The post Greek Wedding Music Playlist appeared first on .

In the United States, couples often set up a gift registry to make gift giving much easier. Even though this isn’t customary in Greece, many couples in the United States who are of Greek ancestry opt to adopt it. Not only does this insure that the couple will get the items they actually need, but also guests appreciate the registry because it takes the guesswork out of gift giving.

When invited to a Greek wedding, it is customary to give a gift for both the bridal shower and the wedding itself. Even though money is an acceptable choice, some do prefer to give a physical gift that can be opened. If you want to make things easier on your guests, setting up a registry is the simplest way you can do that. Here is some advice on setting up your registry.

Select a Store With Convenience in Mind

Nothing is more frustrating to your guests than realizing that the registry is inaccessible. For example, if the store is obscure it can be especially frustrating for out of town guests to utilize. Also, if the store you select doesn’t have an online option, you can also place a registry with an online store.

This makes it convenient for people who are unable to attend the wedding to still use the registry, as well as wedding guests who are coming from out of town. They can simply use the online registry and send it to you directly so they don’t need to carry the gift while they are traveling.

Make a List of What You Really Need

To successfully register at a store, you need to make a list of what you really need. To do this, you will want to discuss it with your significant other, your maid of honor, and anyone else whom you feel is a good authority on how to set up a new home. Once you determine what you need, you can start setting up your registry with confidence.

Do you feel as if you already have everything you need? Are the items you do have of the highest quality or do they need to be replaced? These are all questions that can help you decide what to put on the registry. Typically, the purpose of the registry is to help the couple set up their new home. If their household has already been established, thinking “outside the box” can help you come up with a winning registry.

Manage Your Registry With a Third Party

There are several, very good third party services that are available to help you manage your registry. This is especially useful if you’ve registered with more than one store. These services interact with the stores and tell you what has been purchased and what hasn’t. Managing your registries in one simple location allows you to monitor them so you can know if you need to make any adjustments.

Are you getting married in the Greek church? If so, it makes things much easier on your guests if you adopt the American tradition of setting up a gift registry.

The post Tips for Creating Your Greek Wedding Registry appeared first on .

Also, you have decided to get married in the Greek Orthodox Church. Not only will you need to plan all the details of the wedding and reception, you will also need to make sure you are spiritually prepared.

About the Sacrament of Marriage

With all that there is to do, it is easy to forget that Holy Matrimony is actually one of the Seven Sacraments. In the Holy Sacrament of Marriage, a man and a woman are eternally joined together as part of God’s Kingdom. Since it is a Holy Sacrament, it is something that should be taken seriously. That is why preparing for it properly is so important.

Practicing Orthodox Christians

In order for two people to get married in the Orthodox Christian Church, the ideal situation is that they are both Orthodox Christians. This means that aside from having been baptized, they should also be members of an Orthodox Christian parish. Ask your priest for details on what you both need to do to be able to get married in the church.

Inter-Faith Marriages

Inter-faith marriages have become more common in recent years. If you are marrying a non-Orthodox Christian, it is best to consult with your priest concerning what you both need to do in order to be able to get married in the Orthodox Christian Church. In some cases, your fiancé will need to prove he or she has been baptized. In other cases, the priest may require that you fiancé convert to Orthodoxy.

Pre-Marital Classes

In order to effectively prepare you for marriage, the church may require that you attend marriage classes before you get married. These classes cover a range of topics including compatibility, the meaning of marriage as an Orthodox Christian, and a summary of any issues that may arise while you are together. Some priests give the class to couples individually, or if there are a lot of people getting married in the church, he may choose to hold the class as a big group.

Scheduling Your Wedding

Did you know that there are days in the Orthodox calendar when you aren’t able to get married? Dates include Easter, throughout Great Lent and Holy Week, Christmas, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and more. For more details as to which days are available for you to get married, consult with your priest.

Getting married is about more than planning the details. In the Greek Orthodox Church, marriage is one of the Seven Sacraments. For more details on how you should prepare for it, be sure to ask your priest. Each situation is different and you want to make sure you are prepared to enter this spiritual union.

The post How to Prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage appeared first on .

However, many Greeks have adopted the custom within the past decade or so. Since there is no set “Greek tradition” concerning the bachelorette party, it may be fun to have one with a Greek theme.

Selecting an Outing

There are several ways you can turn a bachelorette party into one with a Greek theme. Here are some ideas for the types of parties you can have.

• Greek club or restaurant. Have the party at a Greek club or restaurant. Check your local club listings for more information.

• Greek colors. Set a dress code that involves the colors of the Greek flag. You can also use these colors to decorate.

• Goddess theme. Hold a Greek goddess party where each guest can dress up as her favorite. You can dress like this while going out or take the theme to another level by having a Greek goddess inspired party.

• Have a Greek party. Another option is to hold your own party. Dance to some Greek music. Serve Greek food and drink. These are all ways you can show the bride a good time while honoring her culture.

