6 Greek wedding traditions you can incorporate into your elopement

the Crowning, red wine, a musical procession all of the small details that make for a greek styled elopement and wedding

Hello we are Elope in Greece your guide in running away to the place of your dreams.

We are local photographers & videographers that have extensive experience in weddings & elopements in Greece. All the articles in our blog stemm from our love for our work, and hopefully they can provide a guide for couples setting up their plans to visit and elope in our amazing country.

Here are 6 Greek wedding traditions you can incorporate into your elopement:

The crowning

Coming from ancient Greece where people would wear a crown around their head or a wreath of flowers this custom is a beautiful addition to any wedding or elopement.

The originals were created from plants such as the olive, the lemon tree and the vine and were a festive part of the ancient Greek wedding ceremony. In fact, they were worn by all the participants of the ceremony. This is a beautiful idea if you have guests.

There are so many beautiful “wedding crowns” or stefana to choose from. From a Grecian golden leaf style to modern simple metallic fine wires to real leaves and flowers this tradition will make you feel like a true Greek goddess and her god.

During your ceremony you can crown each other, or if it’s an orthodox wedding the priest will do the crowning.

More valuable, however, remains their true symbolism, which is to tie people's lives with the shackles of marriage, which is why the priest at the end of the ceremony ties the two crowns tightly with their ribbon, so that the couple stays together and tied to the rest of their life.

You can find beautifully crafted wreaths and crowns from many Greek artists here

Sipping red wine from a crystal glass

A standard object of the wedding ceremony in is the wine carafe and the wine cups that the couple will drink from to seal their marriage. Red wine is shared by the groom and bride symbolizing the sharing of their new life in good times and bad. A beautiful crystal carafe is used on top of tray with a bridal crystal glass. At the end of the ceremony they both take 3 sips of red wine from the same glass. You can find plenty of local organic Greek wine and beautifully made bridal sets.

Having a koumbara or koumbaros

The koumbara or koumbaros is the closest person you have in your life, he or she will be present when you get married and will be your confidant for the rest of your life. He is in charge of getting you hitched, helping you out and being a witness to your wedding. If you decide to elope you can always have your best friends join in and be there for you.

Arriving at the ceremony accompanied by musicians

Both the groom and bride are accompanied on their walk to the ceremony by musicians that play tradtional instruments such as violins, the lyre, lagouto and songs of marriage

This small walk in cobblestoned paths between whitewashed houses in an island like Ios is a once in a lifetime ecperience of pure joy.

In most places in Greece especially the islands you can arrange for local musicians to play songs as you leave for the reception

Music is essential to make you feel more festive and relaxed at the same time, while the images and video we can capture looks authentic and cinematic. Again this is an ancient tradition that has stood the test of time…

Honey sesame & nuts

These type of sweets are always a part of a wedding in Greece. They are all locally sourced, and represent the sweet family life to come. They can be given as wedding favors or part of the bridal table in small glass vases.

In some parts of Greece the mother of the groom gives to the bride a spoonful of honey and nuts to welcome her to her family.

Beautifully local chewy bars made of sesame and honey can be found in many islands of Greece like Sifnos, Paros and the mainland. They are placed in the wishing table for guests to take with them.

Getting married at dusk

Most of the weddings in Greece during the summer are performed close to dusk Usually 2-3 hours before sundown. It can get extremely sunny and warm from May to August and especially in the Cyclades heat can be overwhelming for an early wedding.

If you decide to elope during the summer months check out the median temperatures of the place before committing to a Venue.

The best hours to perform an open space ceremony are from early morning till 12:00 or after 18:00. Most Greeks get married at around 19:00 and then have a beautiful photography session during sundown.