Frequently Asked Questions
Is it necessary for the “koumbaros(a)” to be Greek?
No, it is not necessary for the koumbaroi to be Greek. However, they have to belong to the Christian Orthodox faith. Tradition has it that the koumbaroi also baptize the first born child, so being a spiritual parent of the child they must be of the Christian Orthodox faith.
If I am Greek Orthodox and my fiancé is not, does he need to convert in order to get married in the Greek Church?
Only one of the partners needs to be Orthodox in order to marry in the Orthodox Church. However, the non-Orthodox partner must be a Christian who has been baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity. The couple must agree to baptize their children in the Orthodox Church and the godparent must be Greek Orthodox, as well.
As an Orthodox Christian, if you decide to marry in another faith, you will no longer be in good standing with the Orthodox Church.
If your partner doesn't convert, he/she is not allowed to receive Holy Communion or a Church funeral.
When we have children, does the Godparent need to be Greek Orthodox as well?
Yes, the Godparent is a “spiritual parent” in a way thus must be of same faith, however, not necessarily of Greek descent.
My fiancé is Greek and I am not. We plan to marry in the Greek Orthodox Church, and I would like to be baptized. There are several Greek churches in our area - how do we know which one will the right one for us?
When selecting a church, you should take the following into consideration:
- Is it convenient to your home? Location is important if you plan on becoming regular churchgoers.
- What is the mix of people at the church? Singles, families, younger people, etc.
- Do they have a Greek school? That may be important if you plan on having children and if you want them to learn Greek.
- Are the services in English, Greek or a mix?
- Also important, is how you feel when you visit the church -- is this a place you can see yourself going to over and over again. Again, this is very important, especially if you plan on having children. You may end up at church several times a week between church services, Greek school and activities.
It may be a good idea to visit the churches in the area. Go to the coffee hour after
church (if they have one) and introduce yourself to the priest.
By the way, you will need many special items for your wedding. Please support our merchants! Let them know you found them on Greek Bridal & Baptisms!
Can you tell me what kind of candles are used in the wedding ceremony, and where I can get them?
The candles used in the wedding ceremony are called "lambades" and are available
through many of our fine merchants. Go to www.greekbridal.com. Click on bridal, and then click on merchants/services. In that section, most of the vendors carry
them. If you do not see a store in your area, you may order online; check the merchants listed on this site.
My fiancé and I are getting married next summer and we would like to get married
in Greece. I would like to be connected with a wedding planner that has experience planning weddings in Greece that could help me coordinate this event, including the
ceremony, reception and all its details, and accommodations for the guests.
Greece is certainly a beautiful place to get married. Consider the wedding planner button at www.greekbridal.com. Our members have experience in planning weddings in Greece and will be able to assist you with all of your plans.
My fiancé is a Methodist, however, she has agreed to be converted to orthodoxy She feels strongly about getting married in her church and would like to have the vows added to the service. What is the archdiocese's position on this? And if allowed, where can the vows be fitted?
Regarding your questions, "A Guide to Greek Traditions and Customs in America,"
states that "... the church does not recognize marriage outside the Orthodox Church. If you marry in a non-Orthodox ceremony, you excommunicate yourself and are
barred from the sacraments, from becoming a sponsor at a wedding or Baptism, and from receiving an Orthodox funeral."
We suggest that you speak to your local priest about these very important issues
and how they may affect your standing in the Orthodox Church. We asked this question to our local priest Fr. Anthony and the essense of his response was that:
“In the Western Christian world (Catholic & Protestant churches), the primary focus
of the wedding ceremony is on the commitment between bride and groom, thus the vows. In fact, in many cases the theology of some Western churches even indicate
that the clergyman and guests serve as witnesses to this commitment.
However, in the Orthodox Church, the primary focus of the wedding ceremony is on
the blessings from God coming upon the couple. That they are commited to one another is presupposed for them to be seeking such blessings from God.
Therefore, vows are not appropriate in an Orthodox wedding for that would suggest that the couple must provide something additional to the ceremony, thus the blessings from God are somehow insufficient.
It would be quite inappropriate for a priest to allow vows in a wedding, since vows would be contrary to the theological basis for the service (for the reasons indicated
above). There is no canonical flexibility on this matter. However, in order to placate (in my opinion) couples, some priests have gone to asking bride and groom if they
are present under their own volition, to which each answers "I do." My understanding is that some clergy might have done this due to the possibility of
"shotgun marriages." Yet, in my opinion, to do so would serve no purpose since the priest needs to meet with the couple at least once before the wedding -- if the priest
does not know that they are present under their own volition then he should not be doing the wedding.“
I am planning a wedding in Greece this coming June and would like to have my Wedding invitations printed in Greek. Is this possible?
Yes, you can get your invitations printed in Greek. Many of our merchants offer this service.
Also, the wedding planners (for Greece) listed on our site can help you get all of the paperwork and planning done for your wedding in Greece. Please click on "wedding planners" in the bridal section.
How should we dress for a Greek wedding?
In the present time, most Greek brides wear a traditional white wedding dress and the groom typically wears a suit or tuxedo. However, some people choose to dress in the certain costume of their region.
What needs to be purchased for a Greek Orthodox wedding?
You will need the following items:
- Stefana (wedding crowns)
- Decorated candles known as lambades and
- Wedding favors.
Traditionally, the koumbaros or koumbara purchase the above.
Please consult with the merchants on our site. They carry these products and can help you with all of the information you need.
Traditionally, who are the important people to invite to a Greek wedding?
The important people to invite would be the couple's parents (of course), siblings, cousins, close friends of the family and the Godparents.
I would consider it an honor to use my parents stefana for my own Greek wedding. But would that be proper?
At the end of the wedding ceremony. the priest ties the stefana together. The stefana are attached to the two ends of a ribbon (obvious symbolism). The priest usually uses this ribbon to make a tight knot that ties the stefana together. This is an obvious symbolism also. Generally, it is not considered proper to untie the stefana. It may well be an honor as a thought but it is best to look for a new pair that will reflect your very own knot.
Copyright 2004 by GreekEnterprises Inc. Use of material or content from this site without written permission is strictly prohibited.
Information about Greek weddings, Bridal, Groom, wedding services, bridal shops, Greek Baptisms, Baptismal related services, baptismal shops.