Inspiration / 3 min readThe Union in Frame journal
Greek Orthodox weddings: the crowning, the circling and the dancing
Words by Union in Frame
A Greek Orthodox wedding has no spoken vows. The meaning sits in what the priest and the koumbaro do with rings, crowns, a cup and three circuits of a table. For Greek and Cypriot couples marrying in the UK, here is what happens and how it is photographed.
A ceremony told in gestures rather than vows
The service has two parts, held one after the other. In the betrothal the priest blesses the rings and the koumbaro exchanges them three times between your fingers. Then comes the crowning: the stefana, two crowns joined by a ribbon, are placed on your heads and exchanged three times.
You each take three sips of wine from a common cup, then the priest leads you three times around the table. Because you say no vows, the photographs carry the ceremony: hands, crowns, ribbon and the faces beneath them.
Introduce the koumbaro to your photographer
The koumbaro, or koumbara, is the sponsor of your marriage. They stand just behind you, exchange the rings and the crowns, and follow you around the table, often holding the ribbon that joins the stefana. The role usually goes to a close friend or relative, who by tradition may later be godparent to your first child.
Introduce them to your photographer before the day. Their hands are in most of the key frames, and their face as the crowns cross above your heads is one of the strongest pictures.
Ask the priest where the camera may stand
Each church sets its own rules on where a photographer may go. The sanctuary behind the icon screen is closed, and some priests also keep the raised step in front of it clear. Some allow quiet movement along the sides; others ask for one fixed position.
Flash is often discouraged and sometimes not allowed at all. Ask the priest or the church office well before the day, and pass the answers to your photographer in writing. They should still arrive early and confirm the rules with the priest.
Candles and incense shape the light
Tall candles are lit for the service, and the priest may cense the church as it begins. Many Orthodox interiors are dim, with icons and gilding that catch what light there is. Without flash, your photographer relies on low-light equipment and on knowing when each moment is coming.
Incense drifting through window light photographs well, and a daytime service gives more of it. Late on a British winter afternoon, expect the candles to do most of the work, and ask whether the main lights can stay on.
Plan for a long night of dancing
After the service you will usually greet your guests in a line at the church, and Greek and Cypriot weddings are often large. Allow time for it: those greetings give you unposed pictures of family and friends.
The reception is built around dancing. Your first dance may be a traditional circle dance that parents and the koumbaro join, and many Cypriot families hold a money dance, pinning notes to your clothes. The dancing can run late, so make sure your photography or film coverage reaches it.
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