The countdown to the wedding of Nikolaos de Grece and Chrysi Vardinogiannis has begun. The couple’s religious wedding will take place on Friday, February 7, at 18:00 at the Church of Saint Nikolaos Ragkavas.

The ceremony will be attended by close family and friends, according to the family’s announcement, with the best men being the bride’s father, Giorgos Vardinogiannis, and the groom’s brother, Pavlos de Grece.

Guests will be strictly limited to members of both families, and strict security measures will be in place, with the streets around the church remaining closed, as reported by the show Buongiorno.

Due to the church’s difficult access, located in Anafiotika, Plaka, guests will begin arriving at 17:15.

The couple wishes for the ceremony to be simple and without extravagance to avoid attracting excessive publicity.

Today (February 5), the bride, groom, and best men arrived at the church in central Athens for the wedding rehearsal, as shown in photos from protothema.gr.

There will be no decorations in the church, and the wedding will take place to the sounds of a choir singing Byzantine hymns. Instead of traditional wedding crowns, the couple will exchange eternal vows of love while wearing crowns—specifically, the traditional crowns of the former royal family. It has also been announced that Metropolitan Amfilochios of Kissamos and Selinos will officiate the ceremony.

Their wedding came as a surprise, even to those who know them well, as no one expected them to marry so soon. However, the couple defied all expectations. Their relationship has lasted seven months and, though not widely known, was considered an open secret among Athens’ social circles. Many had seen them together at private social gatherings, while others had spotted them on outings in the city.

The young woman’s presence at the memorial service for the late king on Thursday, January 16, marked the couple’s first public appearance. Cameras and photographers captured them leaving together after the meal that followed.