Greece is a large country with an ancient culture. Despite modern realities, the influence of ancient traditions here is very strong. The Greek people are very committed to their customs and carefully preserve the heritage of their ancestors. A Greek wedding is an excellent illustration of the way of life and identity of this people, which they have carried through the centuries, despite all adversity. Having absorbed the wisdom of Hellenic civilization with their mothers' milk, the Greeks know how to accept the good that life gives them. Nature itself generously gifted the inhabitants of this country, blessing it with a warm climate, clear cloudless days and gentle waves of the azure sea.
The Greeks celebrate holidays with all the breadth of their souls, never missing an opportunity to have fun, dance to invigorating melodies and laugh. The unique national flavor is fully manifested at celebrations, turning any of them into a ceremonial event bearing the stamp of ancient times. And, of course, time-honored wedding customs are strictly observed to this day.
The pernicious influence of modern globalization, which persistently dictates uniform standards for everyone, is unable to destroy ancestral customs. Even in cities, Greek residents try to adhere to traditions. And in the outback you can watch a real Greek wedding with all its attributes. It is performed on a magnificent scale. All relatives, acquaintances, friends and their relatives are invited. Wedding celebrations for 300–600 people are not uncommon in this country and they last a week.
Blessed marriage
Nowadays, adopted laws on marriage and family relations allow Greek citizens to register marriage ties in a purely administrative manner. However, as in the entire civilized world. However, the real sacrament of marriage for this people was and remains a wedding in a church according to the Orthodox rite, which is furnished in the most magnificent way.
Ancient customs of Greece
Many wedding customs in Greece have remained unchanged since ancient times.
- So, even the ancient Hellenes began to draw up marriage contracts, spelling out all the nuances and conditions.
- The tradition of bride price and dowry goes back four thousand years.
- The bride's comic resistance when leaving her home has deep roots: girls were married to complete strangers whom the bride saw on the wedding day, and the wife became the property of her husband.
- Sprinkling the newlyweds with coins remains traditional. Only in Ancient Greece dates and nuts were added to money, which promised prosperity in the house.
Well, the luxurious celebrations and wild fun for several days seemed to have left the ancient frescoes, remaining unchanged.
Matchmaking and engagement
A wedding in Greece is a very extended event. It is not customary to hastily slip a ring to the chosen girl and then sign it a day or two later. Everything should go as usual, thoughtfully and in order. From the moment a couple declares serious intentions and gets engaged, quite a long time can pass until the wedding itself: from a year to several years. According to the Byzantine tradition, this time is given to properly prepare for the upcoming celebrations and finally become confident in your feelings.
During this period, the groom must prepare a ransom for the bride (although this custom has long become purely symbolic, and the groom’s relatives collect money for the wedding itself), and the girl collects the dowry. And it is precisely this tradition that is strictly observed in many Greek families.
The dowry is carefully collected over the years. These are not ordinary purchases - they were made by the hands of a girl and her mother. This is embroidery, dresses, knitting, weaving. Everything that allows you to create the talent of the future bride and that will be useful in family life. Of course, a lot is bought now, and the majority of a bride's dowry consists of household appliances, bedding and clothing. But in any dowry chest there will be a couple of uniquely beautiful things created with your own hands.
Modern realities have made their own adjustments: it happens that a separate engagement is not celebrated, but a wedding ceremony is held immediately. According to an unshakable tradition, the engagement is always held in the temple. Relatives and friends are convened and in the presence of witnesses the groom declares his intentions to the chosen one’s father. Once consent is received, it is sealed by the priest with blessed rings. They are worn on the ring fingers of the left hand.
An interesting custom: as a sign of their love and loyalty to the chosen one, the bride and groom exchange rings three times. They will wear these rings without taking them off during the entire preparation for the wedding celebrations. Then they will turn into wedding bands, taking their rightful place on the right hand.
Wedding in Greece: about traditions and preparation
A wedding in Greece will be a smart decision if you want to hold the ceremony abroad. While Italy, Spain and France “bite” the cost of renting castles, villas and other wedding venues, Greece attracts newlyweds with its incredible views and reasonable prices for holding a celebration.
UNASSVADBA: Maria, hello! You have extensive experience in holding both mini-weddings in Greece for two, and “traditional”, in the Russian sense, weddings with a large number of guests and relatives. Which cities are popular there? Are they going to the islands?
