The zaffe is a group celebration that begins at both the bride and groom’s homes. There is dancing, shouting and celebration. The zaffe can include professional dancers and even the occasional belly dancer. The groom is then escorted by the zaffe celebration to his bride where the family showers them with blessings and flower petals, then they are escorted to the ceremony to officially wed.

Lebanese couples take part in a pre-wedding celebration called a “laylieh,” which can be similar to a bachelor/bachelorette party. The groom’s family throws a party for the groom, and the bride’s family does the same for her. Eventually, the groom, along with his friends and family, will crash the bride’s party, signifying him “stealing her away.” For a more intimate celebration, the bride and groom’s families can host it at their respective homes, or at a venue. You can expect lots of food, drinks, dancing, and zalghouta (ululating).

As a knod to the tradition of crowns used during the wedding ceremonies of every wedding the bride grew up going to and to the Byzantine tradition she was raised in, the couple is incorporating stefana (Greek wedding crowns). The tradition of using stefana is over 2,000 years old. It began in ancient Greece. Couples wore natural wreaths of olive or laurel branches to symbolize victory, honor, and the start of a new family. Over time, the church adopted this custom. In modern Greek Orthodox weddings, stefana are symbolic crowns tied together by a ribbon. The ribbon represents the unity of the couple.