Here is a brief introduction to the Orthodox wedding ceremony. If you want to read the whole service you can also go here:
http://www.saintignatiuschurch.org/marriageservice.htm
Here are two good articles explaining marriage in the Orthodox Church:
http://www.holy-trinity.org/morality/meyendorff-marriage.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_in_the_Eastern_Orthodox_Church
The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
(THE ORDER OF CROWNING)
A Brief Introduction
HOLY MATRIMONY – the sacrament in which a man and woman solemnly declare before Christ, and in the presence of the priest, family and congregation, their love and faithfulness for one another for life. This sacrament reveals to us the dignity of the human person when blessed by Christ. The community comes together to rejoice in this revelation, the divinization of two persons becoming one in His love, mutually fulfilling and perfecting one another. The marriage liturgy of the Orthodox Church is rich in ritual and symbolism. The following are some of the highlights.
THE RITE OF BETROTHAL - usually takes place in the vestibule and is kept separate from the Crowning. In the Early Church this was a civil ceremony which was later followed and made complete by the Crowning in church.
THE RINGS – visible signs of the commitment, faith and love the couple have for one another. The essential meaning of the rings is beautifully brought out in the prayer in which the priest recites various examples from Sacred Scripture where rings are given. The couple exchange rings at the conclusion of this prayer.
THE ENTRANCE – after the Betrothal the clergy lead the couple into the church. Psalm 127 is sung – a psalm which recounts for us how God blesses those who revere Him. The Entrance itself may symbolize for us the entrance of the marriage from the world into the Church, into the ”world to come.”
CANDLES - given to the couple to be held throughout the service. They symbolize the lamps of the five wise virgins who, because of their foresight, were able to go out and greet the Bridegroom—Christ with light. We, too, are called upon to do the same.
WEDDING ICONS – used to bless the couple before they set out for church. These icons are carried reverently in the wedding procession and are placed upon the tetrapod for the service. Afterwards, they are placed prominently in the home of the couple and serve as a spiritual center of the household.
THE CROWNING – this is the most solemn moment of the wedding service. The crowns or wreathes are placed on the heads of the couple. The priest cries out: “Lord our God, crown them with glory and honor!” (Ps.8:5) The entire psalm is a hymn to the dignity of man who was created by God to be master of creation, king and queen of the kingdom of heaven on earth. In the early Church these crowns were worn for eight days. Now we remove them at the end of the service.
THE SCRIPTURE READINGS – the first reading is from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians (5:20-33) where he teaches us about the resemblance of human marriage to the Marriage of Christ and the Church. The second reading is from John (2:1-11) and describes for us the first miracle worked by Our Lord, a miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee.
THE COMMON CUP - this cup of wine reminds us of the miracle at Cana and is a sign of God’s blessing of lawful wedlock, which will contain hardship as well as joy, now to be shared equally by both. In the early Church this cup was the communion Chalice and at this point the couple would approach for Holy Communion, the “Seal” of their marriage in Christ. Today, if both Bride and Groom are Catholic, they receive Holy Communion. In a mixed marriage the Common Cup is given.
THE CEREMONIAL WALK OR “DANCE OF ISAIAH”- this reminds us that we should center our lives upon Christ, who is present in the Holy Gospel and His Icon on the tetrapod. The priest represents the church as he leads the couple around the Holy Things. This brief walk comprises the first steps of the couple as husband and wife – it is fitting that they revolve around Christ. A hymn to the Mother of God is sung as well as troparia to the Holy Martyrs, who have already received their crowns, that they might always intercede for the couple before the Lord.
THE BLESSING – the priest removes the crowns, blessing the couple with these words: “Bridegroom! Be exalted like Abraham, blessed like Isaac and multiplied like Jacob, walking in peace and righteously doing God’s commandments.” Then: “And you, O bride! Be exalted like Sarah, gladdened like Rebecca and multiplied like Rachel, being happy with your husband and keeping the precepts of the Law!”
THE RECESSIONAL – with the singing of “Mnogaja L’ita” (“Many Years”) the couple walks out of the church and into the world as husband and wife. They do so with the prayers of their family and blessing of the Church.