Decide on the Guest List and Invitations

Usually, the bridesmaids are responsible for throwing the bachelorette party but the bride has been known to plan her own, as well. If the bride doesn’t plan her own, she should at least submit a list of people she definitely wants to attend. That way, she can be completely happy with the guest list.

Once you decide who will be invited, it is time to send the invitations. For a bachelorette party, it can be formal or informal. Many people use social networks like Facebook to organize events and send out invitations. If you want to send out formal invitations, you can find options that have a Greek theme. You can even make your own Greek invitations on your computer. The invitation should match your theme.

Eat and Drink Like a Greek

No matter which Greek-inspired theme you choose, you will definitely want to include food and drink from Greece as part of the festivities. Food such as souvlaki and stuffed grape leaves make a nice addition to a party. You can also drink Greek wine, beer, or liquor, such as ouzo, throughout the night.

Since food and drink are such a big part of the Greek culture, this is about as traditional as you can get. In fact, you can center the whole party’s theme on Greek food and drink.

The main goal of a bachelorette party is to give the bride a chance to party with her friends before she becomes a married woman. If the bride is having a Greek wedding, a fun way to do this would be to give the party a Greek theme.

The post Greek Themed Bachelorette Party Ideas appeared first on .

Before you get started planning your wedding, you should set a budget. Still, staying within it, and maybe even going under the budget, is no easy task. Here are some tips on ways you can save money.

What’s Most Important?

Before you begin to plan for your reception and wedding, the very first thing you need to do is make a list of your top priorities. Which elements of your celebration are most important to you? Once you know what your priorities are, it gets easier to stay within budget.

Limit the Guest List

You may want to consider keeping the guest list as concise as possible. This will reduce the reception costs drastically. Most restaurants, banquet halls and caterers charge per-person. Thus, the difference between 150 and 200 guests will make a significant difference on the overall cost of the festivities.

Cost of the Meal

The meal cost comprises a major part of your wedding expense. Research your options before settling on your meal. There are ways to cut costs while still delivering a quality experience for your guests. For example, most reception halls and caterers have different meal options for different budgets. Select the one that makes the most sense for your budget.

What You’ll Wear

Formal wear for weddings can be pricey, particular the wedding dress. However, there are some options that will reduce costs. You can either purchase a gown from a department store or from a specialty store. You can also rent or borrow a gown. Grooms can save money by renting their tuxedo rather than buying it.

Save on Invitations

You can make a significant reduction in the overall cost of your wedding preparations if you find inexpensive alternatives for the invitations. You can either create the invitations on your own or print them at home on your computer. Though this is unconventional, you can also send digital invites. This costs virtually nothing.

Cut Costs at the Bar

Limiting the hours of the celebrations at a bar will really reduce the costs. Alternatives include serving wine and beer only, eliminating the option of serving alcohol, or making guests pay for their drinks themselves. Another option is to buy your own liquor and have someone serve it, as long as the law permits it.

Your Greek Wedding day is the beginning of your new life as a married couple. When deciding to save money, it helps to focus more on your life together rather than the day itself. Even though you want the day to be special, the real magic begins as you go through life as a couple, not on the wedding day.

The post 6 Ways to Save Money on Your Greek Wedding appeared first on .

Time Capsule

Gift the newlyweds with a time capsule they can fill with memorabilia from their wedding, letters to each other, and dreams they have for their future together. This beautiful gift will be something they can open years from now on their anniversary. If you are close to the bride and groom, you may also wish to include sealed letters and photos for the couple to open when they choose to open the time capsule. They will remember you fondly with this sweet gesture.

Gold Jewelry

Giving gold jewelry to a Greek bride is something that has been done for centuries. Greek Orthodox weddings are steeped in tradition and religion, so gifting the bride with a piece of gold jewelry such as a bracelet or necklace is very thoughtful. Jewelry can be Greek-themed or religious in the form of a cross.

Money

It’s hard to go wrong with the gift of money. It allows the bride and groom to purchase something they really want or need or even tuck it away for the future. If you feel uncomfortable giving money alone, you can also include a letter of congratulations and encouragement for their marriage and future in the wedding card or a framed wedding invitation. Sometimes a Greek bride will perform a wedding dance where guests pin money on her gown, so if you are attending a Greek wedding, bring some extra money.

Personalized Stationary

If you look at the bride and groom’s wedding invitation, you can get a little sense of their style together. You can parlay that into a beautiful set of stationary for the newlyweds. Other personalized gift ideas include monogrammed coasters, photo frames, and champagne flutes. Personalized gifts are thoughtful and meaningful to a newlywed couple who is starting their brand new life together.

As an addition to any lovely gift you choose to give, you can bring sweets to a Greek Orthodox wedding. This is a tradition you can partake in even if you yourself are not Greek. It will make the couple feel great that you took time to consider their traditions. If you are not talented in the cookie or sweet-making area, you can get a box or tray of goodies from a Greek bakery.

Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when choosing a wedding gift. If you are close to the bride and groom, you can find a beautiful and meaningful wedding gift that will be enjoyed for years to come.

The post Five Greek Wedding Gift Ideas Not On the Registry appeared first on .

