The Greek orthodox wedding begins with a betrothal ceremony. Candles are held during the occasion to commemorate the five maidens who lighted the path of Christ when he came in the darkness. This is followed by the wedding itself. The bride is spat upon all the way to the altar to ward off the evil eye. This ritual may seem odd to a newcomer but it is a tradition (the spitting is purely symbolic).

The best man or 'koumbaros' has several duties. He is usually a respected member of the church and the community. The koumbaros leads the couple in the walk around the altar three times. The priest takes the hands of the bride and groom and makes the sign of the cross over them. The koumbaros exchanges the couple’s rings three times. This is both a symbol of the Trinity and a sign that the couple should complement each other throughout life.

The final ritual is the crowning of the couple, because they are the rulers of their own private kingdom