This is an extract i found about Cypriot weddings but i have heard that it is similar in Greece.
“The Bride and Groom sometimes arrive at the church together, but usually the groom waits outside the church, with the brides bouquet. In a village they will arrive on foot, but in a town it is likely they will arrive in a taxi and walk the last few yards.
“Parents of the bride give the bride away outside the church. The bride and groom walk up the aisle together and both sets of parents stand with the couple.
“The chief bridesmaid is called koumera, the best man, Koumbaros. The koumbaros, traditionally the groom’s godfather, is an honored guest who participates in the wedding ceremony. Today, the koumbaros is very often the best man, who assists in the crowning of the couple, and in the circling of the alter three times. To be sure of a “sweet life”, a Greek bride may carry a lump of sugar in her glove on wedding day.”
From: http://www.kypros-cyprus.com/weddings.html
There are many “Greek/Cypriot” traditions that are different to our “Greek-Australian” traditions. View more about this in the comments.
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November 5, 2007 at 5:34 am
Sia
My cousin married a man who was origionally from Greece and she walked down the asile the ‘Greek Way’. He waited for her at the front of the Church and then they walked down the asile together. It was lovely but i have never seen it done at Greek-Australian weddings before. Have we adapted some Australian traditions into our Greek weddings? What else has been Australianised?
November 5, 2007 at 6:53 am
Anonymous
“The koumbaros, traditionally the groom’s godfather…”
Wrong that never happens it must’ave stoped around 30 odd years and more ago!
“…To be sure of a “sweet life”, a Greek bride may carry a lump of sugar in her glove on wedding day.”
Again this statement is wrong that never happens that stoped way before my nan’s time cause she didn’t have to do it on her wedding day(my nan is 79 years old now going on 80!)…!
Also bride and groom do walk down the aisle together the: ‘father walks the bride down the aisle where the groom awaits and hands her over after giving her a kiss on the cheek etc is a catholic trait and not a Christian Orthodox as far as I’m aware of and again as far back as me nan she didn’t have do it either!
Hope this helps.
Maria