Iain and Catie’s wedding was totally amazing – it was well worth the long trip (not just because I got to see all of my family after such a long time) and I was so pleased and proud to be part of a tradition that I have not experienced before.
They were married in the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Golders Green on Saturday 29th August 2009.
Mom and I started the day in the Renaissance Hotel in High Holburn.
We decided to stay the day before, the day of and the day after the wedding in the hotel and not having to move was awesome!
After we got up and dressed and ready, we headed out to Harrow to meet the men (my Dad, my brothers James and Iain) and James’ wife Yoko at their hotel.
Mom really wanted to help Iain get into his tuxedo.
Dressing the groom
I suppose she has given up hope on me – her eldest and only daughter; in fact Dad said as much!
There was lots of standing around – posing – for James and I – while Mom and Dad fussed over Iains waistcoat, jacket, shoes .. well really the works!
Finally everyone was ready and so of course, we headed down to the bar for a couple of quiet nerve gatherers and to wait for Iain’s Greek godfather to arrive to take him and Mom and Dad to the church.
James and Yoko and I were waiting for Alexi, Catie’s brother, to come and pick us up.
Arriving at the Cathedral, I was glad I had read through the ‘Guide to a Greek Wedding” that we had been sent with our invitations – as it is nothing like the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” – much to Dad’s horror as he and Pam had watched it about 8 times so he was at least a little prepared!
Firstly everyone sat together – there is no ‘bride side’ and ‘groom side’. In fact, people stood (there is a lot of standing during the ceremony anyway) – but people stood where they were comfortable and where they could see clearly.
Mom met Iain at the back of the church and the two of them walked up the aisle together.
Catie’s parents and Mom and Dad were given chairs on the altar for the duration of the ceremony.
Once the ceremony started, it is divided into two – the Service of Betrothal and the Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage.
The Service of Betrothal exchanges the rings – the bride and groom do not make vows to each other as turning up is seen as meaning that they want to be there and to get married.
It is during the ring exchange that we could be witnesses to the exchange and we were invited to be a part of the ceremony.
James and Yoko and I signed the ribbon and stood on either side of the bride and groom and when it was our turn, we swap the rings over once.
The Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage is next and there were a lot of prayers.
The whole ceremony was in Greek so there was not a lot (if any) that I understood.
Except when the priest got around to repeating things three times as this symbolises the Holy Trinity : The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit.
Yayy for something my Catholic education taught me!
Iain and Catie were crowned with their stefana – which were joined by a white ribbon and blessed by the priest.
This is the ribbon that we had all signed previously.
It is a bad indication if either of the crowns fall off the bride or the groom and I think that Iain had his free hand on his for most of the ceremony to make sure that this fate did not befall him.
The priest then leads the couple (wearing their stefana) around the altar three times and these symbolise their first steps as husband and wife.
Now funnily enough – during the third time around the altar, they had paused and then Catie took off on her final lap but without Iain!
Luckily she was stopped and they resumed without losing a crown .. or two.
Then the ceremony was over and we all filtered out on to the steps for photographs and then to head back to the Renaissance Hotel for drinks – and then dinner and dancing. Lots and lots and lots of dancing.
