Did you know that the Greek groom is supposed to buy his brides shoes?

[nm1999]

This is a very sweet custom, that is not very common in other areas of the world. In Greek culture, as a promise to the bride, the groom buys the brides shoes. In many cases, the bride will choose the shoes and allow for the husband to get them for her as a gift as many brides do not want surprise shoes on the day of her wedding. Did anyone have this tradition of their wedding? I am wondering how common it is these days.

 

[ellinasgolfer0320]

My SO was born and raised in Greece, I was born and mostly raised in the USA. Our wedding is this summer and we won't be doing that because it's not the tradition in either of our family's villages.

 

[francescool]

My SO was born and raised in Greece, I was born and mostly raised in the USA. Our wedding is this summer and we won't be doing that because it's not the tradition in either of our family's villages.

What traditions will you be doing, if you don't mind me asking

 

[ellinasgolfer0320]

What traditions will you be doing, if you don't mind me asking

Hmm. Off the top of my head, we will put money and a baby in a bed before the wedding, there won't be any bridesmaids or groomsmen (we will only have 2 koumparoi - 1 koumparos and 1 koumpari). Because the wedding is in Greece, I will wait outside of the church for her and everyone will stand outside with me. Her dad will drop her off in a car then she'll walk up to me, and we'll walk into the church together with everyone following behind. There will also be no flower girl or ring bearer.. we have paranifakia (young girls who walk with the bride) who will walk with my SO and hold the train of her dress, and paragamproi (young boys who walk with the groom) whole will follow behind me.
Also, the wedding will start late in the afternoon (after 5pm).

At the reception the first song to be played will be miroloi (a lament) - it's our version of a moment of silence and it is always done as the first song of wedding receptions. Additionally, we will have a band and you can request songs to be played for you or someone else - when you request a song played for you or someone else, you usually give the band money as a tip. Also, it's tradition to shower the band with money by throwing up a lot of bills around the band, so that's going to happen too.

 

[efhernandez_]

Hmm. Off the top of my head, we will put money and a baby in a bed before the wedding, there won't be any bridesmaids or groomsmen (we will only have 2 koumparoi - 1 koumparos and 1 koumpari). Because the wedding is in Greece, I will wait outside of the church for her and everyone will stand outside with me. Her dad will drop her off in a car then she'll walk up to me, and we'll walk into the church together with everyone following behind. There will also be no flower girl or ring bearer.. we have paranifakia (young girls who walk with the bride) who will walk with my SO and hold the train of her dress, and paragamproi (young boys who walk with the groom) whole will follow behind me.
Also, the wedding will start late in the afternoon (after 5pm).

At the reception the first song to be played will be miroloi (a lament) - it's our version of a moment of silence and it is always done as the first song of wedding receptions. Additionally, we will have a band and you can request songs to be played for you or someone else - when you request a song played for you or someone else, you usually give the band money as a tip. Also, it's tradition to shower the band with money by throwing up a lot of bills around the band, so that's going to happen too.

I had no idea that they play a miroloi at the beginning of the wedding reception. Is it a way of honoring passed family members? This sounds like a beautiful tradition. I have seen people honor passed loved ones in many different ways at their weddings depending on the culture that they are from.

 

[ellinasgolfer0320]

I had no idea that they play a miroloi at the beginning of the wedding reception. Is it a way of honoring passed family members? This sounds like a beautiful tradition. I have seen people honor passed loved ones in many different ways at their weddings depending on the culture that they are from.

Yes, but I'm not sure how widespread it is throughout Greece, but unlike America during out moment of silence, people get more emotional in our villages - they will start crying.

 

[francescool]

Yes, but I'm not sure how widespread it is throughout Greece, but unlike America during out moment of silence, people get more emotional in our villages - they will start crying.

I can imagine how emotional this is, especially at a wedding. I also find that Greek people are more comfortable showing their emotions and they are more passionate. Thank you for sharing.