Greek weddings feature a combination of ceremonies that represent an unforgettable part of Greek culture. The Greek wedding ceremony is heavily steeped in tradition, joy, emotion and deep symbolism. The Greeks believe very much in traditions and superstitions, and these phenomena are ostentatiously displayed on engagement and wedding occasions.

History
According to Greek mythology, Cecrops, the legendary half-human, half-serpent ruler of Athens, established the institution of marriage in Greece. Before his reign, the Athenians lived in promiscuity. The compelling motives for the marriage were the political coalition between the royal families that the marriage would demonstrate and the creation of children for the next generation.

Prior commitment
In Greek society, engagement is a cause for great celebration. The potential husband will visit the father of the bride and ask for her daughter’s hand in marriage. With the approval of the future bride’s family, the engagement date is set. Family members and close friends of both families are invited to attend the engagement.

Commitment
Traditionally, the couple becomes engaged by exchanging rings in the presence of family and close friends. The priest hurts the couple’s engagement rings. The bride and groom then place the wound rings on the left ring fingers. The guests present wish you many blessings.

This is followed by a huge party. The engagement is believed to be as binding as the wedding. According to Greek Orthodoxy, it is mandatory for the newly engaged couple to visit the priest three times before he gives his consent to perform the marriage ceremony. The bride and groom are prohibited from celebrating weddings during certain days of the year. This includes the first half of August, forty days before Esther, and forty days before Christmas. The Greek Orthodox Church considers these dates to be inappropriate.

Pre-wedding ceremonies
After the commitment, the first thing that is done is to choose the Koumbaros. He is the witness of the marriage ceremony and has many spiritual and financial responsibilities. It is important that Koumbaros is a man of good standing in Greek Orthodoxy.

Greek weddings usually take place on Sundays. On the Wednesday before the wedding, the ‘Start the Yeast’ ritual takes place. The couple sifts the flour and the relatives watch this in silence. Once there is enough flour, all the guests throw coins into the sieve and wish the bride and groom good luck. On the Friday before the wedding, there is another ‘Filling the Sack’ ceremony. It is an occasion in which the bride fills the bags with all her belongings and the guests put coins in them. Bride’s mother is the first to place the collections she had accumulated over the years in her daughter’s bags. Meanwhile, the groom meets his friends and relatives, offers them drinks and a formal invitation to attend the wedding banquet.

The household items given by the girl’s mother are used, in a custom called Nyphostoli, by local volunteers to furnish the newlyweds’ first home.

the wedding ceremony
The beginning of the wedding procession takes place at the groom’s house where the wedding flag is raised. The standard-bearer leads the priest, groom, and guests to the bride’s house. The bride’s mother offers her wine, and when she has drunk it, the Koumbaro leads the bridal party to the Church.

The bride wears red veils that symbolize fire to protect her from evil. She also carries with her a lump of sugar that assures her of a sweet future.

The betrothal ceremony begins when the priest blesses the rings and recites passages from the Bible. The Koumbaro then exchanges the rings three times between the fingers of the partner. It means that the weaknesses of one will be compensated by the other. The bride and groom receive a pair of lighted candles that symbolize the eternal light of Jesus Christ.

Singing is the most iconic part of the Greek wedding. The priest takes two crowns or Stefana and adorns the couple by placing them on their heads. Koumbaro then invites the couple to take their first step together by walking three times around the altar on which the Holy Bible and cross rest.

At the end of the ceremony, the priest offers his blessings to the newlywed couple. The couple then goes to the groom’s house where the flag is raised again and the bride throws a small piece of iron on the roof as a symbol of the strength of her new life. Traditionally, the bride’s parents plan and pay for the reception.

Attracted
Greek wedding attire is traditional, the bride usually wears a white dress with a long train and a traditional black suit with a bow tie for the groom. Greek wedding dresses are an image of elegance, simplicity and class. These dresses can be easily identified by the unique cut of the wedding dress that preserves a woman’s femininity.