Greek wedding traditions are rich with religious symbolism and like many other cultures; marriage is seen as a continuation of Greek culture and the uniting of two families, not just the wedding couple. Though there are a variety of wedding ceremony styles, the majority tend to include a full religious Greek Orthodox ceremony.

The symbol of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is an important aspect of the Greek Orthodox religion and is incorporated symbolically within the wedding celebration. Many of the ceremony rituals are performed in series of threes.

The Koumbaros is an honored guest that participates in the wedding ceremony. Traditionally, the Koumbaros is the groom’s godfather. Today, he is usually the best man. He assists with the crowning of the couple and the exchange of the rings three times between the bride and groom before it is placed on the bride and groom’s third fingers.

Stefana are metal crowns or floral wreaths, sometimes attached with ribbon, are placed on the heads of the bride and groom as a symbol of God bestowing his blessings in the form of crowns. The crowns are generally connected by a ribbon to symbolize the couple's eternal bond as husband and wife.

The Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony consists of two parts, the Service of Betrothal, and the Sacrament of Marriage. The Service of Betrothal includes the exchanging of rings which have been blessed by the priest. It is Greek tradition that the bride and groom are honored as queen and king for the day. During the Sacrament of Marriage, the couple receives lighted candles to hold throughout the service. The Koumbaros bestows the couple with crowns called stefana while the couple holds hands. This is followed by religious readings and the consumption of wine. The couple is then walked around an altar three times to represent their everlasting journey. The stefana is then removed and the couple declared married.

Greek wedding receptions are festive and include savory foods, plenty of wine, singing and dancing. Traditional Greek dishes such as dolmathes, kapama, moussaka, spetsiota, and spanakopita may be served. Ouzo, a licorice flavored liqueur and wine are the drinks of choice. Diples, fried pastries made of honey and nuts are usually displayed on the same table as the wedding cake.  The famous Kaslamantiano or “Circle dance”, involves two circles that form around the bride while guests throw money at the musicians and break dishes for good luck. At the reception, a bag containing an odd number of koufetta or candy-coated almonds also known as Jordan almonds are distributed to guests as a favor. The odd number symbolizes the couple’s unity since odd numbers can’t be divided evenly. 

It is a tradition in Greece to break a pomegranate on the ground at weddings. It is a symbol of abundance, fertility and good luck. Pomegranate decorations for the home are very common in Greece.

There are several charming Italian traditions to incorporate in your wedding ceremony. Roman Catholicism is Italy's primary religion. So a traditional Italian wedding ceremony typically consists of a full Catholic mass. In Italy, June is the favored month and Sunday is the favorite day for weddings. The Italian wedding tradition of tying ribbons to the chapel entrance, symbolizes a new wedding bond. The ribbons signify the tying together of two lives. The ever popular dove release is a relatively new tradition. It symbolizes the love and affection the newlyweds have for each other. 

Traditionally, the wedding reception begins with an antipasti course of cheeses, olives, mushrooms, and pickled sweet peppers. This course is followed by subsequent courses that include delicious pastas, savory meats, salads, soups, and succulent desserts like Farfallete Dolci, and italian cookie.  The drink of choice is wine and grappa.

The Tarantella is a dance performed at wedding receptions to wish the couple a long future together. Participants form a circle and dance in a clockwise direction, until the music speeds up and the dancers must change direction. The tempo changes several times, each time forcing the dancers to change direction and dance even faster. The Tarantella continues until it becomes impossible to keep up, and the dance falls apart. At the conclusion of an Italian wedding reception, it's customary to break a glass or vase. The number of shards is said to predict the number of happy years the couple will have together.

Italian favors called bomboniere are pretty little baskets or boxes that come in a variety of shapes and colors. Sometimes a bigliettino or ribbon personalized with the couple's names and wedding date is attached. The bomboniere are traditionally filled with sugar-coated almonds or confetti to symbolize that marriage is both bitter and sweet. The number of almonds given is significant because odd numbers are considered lucky. Three almonds represent fertility, while five almonds signify wishes for wealth. Sometimes the confetti is thrown at the newlyweds in lieu of rice. Bomboniere can also be filled with chocolates or other types of candies. 

Jewish Weddings are rich with beauty and rituals. Some of the customs and traditions of a Jewish wedding are thousands of years old. Jewish wedding traditions will vary among the Orthodox, Conservative, Hassidic and Reform sects. However, the essentials are the same. A rabbi usually officiates the ceremony. A Jewish Marriage is a simcha, a celebration of joy.    

The Ketubah is a Jewish legal contract between the bride and groom. It is one of the oldest elements of a Jewish wedding. Traditionally, the Ketubah was written in Aramaic, a Semetic language related to Hebrew. Today, the Ketubah is a religious document; it comes in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. Often, it is a reflection of the bride and groom's personal style and preferences. Some couples choose to hire a calligrapher to design a custom Ketubah. The Ketubah does not replace a standard civil marriage license which the officiating Rabbi will need in order to perform the ceremony. Rather, the Ketubah is a written pledge that the couple makes to each other. The Ketubah is signed by the Kallah (bride) and Chatan (groom), the rabbi or officiate, and usually witnesses usually before the ceremony. At Orthodox and Conservative weddings, the reading of the Ketubah occurs during the ceremony under the chuppah. After the wedding, most couples choose to display the Ketubah in a beautiful frame in their home.

The Chuppah is a wedding canopy that the bride and groom stand under during the wedding ceremony. The canopy represents the new home they will establish together. In some ceremonies, the bride's and groom's parents stand around the couple beneath the Chuppah to symbolize that parents are the foundation upon which the bride and groom will establish their own home. The Sheva Brachot are the seven marriage blessings recited under the Chuppah. Some couples choose to make their own Chuppah with four self supporting poles and a prayer tallis or shawl.

Breaking the glass is a well known Jewish wedding tradition that entails the groom stepping on a glass goblet wrapped in fabric. Once the glass is broken, everyone shouts Mazel tov! which means Good Luck or Congratulations. The sentiment behind this ritual is a reminder of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple.

Prior to the start of the wedding reception feast, a blessing called Hamotzi is offered over Challah, a sweet braided wedding loaf. This gesture represents the first breaking of bread as a new family. A traditional Jewish wedding reception often includes a Klezmer band. In a special dance called the Hora, the bride and groom are lifted overhead in their chairs and are carried around the room by guests. A Jewish wedding favorite tune is “Hava Nagila”, a traditional Klezmer song.