A Love-Wise Divorce Attorney Sets Up Annapolis’ Former Mayor

Jun. 19, 2019

7:00 a.m.

The Setup

For months, a family friend of Alexandra DeCesaris’s had been badgering her to go on a blind date. An experienced divorce attorney, Kim DiGiovanni Aluisi knew what did and didn’t work when it came to love, and she had the track record to prove it: three of her setups were actually married, including Alexandra’s cousin. The day Alexandra finally gave in, the Blue Angels were flying. Kim, sick with cancer, was at a party with Mike Pantelides, who was then the mayor of Annapolis, and she called up Alexandra. “Please, you have to do this for me,” Alexandra recalls her saying. “You have to go on a date with the mayor.” Of course, Alexandra couldn’t refuse her. For their first date, later that summer, the pair went to dinner at Paladar. Although Mike was focused on his work and Alexandra wasn’t looking for a relationship at the time, they had so much in common. A few months later, Kim passed away, but not before sharing her final prediction with Alexandra: “You’re going to marry him,” she said. “I know he’s the one.”

Their DC Venue

As much as they wanted to get married in Annapolis, Mike and Alexandra knew right away it wouldn’t be an option because of their large families. Alexandra’s dad is one of nine and her mom is one of seven; as a result, she has more than a hundred first and second cousins. They needed a venue that could accommodate 425 people for a seated reception. “With Mike’s love for government, history, and service, Washington, D.C. seemed like the perfect fit,” Alexandra says.

The Lace Dress

Alexandra knew she wanted lace, long sleeves, and a fit-and-flare style dress — it was just a matter of finding it! With help from her mom, mother-in-law, and two sisters, she discovered a designer she loved, Martina Liana, and the seamstress at Betsy Robinson customized the gown to exactly what she had envisioned.

Two Monograms Become One

For the wedding invitation and church program, Alexandra’s mom designed a monogram with the couple’s initials, M & A. Once the couple was officially married, however, they debuted a second monogram with their shared last name, printed on the wedding cake, table chart, bar napkins, and menus, which were personalized for each guest.

A God-Centered, Greek Ceremony

“It was very important to us that our wedding ceremony was God-centered and filled with Greek traditions passed down for centuries,” Alexandra says. The couple did not have attendants, other than a flower girl and ring bearer, both of whom Alexandra had taken care of since birth. “I knew I was going to have a hard time deciding and I didn’t want any hurt feelings,” Alexandra explains of the decision to forgo a bridal party. Mike’s cousin and her husband served as their koumbari, or official sponsor of the marriage. During the ceremony, the koumbari are responsible for holding a stephana (crown) above the heads of the bride and the groom as the priest asks God to crown them with honor and glory. They then exchange the stephana three times, symbolizing the connection of the two people.