Greek Traditions Community

Greek Wedding Traditions Roundup

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C

cubrinj

Active member
I am helping someone plan her Greek wedding. I wanted to make a list of all the traditions we need to keep in time for the big day. Did I miss anything?

The Stolisma

The wedding day begins with the ritual of 'Stolisma,' where the bride and groom are prepared separately by their families. It's a moment filled with emotion, songs, and blessings, setting the tone for the day. I had honestly never heard of this. Do people still do it?

The Krevati

An amusing tradition is the 'Krevati' (bed making), where family and friends gather to decorate the couple's future bed with baby items, symbolizing fertility and a happy family life. Money is also often thrown on the bed for good luck and prosperity.

The Crowning (Stefana)

One of the most iconic rituals during the ceremony is the exchange of crowns or 'Stefana.' I believe they need to buy the crowns they want in advance?

Koufeta

No Greek wedding would be complete without 'Koufeta'—sugar-coated almonds given to guests as wedding favors. These bittersweet treats represent the ups and downs of married life and are shared in odd numbers to symbolize indivisibility and shared life.
 
I had never heard of the Stolisma. Well, I've been part of the lively preparations but I didn't know that it had a name.

Most of the Greek weddings I've been in - we've all gotten ready together. For the non-Greek weddings I pretty much showed up dressed and jumped in the limo. Totally different vibe.
 
It's not called stolisma. Stolisma just means "decorations" and it's when the family just decorates the house before the wedding. That said, you are right about what you're describing, but the word is wrong.

As for whether it is still done, it's still done at every Greek wedding (in Greece). To be more specific, the bride's friends dress the bride (put in her dress, jewelry, and shoes), and someone special to the groom shaves him.. while the bride's shoes are being put on, the bride's friends yell "it doesn't fit" and the bride's father is supposed to bring over money to make the shoes more snug. The bride's friends will often yell that the shoes don't fit multiple times, and each time the dad will have to come over and put money in the shoes. This is also the time when the bride will write all of her friends' names under her shoe. It's a shame tbus isn't done much in the USA anymore - Greek Americans have lost many of the traditions.

Your deacription koufeta is very old school. This is the way it used to be 50 years ago, but now people use many things. I think sugar coated almonds are probably my least favorite. Check out this website and look at all the different options. These newer options are much softer and you don't have to work about breaking your teeth. https://www.skroutz.gr/c/2688/koufeta.html
 
We did the Stolisma and Krevati at our wedding, and it was such a fun, emotional start to the day—everyone singing and laughing made it feel really alive. For the Stefana, we bought ours ahead of time so there was no stress. My husband also picked his mens wedding bands online, and he wears it every day without fuss.
 
I’m helping plan a Greek wedding and learning about traditions like the stefana, koufeta, and procession. It’s amazing how much meaning is behind each step. We’re also thinking about guest transportation, and someone mentioned using Seattle Black Limo to ensure luxury transportation between the church and the reception. Has anyone here planned a traditional Greek wedding recently? I’d love to hear your tips and real-life experiences.
 
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