Stuffing up the Stefana

September 21, 2009 in My Sister's Wedding, Stephana | Tags: | by | Leave a comment

It was my worst fear. I thought I was going to stuff up the Stephana…

I went to a Greek wedding a couple of weeks before my sister’s wedding and the Koumbara Stuffed up the Stephana. It was the Koumbara’s most important role in the whole wedding and she didn’t know what to do.

The Koumbara just couldn’t get her hands the right way. The Priest tried to help but for the thirty seconds of confusion, the entire room of guests broke into laughter.

It funny for the people who were standing inside the Church to watch but it was completley embarrasing for the Koumbara. She had stuffed up the Stephana.

For weeks, I kept playing this over in my mind. I didn’t want to stuff it up. I didn’t want everyone to laugh at me. So i watched a few Greek Wedding videos and I practiced the crossing of the Stephana.

WHAT TO DO:

First, cross your arms. Use your right hand to hold the Stephana of the Bride and your left hand to hold the Stephana of the Groom.

Then, here comes the tricky part… cross your hands over. Before you start, check which arm is on top. If you are right handed then you will probably have your right hand on top. If you are starting with your right hand on top, then simply cross your hands over so that the left hand is on top. Then cross it back and put your right hand on top.

Do this 3 times.

The trick is to put the Bride’s Stephana back on the Bride’s head. It does not touch the Grooms head. This is the same for the Groom. The Grooms Stephana goes back to the Groom and never touches the Brides head.

This is the same practice for crossing the rings.

Here is a pic from my sister’s wedding. Have a look at how my hands cross over.

stuffing up the stephana

Did you Stuffed up the Stephana? What happened and what did you do?

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Mamma Mia! Greek Weddings

August 10, 2009 in American Customs, Australian Customs, Greek Customs (in Greece) | by | Leave a comment

British couples flock to Greek islands for Mamma Mia! weddings

Posted on Telegraph.co.uk by Alastair Jamieson (Published: 9:23AM BST 09 Aug 2009) Click here to go to the origional article.

More than 200 British fans of ‘Mamma Mia!’ are getting married on
Greek islands this summer to recreate the wedding scene in their
favourite film.

A travel agency offering a special ‘Mamma Mia! marriage’ package is
flying couples to Greece for custom-made ceremonies with the same
rustic charm as the one featured in the romantic comedy featuring
Meryl Streep, Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan.

Jane and Andreas Palikiras, who run London-based Ionian Weddings, say
Greek weddings are a “growth industry” and that they had organised
more than 100 such ceremonies this summer.

They told the Sunday Times that many British couples are choosing the
islands of Skiathos or Skopelos, both of which featured in the box
office hit film, and some are insisting on an Abba soundtrack to
complete the experience.

Sharon Lawrence, 28, a business travel consultant from Colchester, who
got married on Skiathos, said: “As soon as I saw the film I thought
‘this is it’ but I didn’t even know which part of Greece it was in. So
I got on the internet and did some research.”

She wed Kevin, a 33 year-old printer, at the town hall on June 2
followed by a reception for 30 similar to the one in the film, which
is an adaptation of the successful West End show.

Mr Palikiras said it was not possible to get married in the exact same
hilltop chapel on Skopelos used in the film because it is too small
and is reserved for members of the Greek Orthodox religion.

He said the film had driven up tourism on the islands featured in the
films but conceded locals were “probably getting a bit sick of it”.

He added that bookings rose 60 per cent after the DVD of the film was
released just before Christmas last year.

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Zebekiko – Greek Dance at a Wedding

July 31, 2009 in Greek Dancing, Youtube | Tags: | by | Leave a comment

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Stefana – Designs

July 31, 2009 in Crowns / Stefana | Tags: | by | 2 comments

Pink Stefana

This Pink Stefana is by Penny K Design. Click here to be directed to the Penny K Design web site.

The Stefana are Greek Orthodox Wedding Crowns that are used by the Priest and the Koumbari to bless the Bride and Groom during the wedding ceremony.

They are often kept by the Bride and Groom as a souvenir from the wedding. It is important to ensure that the Stefana are made from materials that can be preserved so that the Bride and Groom can keep it for many long years of their marriage.

The Stefana can be made with:

- Semi-precious Stones

- Swarovski Crystals

- Freshwater Pearls

- Glass Beads

The Stefana is traditionally purchased by the Koumbaro/Koumbara and is presented as a gift on the day of the wedding.

Many couples that i know did not get to see their Stefana until the Wedding Day. It was intentionally kept a secret so that the style and look of the Stefana was a surprise.

Personally i think that the Stefana needs to suit the Bride’s dress and her personality. My sister and I went shopping together and i let her choose which Stefana she wanted. It eliminated the surprise but at least i knew that it would fit her and that the design of the crown would suit her dress.

Do you think that the Stefana should be a suprise on the wedding day?

