Wedding Vows & Ceremony Discussions

Orthodox Ceremony & Venue Ceremony HELP!

Hey guys,

(This is my 1st post, so I apologize if this has been touch upon before)
We need some advice on this asap!
My FH and I fell in love with a raw space (The Foundry) and would love to hold both the ceremony and reception here.
Our problem is we want April 5th, 2014. He's Greek Orthodox, I'm Catholic. Neither of us are religious but his parents insist we marry in a Greek church (doesn't really matter to me). Our 1st issue is that we cannot marry in a church during Lent. 2014 Lent begins March 5th - April 20th. Now while we don't really want to change our wedding date, we can either do the ceremony at the church then have the reception at The Foundry all on the same day if we move our date. We unfortunately don't see the point in that if we're paying to rent the space for 12 hours and only using it for 4 hours.

We've suggested to his parents that we do a casual, intimate church ceremony before lent, then another ceremony followed by the reception on the date that we want.
1. What do you call the 2nd ceremony if we're already married? The priests agreed to come and give a blessing but we also want the whole walking down the aisle in our wedding attire with a flower girl and everything. What exactly would the priests be doing?
2. Does anyone have any other suggestions to make use of our full time at this space?

We can also push the date but prices will go up and we would also need to rent limos where as if we do the intimate ceremony or the ceremony at the venue, we won't really need that since we have a fairly small party.

Any advise please!

Re: Orthodox Ceremony & Venue Ceremony HELP!

  • Look, I know firsthand how hard it is to not get married in your parent's church....both FI and I were raised Catholic and explaining that we were having a secular ceremony was uncomfortable.  So I get it. Trust me. 

    But the real solution here is not to do the Greek ceremony at all.  First, if you don't practice, it's disrespectful to those that take the religion seriously to go through the motions when you don't mean it.   Second, you're getting married.....now's as good a time as any to explain to your parents that as an adult you don't intend to practice.

    It will be awkward.  It can hurt feelings. Your ILs may even threaten not to come.    They'll get over it though.  They always do. 
  • Also, btw, the reason you get 12 hours at the space is so that you have time to have florists, vendors, etc. set up and tear down the space without it encroaching on other event's scheduled times.   You don't need to worry about "filling" 12 hours worth of time....most weddings only last 4-6 hours from start to finish.
  • Thanks for your advice.
    This places allows 8 hours really for us. Ceremony & reception. They allow a total of about 4-6 hours both before and after our party for set up and clean up.
    We just want to use the space as much as we can cause it's so gorgeous.
  • Ditto Nola on the ceremony.  If neither of you are currently practicing and do not plan to be practicing either of your religions, then you should have a secular ceremony.  Yes, it can be difficult to explain that to your parents.  But you're adults and they need to respect your wishes, even if they don't like them.

    As for some of your other questions.  If you had a 2nd ceremony it would be a vow renewal since you would already be married.  The first ceremony should not be kept secret from your guests.  They should know that they are not witnessing your marriage, but a vow renewal. 

    Also, with the vow renewal, you will need to give up somethings at your reception.  Like the first dance, you are already married so it would seem silly.  Having your father escort you down the aisle, again you are married so it would seem silly, you can walk in with your H.  Also, having a WP at a vow renewal is also sort of out of place.  They are are standing up for you at your union, but that already happened.  You should also skip a big ball gown for the vow renewal because you are already married and not a bride.
  • You, just like everybody else in the US who is legally allowed to get married, get one wedding, not two.  Pick which is more important to you, your date of April 5 or having the ceremony in the church as your parents want.  Adults make decisions and live with the consequences.



  • as someone who has greek orthodox family... i had to laugh.  there's nothing 'casual' about a wedding in a greek church.

    honestly, either move the date, or don't do the greek ceremony.  if both priests already agreed to attend the ceremony at the venue, then do that -- and have them each give a blessing so that both religions are represented.

    when my parents married, both priests attended in the greek church to do a sort of tag-team ceremony (or so i've been told. clearly i wasnt there).
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