Maria Kichigina: Julia, hello! Thank you for contacting me with this question. Our newlyweds in many cases prefer Greece to most countries when choosing a wedding location. In fact, mainland Greece is less popular than the islands. Most newlyweds want to go there. The most popular among them are Crete, Rhodes, and, of course, Santorini, which deserves a separate interview about itself. Santorini is the most wedding-friendly of all the Greek islands. Its landscapes and views are very attractive for a romantic ceremony.
White-stone houses, azure roofs of churches, breathtaking views of the sea with cruising liners and yachts... Many different viewpoints for ceremonies - there is no other island with so many interesting wedding locations. But in connection with this, there is a large flow of newlyweds who come here from all over the world. The summer months are a busy wedding season and some venues even get booked up years in advance for a specific date. But even if you have a sudden decision about a ceremony in Santorini, we will try to help you. We are constantly searching for the most interesting and new venues that have not yet been conquered by a large flow of weddings. At Marry Marry, we promptly (one of the first) receive information about new products on this fabulous romantic island.
But we do not ignore other Greek islands. Each of them is unique and has its own advantages, incomparable with other places.
U: What wedding traditions exist in Greece?
MK: A Greek wedding is full of traditions and rituals. Some of them are quite applicable in Russia and are similar to our celebrations. As an example, before the wedding ceremony and immediately after it, in Greece it is customary to organize a “concert” of honking cars. And, as in Russia, the Greeks like to celebrate a wedding not just on one day, but on several. But if in our country it is traditionally two days, then in Greece it is three. Of course, every day is scheduled and corresponds to a specific program, which was not invented by the newlyweds, but developed historically! Usually the celebration starts on Saturday and ends on Monday.
And of course, you can’t escape the fun and noisy Greek dancing! The newlyweds begin to dance the first dance together, and then the guests join them, forming a circle and placing their hands on the shoulders of their neighbor - the traditional sirtaki dance.
We try to use the local traditions of the country as much as possible at weddings for Russians. And we almost always arrange a master class on sirtaki for guests and newlyweds by specially invited professionals. This is one of the most striking and memorable parts of the celebration.
U: Is a marriage concluded in Greece valid in Russia?
MK: yes, of course! And the procedure is quite simple! We help our newlyweds on all issues related to the process of official marriage in Greece.
U: Is it possible for residents of Russia to officially get married in Greece?
MK: You can too! The majority of Greeks are Orthodox, and, in connection with this, there are a large number of Orthodox churches on the mainland and islands. Unlike Russia, the Greeks attach the greatest importance to religious marriage. For them, a wedding is much more important than all the bureaucratic procedures.
U: how much does a wedding in Greece cost?
MK: it all depends on the number of guests, the chosen venue, the content of the wedding and many other various factors. But, if we are talking about a wedding for two, then the cost of the official ceremony starts from 2000 Euros. This amount will include all services for the legalization of an official marriage, transfers for the newlyweds, the bride’s bouquet, and even the wedding cake. Greece is definitely one of the most budget-friendly countries for a wedding.
U: Which couples choose Greece for their wedding?
MK: Greece is chosen by romantics and traditionalists, couples who want crazy fun and noisy celebration. And also, it seems to me, couples for whom family values are important, since in Greece relations between relatives are very warm and friendly.
U: What is usually served at Greek weddings?
MK: The traditional wedding table in Greece is meze. Mezes are small Greek appetizers that are not served individually, but placed in the middle of the table so that each guest can choose an appetizer to suit their taste or try a little bit of everything. Traditional Greek snacks include olives, feta cheese, the well-known “Greek salad,” dolma, vegetable pastes, and beans. And after the meze, hot dishes are served. They are served in the same style, in the center of the table and for all guests at once. The most popular type of meat preparation is souvlaki. Pieces of meat on skewers, almost kebab. Served with white bread and lemon. And, of course, fish and the freshest grilled seafood in large quantities.
For lovers of a traditional wedding banquet in our country with individually served dishes, there are also such places.
U: How is the celebration going?
