer Eve of Milady. It was the first gown she tried on, and it was love at first sight. With its ornate beading throughout the bodice and long sleeves that delicately framed her arms covered in Swarovski crystals, the sparkling gown was perfectly accentuated by a cathedral veil with cascading beadwork by Toni Federici, a Swarovski tiara by Untamed Petals that was fit for a princess, and heirloom silk crystal earrings by Maria Elena.
As wedding guests entered Capt. Anderson’s on the evening of January 26, they were amazed by the familiar restaurant’s transformation: beautifully accentuated with large chandeliers, tall candles, and intricate arrangements of white flowers, the restaurant, with its traditional vintage maritime décor, looked much like a fairytale ballroom. The festivities started with live music from classical stringed instruments, followed by a Greek band that had everyone on the dancefloor for traditional Greek dances such as Sirto and Hasapiko. As the crowd cheered the young couple, they followed another Greek tradition, the smashing of plates. Christina explains that in the Greek culture, the smashing of plates at wedding receptions brings good luck and a happy, lasting marriage. It doesn’t hurt that it is fun to do and makes for great photos.
“We truly had the wedding of our dreams and felt so blessed and loved to be surrounded by the people who meant the world to us,” Dylan and Christina say.
Back in 2017, the couple met in a class at Gulf Coast State College. Little did Christina know that, when Dylan offered to help her during class, she was looking at her future husband. She soon realized how driven, passionate, and friendly he was, and Dylan was smitten with Christina’s compassionate and loving nature right from the start. It was truly a match made in heaven. The two grew closer as friends, started dating, and quickly fell in love.
They had been together for quite some time when Christina and her family went on a cruise vacation. Unable to speak as they were used to, the couple realized they couldn’t bear to be apart and they knew then that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. Unknown to Christina, Dylan had already made plans to propose and with Christina away on holiday, it was the perfect time to purchase the engagement ring.
Now as a married couple, they are very thankful that they were good friends for a long time. The couple both say that communication is key to a strong marriage. “It’s so important to communicate and work together as a team,” Christina says. “When you are best friends like us, communication and teamwork comes easy. We are lucky to have each other.”
Although still newlyweds, the couple has some words of wisdom for other couples who are about to be married or are thinking of getting married: “Learn to communicate, even if it may not be what your spouse wants to hear. You don’t have to have everything figured out, but have a good idea of future plans before getting married; it takes a lot of stress and worries out of the relationship. Never go to bed mad, and finally, learn the art of compromise.” And for those engaged couples that are planning their wedding, Christina and Dylan agree that they need to enjoy every minute of it because it goes by so fast. Christina laughs and explains that she certainly learned from her mistakes. “Don’t sweat the small things and don’t stress about perfecting every detail. When the day of the wedding arrives, those small details will not be worth the stress. Enjoy your day and remember that it’s about the marriage, not the wedding.”
As they reflect on their wedding day, their gratitude is heartfelt. “We know how fortunate we are to be surrounded by our loving family and friends who have helped shape our lives. Family and friends are truly life’s greatest treasure,” they say.
For the near future, Christina and Dylan plan to travel more, as they thoroughly enjoyed their visits to London, Paris, and Dublin during their honeymoon.
The couple has loved every minute of becoming and being husband and wife and moved together after the wedding. They plan to have children to carry on their cherished family traditions, and will eventually build their dream house in the years to come.
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PARENTS OF THE BRIDE
Theo Patronis
Nan Patronis
PARENTS OF THE GROOM
Janet Singletary
Gene Singletary
MATRON OF HONOR
Eleni Hamm
MAID OF HONOR
Calliope Patronis
BRIDESMAIDS
Madison Kent
Mellanie Moore
Anna Patronis
Maria Patronis
Mackenzie Stream
Nicolle Valle
Nikole Patronis
BEST MEN
Tannor Singletary
Taylor Singletary
GROOMSMEN
Heath Adams
Logan Dykes
Christopher Holley
Derek Jenkins
Jimmy Patronis Junior
Neil Poston
Theo Patronis
FLOWER GIRL
Anneliese Hamm
RING BEARER
Johnny Patronis
KOUMBARO
Anastasia Hronas
OFFICIANTS
Reverend Micah Hirschy
Reverend James Cleondis
Reverend George Dursa
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