Passing under an arch of flowers and sparklers held by your guests before they shower you with rice

The receiving line inside the church where you thank your guests

If you were married in a traditional ceremony in a church in a small town in Crete, Greece, this might be what your beautiful post-wedding moments would look like. The celebration of your marriage would be proceeded by a religious service in the Church before a priest, and followed by a dinner and probably dancing at a reception hall or restaurant close by. Then, you’d be driven off in a flower-bedecked nice car to spend your wedding night together. In reality, a traditional Greek wedding is a far cry from My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Stopping to kiss the icons of the saints

In the priest’s ante-chambers signing the official marriage papers

Exiting the church

Passing under an arch of flowers and sparklers held by your guests before they shower you with rice