MK: for Russians there are no significant differences in the wedding day scenario. Morning preparations for the bride, photo shoot, ceremony, banquet and beautiful end of the celebration with cake and fireworks. But of course, adjusted for the country and its climate. During the summer season, the islands are very hot. Therefore, we recommend holding the ceremony no earlier than 18.00 to avoid the scorching sun. And not only him... Everyone knows that for the beauty of the picture, it is better to do a photo and video session in the setting sun than in the zenith sun! This is also very important! Although, for us in Russia, a ceremony after 18.00 sounds strange, at this time we have long been accustomed to being at a wedding banquet... But our employees, who every time accompany the newlyweds and their guests to Greece for the celebration, know exactly how best to set the timing wedding day, taking into account local features.
U : What attractions should you visit on your honeymoon?
MK: each island has its own attractions, some have more, others have less. But I advise newlyweds to travel to different parts of Greece. After all, everywhere has its own characteristics. There are sea communications of quite satisfactory quality between many islands, so there are no barriers to this.
U : How far in advance do you need to apply for marriage in Greece?
MK: we advise our newlyweds to bring us documents for subsequent legalization in Greece no later than 2 months in advance. Although, there were also urgent cases when everything had to be done in extra-fast mode, in less than a month.
U : How long does it take to prepare a wedding abroad?
MK: usually our newlyweds make a decision about getting married abroad at least six months in advance. This is due to the fact that they need to notify all relatives and friends, book comfortable flights for them, and choose a hotel to stay in advance. If our wedding involves only the bride and groom, then the newlyweds apply in less time, although in this case the choice of wedding venues is reduced... It’s still better to hurry.
U : tell us about the Greek weddings that you had to organize (previously, Maria headed the wedding agency “My Wedding Planner” - editor’s note) .
MK: We have experience organizing weddings in most wedding destinations in Greece - Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Athens and Chalkidiki. All these weddings are very different, both in the number of guests, and in content, and in content. But in general, what they all have in common is that they are organized on the territory of a very warm, cordial and hospitable country.
U : Maria, you launched a new brand, Marry Marry . How did the idea come about? What are your plans for the coming year?
The idea of a brand arises through endless weeks of sleepless nights J But every time I understand that this time is worth it. As soon as I see the result. This is not the first, but already my third brand in the wedding business. And, fortunately, I know that the new brand brings me even more new knowledge, skills, experience and opportunities for self-realization. And, most importantly, it becomes more successful than the previous one. Therefore, our plans for the coming year are to become even better and make even more people happy. And give them the opportunity to feel the state of euphoria on the most important day, wherever it may be, in Russia, Greece, New York or Zanzibar... We can control any geography.
U : what do you wish for the brides?
MK: don’t be afraid of your strangest ideas regarding the geography of the wedding or the content. We, wedding planners, will be happy to support you in any endeavor and recommend the best option for you. And we will do everything to make you feel like a carefree princess on your wedding day!
Author: Yulia Chernaya
Photos courtesy of wedding agency Marry Marry
Wedding vestments
In ancient times, newlyweds' vestments were pure white with ornamental embroidery and decorations. The bride's head was covered with a special headdress or a thin veil.
Now, in most cases, wedding dresses have a completely modern look, familiar to Europeans. However, many unspoken traditions regarding vestments have remained unchanged since ancient times.
- The bride's hair is done by her friends, and she kisses their hands as a sign of gratitude.
- Dressed in a dress, the young woman is taken out to her relatives, her brother ties her belt, tightening it with three knots.
- The vestment is complemented by golden threads that are woven into the hair and fall to the knees.
- Ivy on a wedding dress is a tribute to ancient Greek traditions. This is a vow by a young girl to love forever and be faithful.
- Modern grooms do not have strict restrictions. As a rule, suits are chosen in classic, dark or beige colors.
- The newlyweds are crowned during the wedding ceremony, remaining in the ceremonial crowns for the rest of the day.
- If a wedding is held in the Greek style, the girl chooses a national tunic with a belt under the chest and many folds, and the groom puts a wreath of olive branches on his head.
Followers of old traditions and families with modern views agree on one thing: the attire of the newlyweds should be as luxurious as possible, emphasizing the beauty and charm of the bride, the strength and wealth of the groom.
Groom's outfit in Greece
The groom for a Greek-style wedding can either wear a black suit or a neutral shade, which will perfectly harmonize with the bride’s dress not only in the photo, but also during the ceremony itself. The right colors for Greek-style groom's suits can be sand, gray, beige, and so on.