Choosing a Wedding Dress

In most parts of the United States, it can get fairly hot during the summer months. Most brides purchase their wedding dresses well in advance. If you buy the dress in the winter, you may not be in the mindset to choose a dress that is appropriate for the weather.

Summer wedding dresses are lighter and slightly cooler than their winter counterparts. Ask the dress shop to show you summer wedding dress options before you make your final decision.

You Can Have An Outdoor Wedding

In the Greek Orthodox Church, it is very difficult to have an outdoor wedding because the ceremony needs to take place at a consecrated altar. Though outdoor consecrated altars exist, they can be hard to find. If your goal is to have an outdoor wedding, however, it may be worth the effort to research it.

You can, however, have a reception outdoors without a problem. Your options include finding a function hall that can accommodate an outdoor reception, hiring a caterer and choosing the outdoor location yourself, and finding an outdoor setting with a consecrated altar that can also support an outdoor reception.

Choose Lighter Color Schemes

Most brides choose colors that become the focal point of their wedding. In the summer, the colors need to be light and soft. Heavy colors, such as black and dark purple, don’t seem to fit a summer wedding. Here are some color combination ideas.

• Light blue and white. Not only are these great summer colors, but also the colors of the Greek flag.

• Anything pink. All shades of pink are more than appropriate for a summer wedding. Use accent colors such as white or cream to compliment the pink shades.

• Pastel colors. Pastel colors are also nice choices for wedding colors. White, yellow, and cream make nice accent colors for most pastels.

Make Allowances for the Heat

The risk of a summer wedding is that it could be extremely hot outside. Even if the wedding is indoors, heat is still a factor because people may congregate outside the church or reception venue. Also, since it is such a busy day, people often forget to stay hydrated.

Make sure that your guests have plenty of opportunities to find relief from the heat. Be sure that there is plenty of water to drink at the reception. Turn on the air conditioner in the church and in the function hall. If there is no air conditioning, make sure that there are fans so that cooler air can circulate. Finally, seek medical attention if anyone is feeling sick from the heat.

Use these strategies to help you successfully plan a summer Greek wedding.

The post Planning a Summer Greek Wedding appeared first on .

Determine How Much Money You Can Spend

Before you even get started planning your Greek wedding, it helps to figure out how much you actually have to spend. If you know how much money you have, it will help you prioritize the expenses that are important and balance that with ways to cut corners. For example, if you have a limited budget, you may consider finding a place for the reception that isn’t as expensive as an elaborate function hall.

Saving Money on the Reception

The very first place you can save some real money on your Greek wedding is on the reception. There are several options that will help keep this cost down. For starters, it all depends on the type of venue that you choose.

Options for saving money include keeping the guest list down, minimizing anything extra, and holding it at a function hall that isn’t as fancy. You can also have the reception at someone’s house or in a restaurant. If you really need to save money on the reception, you should analyze all your options.

Your Wedding Dress

Another big area that you can save money on your Greek wedding is through your dress. Even if that $3000 designer dress is exactly the one that you pictured in your fantasies, that doesn’t mean that you have the money for it. Instead, find options that are a little bit more in budget.

There are several things you can do to save money on your dress. The first is to buy it used from someone online or in a specialty consignment shop. The second is attend retail sales that will help you save money on a variety of gowns. Most major cities have sales on designer dresses that will help you save a considerable amount of money.

Finding Great Deals on Flowers

Did you know that the average cost of wedding flowers is around $2000? The reality is that other than having a bouquet for the bride and a few flowers to decorate the reception and church, there is no real need to have additional flowers and for them to be so expensive.

The good news is that there are ways to save money. First of all, you can make the bouquets yourself. You can either buy the flowers yourself or pick them from your garden. Even though a florist may have access to more exotic flowers, simplicity will help you save money.

Money Saving Tips on Photographers

Another major expense for Greek weddings is the photographer. Fortunately, you can save money by doing things like hiring a less expensive photographer, compiling your own album rather than have them do it, and restricting how many hours they will be at your wedding taking photographs.

Getting married in the Greek church is a special occasion. However, it can also be expensive. Set a budget and find ways to save money. That way, you can have the wedding of your dreams.

The post Top Ways to Save Money on Your Greek Wedding appeared first on .

By following a specific sequence, especially in the beginning stages, you can greatly increase your chances of planning the wedding of your dreams.

1) Meet With Your Priest

Do you plan on getting married in the Greek church? If so, then you should meet with your priest before you begin making your wedding plans. He will advise you on what process you need to take in order to get married in the church. While meeting with the priest, you can also set the date for your wedding.

2) Set a Budget

Your budget will help you determine what kind of wedding you’ll plan. However, just because you are on a budget doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to plan the Greek wedding of your dreams. It just means you’ll need to be careful how you spend.

3) Select Your Wedding Party

First of all, your priest will advise you to select your koumbaros or koumbara. For the Orthodox Christian wedding ceremony, this is an essential role. Not only that, but you will want to figure out who will be in your bridal party. Will you have bridesmaids, groomsmen, a ring bearer, or a flower girl? It’s important to determine your bridal party in the beginning stages of planning the wedding.

