The Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony starts with the bride being escorted into the church by her father. The expectant groom stands by the alter waiting with the Koumbaros (best man). After the priest's introduction, he blesses the rings and places them on the fingers of the bride and groom.
Two stefana (metal crowns or floral wreaths) are put on the heads of the couple by the Koumbaros while the couple holds hands. The stefana is a symbol of God bestowing his blessings in the form of crowns. The crowns are generally connected by a ribbon to symbolize the couple's eternal bond as husband and wife. The stefana are swapped from bride to groom's head 3 times.
During the marriage service the couple receives lighted candles to hold. This is followed by religious readings and the wedding party take communion wine. The couple is then walked around the altar three times to represent their everlasting journey. During the circling the guests throw rice onto the couple, symbolising fertility. The stefana are then removed and the couple declared married.
In earlier times it was traditional for the the women to get together and wash the bride's dowry. The men would parade the couple's furniture down the village streets to their new home. In some mountain villages the bride's embroidery and jewellery were displayed on horseback at the head of the wedding party to the church before the marriage service.
At the reception, a bonbonierra (bag) containing an odd number of koufetta (sugared almonds) are given to guests as wedding favours. The odd number symbolizes the couple’s unity since odd numbers cannot be divided.
The famous Kalamatiano or “Circle dance”, involves two circles that form around the bride while guests throw money at the musicians and in some regions break dishes for good luck.
It is a tradition in Greece to break a pomegranate on the ground at weddings. It is a symbol of abundance, fertility and good luck.
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