Before a wedding in Greece, an engagement must take place, during which the groom must obtain consent from the bride's father. After this, the priest seals the “agreement of intent” and blesses the wedding rings.
Preparing for the wedding ceremony
Financial support for the wedding usually falls on the shoulders of the groom's mother and his representative - the kumbaros, the best man. As a rule, this becomes the godfather of the young man, but it can be a good friend or other relative. Regardless of the location of the holiday, it is abundantly decorated with flowers, garlands, and fancy compositions of living bouquets. A lot of ancient candlesticks, passed down from generation to generation, are placed. Lanterns are hung.
It is mandatory to decorate the balcony of the bride’s house so that everyone around her knows that the girl is getting married.
The most favorable day for a wedding is Sunday. Consequently, the first rituals begin to be performed a week before this day. On Sunday, the groom sends his chosen one a gift. In the old days, it was henna, which the bride had to dye her hair with at the time of her wedding. Now the gift is purely symbolic.
- On Monday, preparations for the wedding are in full swing: outfits are chosen, rooms are decorated.
- On Tuesday, the bride and her bridesmaids take a break from the tiring chores of the day before.
- The environment is intended to prepare the dowry for transfer to a new home. They are going through all the things: is there anything missing, perhaps something needs to be added or removed?
Making the bed
As a rule, one of the most interesting rites of the Greek wedding ritual is scheduled for Thursday: making the bed. The closest relatives from both sides gather in the girl’s home. People will meticulously evaluate the bride's trousseau displayed on display, discuss her skill and try to secretly spot her outfit.
Meanwhile, the unmarried bridesmaids carefully make the girl’s bed. The task is to amaze the groom with the beauty of his decoration. At this time, the kumbaros soulfully sing traditional chants, which are greeted with friendly laughter. The groom is demonstrably dissatisfied with the quality of the girls’ work and repeatedly tears off the bedspreads and linen, demanding an impeccable bed. As a rule, the procedure is repeated three times (the Greeks love this number!), after which the groom finally recognizes the result as acceptable.
Guests strew the bed with coins, rice grains, rose petals and nuts, thereby wishing happiness and prosperity to the new family. The smallest child present is solemnly laid down on the filled bed, promising a successful childbirth. Moreover, according to legend, the gender of the child determines the gender of the first-born of the future couple.
On Friday, the bride must bake a loaf of bread with her own hands. Wedding invitations are also sent out.
The ritual of “making the bed” before a Greek wedding
A few days before the wedding, both families gather at the house of the bride's father. The bride's dowry and her wedding attire are considered. The bridesmaids, who must be unmarried, make the bride's bed. If the groom finds the bed laid out sloppily, he can remove the sheets and the procedure will be repeated until the bed is made perfectly.
When the bed is made perfectly and the groom is satisfied, rose petals, rice and money are thrown on the bed with wishes for a happy family life. This is all recorded in the photo. Babies are also placed on the bed so that the couple is fertile. It is believed that whoever is placed first on the sheets - a boy or a girl - will be the first child to be born in the family.
Traditional Greek wedding
It starts on Saturday. On this day, according to tradition, the groom must make a sacrifice to the gods - slaughter a sacrificial lamb and cook a roast on a spit. As soon as the groom copes with this difficult task, the bride's dowry is ceremonially transported to his house. And the newlyweds go to wash together to cleanse themselves before the Sunday wedding.
On Sunday morning the wedding itself begins. The guests sing songs, solemnly dress the groom and go in procession to the bride's house. Her mother meets the guy at the door with wine and baked goods. He must eat and drink everything, and then ask for blessings. The woman kisses him twice, after which he becomes a relative.
Bride ransom
The girl is dressed in wedding robes. While the groom buys the right to enter the house, the chosen friend presents the bride with white shoes - these are the ones she will wear to get married. The bridesmaids try to steal the shoes, and the bride tries to find them. She must dance with her father, after which the groom has the right to take her out of the house. The girl resists with all her might. And the newlywed must prove his strength and perseverance and still bring out - or carry out, as it turns out - the obstinate bride.
Wedding
The newlyweds go to the temple in separate processions. The groom must be the first to reach the wedding venue and wait for his chosen one at the entrance. It is led by a close male relative, father or brother. Moreover, traditionally, they do not approach the door right away, making several circles around the surrounding area: they make the groom and his relatives nervous.
