There are many different combination of Koumbari that are acceptable in the Greek Orthodox Church. When you are choosing your Koumbari you can decide how many people you want to be a part of your wedding ceremony.
Here are some examples of acceptable Koumbari combinations:
- One Koumbaro (One Best Man)
- Two Koumbaros (Two Best Men)
- One Koumbaro and One Koumbara (One Best Man and One Maid/Matron of Honour)
- One Koumbara (Just one Maid/Matron of Honour)
- One Koumbaro and One Maid of Honour (Where only the Koumbaro does the rings and crowning)
- Koumbari (A Koumbaro and Koumbara who are already married)
I have also heard that in Greece, the Bride and Groom can have as many Koumbari as they want. Apparently they do not have a full bridal party with bridesmaids and groomsmen like we do in Australia and in America. The people who stand next to you at your wedding are often called your ‘Koumbari’. (Im not sure how true this actually is)
Do you know of any other acceptable Koumbari combination?
Advertisement
4 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 12, 2010 at 1:54 am
Sara Pavlatou
It is true, you can have any combination of Koumbarous, I have seen as many as 8 at a recent wedding and each takes in turn to exchange the stefana and the rings, it takes ages!!!!
February 20, 2010 at 11:35 am
Corinne
Is it Greek tradional or older tradition for the bride to ride on a donkey to the wedding or from the wedding with the groom walking?
Thank you,
Corinne
December 15, 2010 at 10:06 am
virginia
The number and the gender of the koumbaro/koumbari doesn’t matter at all. The person or people represent both the bride and the groom and not one or the other. I think this is pretty egalitarian compared to other traditions.
December 31, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Stratos
My koumbaro is married. What is the role of his wife.
Does she need to be a koumbara? If she is not a koumbara as is the case, does she sit at the bridal table or with her husband’s family?
Any other information will be handy.
Thanks
Stratos