Everything You Need To Know for Your Traditional Greek Wedding Ceremony

We're so often asked if we are familiar with different religious ceremonies and the answer is: YES! We've performed for almost 600 weddings, many of which have been beautiful Greek Orthodox Church ceremonies. When hiring your wedding musicians (and ceremony vendors like videographers, photographers, and planners), it's important that they are fully versed and know not only what to expect, but also can guide you too!

Today, we'll be breaking down the Traditional Greek Wedding Ceremony.

The wedding ceremony of the Greek Orthodox Church is abundant with the symbols that reflect marriage: love, mutual respect, equality, and sacrifice. The ceremony consists of two parts: The Service of the Betrothal and the Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage.

Everything in the ceremony has significance, especially the repetition of each act (three times) to symbolize and invoke the presence of the Holy Trinity. The wedding begins as white candles are handed to the bride and groom. The lighted candles remain present throughout the service, symbolizing the light of Christ and the willingness of the couple to receive Christ.

The Service of the Betrothal

The Blessing of the Rings

The Priest blesses the rings and then places them on the couple's right hands. Then, The Koumbaro exchanges the rings three times which symbolizes the couple's mutual love and respect for each other.

The Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage

The Joining of Hands

The couple joins their right hands to symbolize their oneness.

The Crowning

The crowns are a sign of the glory and honor with which God crowns the couple during the sacrament of marriage. The Priest will bless the crowns (also known as the stefana) and then places them on the couple. then, The Koumbaro interchanges the crowns three times as a witness to the sealing of their union.

The Common Cup

The bride and groom drink wine from the common cup, which symbolizes their mutual sharing of joy and sorrow.

The Ceremonial Walk

The Priest leads the couple in a walk, encircling the ceremonial table three times. This symbolizes their first steps on their journey as a married couple.

The Removal of the Crowns

The Priest removes the crowns from the couple's heads, symbolizing an invitation to earn them through their daily commitment to live according to God's will.

What about Music?

Wondering which AS music ensemble would be best for your Greek Wedding Ceremony? The nice thing is, *all* of them are a great fit. We've performed as:

String Quartet

Violin & Guitar Duet

Violin & Cello Duet

and Solo Violinist

You're welcome to include classical wedding music favorites as well as pop instrumentals (though, double-check with your Priest, as each church has different rules!) If your heart is set on including classical wedding music (like "Here Comes the Bride" and Pachelbel's Canon in D), opt for the larger ensemble like the string quartet to get those beautiful layers to really fill the church.

There's so much to take in and it's so beautiful! What kind of ceremony would you like to hear about next? Comment below or email us!

Real Talk: What ACTUALLY Makes Ariana Strings different?

Sometimes, couples will come to me and compare us to other companies in our area, asking questions about the difference in our pricing and offerings. Though we are a small business, we are rarely less expensive because of the high level services that we offer. I've performed and worked with dozens of event music companies and DJs and know a lot of what happens behind the scenes, so I know what makes and breaks a wedding day. Here is what makes our company different:

Guaranteed professional musicians who you know and love

Ariana Strings guarantees strictly professional musicians who we have worked with hundreds of times who hail from the top symphonies in the state including:

Hartford Symphony

New Haven Symphony

Eastern CT Symphony

Bridgeport Symphony

Waterbury Symphony

and many more!

Not only that, but we guarantee that they will be musicians from our team, not just a referral. It's not uncommon for musicians to be total strangers to one another and the company!

When you visit our website, our music videos showcase our players performing live and unedited, so you can hear our true sound. This is not standard across the event music industry, in fact it's a rarity!

Most couples have no idea who is showing up on their wedding day and most musicians do not offer unedited, live recordings at all!

Why is this so important?

Well, when you hire a chamber ensemble (that's any small group like a string quartet, trio, etc.), the players need to be strong musicians who are specifically well-versed in that style of playing, thereby able to communicate with one another through body language (called "cues") regarding tempo, style, etc. Having an established rapport amongst experienced musicians makes a huge difference in the performance you receive and it is immediately apparent to audiences. If we ever need to hire a substitute player for any reason, they're fully vetted and rehearsed for your event specifically.

One of the reasons we have been so successful is that we don't cut any corners, so you and your guests will always receive our very best performance.

Furthermore, most companies don't audition their players or hire strictly professional chamber performers, so their playing level is not guaranteed.

Most companies do not provide music in advance of the services, rehearse together, or promise the same players who have learnt the material, so they are usually sight-reading. This means that the musicians are seeing the music for the very first time that day and winging it as you walk down the aisle!

This is, unfortunately, quite standard for the industry. Most musicians figure that their clients will have no idea. However, the smaller the ensemble, the more revealing this mistake is! When players are not confident with the material and/or experienced, it comes across in the performance and can make or break an event. This is one of the soap boxes I stand on, as negative performances impact not only the wedding day, but all musicians tenfold. When a client hires an ensemble that performs poorly, they (and their guests) think twice about having live music at future events. This means that great musicians lose future opportunities thereby adding to the struggling classical music community.

