Christine Constantine 10/12/2021 Christine Constantine 10/12/2021

Alex Christening Day | St Mary's Greek Orthodox Church | The Penridge Suite | London

Baby Alex accompanied by his Godparents, older brother and Mum and Dad was christened at the beautiful St Mary’s Orthodox Church on Trinity Road in North London. As it was also his Dad’s 40th birthday a double celebration was in order - and the family partied the night away with their friends and family at popular North London venue The Penridge Suite. Thank you so much for choosing Christine Constantine Photography to capture Alex’s special day! Check out the pics..

Awesome suppliers list:

Christening outfit/accessories - @sofiacouturebabyboutique

Lights/Plinth/Cake Stand - @roxys_lights

Cake - @mariawestuk1

Balloons/Teddies/Decor - @blownawayeventsuk

Soft Play - @hoppartyhire

DJ/Music - @djfunksy

Inside St Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church

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Christine Constantine 16/08/2021 Christine Constantine 16/08/2021

Musicians at Greek Weddings | Christine Constantine Photography

As a Cyprus wedding photographer for many years and now a London wedding photographer, I have always enjoyed the custom of having musicians present at a Greek wedding. When I arrive at a Groom’s Stolisma and prepare to shoot - the musicians arrive shortly afterwards and take their place next to the Groom’s chair - where he will be shaved and dressed by the best man according to tradition. Myself, the vidoegrapher and the guests are all ready and waiting for the music to start and the groom to enter the room and take his seat. The groom’s family stand behind his chair and the guests, who are mainly relatives of the groom and his family, gather around to watch the ceremony and be ready to participate.

All images taken by Christine Constantine Photography.

Greek Cypriot wedding musician playing at wedding stolisma with mother of groom clapping.

Bride at greek orthodox wedding claps to the musicians.

The musicians start playing the introduction of the main wedding song and the groom enters the room and takes his seat next to the musicians. The ceremony starts. The groom is dressed in a white vest. The ceremony starts when the musicians perform the main wedding song . The singer performs some verses of the wedding song and then the best man prepares the clothes for the shaving which is the first custom, starting the ceremony. All the customs are performed with the accompaniment of the violinist or the lutenist, who give instructions through the lyrics of the song.

Bride walks in to her stolisma with musician playing violin in the background.

Bride at her stolisma with musician playing violin in the background.

Guests clapping to the music at stolisma.

The musicians always start performing the wedding song with these lyrics: “Oran kalin tzi ora agathin, tzi oran evloimenin, touti douleia p’ akepsamen, na vgei stereomeni”. The main wedding song starts with this greeting to the new couple and the poetic content is one of its most important features. The instrumental music is secondary to this. The lyrics sung are those of the wedding song, which will stimulate the guests and the couple to experience a variety of feelings. The wedding song has many couplets and refrains with different lyrics, which are repeated several times until all the customs are performed.

Bride and violin player at greek orthodox wedding preparations (stolisma).

Some couples also opt for their wedding musicians to lead the procession to the church. as was the tradition in years gone by when many couples lived within walking distance of the church.

Greek bride and her father follow the greek wedding musicians to the church on her wedding day.

All images taken by Christine Constantine Photography.