Bilingual Greek–English wedding invitations: wording and examples

A bilingual invitation works when each guest can read the whole of it in one language, without hunting for their half. For a Greek–English wedding that means two complete texts with the same facts, a layout that keeps them apart, and a few Greek words left as they are because they have no good English twin. Below: when it is worth it, three layouts, what to translate, and ten wordings with the Greek line and its English line, ready to copy.

Every example is written in real Greek script, not in Latin letters. If Greek is not your first language, ask a parent, a grandparent or the parish office to read your final text once before you send it. A misplaced accent is the mistake Greek readers notice first.

When a bilingual invitation is worth it

Go bilingual when a real part of your guest list would struggle with one of the two languages. The most common cases:

• A diaspora family marrying in Greece. Grandparents and cousins in the village read Greek, friends from London, Melbourne or Toronto read English.
• One partner is Greek and the other is not. Each family should be able to read the invitation without asking the other side to translate.
• A destination wedding with Greek relatives. Most guests fly in and read English, but the Greek side expects an invitation in Greek, and older relatives notice when there is none.
• A christening or a wedding and christening on the same day. The church part is formal Greek, and English-speaking guests need a line on what will happen.

If nearly everyone reads one language well, one language is enough. Add a short line in the other only for the few who need it, or send them a separate version.

Three ways to lay it out

Side by side

Two columns, Greek on one side and English on the other, on a landscape card or a wide page. It shows both families matter equally. The catch is length: a Greek text usually runs 15 to 25 per cent longer than its English version, so the columns end at different heights unless you trim the Greek or loosen the English. Keep names, date and venue on the same line in both columns, so the eye can cross over.

One after the other

The whole Greek text first, a thin rule or a small motif, then the whole English text, or the other way round. This is the easiest to read on a portrait card and on a phone. Put first the language of the hosts or of the place where the wedding happens; for a wedding in Greece that is usually Greek. A printed card can also carry one language on the front and the other on the back.

One invitation, two languages, with a switch

A digital invitation can hold both texts in full and show one at a time. The guest opens the link and taps EN or ΕΛ, and every page changes: the names, the church, the reception, the gift section and the reply form. You send one link to everyone and neither language is shortened to fit. This is how the bilingual extra works on a Day2Remember invitation; there is more on it at the end of this guide.

What to translate and what to keep

Names stay names. Do not translate the couple's first names, but decide how each one is written in Latin letters and use that spelling everywhere. Giorgos may be George to his English friends; Maria is Maria in both. Write surnames as in their passports.

Church names: transliterate, then explain once. «Ιερός Ναός Αγίου Νικολάου» becomes "the Church of Agios Nikolaos". You can add "(St Nicholas)" the first time, but keep the Greek form, because that is what the sign, the taxi driver and the map will say.

Venues and addresses: keep the local name. Ktima Elia stays Ktima Elia. Translate only the description around it, such as "the estate" or "by the harbour", and add a map link.

Koumbaros and koumbara. The koumbaros is more than a best man: he is the sponsor who exchanges the crowns during the service, and often becomes godparent to the couple's first child. Keep the word and explain it the first time, for example "our koumbaros, best man and wedding sponsor". The plural is koumbari.

Nonos and nona. At a christening, the godfather is the nonos and the godmother the nona. "Godparent" is the word your English-speaking guests will understand; the Greek word in brackets tells them what they will hear on the day.

Religious phrases. «Μυστήριο» means sacrament, but on an English invitation "ceremony" or "service" reads more naturally. «Με τη χάρη του Θεού» is "by the grace of God". Keep the tone formal in both languages, or relaxed in both. A formal Greek text next to a joking English one feels like two different weddings.

Times and dates. Greek invitations normally use the 24-hour clock («στις 19:30»), and many English ones say "7.30 pm". Either is fine, as long as the two texts say the same time. Write the weekday in both, because it catches mistakes.

Ten wordings, Greek and English

Each example shows the Greek line first and its English line underneath. The English is not word for word: it says the same thing the way an English speaker would. Change the details in square brackets, or the sample names and dates.

1. Classic opening

Με τη χάρη του Θεού, παντρευόμαστε το Σάββατο 19 Ιουνίου 2027, στις 19:30, στον Ιερό Ναό Αγίου Νικολάου, στη Νάξο.

By the grace of God, we are getting married on Saturday 19 June 2027 at 7.30 pm at the Church of Agios Nikolaos, Naxos.

2. Modern, from the couple

Μαρία & Γιώργος. Παντρευόμαστε και θα θέλαμε πολύ να είστε μαζί μας.

Maria & George. We are getting married and we would love you to be with us.

3. Both sets of parents inviting

Useful when one family is Greek and the other is not. Each family can be named in the form it uses itself.

Ο Νίκος και η Ελένη Παπαδοπούλου, ο Peter και η Anne Smith σας προσκαλούν στον γάμο των παιδιών τους, Μαρίας και James.

