Pair Of Aces: Maria Lekkakos and Marc Harris - Northshore Magazine
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Pair Of Aces: Maria Lekkakos and Marc Harris
By Karyn Polewczyk
Perhaps it was destiny that brought together Maria Lekkakos, the former Miss Massachusetts-turned-proprietor of the eponymous Wenham salon and spa, M. Lekkakos, and Marc Harris, a South Boston native with a West Coast rockstar vibe. Both were drawn to the salon industry at a young age, and despite traveling in the same social circles for years, it wasn’t until a mutual friend introduced them at a party that the spark ignited.
“That big, warm, vivacious smile”—plus a firm handshake (“very important,” he adds)—left Marc intrigued-and inspired-by the woman who would eventually become his wife.
Lekkakos cites Harris’s firsthand understanding of the salon and spa industry as a key factor in their connection. “I’d had relationships where my boyfriends didn’t want me to succeed,” she says. “Marc gets it. He’s strong, he’s independent, he’s driven, and I love that about him.”
Five years of dating, four salons, two cities, and one joint venture later, the couple was engaged—and then came that big fancy (Greek) wedding.
M&M
Of planning the couple’s wedding, Lekkakos says, “I kept saying I wanted things to look dramatic, and Marc would say he saw dollar signs.” Rumors included a yacht for transportation between their Greek Orthodox ceremony and lavish reception at the Boston Harbor Hotel (attended by former Miss USA Shandi Finnessey and Congressman Steven Lynch). No yacht, but there was plenty of sophistication.
“It was about cultivating this taste of happiness, this extension of our everyday style: luxurious, contemporary, modern.”—Maria Lekkakos
The couple worked closely with their vendors to ensure every detail reflected their "M&M" style, down to each guest’s place setting.
“There was a moment of realization at the reception [when we thought], ‘We’re together, we’re one,'” says Harris. "You could feel the love and support in the room. It was very powerful." Lekkakos adds, “It gave me a high to see everyone just have the time of their lives. The material stuff just doesn’t matter.”
On Working Apart
“I don’t want to [run my business like] Salon Marc Harris,” Lekkakos says. “And he doesn’t want to [run his business like] M. Lekkakos Salon & Spa. But we think of how we can make each other’s individual brands stronger; we give each other advice.” That means a different approach to management—Harris has an operational team to help with his staff of 100, while Lekkakos maintains her own leadership style.