An Orthodox ceremony will look different than most weddings. The couple begins with The Betrothal, which is done in the back of the church. Rings are exchanged at this point. This is followed by the ceremony itself which includes the couple being crowned, partaking of the Common Cup and performing the Dance of Isaiah. You will notice that the couple stay silent the whole time and there will be no spoken vows. This is because in the Eastern/Orthodox tradition, God is the one performing the sacrament through the priest and it is God who binds the couple together. This divine act serves as their vows. The congregation and wedding party stand nearly the whole time, and the ceremony is almost exclusively sung with the music being a cappella.

The act of the couple showing up to the church and presenting themselves in The Betrothal serves as their consent.

Yes. The Orthodox wedding ceremony is recognized by both the Eastern and Western (Roman Catholic) Churches to be a valid sacrament.

No, there will be no Mass or Divine Liturgy. It will only be the ceremony.

No. It is not a Mass, and you are still required to fulfill your obligation by attending a Mass either on Saturday evening (anticipatory) or Sunday morning.

The Betrothal is done in the Narthex (back) of the church and where the couple express their mutual commitment before God. The priest will bless the rings over the couple's heads and place them on their hands. This symbolizes the unbreakable bond of marriage. There are many scriptural references to marriages in the Old Testament.

The Crowning is the main part of the ceremony. The crowns are symbols of the glory and honor God is bestowing upon the couple and that they are king and queen of their new "domestic church" or household. They also represent the crown of martyrdom in that the couple is laying down their life for the sake of the other. Tradition holds that whichever of the spouses dies first, is buried with both crowns, so that when the other passes, the one who proceeded them may greet them in heaven and return their crown, and both may enjoy the eternal kingship of Christ.

The Common Cup is a cup of unconsecrated, blessed wine that is given to the couple to drink. This symbolizes their first shared meal, and a commitment to the sharing of each other's joys and sorrows.

The Dance of Isaiah takes place after the Common Cup. The priest leads the couple around in a threefold circle while holding the gospel. These are the first steps the couple takes as newlyweds and symbolizes them walking in the footsteps of Christ, following the example of the gospel, and a reminder of the trinity. It is called the Dance of Isaiah in reference to the joy the prophet Isaiah had at the eventual coming of the Messiah.