Meet Stefanie Halioris: Our First Dream Dress Project Giveaway Bride!

Some moms dream about their daughter’s wedding day… and others go ahead and pick the groom before kindergarten graduation. That’s exactly what Stefanie Halioris’ mom, Fedra, did. She and her Greek church Bestie used to joke that their little ones—Stefanie and John—would get married someday. Two decades, one Eiffel Tower kiss, and a whole lot of love later… here we are!

And yes, you heard that right–their first kiss was at the Eiffel Tower, as kiddos in puppy love, like something taken out of a page of our girlhood diaries. It's giving The Notebook, it’s giving Greek School Fan-Fiction, it's giving rom-com, it's giving–”wait, why didn't our schools offer these trips?!”

But here’s the beautiful part: even though Fedra always had a soft spot for John, she let their love story unfold in its own time. Stef and John were childhood friends who drifted, explored, and lived their own lives before finding their way back to each other—organically, and on their own terms. Their love was never forced. It grew with patience, space, and that kind of cosmic pull you just can’t manufacture.

Stefanie’s a special ed teacher, a Stony Brook grad, and one of the most resilient souls we’ve ever met. She put herself through school, was raised by a single mom, volunteers at her church, and teaches swim lessons —all with strength, joy, and a heart of gold.

Now, with her June 2026 wedding at St. Paraskevi on the horizon, she’s on the hunt for the dress. She’s “narrowed it down to 18 options and is hoping for something totally unexpected—think sexy, form-fitting, maybe short, maybe even pink”

We’re beyond excited to help Stef say yes to a dress that celebrates her story, her shine, and everything she’s overcome.

Watch as Stefanie says yes to her dream dress in our first episode of the Dream Dress Project: