How to Celebrate a Greek Wedding Theme at a Farm Venue
Dreaming of a Greek Wedding Theme? Traditional Greek weddings are often lively affairs with an abundance of food, wine and dancing. Nowadays, couples who want a Grecian ceremony and reception usually prefer a rustic setting. This makes farm venues the ideal location for Greek-style weddings. Remember, you don’t have to be Greek to incorporate the culture into your wedding. What’s important is ensuring that you, your partner and your guests have a fabulous time on your special day.
Nuptials in this Mediterranean style is generally traditional but joyful occasions. Everything about Greece, from the food to the dancing, is a celebration of life. So here are some tips about Greek weddings that will come in handy when you tie the knot at a farm venue.
Dress up like a Grecian
In all probability, your ideal wedding dress will be a Greek-inspired outfit. However, rather than a simple toga, why not choose a gown decorated with the classic Greek colours of gold and white? With an elegant design, this type of dress will make the bride look like a 21st-century Greek goddess. In fact, most Grecian-style wedding dresses are seductive with their smooth lines, unique appearance and individual charm. They also tend to emphasise the bride’s best attributes!
Stefania and head wreaths are commonplace at Greek weddings and as an added bonus they can be made from the plants found on a farm. For instance, rosemary and beautiful dry flowers will enhance any wreath. Because of the countryside location, you will have the option of choosing the plants and flowers you prefer.
Of course, we cannot forget the wedding bouquet, a must-have for any bride. You can create an eye-catching display by using blossoms such as:
- baby’s breath
- dry flowers
- olive leaves
- bougainvillea
Naturally, one of your most important tasks is to book a farm or barn venue that can accommodate all your ceremony and reception requirements. There are many traditional venues in Greece to choose from. But if you love Greece and Greek culture Crockwell Farm for instance can offer you this experience outside Greece. They have barns, gardens and fields where you can plan your ideal Greek wedding.
Prepare the food
Food is an essential aspect of any Greek wedding. If you want to create an authentic Mediterranean menu, you should consider dishes that include:
- traditional Greek or bread salad Dakos
- fresh sea scallops
- crabs
- calamari
- mussels
These dishes are often marinated with lemon and olive over a barley rusk to retain their flavour and juices. Greek wedding celebrations also usually have a large amount of meat on offers, such as goat, lamb or pork.
One such popular dish is youvetsi which is lamb or beef braised and marinated with orzo (a type of pasta similar to rice) and tomatoes. Traditionally, people use clay pots to cook youvetsi.
Greek drinks
Of course, no wedding celebration is complete without alcohol. Fortunately, you will have plenty of popular Greek spirits to choose from.
- Ouzo – a dry anise-flavoured drink
- Metaxa – a famous Greek brandy that has been aged for decades
- Mastic liqueur – a unique spirit distilled from the resin droplets of the mastic tree
- Retsina – this wine originates from the Greek island of Xios and is made from pine resin
Desserts
Baklava is a type of pastry with multiple layers of thin dough and various nuts. After they have finished their main course, your guests can enjoy baklava with some strong Greek coffee. Alternatively, you can serve tiropita (cheese pastry) for dessert if you top it up with honey.
You can arrange all these foods and drinks on long tables decorated with olive branches.
See the full list of vendors of the Greek Summer Welcome Dinner Inspiration from Rhodes
Enjoy the dances
The Kalamatianós is an ancient dance that is often performed at Greek celebrations. On a wedding day, however, this dance carries special significance. The bride is in the centre while her maid of honour is on her left-hand side. The female guests will then hold hands and encircle them. While this dance is usually for female participants, some of the men may decide to join in.
The Zembekiko is a dance reserved for the groom, best man and all the male guests at the reception. It has a similar dance circle as the Kalamatianós. Those who don’t participate in the dance can kneel and clap along with the music.
The wedding dollar dance is a tradition that is observed even by those living outside of Greece. Here, guests throw dollar bills or money at the bride and groom while they move around the dance floor. Alternatively, people can pin the cash to the couple’s wedding attire. However, this money isn’t a substitute for a wedding gift, it’s just a light-hearted way of congratulating the newlyweds.
Hand out wedding favours
One of the most exciting features of a traditional Greek wedding is the favours, known as Bomboniere, which are usually made from almonds coated with candy. The combination of sweet and salt is a symbol of life and the favours represent hope for more sweetness than bitterness. You can put them in traditional hand-knitted pouches or even wrap them with evil-eye charms for good luck just as they do in Greece.
Guests will typically receive an odd number of almonds (usually five). This signifies the lasting power of the marriage. Each candy is a symbol of the newlywed’s hopes and dreams; for example:
- Long life
- Fertility
- Happiness
- Health
- Wealth
Planning a Greek-style wedding will take time and effort. Fortunately, most farm venues can be viewed as a blank canvas which you can decorate it any way you wish. Farms are locations bursting with life and nature, and you could even have the ceremony and reception inside a barn or outside in a garden. What matters most is choosing a farm venue that will allow you to celebrate your perfect Greek wedding theme.
About the honeymoon
If you’ve decided on a Greek-themed wedding then it makes sense to spend your honeymoon in Greece. There are numerous beautiful islands to choose from.
Santorini. This island is ideal if you want to relax as you enjoy the sun and the beautiful beaches. If this is your first visit, you should take a trip to the big villages such as Thira and Oia. In fact, there are many stunning locations to consider. For example, you could decide to enjoy a meal and a glass of wine as you sit atop the island’s famous cliffs.
Mykonos. This island is bigger than Santorini and has beautiful sandy beaches. It is also famous for its nightclub scene and is especially trendy during the summer months.
Antiparos. This small island is perfect for honeymooners who prefer some adventure rather than the party scene. The beach is secluded and perfect for snorkelling or paddleboarding. Meanwhile, the town is host to many stylish cafés and bars.
Conclusion
A Greek wedding theme at a farm venue will be a joyful occasion that newlyweds will remember fondly for many years to come. Mediterranean wedding celebrations are steeped in exuberant symbolism. For example, guests will undoubtedly enjoy the delicious meals and tasty dessert menus from the Greek islands. In addition, the various traditional dances will ensure a lively and festive atmosphere. Most importantly, the wedding itself will be a promise of hope and wonderful life for the happy couple.
Bridal Shoot Credits:
Captured by Lindley Battle Photography
Wedding Dress, For Love and Lemons