4) Your Engagement Party

Having an engagement party is completely optional. However, a lot of couples choose to have one so they can celebrate with the people they care about the happiness of their engagement. If you plan on having an engagement party, you should do so after you set the budget to make sure you have enough money for it.

5) Determine the Reception Site

Once you know how much money you have to spend on your wedding, your next step is to figure out where the reception will be. Will it be at a restaurant, in someone’s home, or will you host it at a reception hall? The location you choose will depend on a variety of factors such as size of the wedding, your budget, and the desired location.

6) Plan the Guest List

Before you can proceed any further with the wedding plans, you will need to figure out how many people will attend the wedding. This will affect most of the plans you will make such as where the reception will be, how many favors to purchase, and whether or not the budget you set is actually adequate.

7) Find the Wedding Dress

Another important element of wedding planning to ponder during the beginning stages of planning is to make sure you find your wedding dress. The earlier you do this the better because you may need to alter the dress several times to get it to fit perfectly. Not only that, but you will need enough time to find the accessories that will go with the dress.

When you plan your Greek wedding, getting these seven things out of the way as soon as possible will make the planning stages go a lot smoother.

The post 7 Things You Should Do First When Planning Your Greek Wedding appeared first on .

Dress for Respect

Even though most Orthodox Christians will tell you that there really is no dress code, the general idea is to dress respectfully. It is considered a sign of respect to God to put on your best clothes and make an effort with your appearance. Some Orthodox Churches may be stricter than others with their dress code. You may want to call the church during office hours for guidance on how to dress.

How to Dress Inside the Church

The general idea while inside the church is to dress modestly and respectfully. For women, that means wearing a nice dress or pantsuit and to make sure that not too much leg or cleavage is showing. For women, dressing business casual or wearing a suit will be appropriate. Men should remove their hats while in the church.

Check the Invitation

This is where things may get a little tricky for an Orthodox Christian wedding. Before you even think about getting dressed for the church, you may want to see if there are any dress code requirements for the wedding itself. You wouldn’t want to dress in a “business casual” outfit for the church, only to realize that it is a black tie wedding.

White or Black Tie Wedding

If the wedding is white or black tie, no matter what you select for the reception will be appropriate for the church. However, if women select a dress that shows too much leg or cleavage, a shawl or wrap should be worn inside the church to cover up the exposed parts.

With white tie weddings, full evening dress attire is appropriate. For women, gowns should be full length. For men, a tuxedo is the preferred outfit. While black tie is also considered formal, women can get away with wearing a cocktail dress and men can wear a more formal business suit. However, with black tie, full length gowns and tuxedos are also appropriate.

Informal Receptions

Even if the invitation states that the reception will be informal, it is still important to dress appropriately for church. If, for any reason, you feel that you won’t be comfortable at the reception wearing your church clothes, you should definitely bring something to change into. For example, if the wedding is on a beach, you will want to bring your beach clothes. It is inappropriate to wear your bathing suit in a Greek Orthodox Church.

When deciding how to dress for a Greek wedding, remember that most Greek weddings will be taking place inside the church. There are very few exceptions to this because the ceremony needs to occur on a consecrated altar. No matter where the reception is, you should always make sure you are dressed appropriately for church. You can always change into something different before the reception starts.

The post What to Wear to a Greek Orthodox Wedding appeared first on .

Added to this is the fact that there is a tremendous amount of variety with all the details such as where the wedding will be held, how many people you will invite, and which of the traditions you will use. Here is a checklist of all the major elements you will need to plan in order to have a successful wedding.

Getting Married in the Orthodox Church

After you get engaged, the very first thing you should do is contact your Greek Orthodox priest for advice on how to proceed. At this stage, you will need to set a date so you can reserve the church. In addition, you may be required to meet with your priest or to even attend a marriage class with your fiancé. You will also need to choose your wedding sponsor, the Koumbaros or Koumbara.

Selecting Your Wedding Party

Your next task is to select your wedding party, which is a fairly American tradition. The function of the wedding party is to basically assist with the wedding plans, holding the bridal shower, and arranging for the bachelor and bachelorette parties.

Even though most Greek weddings tend to make the Koumbaros or Koumbara part of the “Americanized” wedding party, they actually don’t need to be. In the eyes of the Orthodox Church, the Koumbaros or Koumbara is the wedding sponsor and will be performing specific duties in the ceremony.

Other Bridal Events

Besides having the wedding itself, there are other events that are associated with weddings. These events are slightly different in the United States than they are in Greece. Which traditions will you adhere to? Make sure those invitations for each of these events is sent in a timely manner.

• Engagement Party – Some couples opt to have a party to celebrate their engagement. This is considered optional and not every couple feels obligated to do it.

• Bridal Shower– This is an American tradition. It takes place a few months before the wedding. All female members of the guest list are invited unless they’re from out of state and you know they can’t make it. Most gifts that are given focus on helping the couple build a home.

• Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties – Both cultures have some form of this party. Basically, it is looked at as the “last night out” as a single person and both cultures celebrate it in some form.

