We have chosen to honour the following Greek & Turkish traditions at our wedding, to reflect the merging of our families & our backgrounds which are so important to us.

Before the wedding, Elena will be having a special Greek Cypriot traditional ceremony called the Stolisma.

Stolisma means adornment.

It’s a meaningful ceremony where family and friends will gather to get the bride ready for the big day.

There’ll be singing, olive leaves burned for good luck and protection, and a red ribbon tied around the bride as a symbol of love, strength, and fertility.

It’s a lovely tradition filled with music, blessings, and fun - and everyone is welcome to join in if they wish.

As we step into the wedding reception, we’ll walk around the dancefloor area three times, a symbolic act that represents the unity, eternity, and completeness of this new chapter of our lives.

We are so excited to share this beautiful blend of our cultures by including traditional elements of both in this moment.

In another Cypriot tradition, we'll be doing the Money Dance during our reception. This custom invites guests to pin monetary gifts onto the bride and groom, symbolizing love, support, and well wishes for our married life.

Please know that there’s no expectation for gifts or for anyone to participate - your presence is truly what means the most to us. For those who would like to join in this tradition, you're very welcome to do so. We'll also have a card box available for any notes, messages, or well wishes you'd like to leave us.

Testi = a traditional clay pot/jug

We will be including the Testi Dance, a traditional Turkish custom where a clay pot is danced with and then broken to symbolize the breaking of old traditions and the start of a new chapter in our lives. Traditionally money and sweet treats are put inside which children will often rush to collect at the end of the dance.

In this special version of the dance, we’ll be inviting couples close to us to participate. These couples, who have shown us the strength and beauty of lasting love, will dance with us, symbolizing the passing on of their marriage values and wisdom to the newlyweds. It’s a beautiful way for us to honor those who have supported us and taught us the importance of love, partnership, shared growth, constant learning and commitment.

Our music for the evening will be in the form of a live band that will keep the energy high, playing Greek, Turkish & English music throughout the night. As part of the celebration, we’ll be embracing the money throwing tradition, where guests can show their appreciation for the band’s performance by tossing money onto the dance floor or over those dancing.

This custom is a way of tipping the band, showing gratitude for their lively music and contribution to the atmosphere. It’s a fun and spirited part of the celebration, where money is thrown onto the dance floor or over the dancers, symbolizing support and appreciation for the music.

We will be following the Greek tradition here - so there will be no US dollars to exchange.

There is no expectation to participate in this, but everyone is welcome to.