Grand Luxe Event Boutique

This wedding reception was at The Grand Luxe Event Boutique in Toronto which was a spectacular venue with even more amazing service. The high ceilings and the gorgeous bar setup was a perfect backdrop for an elegant and classy themed wedding. If you’re going for modern sophistication and luxury, this is the place for you. The wedding coordinator was particularly helpful throughout the night, making sure to notify us when important events were taking place. The food was amazing. Everyone was raving about both the quality and the quantity. And customary with most Greek or Albanian wedding, no one leaves hungry.

An Albanian and Greek fusion wedding. Not really a mix you see too often. Full of family traditions, religious elements, dancing, and drinking… lots and lots of drinking. The reception dance floor was packed. Guests broke plates, ladies were ululating, and everyone embraced both cultures. This couple had a full Eastern Orthodox ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church. Definitely the biggest wedding I had this year.

If you’ve attended a Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony, you know these weddings are very significant. In fact, the ceremony is an important sacrament for the couple and goes beyond the standard wedding vows. The couple performs a series of rituals that’s sure to inspire your upcoming ceremony.

Greek Orthodox Wedding

The procession is a little different than Western weddings. Typically, the groom waits for the bride at the front of the church with her bouquet and they walk down the aisle together. However, since the bride was of a different background, she opted to walk down with her father. Following that, they exchange rings at the beginning of the ceremony. The priest blesses both rings before placing them on the third finger of their right hands. Next, the wedding sponsor swaps the rings between the bride and groom to symbolize their future connection.

The bride and groom are each given one white candle to hold for the remainder of the ceremony. When they light these candles, it signals the Sacrament of Marriage. The crowns symbolize the couple’s marriage as a blessing from God. Similar to the rings, they swap crowns between the bride and groom three times as well. The significance behind performing these rituals three times is the holy trinity. So the couple sips wine three times, and walk around the altar three times. Making circles around the wedding altar is a symbol of infinity and the couple’s eternity together. Finally, the officiant removes the Stefana crowns and says a prayer for the newly married couple.

If there is a first kiss, it’s often quick and unannounced. In fact, the highlight is after the ceremony when rice is thrown at couples as they exit. It means to wish fertility and wealth on the new family.

The second shooter was Michelle Paquot.

Theron Henry of Powerpack Images captured the video for this wedding.

 

bride prep wedding dress
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bride prep bridesmaids robes
bride prep bridal robe
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bride prep getting dressed
bride prep bridesmaids portrait
groom prep getting dressed
groom prep getting dressed
groom prep getting dressed
groom prep getting dressed
groom prep portrait
groom prep portrait
groom prep batman cufflink
groom prep groomsmen portrait with limo
groom prep groomsmen portrait
groom prep groomsmen portrait
groom prep cufflinks
father and daughter wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
rings wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
crowns wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
candles wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
bible wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
bride walking down the aisle wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
bride walking down the aisle wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
father giving away the bride wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
blessing wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
crowns wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
happy couple wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
happy couple walking around alter wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
walking around the alter wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
first kiss wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
recession wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
bride and groom exit wedding ceremony at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
groom's family portrait at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
bride's family at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
groomsmen at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
bride and groom portrait at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
bride and groom at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
bridal party portrait at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
groomsmen portrait at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bride portrait at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bridesmaids portrait at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bridesmaids portrait at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bride and groom portrait at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bridal bouquet at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bride and groom portrait at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
wedding couple portrait at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
wedding couple portrait at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
head table decor Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
head table decor Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
head table decor Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
cake decor Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
couple's grand entrance Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bridal party grand entrance Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
couple first dance Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
couple first dance Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
cake cutting Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
father daughter dance Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
mother son dance Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
best man speech Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bridesmaid speech Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
couple speech Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bride and groom dancing Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
performance Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bride and groom dancing with family Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
family dancing Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
family dancing Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
best man dancing Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bride and groom drinking Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bride dancing Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bouquet and garter toss Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
groom dancing for bride Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
groom dancing Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
bother dancing Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
father dancing Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
group dancing Greek and Albanian wedding reception at Grand Luxe Event Boutique
Photo booth fun at Grand Luxe Event Boutique