It’s hard to beat a Greek Wedding! Beautiful Greek Wedding traditions, lots of food, lots of dancing, lots of partying all make for a great wedding and well…. wedding videography. Ok, in all honesty, you had me at food! Greek Weddings are so amazing they even made a film about it, however, this film is also a ‘big fat’ Greek wedding of romance too! Grab the popcorn or Kourabiedes and hit play on our latest Greek wedding video…

Greek Wedding Videography at St Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church

Alec & Desie's Greek wedding ceremony was at the beautiful St Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. It's a really beautiful building inside and out with its soaring tower, clock and flint panelling. Most strikingly, of course, the altar and sanctuary are screened by a vast iconostasis painted with Saints. The church was originally built in 1831 by church builder J.J Scoles. The clock was a later addition in 1876. By the 1960s the church fell out of use, along with many churches in Great Yarmouth from the same period. Most of these churches were demolished but luckily St Peter’s was given to the growing Greek community in Great Yarmouth in 1963 and was formally dedicated to the Greek Orthodox church in 1983 (the year I was born!) So all in all what a backdrop, what a history and location for this fab Greek Wedding!

Greek Wedding Videography at the Ivy House Country Hotel in Suffolk

After the church, Alec & Desie headed to their super wedding reception at the Ivy House Country Hotel in Oulton Broad, Suffolk. Close to the Broads National Park, this was the perfect spot for a wedding reception being at the gateway to the Broads. When you watch the wedding videography highlights trailer will give you an idea of the gorgeous Greek wedding traditions and dancing that took place plus some great entertainment with the Cleopatra Greek Band.

Ivy House Country Hotel, Ivy Lane Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 8HY

Greek Wedding Traditions that can be captured with Wedding Videography!

The Greek Money Dance

Once the wedding reception is in full swing, a traditional Greek wedding money dance will probably ensue. This is a playful dance between the newlywed couple that is rewarded by guests tossing dollar bills onto the dance floor or pinning them onto the couple’s attire. It’s totally optional for guests and isn’t a substitute for wedding gifts, but rather a fun, symbolic way to congratulate the couple on their new marriage.

Zembekiko

Not to be left out, the Zembekiko is for the groom, his best man, groomsmen and other men at the reception. It’s a similar circle dance as the Kalamatiano and it’s customary for those who aren’t joining in to kneel and clap along to the music while the groom dances. Great fun with lots of energy!

Kalamatiano

This festive wedding dance shares the same name as the ancient Greek folk dance, but for a Greek wedding, it has a pretty specific meaning. The bride stands in the middle with her maid of honour to the immediate left and the female wedding guests hold hands and encircle the two.

Stefana Crowns

A traditional Greek wedding ceremony follows the ceremonies and rituals of the Greek Orthodox Church. There are two golden crowns or “stefana” connected by a single strand of ribbon, which symbolizes the union of two people becoming one in marriage. The koumbaros place the wedding crowns over the groom and brides heads after passing them over the couple’s heads three times to symbolise unity. They then sip wine from the same cup and the bride and groom are then led around the altar table three times by the koumbaros as a prayer is recited by the priest.

Blessing the wedding rings

At the start of the ceremony, the couple place the rings on the tips of their wedding fingers and the koumbaro will exchange them three times. The priest will then bless them three times.

The best man / Koumbaros shaves the groom

On the wedding day morning, the best man or ‘Koumbaros’ shaves the groom as a sign of trust between the two. Also, his friends will help him get ready and dress him, as an example, one may assist in getting his suit on and another help get his tie or bow tie on. These are all symbolic gestures in playing a role to help him get ready for his wedding day.

Stollisma

In Cyprus, there is the beautiful tradition of the “Stolisma”. This is a ritual that is performed for the bride as well as the groom, albeit separately. Musicians play a song that calls all the relatives to give their blessings. A red scarf is passed around the bride’s waist which symbolizes fertility.

Koufeta

Bombonieres (wedding favours) are filled with sweet sugar almonds called koufeta that are given to the guests. Their egg shape represents fertility and plays a strong symbolistic part at the wedding. Their sugary flavour symbolises the sweetness of the couple's future life while their hard almond heart represents the endurance of the marriage.

The Brides Shoes

The names of all of the single ladies are written on the bottom of the bride’s shoes and tradition has it that the names that are worn off by the end of the reception will soon get married.

Making the wedding bed

Another Greek wedding tradition that usually takes place the night before the wedding is the preparation of the wedding bed. The bed is covered with petals, coins and koufeta to make sure there is fertility, love and prosperity in the marriage! In some cases, a baby is rolled across the bed to guarantee fertility and superstitions say that the gender of the couple’s first child is determined by the gender of the baby rolled across the bed.

Blessing the wedding rings

At the start of the ceremony, the couple place the rings on the tips of their wedding fingers and the koumbaro will exchange them three times. The priest will then bless them three times.