Greek Wedding Traditions

As summer is coming, the wedding period is also starting. If you are planning a wedding in Greece or your friends are going to have one and...
You haven’t watched “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, maybe it’s time to do it NOW…

Things that I paid attention to

1.     The Guest List

It’s time to remember all you relatives, not only the closest ones, but the ones that you have heard about once or twice in your life. Your closest relatives will certainly help you naming someone that you have no idea who it is. You can't invite less than 300 people. Why? It’s not even a wedding.

2.     A newspaper announcement

Before your wedding you should give an announcement to a local newspaper about its arrival so that everyone who wants “could” join your celebration or reveal that you are a cheater and you hide another wife/husband!

3.     Wedding preparations

The wedding preparations start at least a week before the wedding. Friends and relatives come to bride's and groom's houses and eat some sweets and drink alcohol shots with their familes. Presents are usually given before the wedding

   4.     House decorations

While everything prepared for the wedding, bride's and groom's families decorate their houses and balconies so that every passer-by could see that this house is celebraring.

   5.     A little bit of superstiotions

A little bit odd superstition... but it is regarded as bad luck to drink coffee before the wedding as it is associated with funerals.

  6.     Who will get married next?

I guess it’s a wonderful tradition for those who are not married yet. Instead of throwing a wedding bouquet, the bride should write the names of her unmarried girlfriends on a shoe sole. The ones whose names will be erased from the sole will get married soon.

7.     The couple’s bed

This tradition, from my point of view, sounds also nice. So that you could have fortune, lifetime happiness and kids, some rice, money and a baby should be put on the couple’s bed.

8.     Who will pay?

When a bride is prepared, the bride tries her shoes and to make her feel comfortable, her koumparos (bestman) and her dad should put some money in the shoes so they could fit.

9.     Something sweet…

For an endless number of guests and their relatives that couldn’t assist the wedding, the couple makes bonbonniers that usually contain an odd number of almond candies.

10. At last the bride came

When the bride finally comes to a church, she needs to be driven several times around the church so that the groom would wait and be nervous a little.

11. Greek music and dances

The wedding celebration leads to a ceaseless row of listening to Greek traditional music and dancing. People of all ages join the circle to share the joy with a couple. So you should be prepared in advance before visiting such an event. Remember to ask WHICH traditional music will be played, as couples prefer music from their birthplaces.

PS Thanks to Elise Ntoremi for these photos!!!

PPS I'm still selling my dress, if smb is interested, here is the link
http://www.xe.gr/rouxa-kosmimata/nyfika|ad-193633898.html?mode=photo