1 - 9 of 9 Posts

efhernandez_

Active member
I was invited to a Greek wedding this summer, but unfortunately I am unable to go because my work schedule is just a bit too hectic. The couple has a registry, which makes me wonder if I should still get a gift even if I'm not able to go to the wedding. Does anyone know what the expectation or custom is for a Greek weddings? The couple is from the United States, but they are both Greek American and having their wedding in Greece. I am super bummed out that I am missed, and I would say that I'm relatively close to the groom, we worked together previously.
 
You can do whatever you want. I doubt the couple will get upset if you decide not to buy them anything.

I just had my wedding in Greece (and I'm from the USA) and some people who didn't show up bought us gifts while others didn't. We really didn't care if people bought us anything or not. What we really liked was getting messages from people who couldn't attend telling us congratulations and wishing us a happy marriage.
 
You can do whatever you want. I doubt the couple will get upset if you decide not to buy them anything.

I just had my wedding in Greece (and I'm from the USA) and some people who didn't show up bought us gifts while others didn't. We really didn't care if people bought us anything or not. What we really liked was getting messages from people who couldn't attend telling us congratulations and wishing us a happy marriage.
Happy years ahead!♥️?....Stini Yasou for your wedding....Tell us more if you feel.... where did you have it?... Fillya from Thailand and Monsoons.....and how....the sea is @force Gail 9 Beaufort!
 
  • Like
Reactions: kosta_karapinotis
Happy years ahead!♥️?....Stini Yasou for your wedding....Tell us more if you feel.... where did you have it?... Fillya from Thailand and Monsoons.....and how....the sea is @force Gail 9 Beaufort!
Well, our wedding was set for 7:00pm in the mountains at an venue where we could have an outdoor wedding. The day of the wedding, I got dressed at the venue which happened to be next to the church. My brother and nephew helped me get dressed. At the same time, at my wife's house, they were having fun as she got dressed, and after she was fully dressed, they all danced. Back at the venue where I was getting dressed, I had quite a few family members over and we had a lot of food to eat while I got dressed. The photographers took photos of us all. At 6:30 our guests started showing up. My wife's koubara showed up early and gave me the bouquet to hold (in Greek weddings, the groom holds the bouquet and gives it to the bride when she meets him at the church entrance).... around 7:00pm we heard a lot of cars honking - this means the groom or the bride is approaching the church, and since I was already at the church with my family it could only me that my wife's family was approaching.

My wife arrived at the venue and I'm standing at the church entrance waiting for her at this point. A band goes to the entrance where my wife will come from, they start playing music and they lead her and her family all the way up to the church entrance to me. We walk to the alter (it's outside) and everyone follows behind us. Then the ceremony began.

For the reception, we entered with fireworks showering on both sides of us (this is a Greek thing), we walked straight to the stage, cut the cake, and had out first dance as soon as we cut the cake. Then we ate, my father-in-law gave a short speech, and mirolόi (a song of remembrance for everyone who has passed away) and we danced. The first dance is for family only and the koubaroi.. After we danced, everyone else joined in. In Greece, guests pay for songs to be played for their family, so we danced nonstop because people wanted to tribute songs to their family. This made me very tired because dances are often 15-20 minutes long, so you don't get to rest, and you have to dance each song out of respect for the family that paid for the song. The last song of the night was a zeibekiko (this is how you tell guests that the reception is over) around 4:00am, which the groom has to dance, so I danced zeibekiko and then people started to leave.

video of me dancing zeibekiko
 
Last edited:
Can you send money or do a direct deposit? I would say money is more expected then gifts but I could be wrong.
 
Well, our wedding was set for 7:00pm in the mountains at an venue where we could have an outdoor wedding. The day of the wedding, I got dressed at the venue which happened to be next to the church. My brother and nephew helped me get dressed. At the same time, at my wife's house, they were having fun as she got dressed, and after she was fully dressed, they all danced. Back at the venue where I was getting dressed, I had quite a few family members over and we had a lot of food to eat while I got dressed. The photographers took photos of us all. At 6:30 our guests started showing up. My wife's koubara showed up early and gave me the bouquet to hold (in Greek weddings, the groom holds the bouquet and gives it to the bride when she meets him at the church entrance).... around 7:00pm we heard a lot of cars honking - this means the groom or the bride is approaching the church, and since I was already at the church with my family it could only me that my wife's family was approaching.

My wife arrived at the venue and I'm standing at the church entrance waiting for her at this point. A band goes to the entrance where my wife will come from, they start playing music and they lead her and her family all the way up to the church entrance to me. We walk to the alter (it's outside) and everyone follows behind us. Then the ceremony began.

