When in Greece... Why not do as the Greeks do and have a Greece themed wedding? Our culture is rich in wedding traditions that can add some local flavor to your wedding. Here are some small Greek wedding rituals with big significance that you could incorporate before, during and after your ceremony.
Dressing the bride
A popular Greek wedding tradition is the preparation of the bride, usually by her close friends. On the day of the wedding, the bride's friends will go over her house, and help her get ready. This process is traditionally accompanied with bridal songs known as 'nyfiatika'. These songs celebrate the bride, as she leaves her parents home and enters marital life.
This tradition has its roots back to ancient Athenian marital customs. More specifically, the 'proaulia'. During 'proaulia', the bride-to-be would spend her last single days with female relatives and friends preparing for her wedding. Offerings were given to the goddess Artemis as thanksgiving for her protection so far. And then, Aphrodite would be thanked with offerings as adult women fell under her domain. This way, the good will of the Goddesses would bless the bride in her transition to marital life.
The bridal shoes
Many traditions in Greece themed weddings involve the bridal shoes. As the bride gets dressed, she writes at the soles of her wedding shoes the names of her single friends. It is said that after the wedding, the ladies whose names have been erased will soon get married.
Another tradition has family and friends put money in the bridal shoes as the bride is getting ready. In an alternate version of this wedding tradition, it is the best man that puts the money in the shoe. He goes to pick up the bride to bring her to church. As she is about to leave, she complains that the shoes don't fit! So the best man, puts in money until they do. In both versions, the act aims to bless the couple in abundance.
Grooming the groom
These are the last moments of the groom being single and in Greece teasing him is essentially mandatory. In some places, grooming the groom involves his friends shaving him, who, in turn, will shave as well.
In Crete, the groom's friends would go to the barber and get a shave before him. To tease him, they would not pay. He would, then, go last and have to pay for everyone of his friends' treatments.
In Lesvos, the groom's friends would tease him, by putting on his clothes the wrong way and messing his hair. After the wedding, they would throw the groom in the air, asking for a nice traditional 'glenti' (celebratory feast).
Greek Wedding treats
Cutting the bridal 'tsoureki (sweetbread) is a Greek wedding tradition that is present in many parts of Greece. The sweetness of the treat, symbolizes the sweetness of marital life to come. This wedding tradition has many variations. In some places, the bride-to-be cuts the first piece. She, then, dips it in honey and offers it to her single friends, who are helping her get ready. The rest is served to the gathering guests, together with honey, almonds and 'raki' (alcoholic drink) with sugar and cloves. Elsewhere, the 'tsoureki' is cut atop the groom's head, as he picks up his bride, on the way to church.
Similarly, 'gamokoulouro' (bread kneaded 7 times) is a common tradition in Greece themed weddings. The bread, is decorated with symbols of fecundity like grapes, pomegranates and pinecones. Traditionally, it was kneaded by the bride and offered to the 'koumparoi' (best man and maid of honor). Nowadays, it is served as an appetizer at the wedding feast.
Other sweets that are associated with wedding traditions are 'amygdalota' (almond cookies), 'kserotigana' (rolled fried sweet dough). 'Baklavas' (layered pastry dessert), is also popular, usually served to guests who come to wish the couple well.
But the most popular Greek wedding treats are the 'koufeta' (sugar-coated almonds). The 'koufeta' are put in beautifully decorated assortments, always in odd numbers (so the couple cannot be divided). They are traditionally given to guests right after the ceremony.
Serenading the couple tradition
One of the most beautiful Greek wedding traditions is serenading the wedding procession to church. In the most popular variation, the groom together with guests and a band of musicians go to pick up the bride from her parent's house. All the way to the house there is live music, singing and dancing. An open invitation for all to celebrate the couple. Under the notes of traditional Greek music, the bride meets the groom and together they proceed to church to join their lives in holy matrimony.
In some variations, there are two wedding processions that start from the respective homes, join on "common ground" and proceed together to the church. In others, the groom arrives to the church first and awaits for the bridal procession to arrive. There, the father of the bride 'gives her away' to the groom and the couple enter the church together.
Oftentimes, the morning after the ceremony, friends would, again, gather outside the newlywed's house for another serenade. Traditionally, the couple would, then, go outside and treat the singing company, thus commencing again the celebrations.
Greek wedding crowns and wreaths
In the Greek Orthodox wedding tradition, the couple is crowned with 'stefana'. The symbolism behind them is manifold. They symbolize royalty (wisdom, prudence and justice). Another aspect of the 'stefana' is sacrifice (like the thorny wreath Jesus wore). They also symbolize winning (a tribute dating back to ancient Greece), and commitment (binding the couple to each other). Using the wreaths in ceremony is believed to transfer all these qualities to the married couple. The 'stefana' are usually made from metal, silver or gold, joined together by a ribbon. However, organic material is sometimes used instead, like processed wood and lemongrass or olive branches.
Rice shower tradition
Traditionally, in a Greece themed wedding, after the couple exits the church as newlyweds, the guests shower them with raw rice. The incorporation of rice in the wedding ritual makes sense, since rice symbolizes life, abundance and growth. So, just as you throw the seeds on earth for life to grow. Likewise, the guests throw rice to the couple for their love to grow and become fertile.
Although this custom is still strong, some couples prefer alternative solutions to rice, such as olive leaves, lavender, or wildflowers. Other popular options include rose pedals, confetti or soap bubbles.
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