Thinking of getting married?

 

 

These days more and more people are thinking of getting married when on holiday abroad or renewing their vows.   Well now the Nafiska Hotel is pleased to say that we would be delighted to host your wedding!   Why not enjoy your special day with us?  Remember what they say - "What is different is the sheer warmth of the place. A warmth that is unforced, unpretentious, and highly infectious"!   If that sounds good to you we'd be more than happy to assist.

If it's real Greek wedding you're after then this is what it will be like:

The Service of the Crowning
The Service of the Crowning is the wedding proper. It is highlighted by seven significant acts:

The Exchange of Rings
The exchange of rings symbolizes the unbreakable bond of Christian Marriage. During the Betrothal, the rings are blessed over the heads of the bride and groom three times and then are places on the fourth finger of the right hand. The Betrothal ends with a prayer that the Lord might make strong their betrothal in faith, truth and love, and make them of one mind; and that He might grant the betrothal His heavenly blessings.

The Lighted Candles
The bride and groom are given lighted candles to hold, symbolizing the purity of their lives, which should shine with the light of virtue.

The Joining of Hands
During the Service of the Crowning, three long prayers are read asking God to grant the bride and groom a long and peaceful mutual love and understanding, happiness and health. The couple's right hands are then joined by the priest, who calls upon God to join them into one.

The Crowning
The priest raises the crown and makes the sign of the cross three times over the heads of the bride and groom, after which the crowns are placed on their heads. The crowning signifies that the newly married couple receives the grace of the Holy Spirit to be the founders of a new generation and are crowned with virtue and holiness to live their lives to the glory of almighty God.

The Bible Readings
Following the crowning, St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians (5:20-33) concerning the mystery and holiness of Christian Marriage and the duties and the responsibilities of the husband and wife to each other, chanted by the canter; and St. John's gospel on Christ's miracle at the Marriage at Cana (2:1-12) is chanted by the priest to show that our Lord Jesus Christ blessed the sacred institution of marriage.

The Common Cup
The drinking from "The Common Cup" symbolizes that the couple must share every joy and sorrow. The priest gives to the husband and wife a cup of wine from which each must drink 3 times.

The Circling of the Table
While three beautiful and joyous hymns are chanted, the priest takes the bride and groom by the hand and leads them around a small table three times. By circling the table, the couple signifies their oath to preserve their marriage bond forever. The circle symbolizes eternity; the triple circling honors the Holy Spirit

The Benediction
Finally, amid special words of blessing, the priest lifts the crowns from the heads of the newlyweds, thus ending the marriage ceremony

your special day

Getting Married in Greece

Committing yourself to your partner is a big step - you need to have thought things through carefully and you'll need to have done some homework before hopping on your flight from the UK!   The UK Government website offers guidance - here's what they say.

Contact the Embassy of Greece before making any plans to find out about local marriage laws, including what documents you’ll need. What you need to do
You may be asked to provide a certificate of no impediment (CNI) or a similar document to prove you’re allowed to marry.    You can normally get a CNI by giving a notice of marriage at your local register office or registrar in the UK.    Find your local office or registrar in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.    A CNI issued in Scotland is valid for 3 months.    A CNI issued in England, Wales or Northern Ireland will not expire, but you should check with the local authorities in the country where you intend to marry to find out how long a CNI is valid under local law.

Legalisation and translation
You might need to exchange your UK-issued CNI for one that’s valid in Greece at the nearest embassy or consulate to where you’re getting married. You should also check if it needs to be:
‘legalised’ (certified as genuine)
translated - find a translator abroad, or in the UK through the Institute of Linguists

You should also check with the local authorities to find out if you need to provide legalised and translated copies of any other documents.  Your partner will need to follow the same process and pay the fees to get their own CNI.

The names on all documents you provide must appear exactly as they do on your passports - if not, the authorities may refuse to allow the marriage to go ahead.   You may need to provide evidence if the name on your passport is different to your birth certificate (eg marriage certificate or deed poll).