For the reception, we entered with fireworks showering on both sides of us (this is a Greek thing), we walked straight to the stage, cut the cake, and had out first dance as soon as we cut the cake. Then we ate, my father-in-law gave a short speech, and mirolόi (a song of remembrance for everyone who has passed away) and we danced. The first dance is for family only and the koubaroi.. After we danced, everyone else joined in. In Greece, guests pay for songs to be played for their family, so we danced nonstop because people wanted to tribute songs to their family. This made me very tired because dances are often 15-20 minutes long, so you don't get to rest, and you have to dance each song out of respect for the family that paid for the song. The last song of the night was a zeibekiko (this is how you tell guests that the reception is over) around 4:00am, which the groom has to dance, so I danced zeibekiko and then people started to leave.

video of me dancing zeibekiko
I haven't forgotten to say a few lines of my appreciation for writing such a magnificent description.... Terrific dancing....I will write more later on.... just that your Zeibetiko tune took me back to middle 90s spending cold winter months in Mykonos.....I was mostly alone in the Taverna in Ano Mera Mykonos where the son of Mayor was rehearsing this tune everyday.....and what a joy it was to listen to.....and then it was the signature tune for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in 2004!..... Yasou apo mena from Thailand and Monsoons!??
 
Can you send money or do a direct deposit? I would say money is more expected then gifts but I could be wrong.
I agree, I would send a gift, but keep it simple. Money or a direct deposit works. This is especially worth it if you're close to the people, like a close family member or close friend.
 
anyone has recently tried ordering from local suppliers through WhatsApp or Instagram?

A few small businesses around Lucknow have been selling directly that way, and the prices looked decent. Also, if you’ve bought in bulk lately, did you face any packaging or shipping issues? Curious to hear how things are in 2024.
 
I couldn’t go to my cousin’s wedding last year, and I still sent a small gift to show I was thinking of them. I picked something simple and personal, like refreshing incense scents for home, which they both liked. It wasn’t expensive, just thoughtful. I think even if you can’t attend, it’s nice to send something small if you’re close to the couple.
 
Last edited:

What alternatives to Linktree offer robust customization for bio links?

Trying to level up my bio link setup because Linktree feels kinda stiff for what I want to do. I’ve been tweaking my branding this year and I need something that lets me mess with colors, layouts, maybe even some light animations without feeling boxed in. I’m running a mix of art commissions and small merch drops, so having more control would help a ton. If anyone’s found a link-in-bio tool that lets you get creative without needing to code like a pro, I’d love to hear what’s working for you.

Why do Greeks celebrate name days?

I grew up with name days being a big deal, and I’ve always wondered why they feel more important than birthdays for so many of us. I know they’re tied to the Greek Orthodox Church feast days and the saints we’re named after, but it feels like there’s something deeper going on culturally.

In my family, name days were always open-house style, people calling, stopping by, bringing sweets, and it felt very communal. Birthdays, on the other hand, were more low-key.

Do you feel like name days still carry that same weight today? Or has it changed depending on the generation or where you live?

How did your family spend summers in Greece?

I’m curious how many of you spent summers in Greece growing up.

My experience was a little different. My parents both worked full time, so we never packed up and spent entire summers in Greece the way some Greek families did. But I had friends and cousins who seemed to disappear every June and come back just before school started, full of stories about village life, island beaches, family gatherings, and adventures with cousins.

I always found those stories fascinating and sometimes wished I had experienced that myself.

For those of you who did spend summers in Greece, what was it like? Did you stay in a village, a city, or on an island? What did your typical days look like? Are there any traditions, memories, or experiences that still stand out to you today? I'd love to hear your stories!

How was your experience using a virtual concierge at a luxury resort?

Booked a fancy resort for a once-in-a-blue-moon getaway, and they keep hyping up this “virtual concierge” thing like it’s the next big miracle. I’m kinda torn. Part of me loves the idea of ditching phone calls, but part of me worries it’ll feel cold or glitchy, like talking to a chat bot instead of a real human who actually cares if my room smells weird or if I need extra towels. If you’ve used one before, was it helpful or just marketing fluff? I’m trying to figure out if I should trust it or just stick to the front desk.

What are your favorite name day traditions?

I’ve always loved the tradition of celebrating name days. In my family, they’re just as meaningful as birthdays, and sometimes even more fun because they bring everyone together in a different way.

When a big name day comes around, especially one that several family members share, we often turn it into a full family gathering. For example, on a name day like Nick/Nikolas, where there might be multiple people celebrating, it becomes almost like a mini family holiday. Someone hosts, there’s plenty of food, and everyone comes by to wish the celebrants “chronia polla.”

I also like the simplicity of the tradition. Even if there isn’t a big gathering, people still call or send messages to acknowledge the day.

Do you celebrate name days in your family? And are there certain ones that turn into larger celebrations because several people share the name?
Share and discuss Greek traditions related to Greek weddings, christenings, dance & holidays!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top