1.
Anyone and everyone is invited.
2.
Naturally, every "Maria" under the sun is in attendance.
3.
And the whole town knows about the wedding.
4.
Non Greeks won't really know what's going on.
5.
Like when the bride stamps on the groom's toes.
6.
Or when the stefana are exchanged.
7.
And when the priest slaps the groom.
8.
To be fair, some traditions are a bit odd.
9.
The bride lists all the names of her unmarried girlfriends on the sole of her right shoe.
10.
And the groom is shaved by the koumbaros (best man).
11.
If you're not married, you'll be interrogated.
12.
Which makes you feel really old.
13.
Rice is thrown at the newlyweds.
14.
No matter how delightful the decor, the in-laws will continue to bicker.
15.
The emotional send-offs are raw.
16.
A token of "boubounieres" never taste as good as they look.
17.
And there's at least five courses to go.
18.
Don't worry, you will manage to fit the loukoumades in somewhere.
19.
And by the end you are so full, you're delirious.
20.
At this point the Bouzouki makes an appearance.
21.
Yes. Plates are smashed.
22.
There's high quality gossip, lots of it.
23.
Mothers scout for eligble men for their daughters.
24.
And come to a standstill, when an absolute God turns up.
25.
Meanwhile, money is pinned on the bride and groom mid-dance (a Greek Cypriot tradition).
26.
You know, traditional dancing is basically a cardio workout.
27.
As your drunk Theio shows, when he closes the night with a solo dance.