Communication and Professionalism

Lastly, we are fully licensed and insured, include travel, taxes, and fees in all our quotes, and provide tailored services custom for your needs from start to finish.

Details You Might Not See That Make a HUGE Difference:

Behind the scenes, we work with all of your vendors to make sure everything runs smoothly and seamlessly. That means, I'm reaching out to your officiant for wording, double checking processional order with your coordinator, connecting with your videographer to ensure you receive the best sound, and more.

We are meticulously organized and arrive early. Nothing is worse than adding to the stereotype about musicians being late! Plus, we bring back ups of EVERYTHING: equipment, batteries, sheet music, iPads, you name it.

Our attention to not only how things sound, but how they look: We dress in concert black to match the level of formality of your event and provide a uniform look. We also stow away all our cases and belongings so they won't be seen in your photos and video.

Communication Before Booking

Wedding planning and hiring vendors is a full time job. To me, you aren't just an inquiry! If you have any questions about our packages vs. another company's, please feel free to reach out anytime. Every company does things differently and has their reasons and I am always happy to explain our services and help. It's important, to me, to make sure every bride (and groom), who is referred to me gets the best music experience possible no matter who they decide to book for their special day. If we aren't available, we'll always send you in the direction of a professional who I know does wonderful work (and nothing less!)

Happy wedding planning!

-Ariana

Photos by Samantha Perrelli Photo at The Wadsworth Mansion, June 2022, featuring our string trio (Ariana, Simon, and Sarah)

Having an Outdoor Wedding? You need these 8 tips and tricks for your ceremony!

You've heard all the usual tips for outdoor weddings, but here are the ones that are frequently forgotten that most affect your ceremony. They make all the difference for you and your guests!

1. Channel your Inner Cinderella: Have 2 pairs of shoes!

Joanna Fisher Photography

High heels are beautiful, but if you're getting married outside, you need a second pair of shoes. Save that

beautiful pair of heels for your photos, dances, and when you're back on solid ground. For the ceremony, you need wedges, flats, or a block heel to keep from sinking into the ground.

Don't make my mistake: Wear close-toed wedges for the ceremony.

My mistake: I wore a peep toe shoe on a gravel walkway. As I walked down the aisle, I felt more and more pebbles sneak into my shoe and it made me wince in pain with every step!

2. Don't Forget Your Sunscreen

Make sure to put on sunscreen before you put on your wedding dress or suit. Leave enough time for it to sink in, so you're not uncomfortable and it doesn't stain your clothing.

3. Rock You Like a Hurricane

Price Burr Photography

Plan for the worst, hope for the best. Make sure to have a back-up location and plan in case of inclement weather. Summer storms are unpredictable, so be sure that your back-up plan is one that you'd be truly happy to have!

Murphy's Law is real:

Every time I've worked with a couple who didn't have a back-up plan, tried to sneak in the ceremony before the storm, or had a back-up plan they didn't like, it GUARANTEED rain. The skies opened up on their ceremony and wrecked it.

Make a plan and stick to it. If rain is in the forecast, inform your vendors the day prior so it doesn't derail your entire timeline trying to wait it out. Your guests will thank you for keeping them dry and you can be cool as a cucumber knowing you have it all in hand.

4. Blinded By the Light

Courtesy of Alicia Ann Photography

Hold your rehearsal at the same time and place as your ceremony to check the light. Will the sun be at an angle that hits you in the eyes? What about your guests? If so, you can wear snazzy shades, get a tent, parasols, or change your ceremony set up to face another direction.

It's All about Golden Hour

Direct sun may seem like desirable lighting, but photographers actually do best with indirect light, like in Golden Hour (just before sunset). If your ceremony is in the shade or at a time where the sun isn't directly overhead, you'll avoid harsh shadows and highlights on your face.

5. Pump Up the Jams

Photo credit: The Ramsdens

Your guests want to hear your love story! Between cars and motorcycles driving by, beach waves, local wildlife (some of those birds are LOUD!), it can be impossible to hear your officiant, vows, and ceremony. Make sure you have microphones and a great sound system so that all your guests can hear loud and clear. That way, they really feel like a part of this special day.

Did you know that we offer ceremony sound? Click here to learn more.

6. June Bug

Don't forget to put on bug spray BEFORE you get dressed. Bug spray often leaves white residue that stains formalwear. (We know this because we're always in concert black and learnt the hard way!)

Include bug spray in the amenities basket or, better yet, by your ceremony site at a welcome table. Your guests will thank you!

7. Don't Read Me Wrong

Make sure to have a podium for your officiant and readers. Provide tape and have them secure their papers prior to the ceremony, so the wind doesn't blow it away.

No podium? Ask your musicians (in advance) if you can rent or borrow one of their music stands. It's a huge help!

8. With a Little Help From My Friends

Remember to tell your other vendors that you have live music and what times we will be arriving, starting, and ending. For example, videographers often like to capture our performance, but need to build it into their timeline. They also need to bring special equipment to record our audio.

If you want to have photos of us performing, make sure to tell your photographer, so they take a few moments to capture some beautiful shots for your album.

Did these tips help you? Have I missed any great tips? Comment below!

Courtesy of Addie Eshelman Photography