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A representative from The Greek Club in South Brisbane says today’s weddings often nudge 300 guests, but rarely exceed 500. Traditional Greek food, music, and dancing are still hugely popular at the venue, as is white Grecian theming and costuming. “If you’re thinking of the plate smashing, we still do that, but it depends on the size of the wedding as it’s quite a messy process,” the representative says. Big, fat Greek weddings are still a thing at The Greek Club – but these days the venue is just as likely to host big, fat Indian weddings. On the morning of July 21, 1963, Stella got dressed at her cousin’s house in Annerley, and her father picked her up along with her bridesmaids, cousins Angie Cassimatis and Kathleen Contoleon. “It was like a dream for me,” Stella says. The ceremony was at 2.30pm, conducted by the church’s longtime Reverend Gregory Sakellariou. The Cloudland reception followed at 6.30, with traditional Greek dancing. “Cloudland had a sprung floor, they had a lot of Greek dances there,” Helen Feros recalls. “Little kids loved weddings, because when the Greek dancing started, all the men grabbed small change out of their pockets and threw it on the dance floor.” Five days after the wedding the newlyweds flew to Sydney and boarded a boat, the Patris, to start their four-month honeymoon to Europe. After visits to relatives on Kythera they continued to Italy, France and Germany. On their return to Brisbane they moved into an apartment above the hardware shop, the first of many Brisbane homes they would occupy over the next 60 years. Peter and his brothers, Theo and George, took over the hardware and earth-moving business after their father retired. Peter would also start a tyre retailer in 1990. Now, only the tyre business remains in the family. The Samioses are stalwarts of Greek Orthodox life in Brisbane. In addition to a decade as President of the Kytherian Association of Queensland, Peter spent a decade as Vice President of the Greek Orthodox Southside Parish. Stella worked on the Ladies’ Committee, and they were one of the foundation families of the Parish and Community of the Dormition of Our Lady, Mount Gravatt, built in 1974. Until COVID, they would visit Kythera together every second year. In 2023, the 60th anniversary of the big wedding came and went. But this year, in July, the children and their spouses invited them to an intimate family dinner for their 62nd anniversary at the Southern Cross Sports Club in Mount Gravatt. The trap was sprung. When the couple entered, they were shocked to find all their friends and grandchildren there, shouting “surprise!” It was hardly a party of 1200 – closer to 50 – but it brought back a lot of memories. “We’ve had a good life,” Stella says.“That’s what I keep saying to Peter. It’s been a lot of fun. We’ve been so blessed.” And the secret to a long marriage? “Well, you’ve got to give and take in a marriage, give and take. Lots of love, lots of support. Be there for each other, love each other – that’s it.” Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