 

Yanna and Kosta’s Big Fat Greek Wedding

July 30, 2009 in Australian Customs, Bridal Party, Down the Asile, Fashion, Getting to the Church | Tags: | by | Leave a comment

Yanna Elfef 1

If you live in Australia, then you would have seen the wedding pictures of Yanna & Kosta’s Wedding. An email was sent around to all most every Greek person i know and it was all over the news. This wedding was certainly an extravagant Greek Wedding.

Here are some more of Yanna & Kosta’s Wedding Photos:

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

July 30, 2009 in American Customs, Youtube | by | Leave a comment

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a fantastic movie about a Greek woman who falls in love with a ‘Vegetarian’. It is funny and although it is slightly exaggerated it is genuininly true. Greek Weddings often resemble the movie in many ways – big Greek family’s (who all share the same name), 50 bridesmaids, a strict but loving family and Windex.

Have you been to a Greek Wedding? How did compare to the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding?? 

What Should the Koumbari Pay For?

July 30, 2009 in Australian Customs, Bridal Party, Candles / Lambades, Crowns / Stefana, Favours / Bonboniere, Koumbari, The Bed / Krevati, The Wedding Tray | Tags: | by | 6 comments

The Koumbari of the Bride and Groom has a big responsibility in a Greek wedding… and that can be expensive!

My sister asked me to be Koumbara for her wedding over two years ago and i am lucky that i had enough time to start saving. I knew that I would have to pay for a few things but i am wasn’t exactly sure until now. Here is what i have paid for/or plan to pay for so far:

1. Church - the wedding ceremony and a tip for the Priest &Psalter

2. Bonbonerie – a small gift for all of the guests attending

3. Lambathes – the candles at the alter

4. Stephana - crowns to bless the Bride & Groom

5. Tray – to put the stephana and koufeta on for the Church

6. Brides Veil - I’m not sure why i am suppose to buy the Brides Veil but apparently that is also the Koumbara’s responsibility

7. Hen’s night & bridal shower & krevati (with the help of the other bridesmaids) 

8. Gifts – for the bridal shower and hens night

9. Gift of Money – to through on the bed at the krevati and to give at the wedding

10. Bridesmaids outfits – shoes, jewelery, spray tan, waxing, hair cut & colour, nails and everything else i need to look great on the day.

Being Koumbara is an wonderful gift. I am greatful to my sister and her fiance for asking me to be a part of their marriage. But being Koumbara is also expensive.

What else should do you think that the Koumbara should expect to pay for?

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Im Back!

June 27, 2009 in Uncategorized | by | 1 comment

Dear readers,

Thank you for your interest in my blog!

I have been on a blogging break for the last year while i travelled around the world. Now i am back and i plan to continue writing about Greek weddings and traditions. I hope to reply to everyone who has commented and i can’t wait to start writing about new wedding ideas.

If you have any feedback regarding the site or ideas for blog posts, please let me know. I would love to hear from you.

Thanks again,

Aspasia Mavris

Author 

greekweddings.wordpress.com

Eat Cake!

March 3, 2008 in American Customs, Australian Customs, Food, Superstition, Sweets, Traditions | by | 2 comments

pbc_0012.jpg  

This embarrasing special moment was captured by Christos Hcuntas who is a photographer in New York. He specialises in Greek weddings, christenings and many other cultural events. Check out more of his work by visiting his website or blog.

In This Picture:

The groom has successfully smashed wedding cake in to the brides face.

The Wedding Cake 

Sharing the first piece of wedding cake is a tradition that has evolved since the ancient Roman times. The Romans believed that by eating the wedding cake together, a special bond was created between the couple. The wedding cake back then was more like a special bread made from wheat.

This ‘wedding cake’ was broken over the head of the new bride to bestow fertility and good luck for her married life. The wheat used to bake the cake was symbolic of fertility and a fruitful union, while the cake’s sweetness was thought to bring sweetness to all areas of the couple’s new life.

Today ’cutting the cake’ is a very important part of any wedding, including Greek weddings. For the newlywed couple it is often considered a very special moment. For photographers and guests it is a great kodak moment. And for the groom it is ‘the moment’ to have a bit of cheeky fun.

How will you eat your wedding cake?

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A Lifetime Of Sweetness

February 29, 2008 in After the Wedding, Chios, Greek Customs (in Greece), Peloponnese, Sparta, Superstition, Traditions | by | Leave a comment

For a ‘lifetime of Sweetness’ the Greeks bless the home of the newly married couple. There are many beautiful rituals that are performed after the wedding and in the home to symbolise a happy future for the bride and groom. 

The following traditions come from a website called WeddingChannel.com:

  • Break a plate on the doorstep of the home to ward off evil spirits – Peloponnese Tradition
  • Carry a piece of iron into the home to make the marriage strong – Sparta
  • Crush a pomegranate under your heel if you are eager to start a family - ancient fertility rite from Chios
  • Feed each other honey for a lifetime of sweetness together

Do you know of any other traditions or blessings that the newly married couple do after the wedding?

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