• To Krevati – In Greece, decorating the bridle bed is a tradition. Family and friends gather in the couple’s home to decorate the bed they will be sleeping in as a married couple. Money is placed on the bed for wealth and a child will sit on the bed to encourage fertility.

As you can see, there is a lot to think about when merging both the American and Greek cultures. Before making your plans, it does help to decide which traditions to adhere to and then stick with it.

The post Tips for Planning a Greek-American Wedding appeared first on .

Consult With Your Priest

As soon as the Greek of your dreams proposes, you should be in touch with your priest for advice. Most churches have certain requirements about what needs to be done. For example, you may have to attend a marriage class together.

You will also need information on how to choose a wedding sponsor (Koumbaros or Koumbara) and advice on setting the wedding date. It’s better to keep your priest in the loop from the beginning so there are no surprises.

The Wedding YOU Want

As you plan your wedding, you will likely find that everyone has an opinion because people love to give their input. Anything from what type of dress you should wear and which centerpieces to choose are bound to cause friction between you and the people you care about.

In order to survive these moments, it helps to stay in touch with what kind of wedding you actually want. Overall, you don’t need to listen to others. They’re only trying to help but it is YOUR day, not theirs.

Delegate on Your Wedding Day

Couples spend months planning their weddings. Every detail is thought of right down to the color of the napkins. On your wedding day, it’s time to relax and enjoy things, which can be a challenge.

The solution is to trust that the experts you’ve hired are going to do their jobs. If you really need to, you can hire a wedding planner who will oversee all the arrangements and make sure that your wedding goes smoothly on your big day.

Spend Time Together

No matter how hectic things get while you are planning your Greek wedding, it can help relieve stress by spending time together. It is all too easy to forget about each other as you make wedding arrangements. However, spending time together reminds you of why you love each other enough to get married. This is an important reminder, especially as things get even more stressful.

Simple Stress Relieving Strategies

If you are feeling Greek wedding stress, there are some simple techniques you can try. First of all, it helps to understand that you will probably get stressed at some point. Learning to recognize the signs of stress can help considerably.

Stress relieving strategies include eating healthfully, exercising, visiting a spa, and taking some time for yourself. If you are having a difficult time managing your stress, consult with your doctor.

As is the case with most weddings, getting married in the Greek Orthodox Church can be stressful. Learning how to manage your stress is essential. Also, it helps to remember that your wedding day is supposed to be fun. So, relax and enjoy it!

The post Strategies to Help You Survive Greek Wedding Stress appeared first on .

Before you determine if you should accept a request to be Koumbara or Koumbaro at a Greek Orthodox wedding, it helps to know what is expected. This is a great honor and usually indicates that the person who asked you has a special relationship with you. However, with this honor comes a certain amount of responsibility. This article will help you decide if you should accept.

What are the requirements to be a Koumbaro or Koumbara?

In the Greek Orthodox Church, the Koumbaro(a) is the official sponsor for the wedding. This means that he or she has to be a Greek Orthodox Christian in good standing. Tradition also states that the godparents of the groom and then the bride should be asked first. However, people often depart from tradition to select a close friend or sibling. Please consult with your priest for more information. Your Orthodox priest will provide you with a Letter of Good Standing as proof.

How do I become a Greek Orthodox Christian in good standing?

If you are an active member of your Orthodox Christian Church, it is likely that you won’t have to worry about this. However, your priest can guide you as to what it means in your specific case. Generally, “good standing” indicates that you are current with your financial pledge to your chosen Orthodox Church and also that you abide by the canonical rules put forth by the church. If you are able to participate in the sacraments of the church, you are in good standing from a canonical perspective.

What is expected during the wedding ceremony?

The Koumbaro or Koumbara does play an important role during the marriage ceremony because their role absolutely needs to be performed by an Orthodox Christian in good standing. He or she is responsible for exchanging the wedding crowns, or Stefana, three times during the ceremony. In addition, the sponsor also performs the ring exchange.

What does the Koumbaro or Koumbara need to pay for?

In order to successfully perform the wedding ceremony, the priest needs certain items. It is up to the sponsor to provide these items. Though they aren’t overly expensive, the cost can add up. These items include the Stefana (wedding crowns), the silver tray on which to put the Stefana, two candles, and the gratuities for the priest and chanter.

This is above and beyond any other financial responsibilities that may arise. This includes paying for your outfit that will be worn during the ceremony and any expense you may incur to attend the ceremony itself. If you will also be the Best Man or Maid of Honor, you may also need to help organize and pay for the likes of a bachelor or bachelorette party.

So, if the bride or groom has asked you to be the Koumbaro or Koumbara, it is most certainly an honor. However, there are certain commitments that are attached to this role. Understanding what the role entails can certainly help you make a decision as to whether or not you will accept.

The post Expectations of the Koumbaro or Koumbara appeared first on .

