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Greek Orthodox · 5 minutes · Ceremony closing

The Removal of Crowns

The removal

  1. The couple stands at the ceremony table after the three circles.
  2. The priest approaches with prayers.
  3. The priest removes the bride's crown, with a blessing.
  4. The priest removes the groom's crown.
  5. The crowns go to the table or to the koumbaros or koumbara.
  6. Final prayers for the couple, the marriage, and the families.
  7. The priest raises a hand and blesses them.

The prayers ask that the crowns be received unblemished. That is the formal close of the sacrament. Three was the count of the rites that led here. This blessing ends them.

The recessional

  1. The couple often venerates icons: Christ, commonly to the right of the iconostasis, then Mary, commonly to the left, and sometimes a wedding icon. They bow and kiss the icon.
  2. They turn back toward the guests.
  3. The priest presents them as married. There is no Western-style pronouncement.
  4. They process out. Family follows.

The question of a kiss

Western services often include "you may kiss." Greek Orthodox services do not script a public wedding kiss. Some priests are comfortable with a kiss at the recessional or just after the couple leaves the table. Some prefer none during the service. Some couples save it for the reception.

Confirm with the priest what is permitted. Do not assume a kiss. Do not direct one for a photograph.

Photography

Silent shutter. Position for the removal and the venerations. Do not block the icons or use them as a prop. No flash at the altar.

  • The priest approaching, and each crown coming off — hands and face.
  • The crowns handed off, and the raised hand of the blessing.
  • The couple's bowed heads, then the icons.
  • Their faces as they turn to the guests.
  • The aisle, the sponsor and family behind them, and the church door.

Variations by parish and diaspora custom

GOARCH and OCA parish practice

The betrothal and crowning service is consistent, but gospel language (Koine versus English) and communion practices vary by parish. GOARCH marriage materials describe the sacramental sequence photographers should expect.

Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese — Marriage

Greek, Romanian, and Antiochian weddings in the U.S.

Some parishes allow flash during processions but not during consecration; others restrict videographers to the narthex for portions of the liturgy. Meet the priest week-of, not day-of.

Common cup and dance of Isaiah timing

The dance of Isaiah can feel rushed in a crowded altar area. Confirm whether the koumbaro will walk a full circle or a abbreviated path — that changes your wide-lens position.

How families adapt Removal Of Crowns today

Contemporary couples often shorten Removal Of Crowns for venue clocks while keeping the element that matters to elders — usually the blessing, exchange, or visible symbol rather than every optional verse. Destination weddings may move the ritual earlier in the day for heat or light, which changes where shadows fall in your frames. Hybrid ceremonies blend English explanations for guests who do not share the family language; plan extra wide shots when the officiant or elder narrates for the room. Always confirm with the planner whether children or wedding party members participate, because a last-minute addition changes spacing and focus priority for both photographers.

Common questions

Do the couple kiss during the ceremony?

A public kiss is not part of the traditional Orthodox service. Whether the priest permits one at the recessional varies. Confirm before the ceremony. Do not plan the photograph around a kiss that has not been agreed.

What happens to the crowns after removal?

The couple takes them home. They are often kept on a shelf or in a box.

Is there a formal "I now pronounce you" declaration?

No. The marriage is understood as consecrated by God through the sacrament, not by a spoken pronouncement. The prayers effect it. The final blessing seals it.

Can guests take photos during the recessional?

Usually yes, unlike during the crowning or the Gospel. Confirm with the priest. Some still prefer no phone photography on the way out.

Field notes from George

I budget more time for Removal Of Crowns than the preset shows — couples pause, cry, or redo a gesture, and those seconds matter for albums. I pre-focus on hands or the ritual object before dialogue starts, then lift to faces when reactions peak.

Tell the second shooter to stay on parent faces during Removal Of Crowns; my keepers are usually split evenly between the couple and the family watching them.

Before Removal Of Crowns begins, confirm with the planner and officiant where photographers may stand, whether flash is permitted, and how long the block is expected to run. Build that answer into the shared timeline so the second shooter knows when to stay on the couple versus roaming for guest reactions. If the venue shifts this moment outdoors, re-check wind, sun direction, and guest sightlines ten minutes prior — couples rarely announce last-minute layout changes over mic.

For album flow, aim for three usable frames: an establishing wide that shows the full ritual space, a mid shot that includes the couple and officiant or elder, and a tight detail that signals the tradition (hands, ritual object, or symbolic movement). Capture each layer before the moment peaks so you are not changing lenses during the emotional apex. Debrief with the second shooter afterward about which angle produced the cleanest sightlines — reuse that setup if the same family hosts a sibling wedding later in the season.

Sources

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Written by

George Stoff

Wedding photographer · 15+ years · Former owner, East Shore Wedding Photography · Co-owner, Elena Kay Photography · Co-founder, Aisle & Time

Last updated:

About this guide

The timing, positioning, and photography notes on this page come from George's own removal of crownswedding coverage over a 15-year career. Aisle & Time is the wedding-day system he built and refined across hundreds of weddings before retiring from active shooting in 2025. What you're reading is that system, in guide form.

For how we build every guide on this site, see our editorial methodology.

Sources cited on this page

See the full sources list for every reference we cite across the tradition library.

Corrections

Spot something wrong? Email george@aisleandtime.com or open the support form. Corrections that hold up get made within 48 hours, with a note on this page recording what changed and when.

Disclaimer

Traditions vary by community, family, and officiant. Always confirm the specific practice with your officiant, family, and vendors. This guide reflects common practice as modeled inside the Aisle & Time product — not doctrine, not religious authority, not a substitute for a real conversation with the people leading your ceremony.