Nikos and Eleni Papadopoulou, together with Peter and Anne Smith, invite you to the wedding of their children, Maria and James.

4. Naming the koumbari

Κουμπάροι: Δημήτρης Αλεξίου & Σοφία Αλεξίου

Our koumbari, wedding sponsors: Dimitris & Sofia Alexiou

5. The reception

Μετά το μυστήριο, σας περιμένουμε στο Κτήμα Ελιά.

After the ceremony, please join us for dinner and dancing at Ktima Elia, an estate ten minutes from the church.

The English line is longer on purpose. Greek guests know a wedding reception means a long dinner and dancing until late; guests from abroad find it useful to be told.

6. Reply by a date

Παρακαλούμε επιβεβαιώστε την παρουσία σας έως τις 15 Μαΐου.

Kindly let us know whether you can come by 15 May.

7. Gifts and bank details

Η παρουσία σας είναι το πιο όμορφο δώρο. Για όσους το επιθυμούν, ο λογαριασμός μας:

Your presence is the best gift. If you would like to give something, our bank details are below.

For more ways to say this politely, see wedding gift bank details: invitation wording.

8. A christening

Βαπτίζουμε την κόρη μας την Κυριακή 12 Σεπτεμβρίου 2027, στις 12:00, στον Ιερό Ναό Αγίας Ειρήνης. Νονά θα είναι η Κατερίνα.

We are christening our daughter on Sunday 12 September 2027 at 12 noon at the Church of Agia Irini. Her godmother, her nona, will be Katerina.

More christening texts in English are in Greek Orthodox christening invitation wording.

9. Wedding and christening on the same day

Παντρευόμαστε και την ίδια μέρα βαπτίζουμε τον γιο μας. Σας περιμένουμε να γιορτάσουμε μαζί, δύο φορές.

We are getting married and, on the same day, christening our son. We hope you will celebrate both with us.

10. Closing line

Σας περιμένουμε με χαρά.

We look forward to celebrating with you.

Etiquette for diaspora and foreign guests

A bilingual invitation can carry a few lines that only the English version needs.

• How long the service lasts. A Greek Orthodox wedding takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Guests often arrive at the church a little before the couple and may stand outside in summer.
• What to wear. Shoulders covered in church is the safe choice, and in July and August a light jacket or shawl is enough. If the church is on a hill or a beach, say so, so guests choose the right shoes.
• When the party starts. In Greece the reception usually begins soon after the service and runs late. If dinner is served at 22:00, tell your guests, so nobody arrives hungry and leaves early.
• Children. Greek weddings often welcome children. If yours is adults only, say it kindly in both languages; do not leave it to the English version alone.
• Customs they will see. Koufeta, the sugared almonds handed to guests; the crowns, stefana, exchanged by the koumbaros; rice thrown at the couple. One sentence each is plenty.

Planning a wedding in Greece with guests flying in? The destination wedding invitation timeline covers when to send each part.

RSVP in two languages

Ask for replies in one place, with one deadline, whichever language the guest reads. Two reply lists, one per family, are the quickest way to lose a name.

• Give the same deadline in both texts. If the hotel needs names early for the Greek side as well, use the earlier date for everyone.
• Keep the answers short. «Ναι, θα είμαι εκεί» and "Yes, I will be there" are clearer than any wordplay, especially for older relatives replying on a phone.
• Ask the same questions. Number of adults, number of children, and dietary needs if you want them. Do not add a question in only one language.
• Say how to reply. A form, a phone number or both. A name to call is a kindness to grandparents who do not like forms.

On a digital invitation with a language switch, the reply form changes language with the rest of the page, and every answer reaches your email in the same list.

Bilingual invitations with Day2Remember

Every Day2Remember invitation is its own page, at an address such as maria-george.day2remember.gr, with a countdown and a reply form that sends answers to your email. Order on this English site and your invitation is in English. With the bilingual extra (€19, included with Atelier), it is in English and Greek: guests switch language with one tap, and every page follows, from the names on the front to the reply form. Gold adds maps for the church and the reception, the IBAN with a copy button and a QR code for any printed cards. If you would rather not write the words yourself, we can write the text for you.

See the wedding invitation designs, the wedding and christening designs and the prices: Silver €59, Gold €89 and Atelier from €290.

Frequently asked questions

Which language should come first on a bilingual wedding invitation? Usually the language of the hosts or of the country where the wedding takes place. For a wedding in Greece, Greek first is the common choice. On a digital invitation with a switch, the guest chooses, so the order matters only for the language the page opens in.

Should the Greek be in Greek letters or in Latin letters? Greek letters. Greek readers expect them, and Greek written in Latin letters is harder for them to read. For English-speaking guests, give the English text instead of a transliteration.

Do I translate koumbaros, nonos and nona? Keep the Greek word and explain it once, for example "our koumbaros, best man and wedding sponsor" or "her godmother, her nona". Your guests will hear these words on the day.

Does a bilingual invitation need two RSVP forms? No. One form, one deadline and the same questions in both languages keep every reply in one list.