Greek Wedding Traditions Checklist for Brides

To Krevati – Bridal Bed Celebration

This is a fairly unique tradition to a Greek wedding. Before the wedding, there is a celebration in the couple’s home. This is either a surprise for the bride and groom, or the bride and groom can organize it. The celebration can be a small party or something more elaborate.

People bring things to decorate the bed, such as new linens, rose petals, and small trinkets. Money is thrown on the bed which is a symbol of good luck and prosperity. A child should lie down on the bed for at least a minute, as well, as a symbol of fertility.

Bridal Dress and Bridal Shoes

In traditional Greek weddings, the groom is supposed to purchase both the dress and the shoes. This can be a surprise to the bride. However, most brides like to pick out the dress and shoes themselves, which is perfectly acceptable.

On the day of the wedding, the groom puts the shoes on the bride’s feet. Before he does, though, all the single bridesmaids write their names on the shoes. At the end of the night, whoever’s name has faded the least will be the next person to get married.

Stefana – Greek Wedding Crowns

The stefana, or Greek wedding crowns, are an essential part of the Greek wedding ceremony. Most people believe that you need to buy your own stefana which have never been used. They believe that using someone else’s will bring bad luck. The basic belief is that for a new and successful beginning, you need to purchase your own wedding crowns.

However, there are instances where using someone else’s stefana does seem to be acceptable. For example, if you inherited your grandparents’ stefana and they had a long, happy marriage – it is perfectly okay to use their crowns. Basically, you can use whichever stefana you want as long as your priest approves of them.

Make Sure People Throw Rice

As the bride and groom leave the church, it is the tradition for the guests to throw rice as a symbol of fertility. These days, you may have noticed that a lot of people don’t do this anymore. People either skip this part, throw rose petals, or even blow bubbles as the bride and groom are exiting. If you want to stick with the traditions, you need to throw rice.

Though some cultures may have some of these traditions in some form, they are an important part of a Greek wedding. For example, many cultures do look at rice as a symbol of fertility. Even though times have changed since our parents and grandparents were married, these traditions have endured.

The post Greek Wedding Traditions Checklist for Brides appeared first on .

Some people prefer to have their wedding while the weather is nice. However, rather than let the cooler weather sink your spirits, why not embrace it? One way you can do this is to give your guests favors specifically for a winter wedding.

Greek Themed Winter Ideas

When people think of Greece, they picture warm sunlight, beaches, and beautiful ocean breezes. However, Greece does have a winter season where there is even occasional snow fall, especially at the higher elevations. As a result, there are even a few ski destinations in the country!

To celebrate this, why not give your guests favors that are reminiscent of winters in Greece? Here are some ideas:

• Photos depicting winter scenes in Greece, such as images of snow capped mountains in the heart of the country.

• Sweets normally associated with winter such as dried figs, chocolates, and Greek pastries such as kourambiedes.

• Spice blends that are normally used for winter cooking in Greece, such as those used for stifatho, a Greek style beef stew.

For decorating, you can feature scenes that have to do with Greek winters. For example, you can find winter photos of Greece such as snow capped mountains and snow covering the Acropolis in Athens. You can use these photos to decorate the tables.

Choosing Winter Themed Colors

When people think of winter, certain colors come to mind. These include white, silver, and light blue. Incidentally, white and blue are also the colors of the Greek flag. If you choose white and blue as your wedding colors, you can take advantage of the fact that the colors have a dual purpose – to help you celebrate both winter and your Greek heritage.

You can use these colors to help shape your decorations. For example, you can have a white table-cloth with light blue napkins. At this point, if you decided to place a Greek flag on your table, it will still make sense with your wedding colors. You can also choose to decorate with white flower arrangements that have light blue accents. The bridesmaid color can also be a beautiful, wintery light blue.

Winter Themed Favor Ideas

Of course, you can always choose to give away favors that have more to do with the winter than Greece. These include edible gifts such as chocolates enclosed in a decorative box in “winter” colors and winter wines such as ice wine, which is made from grapes that have been left on the vine for much of the winter.

Other winter favor ideas include hot chocolate mix, potpourri sachets with scents normally associated with winter, such as cinnamon, and anything that has snowflakes on them, such as a snowflake charm for a charm bracelet.

As you can see, winter doesn’t have to be dreary. If you plan a winter Greek wedding, you can have some fun choosing decorations and favors that have to do with the time of year.

The post Decorations and Favor Ideas for a Winter Wedding appeared first on .

For example, some women would prefer to be the one to ask. Also, sometimes a couple decides to get married by mutual agreement. If that is the case, the proposal won’t necessarily be elaborate.

Also, for traditional Greeks, it is also the custom to ask her father’s permission before you ask your potential bride. Here are some tips that will help give you insight on how to propose to a Greek woman.

Selecting an Engagement Ring

In the United States, the custom is to give your fiancé an engagement ring to wear during the engagement period. However, this isn’t the custom in Greece. The wedding rings, not the engagement rings, are traditionally exchanged during the Greek Orthodox marriage ceremony.

If you are marrying an American or if you are Americans with Greek ancestry, buying an engagement ring before you ask your girlfriend to marry you is something that is expected.

