Weddingbee boards

I'm a convert to Orthodoxy, and my Catholic husband and I married in the church a few weeks ago. Have your parents ever been to an Orthodox service?  I know for my Protestant parents, they were fine with my religious decisions, but just going to Liturgy was a big shock to them because it was very different from their concept of 'church.'  Even if your parents are very traditional Catholics, the look, feel, and experience of an Orthodox church is very different, so it might be a good idea to have them attend a service before your service so they know what to expect. 

My friend is Irish Catholic and her now husband is Greek Orthodox.  Her father is very religious, and as her mother died a few years ago she was certain she wanted to marry in the catholic church as she also wanted to say her vows, BUT his parents insisted that they got married in the orthodox church so as not to cause too much gossip.  Also in Greece, to marry in the orthodox church does have its advantages with regards to paperwork etc...

So what did they decide to do?  Well after we both sat down to discuss her woes with a big bottle (OK - 3 bottles - she was very stressed!), we came up with the great solution of having a blessing in the catholic church in the morning, and then getting married "officially" in the evening in the orthodox church.  It was, as she said, "A great craic!!", AND she got to have two wedding dresses (this was one of the wine ideas...)

I on the other hand was baptised into the Orthodox faith this summer (I was Methodist, or as my father said from the Church of W,C&F).  We're having the full Greek wedding, in the church I'm not a fan of speaking publicly so not having to speak out loud is quite a bonus... 

I am thinking of asking for a translation of what is said in the service to give to my family and friends that do not speak Greek so that they can understand what's going on.  We've made copies of the DVD of my BIL's Wedding for everyone to watch so they know what to expect in the service.  Wedding is in Feb, so I will let you know how it goes... arrrrggg nerves slowly kicking in!!!

@MrsMcGyro: Congratulations!!!!  How was your day?  Did you get the money pinned to you?  My family and friends are really excited about it now.  My brother has attended an evening class in Greek to learn a few words, my parents have attended a dance lesson (I said to Dad, he has a choice of doing a speach or dancing.  He decided that no one is guaranteed a laugh for their speach, but for certain everybody will laugh at his attempt at dancing so he'll do that).

My Dad is really excited about the menu because the last wedding he went to he ate "a bit of chicken with some dust on it and a carrot" (it was Chicken fillet with grated truffle my mother told me).  My menu is "Tis Oras" - Grilled meat (Choice of chicken, pork steak, pancetta, sausage, lamb or beef or stuffed vegetables for the vegans) with chips (fries in the US isn't it?), Greek salad with a mixture of Greek mezes as a starter. 

I am really excited about how this is all going to work, but I think we have the best combinations of cultures - Greeks who love to drink, laugh and dance, and the Welsh who love to drink, laugh and sing.