Who said Greece can't be a winter wedding destination?
Symbolic Ceremonies
Wedding Celebrant Greece
About
We needed a ritual that had a human centered character rather than a religious one. Soon we realized that our personal need was unconventional in Greece even though abroad non-religious ceremonies are typical. Friends would sign the marriage certificate at the registry and then go to the most amazing venues and have a meaningful wedding, one that reflected their personalities. It was then that I realized that it hasn’t have to be legit in order to be meaningful!
I offer to create a ceremony that is personal and friendly. Whether you require the light hearted touch and humor that your guests would expect from you or a solemnity of service to honor the seriousness of the occasion, I will be happy to deliver a ceremony that sits best with your approach to life.
Michaella Chatziangelou
Symbolic weddings
Ritual and tradition have always existed for humankind around moments that are steeped in emotion - births, coming of age, marriage, death - we use them as markers to help make sense of our feelings, highlight their importance and to articulate how we feel. This is why we still need them, even if we find ourselves living in a more secular society. We like to celebrate, we need to. So let's.
Symbolic Weddings Greece
The wedding ceremonies I write and conduct are symbolic. They are NOT civil valid. If you are interested in validating your marriage to the registry you should at some point have a civil or religious wedding.
The structure of the ceremony will be discussed between you and I and will be carefully crafted to provide you with a ceremony that speaks directly to you and your family and friends. If you are at all daunted by the prospect of being part of creating your own ceremony, please don't be. I can guide you as much or as little as you want with readings, music choices, vows, promises, and structure.
I can provide you with a traditional format for us to work from or take your unformed ideas and make them cohesive. That's part of what makes this job so rewarding.
Love Ceremonies
Every celebration and occasion can become special with a Ceremony of Love. Personal life journeys, vows renewal, occasion appropriate readings, children welcoming, whatever you have written and want it read, anything and in anyway you need it.
Where?
Unlike a civil ceremony, which can only take place in a civic registered venue, a bespoke wedding can take place anywhere. Abroad or at home, indoors or outdoors you can decide where the ceremony should take place.
Venue Possibilities : Halls - Museum’s restaurants - Homes - Backyards - Beaches -Beach bars - Forests - Restaurants-Lighthouses - Caves - Boats - Sailing boats - Abroad - Amusement parks- Theatres - Parks and traditional squares
Symbolic Weddings Greece
The wedding ceremonies I write and conduct are symbolic. They are NOT civil valid. If you are interested in validating your marriage to the registry you should at some point have a civil or religious wedding.
The structure of the ceremony will be discussed between you and I and will be carefully crafted to provide you with a ceremony that speaks directly to you and your family and friends. If you are at all daunted by the prospect of being part of creating your own ceremony, please don't be. I can guide you as much or as little as you want with readings, music choices, vows, promises, and structure.
I can provide you with a traditional format for us to work from or take your unformed ideas and make them cohesive. That's part of what makes this job so rewarding.
Love Ceremonies
Every celebration and occasion can become special with a Ceremony of Love. Personal life journeys, vows renewal, occasion appropriate readings, children welcoming, whatever you have written and want it read, anything and in anyway you need it.
Where?
Unlike a civil ceremony, which can only take place in a civic registered venue, a bespoke wedding can take place anywhere. Abroad or at home, indoors or outdoors you can decide where the ceremony should take place.
Venue Possibilities : Halls - Museum’s restaurants - Homes - Backyards - Beaches -Beach bars - Forests - Restaurants-Lighthouses - Caves - Boats - Sailing boats - Abroad - Amusement parks- Theatres - Parks and traditional squares
Rituals
Rituals are the spine of any ceremony as they are the gestures of your union. Your options are honestly countless! Lots of couples often choose to incorporate traditions coming form their cultures and I always encourage them to do so.
Here are some examples of what you could include in your ceremony. Have in mind that I always refer to every ritual's symbolism.
Well, the most popular ritual globally is the exchange of rings. Old almost as humankind's history are still reminding us the significance of your union.
Another popular choice in Greece is the "stefana" (crowns) ritual. It's actually wreaths that your best man or maid of honor can prepare and place them on your heads and are complimentary to the ring's ritual. It's such a significant gesture that in Greece the most common wedding well-wishing for the married couple to be is "kala stefana" standing for "have a great wedding!"
Well, does that ring any bells? Yes! It works in the same way as the "tie the knot". Once again the phrase is used to announce that someone is getting married! This ritual is interwoven with the wedding ceremony and bears great significance.
Another popular option is the vow exchange. Written by the couple, read from a card, spoken by heart or going for the safe option of repeated vows, it's the ultimate way of declaring your love to your partner in front of your family and loved ones.
One of my favorite is the ring's warming. If you want the blessings of your loved ones and a reminder of the importance of their presence on your wedding day, that's the way to acknowledge it.
Handfasting is a beautiful ritual that bears a great significance too and it's one of the most comprehensive union gesture.
Sand pouring ritual is popular usually during beach weddings and apart from the couple pouring sand from two different containers to one you can include your loved one's in the procedure.
Looking some fun? Cut-out heart race is what you're looking for. A bed sheet with a heart drawn by the couple's friends and a pair of scissors for each. A marriage starting with a race! Fun!
There are many rituals ensuring that in the future you will remember your wedding day, the bliss, the happiness, all your friends and family. Time capsule, tree planting, the love letter are some of them.
Whatever you choose make sure it's in your comfort zone! Don't go with something that you're hesitant about as your wedding day should be carefree!Testimonials
Blog
The adventures of a Greek Celebrant
Press
An interview about being a Celebrant in Greece
I loved every single minute of this interview! Enjoy!
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ATHENS VOICE (PLEASE USE GOOGLE TRANSLATE)
I met Michaella with Panos in 2009 in order to interview them. Their story is unique: they met while being both bloggers on the AV site, they fell in love, they made it, they got married. They were an incredibly suitable couple, they looked each other in the eyes with a sweetness, they were calm and already fleeing since at every opportunity they stressed how much they wanted to leave Athens. Now Michaella is a celebrant and creates bespoke ceremonies. «SOURCE: https://www.athensvoice.gr/life/125126_mia-teletarhis-sta-metra-sas»
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BORO (PLEASE GOOGLE TRANSLATE)
After a career at the Athens Concert Hall as Stage Manager, Michaella Chatziangelou started YourCeremony a few months ago and now writes and conducts the most special weddings and love ceremonies designed for each client, exclusively of a non-religious nature, for couples who want something different for the most important day of their lives. After a meeting with the couple, Michaella takes notes on their personalities and dynamics and crafts ceremonies that suit the tastes and preferences of the couple who wants to celebrate love.
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LIFO MAGAZINE (PLEASE GOOGLE TRANSLATE)
After leaving her job in order to pursue her true passion, Michaella founded YourCeremony a few months ago and now crafts the most special bespoke wedding and love ceremonies, exclusively non-religious, for couples who want something different for most important day of their lives from a simple visit to City Hall.
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Lone4weddings article
A magical day, a beautiful couple and an emotional elopement...
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Chic and Stylish Weddings
The elopement of Mark and Ana featured on the amazing internet magazine Chic and Stylish
Read MoreContact
- Athens, Attica, Greece
Feel free to contact me for an inquiry and I will be very happy to arrange a videocall in order to meet and discuss all the details of your special wedding ceremony! Michaella Chatziangelou