Acknowledgments

Folklore has so much to teach us, but its greatest lesson is that none of us lives in a vacuum. Supportive communities make life’s joys richer and sorrows bearable. And the support of countless friends, relatives, and colleagues made this book possible.

First, thanks to my aunts for reading my future in coffee grounds; Eleni Nikolaides, for wrapping all the bonbonnières for my wedding and filling my life with love; and to my parents, sister Marina, cousin Efrosini, and my cousins on Corfu and new relatives in Nicaragua for throwing me not one but two weddings (in the same day!). Thanks to my husband, Emilio, our children, Amalia and Nico, and their cousin, Stone, for three great baptisms; and my friends for the everyday rituals and celebrations that give life meaning.

Friends from a multitude of cultures provided both the inspiration for, and the fact checking of, many rituals in this book. Notable among them are Neela Pania and Vimla Pania, who discussed Hindu theology at length; Katherine Fausset and Kay Fausset, who gave me the tip about burying bourbon that inspired me to inter an airplane nip of brandy at the Corfu Sailing Club; and Rachel Gogos, my web guru and soul sister.

Many thanks to my former colleagues at Martha Stewart Weddings, for feeding my obsession with nuptials, teaching me so much, and encouraging me in this process—and for publishing my story that was the original inspiration for this book. Specifically, thanks to Michael McCormack for your support, design advice, and generally being in the room where it happened; Jen Cress for your intel and enthusiasm; Amy Conway for the assignment; Darcy Miller, who shows us all how to celebrate everything; and Elizabeth Graves for being a constant source of friendship and inspiration.

It takes a village to raise a book, and my editor Amanda Englander and her assistant, Gabrielle van Tassel, have been wonderful godparents. Thanks, too, to Terry Deal, Jenny Jimenez, and Mia Johnson at Clarkson Potter. Emily Isabella’s artwork brought the beauty of these rituals to life in a way words alone never could. My agent, Stéphanie Abou, is the first person I told about this idea. She responded with all the support I have now come to expect from her. Stéphanie, finding you was bashert. Last, but definitely not least, thanks to Jenny Zamora, for nurturing my children while I wrote this.

And to everyone whose wedding I danced at, or who danced at mine: thanks for sharing the joy. You make me feel very lucky indeed.