Steeped in Christian Orthodox tradition, many elements of Greek weddings are heavily laden with symbolic meaning. This can be seen from the objects used in the wedding ceremony to the gifts given to guests.

Wreaths are the basic element of the wedding ritual. Symbolising royal crowns, they are placed on the heads of the couple during the ceremony. After blessing the wreaths, the priest makes the sign of the cross over their heads and invokes God himself, crowning them with glory and honour in their new kingdom/household, which they should govern with wisdom and justice.

Wedding wreaths also refer to the wreaths of the martyrs, highlighting this dimension of Christian life and referring to the sacrifices that need to be made in marriage. They symbolize the couple’s eternal bond through this lifetime, represented by the priest tying the ribbons of the wreaths tightly together.

For more information and a closer look, please just click on the images in this gallery.