Talking to Her Father

After you purchase the ring, your next step is to talk to her father. Even if it is something that they aren’t expecting you to do, it is still a nice gesture. Doing so is a sign of respect to her family. You can mention it in either a casual or formal setting. The method you choose will depend on how well you know her family.

You are, in essence, asking for his blessing. It helps to get to know her family beforehand. The better you know them, the more likely it is that you will get her family’s support to marry you.

Choose a Special Moment

No matter how you decide to propose, the moment should be special. In the movies, we are often exposed to elaborate scenarios such as putting the engagement ring in her dessert or taking her on a trip in order to propose at the right time. However, the right moment doesn’t necessarily need to be this complicated.

What matters is to create a situation that celebrates your relationship. For example, if your girlfriend enjoys a certain kind of flower, you can buy her those flowers and present them to her with the ring. You can also propose on the anniversary of your first date, during a special holiday, at the location of your first date, etc.

What really matters is your sincerity, not the elaborate nature of your proposal. However, you do want to choose something memorable and that will make her happy. It should also reflect your own personality.

If you decide to get married in the Greek Orthodox Church, you will first need to make the decision to spend your lives together as a couple and it is the custom for the man to propose to the woman. Once you do that and she says yes, you should contact your priest to see what the next steps are.

The post Greek Wedding Tips – How to Propose appeared first on .

Learning about the engagement traditions in Greece is a great way to stay in touch with your traditional roots. While enjoying your time together, you can also embrace your Greek heritage by incorporating these important customs from Greece.

Asking Her Father for Permission

In traditional Greek households, it is important for the man to ask his girlfriend’s father for permission to marry. This is out of respect for the woman’s family. Once her father consents, the man is now free to propose. Asking her father for her hand in marriage is also a way for the bride’s family to begin to get to know the groom. However, whether or not she will say yes is completely up to her.

Why Engagement is Important

There are several reasons why engagement is important. First of all, it allows for the couple to prepare to spend their lives together. This includes anything from setting up their household to making the arrangements for the wedding ceremony itself. It is also a time where the two families can get to know one another.

Traditional Bridal Dowry

Another important part of the engagement period in Greece is the bride’s dowry. Traditionally, the dowry is items that the bride takes from her family’s house to her new home with her spouse. Though some families build the bride’s dowry years in advance, sometimes they begin collecting items during the engagement period. In Greece, the dowry is typically linens made by the bride’s family.

Greek Orthodox Priest Approval

When the couple is engaged, they will begin working with their Greek Orthodox priest so that he can eventually bless the union. He will meet with the couple several times in order to educate them about marriage and to also assess if he will bless the upcoming marriage or not. When he does offer his official approval, the engagement period officially begins.

Engagement Party

To celebrate the priest offering his blessing, the family then holds a large engagement party. Since religion plays a big part in the culture in Greece, the engagement party happens after the church approves of the upcoming marriage. These parties are large and the family invites all of their friends and family members.

Plan Your Wedding

Finally, remember that the engagement period is the time to focus on planning your wedding. In Greece, this means having the wedding at the local Greek Orthodox church and then holding a large reception afterwards. Greek weddings tend to be fairly large so therefore, they take a lot of effort to plan.

Engagement traditions in Greece are important to the culture. Incorporating these traditions into your Greek-American engagement period can really help you get in touch with your roots.

The post Engagement Traditions in Greece appeared first on .

There are many traditions associated with Greek weddings. One of them is to give guests a wedding favor that they can take home and enjoy well after the festivities are over. At most Greek weddings, guests are given koufeta, which are candy-covered almonds that represent happiness, health, longevity, fertility, and wealth.

However, some couples don’t feel as if the koufeta is quite enough. So, they opt to include an additional favor. Here are some ideas for edible wedding favors that will help your guests remember your big day.

Unique Koufeta Favors

Distributing koufeta bundles as favors is a time-honored tradition for a Greek wedding. Normally, the candies are placed in bundles of decorative mesh tied with a ribbon. However, they don’t need to be this simple.

You can actually be creative with how the koufeta is packaged and you don’t need to be limited by tradition. For example, if your wedding theme is the popular movie, Frozen, you can bundle the koufeta with character figurines from the movie. You can also pair the koufeta with other edibles such as chocolates.

Chocolate Wedding Favors

Chocolate is a classic and elegant candy that makes for a perfect wedding favor. You can even purchase small boxes of chocolate that have been designed and packaged just for weddings. It is also possible to personalize the boxes with information from the wedding such as the name of the bride and groom and the date of the wedding.

Personalized Candies

You can not only personalize the boxes that the candy comes in, you can also purchase candies that have the wedding information stamped right on them. For example, you can buy chocolate truffles, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate bars, and other candies that have been personalized. There are several companies that will put your information on the candy for a fee.

Greek Themed Edible Favors

Another fun novelty is to provide your guests with a favor made up of Greek themed food products. This includes small bottles of Greek wine, Greek herbs and spices such as Greek oregano, olive oil, and authentic Greek candies. This is a nice way to share a big part of the Greek culture with your wedding guests.

