Greek Wedding Favors

What is a typical Greek wedding like?

My workmate and close friend is moving to Greece and marrying her Greek God :-) ! They've invited me and my fiance too and i wondered how a Greek wedding differs from a British one, and do they really break plates? Thanks Ron, that sounds really interesting and fun too!

Public Comments

1. When I was stationed in Cyprus during the early 60s, one of my colleagues married a Greek Cypriot girl and I took their wedding photographs. They are very colourfull and lots of fun, the priest not only let me take photographs during the long but extremely interesting service, he stopped half way and told me that I hadn't taken one of him yet. The reception/party afterwards is something else and full of traditional entertainment like the breaking of plates, during the couples first dance together, well wishers pin money in the form of banknotes or cheques on them while they dance, my mate and his new wife had about £1,000 on them when they came off the floor. It's not unusual for the groom to be given a dowry by the bride's father, my mate still owns an orange grove in Cyprus.
2. No we dont break plates.That was back in the 60's maybe? Now its strictly forbidden, maybe some greek americans still do that in the states. People get dressed very chic, especially the ladies, before we used to throw rice during the wedding, now its forbidden to do that in the church. Regarding the reception, depends on the families background and where the reception will take place. My sisters had the reception in 5 star hotels here in Athens so everything was elegant , caviar, salmon etc, but there are others (families from villages) that do a lot of fuss and have lots of fun, dancing like crazy, drinking etc.
3. Two guys in front of the altar?
4. Many people,much food,much wine,much music (mostly traditional),dancing,wine,,dancing,many voices,dancing,dancing,dancing until the morning
5. we don't break plates, at least not anymore. but we do stuff money in the bride's shoe.
6. I know this sounds terrible, but whenever I'm in Greece or Cyprus, i crash any wedding going! And I don't mean the ceremony, I mean the reception! Typically, most Greek weddings are huge, just huge. And the bride and groom probably don't even know half the people there. The wedding begins in the Orthodox church. I'm not sure if you've ever been in an Orthodox church, but they're very ornate and elaborate. Just a tip: people dress up a lot for Greek weddings. The ceremony is long, and, even if you understand Greek, nobody knows what the Priest is going on about because most of the service is in ancient Greek! Then there is the reception, which is often in a large restaurant, and often outdoors. Lots of meat, lots of Carlsberg. And its all free. And in abundance. Take advantage of this! Though first you'll have to queue for ages to congratulate the newlyweds. Then there's a lot of music and dancing. For sure, they do not break plates, or shout 'oupa!'. And people bring money instead of presents. Hope this helped:) Have fun!
7. We dont break plates in weddings that was way back in the 60's and i honestly dont know why this stereotype still exists in the outside world. We do drop rice when the bride and groom get out of the church. I never heard of pinning money in a woman's bridal dress, it must be a Cypriot thing. However there is money dropped on the floor when the men (usually the bride's father dances rembetiko) Greek weddings are always large with lots of dancing, dancing and dancing lol. from traditional folk to slow to rembetiko to modern u name it lol. And we cant forget the food too! yummm lol =)
8. Customs vary a bit from place to place. Ceremony (town hall or Church) is pretty calm, Rice and Sugared Almonds are thrown. The reception can get pretty wild; all sorts of things are thrown as confetti and plates &c. do get smashed. Pinning banknotes n the bride is local to Cypress I was told. Expect a big meal with one course of Lamb, lots of drink, loud music, traditional dancing. NB Zorba is not traditional!