The wedding takes place solemnly, the decoration of the church includes many flowers and candles. At the end of the ceremony, the newlyweds are sprinkled with rice. And guests are offered small fabric bags with sweets. Young people are given gifts.
Visiting my husband's house
After the wedding, the newlyweds go to their husband’s house, where their mother-in-law is waiting for them. She greets them with sweets or honey, as well as loaf of bread. On the threshold, she hands over a pomegranate fruit, which since ancient times has symbolized wealth and well-being. Young spouses must cross the threshold only with the right foot and at the same time, which means harmony and family happiness. There is also a custom when gold coins are placed in the mouths of the husband and wife who enter the house. From now on, they should utter only words as beautiful as gold.
Interesting wedding ritual customs
A wedding in Greece is filled with amazing rituals and beliefs.
- On the wedding day, the girl writes the names of her girlfriends on the soles of her white shoes. Whose name is erased will marry faster than others.
- The groom should not see her wedding dress until the morning of the wedding.
- When a bride bakes a wedding loaf, they try to sprinkle it with flour. It is believed that ignoring this custom will leave the family to languish in poverty.
- If on Saturday the groom was unable to personally slaughter a lamb and cook a meal on a spit, he will turn out to be a useless family man.
- On Sunday the groom is not allowed into the house for a long time. As compensation, he must have a chicken with him.
- During the dances, many gold crosses and paper money are attached to the newlyweds' outfits.
- The bride's dance, according to custom, takes place surrounded by unmarried guys. The girl throws her handkerchief. Whoever picked him up first is the first contender for a quick marriage.
- One dish must certainly be broken by a person with a pure heart, for good luck.
The wedding feast begins in the evening after the wedding and sometimes lasts three days. The evening opens with a dance of the young people, during which they are showered with money. During the walk, the newlywed should draw water from a fountain or spring and treat those present. This is an ancient tradition that symbolizes fertility.
Rituals
Every day has different rituals and traditions of preparation. Only Tuesday is considered a day off; on this day families take a break from pre-wedding worries. In the old days, it was customary to display the bride’s dowry for inspection by her relatives and girlfriends for a week, but modern Greek families rarely resort to this ancient tradition.
A day before the wedding, the bride and groom go to the bathhouse to cleanse themselves before getting married. Naturally, they do this separately. The wedding celebration begins on Saturday morning at the bride's house, after which the newlyweds and guests move to the groom's house.
There are a huge number of rituals that are carried out, as a rule, in the house of the bride’s parents.
For example, a traditional action in the bride's bedroom: the bridesmaids take on the task of making the bed so that the groom likes it.
If he is unhappy, you have to redo everything until the groom approves. When the bed is made perfectly, guests and relatives throw candies, flower petals and coins on it - they consecrate the wedding bed. After this, small children frolic on the bed to attract the imminent birth of offspring from the young family.
A good tradition is to write the names of unmarried bridesmaids on the soles of her shoes. It is believed that during the wedding, God can read these names and send good husbands to everyone. At the end of the celebration, girls whose names have not been erased during the day are considered the first contenders for marriage.
Start of a new family life
Closer to morning, the young disappear unnoticed to share the marriage bed. And then they continue the holiday, which can last two more days. Without saying a word to anyone, the spouses disappear without a trace, improving the moment. So they go on their honeymoon. The husband's relatives treat the young woman very sensitively and try to protect her from all grief. The origins of this custom are simple: as a rule, the bride got married when she was already pregnant, which was only encouraged, proving her fertility and health.
Greeks try not to get married during Lent or in May. Also, it is not advisable to hold celebrations during mourning. A Greek wedding is a magnificent and crowded celebration, where songs and dances do not stop, everyone should be joyful, wishing only the best. This is a fusion of Christian Orthodox rituals and ancient pagan beliefs, organically combined with modern views and standards.
Wedding decoration in Greek style
In the design you need to stick to blue, yellow (gold) and sand shades. The more associations with the sea coast, the better. Draperies, ribbons, sculptures and statues are used to decorate the hall.
READ ALSO: Our wedding: two days that went down in the history of life (+ original ideas)
Be sure to pay attention to plants, grapevines and olive branches are especially welcome. It is better to use white flowers.
Each table can be styled with amphorae, gilded trays, pottery and goblets.
