Wedding and Baptism Together: Everything You Need to Know

More and more couples are choosing to combine their wedding and baptism — known in Greek as "gamovaptisi." It's a practical, economical, and emotionally rich choice. But it requires proper planning. Here's everything you need to know.

Why Combine Wedding and Baptism

• Cost savings — One venue, one caterer, one set of vendors. You save on almost every expense category
• Practicality — Your guests (many of whom overlap) attend one event instead of two
• Emotional value — You celebrate two sacraments together with your loved ones
• Less stress — You plan one event instead of two separate ones

How the Ceremony Works

In a combined ceremony, the wedding is performed first, followed by the baptism. The total duration is approximately 1.5-2 hours. Key considerations:

• Coordinate in advance with the priest — not all priests agree to perform combined ceremonies
• The chapel needs space for the baptismal font near the altar
• Prepare the godparents for their role — they hold the child during baptism
• A calm or sleeping baby makes life easier — plan around the baby's schedule

Decoration

The decor needs to serve both sacraments. Practical tips:

• Incorporate subtle children's elements elegantly — small teddy bears, stars, or pastel details on center tables
• The chapel decor stays the same for both ceremonies — one cost
• Wedding favors can be combined (e.g., sugared almonds in wedding packaging with a card mentioning the baptism)

Menu & Reception

At a combined event, remember that your guests will include families with children. Make sure to provide:

• Children's menu — Simple, tasty dishes that kids enjoy
• Space for children — Ideally a safe outdoor area where they can play
• Cake — You can have one wedding cake and a smaller baptism cake, or one unified cake

The Venue Makes the Difference

For a successful combined celebration, the venue should offer:

• On-site chapel — No transfers, no delays
• Safe outdoor spaces — Children need room to play
• Reception hall suitable for large guest counts (wedding + baptism = more guests)
• Bridal suite — The bride needs space, but the mother also needs space for the baby

At Ktima Filokalis in Koropi, the chapel of St. Stylianos — patron saint of children — is ideal for combined celebrations. With a reception hall, safe outdoor spaces with a pool, and a bridal suite, everything is in one place. Book a visit to plan your celebration together.