Our wedding ceremony will be a traditional Orthodox Christian service at an Antiochian Orthodox church, with Greek Orthodox customs incorporated to honor the bride’s Greek heritage. The Orthodox wedding service is one of the oldest in Christianity, and its structure and rituals have remained largely unchanged since the early Church.

Guests may notice some differences compared to most Western weddings:

- The couple faces forward, not each other.

- No vows are exchanged; instead, the focus is on asking God to bless and unite the couple.

The Wedding Crowns (Stefana)

The crowning is the focal point of the Orthodox ceremony. The crowns symbolize the glory and honor bestowed by God, and the ribbon connecting them represents unity. The couple is crowned as “king and queen” of their new household, which they are to guide with wisdom, justice, and integrity.

- Many actions are repeated three times, representing the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

In the Orthodox Church, the priest addresses the couple by their baptismal names, which reflect their spiritual identity and connection to the saints. The bride grew up in the Greek Orthodox Church, while the groom discovered Orthodoxy later in life and was baptized into the faith as an adult.

The Bride’s baptismal and birth name are the same: Demetra, after Saint Dimitrios The Great Martyr/Myrrh Streamer.

The Groom’s baptismal name is Jeremiah, after Saint (The Prophet) Jeremiah and his birth name is Garland.

So during the service, you will hear the bride and groom referred to as Demetra and Jeremiah.

The formality of the service reflects the belief that marriage is a holy mystery (sacrament) — a miracle in the life of the Church. The couple enters the church as two individuals, but by the end of the service, they are joined together as one family in Christ.

The Orthodox Christian wedding service consists of two parts:

The rings are blessed by the priest and exchanged by the koumbaro or koumbara (wedding sponsors) three times, symbolizing the intertwining of two lives and the support of the Trinity. Rings are placed on the right hand, the hand of God’s blessing.

This is the heart of the service, which includes:

The Candles

The wedding service begins immediately following the betrothal service. The couple are handed candles which they hold throughout the service. The candles symbolize the spiritual willingness of the couple to receive Christ who will bless them through this sacrament.

The Joining of the Hands

The priest joins the right hands of the couple and calls upon God to join these “ Join these, Your servants, unite them in one mind and one flesh”. The hands are kept joined throughout the service to symbolize the “oneness” of the couple.

The Crowning (Stefana)

Stefana are placed on the couple’s heads, joined with a ribbon to show their union.

The Scripture Reading

The Epistle reading, Ephesians 5:20–33, explains the mystery and holiness of marriage, as well as the duties and responsibilities of a husband and wife. The love of the couple parallels the love of Christ and His Church. The couple becomes one in their submission to each other and to Christ.

The Gospel reading

St. John 2:1–11, retells the story of the wedding at Cana, where Christ blessed marriage by turning the water into wine, symbolizing the turning of our passions (vices) into virtues.

The Common Cup

The couple shares blessed wine, symbolizing a shared life of joys and sorrows.

The Ceremonial Walk

Also called The Dance of Isaiah. The priest leads the couple in a circle around the Gospel and Cross, their first steps together as husband and wife in Christ.

The Removal of Crowns

The crowns are lifted, and the priest prays for a long and blessed life together.

Unlike Western weddings, there are no spoken vows. Instead, the couple offers their promise directly to God, symbolizing unconditional love and a commitment that goes beyond words.

The koumbaro (male sponsor) or koumbara (female sponsor) play an important role in the wedding. More than a best man or maid of honor, they are spiritual witnesses and lifelong supporters of the marriage. They exchange the rings and crowns three times during the ceremony and they walk behind the couple during the dance of Isiah while holding the ribbon connecting the crowns.

The Orthodox Church is the original Christian Church, founded by Jesus Christ, with its history chronicled in the New Testament. Both Greek Orthodox and Antiochian Orthodox belong to this same tradition. The service you will witness has been celebrated for centuries, a living continuation of the faith and worship of the early Church.

For more on Orthodox Christianity:

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America: History

Antiochian Orthodox Church: History