Cake Pops

Cake pops are all the rage.This is essentially cake that has been mixed with icing, formed into shapes, placed on a lollipop stick, and dipped in chocolate. You can make cake pops in pretty much any shape. Wedding themed cake pops are a cute idea for an edible wedding favor.

Most of these edible favor ideas can be packaged up with the traditional koufeta. Normally, a shop will place the candied almonds in a mesh bag in odd numbered amounts. The bag is normally tied off with a white ribbon.

You can attach a monogrammed bar of chocolate, wedding themed cake pop, or any other favor to the bag to make the favor extra unique. As you can see, edible wedding favors are a nice way to give your guests a memento from your wedding they will truly enjoy.

The post Edible Greek Wedding Favors appeared first on .

When getting married in the Greek Orthodox Church, a lively reception often follows the wedding ceremony. One of the most important parts of the reception is good music and an emcee that can create a great party atmosphere. This is either accomplished with a DJ or a wedding band.

After careful consideration, you’ve decided to hire a band to play at your wedding but you want to make sure you find the right one. The problem is, there are so many choices it can be hard to narrow it down. Here are some tips that will help you find the right band for your Greek wedding.

Research the Best Live Wedding Entertainment

Before you can even consider which band you will hire, it helps to know which bands in the area have a great reputation for weddings. You can ask people who have had live entertainment at their weddings to see if they’d recommend the band they hired or not. You can also read reviews online and even hire an entertainment company to find the band for you.

Playing Traditional Greek Music

Is it important to you that the band plays at least some traditional Greek music? If so, you may want to look into hiring a local Greek band. If you want to stick with tradition, the bride, groom, and bridal party all need to dance the traditional syrto dance to “Orea Pou Eina Nifi Mas”. So, even if you hire a band that doesn’t play traditional Greek music, you may want to at least play a recording of this song so everyone can dance.

Think About What Your Guests Enjoy

Most wedding guest lists are fairly diverse and include people of all ages. Your guests will need a musical selection that will put them in a partying mood. Since everyone has different tastes, it takes a skilled band to please everyone. A great band will play a diverse enough selection to make everyone happy.

Choosing Your Own Music Selection

Does the band you have in mind give you the option of choosing your own music? If not, you may want to consider hiring a band that does. Some bands have an established set list of songs that they always use and they rarely deviate. Others will let you play a part in determining the music they will play. Not only that, but a skilled band that has a wide repertoire will also be able to take requests while the wedding reception is underway.

When it’s time for you to choose the entertainment for your Greek wedding reception, there are several things to consider. First of all, you will want to determine how “traditionally Greek” you want the musical selections to be. While it is possible to find bands who specialize in Greek music, this may or may not be the right choice for your wedding. Overall, you want to find entertainment that will be the best fit for your guests and what you want your wedding reception to be like.

How To Find

Check out GreekBoston.com’s listing Greek bands & DJs in the Greater Boston area. Book them for your Greek wedding, Greek christening, Greek events, and Greek parties. Many of these Greek DJs and live bands perform throughout Massachusetts and New England.

The post How to Choose a Band for Your Greek Wedding appeared first on .

The good news is that despite how overwhelming it can be, there are ways to keep the guest list under control. Then, once the list is established, it is crucial to keep things organized to make things such as the seating chart and tracking gifts a lot easier. Here are some tips.

Your Budget Determines Your Guest List

In many ways, it is your budget that will essentially keep your guest list under control. How much money do you have to spend on your wedding? If your funds are limited, it will be difficult to have a lot of people at your wedding.

Before you start planning your wedding and establishing your guest list, it is important to set aside the money you are able to spend. This will help guide your decisions through the planning stages.

Your Guest List Needs to Be Fair

The need for the guest list to be “fair” can actually cause your wedding guest list to get out of control. For example, if you invite your second cousins on your mother’s side, you have to do the same on your father’s. Not only that, but your groom needs to be able to do the same thing.

A great goal, then, is to make sure you not only invite all the essential people, but that you also balance that with the need to be fair. It may take some time, but eventually you’ll come up with a managed guest list that also doesn’t break the bank.

Keeping the List Organized

Your next step in managing the guest list is to create a system to keep it organized. Here are the essential elements that are needed to make the wedding planning process as smooth as possible. Include in your spreadsheet

• Full name and address.
• Telephone number.
• Whether or not they are on the bride or groom’s side.
• Information about the bridal shower.
• Any gifts received and if so, what?
• RSVP information, both for the shower and the wedding itself.

Having all this information handy in one spot can not only help make the planning process easier but it can also prevent future headaches. The biggest benefit to being this organized is that it can make creating the seating chart much easier and also makes it much easier to complete thank you notes.

When most people think about Greek weddings, they often acknowledge how big they are. This means that it is all too easy for the guest list to get out of hand. There are several problems with having a wedding that is too large.

The main ones are that it can be both overwhelming and expensive. By establishing boundaries from the beginning and staying organized, it will be much easier to eliminate these problems.

The post Organizing Your Greek Wedding Guest List appeared first on .