Getting Married in Greece: A complete guide
Getting married abroad can be a source of anxiety and stress.
But getting married in Greece or elsewhere shouldn’t be stressful.
It should be a joyful procedure.
Planning your destination wedding needs some planning though!
But because weddings have always being important in Greece, wedding planners and wedding venues are easy to be found all around mainland Greece, the islands and especially in Santorini, Mykonos & Rhodes.
We know Weddings…We have the sea, the sun, the sunset, the professionals… And that is why everybody wants to get married in Greece.
Choose the person and professional wedding team that suit you best amongst the various wedding planners which will help you organize your dream wedding. They will guide you through wedding bureaucracy and help you choose the right suppliers in order to achieve best results at best prices!
What should I know about wedding ceremonies in Greece?
Wedding planners and agencies can help you plan your big day and answer any questions about paperwork and legal requirements. In addition they have access to amazing venues where you can hold your ceremony in a way that will stay in your heart forever.
It’s common to get married outdoors in Greece, due to the beautiful settings, blue skies and sunny weather. Churches and town halls are also common venues for Greek citizens. Keep in mind that archaeological sites don’t permit weddings on the premises.
Getting Married in Greece: Plan your dream wedding in Santorini!
A Sunny island, stunning sunsets and eternal love.
Just say I do!
Now, this is the recipe for a dream wedding in Greece.
Santorini, being the most popular wedding destination amongst the Greek islands, offers an array of wedding venues with breathtaking views and high quality services.
Known as the most romantic destination worldwide, Santorini is something like the hidden gem of the Aegean Sea.
The volcanic natural setting will blow your mind away.
Traditional blue & white Cycladic architecture
The impressive caldera sets a unique backdrop for the creation of once in a lifetime moments.
Imagine yourself with your loved one, amongst your friends, exchanging vows on the Caldera, overlooking the endless blue of the Aegean Sea and watch a cascade of colors as the sun sets.
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Getting married in Greece what are the options?
Beautiful private wedding venues with breathtaking views are the most popular choice of the couples that have dreamed of a magnificent civil or symbolic wedding in Greece.
But also, picturesque churches with blue domes and spectacular surroundings are ideal for religious or symbolic weddings.
A wedding planner will help bring your dream wedding into life, accentuating your vision, while applying the local know how at the same time.
What are the legal requirements to get married in Greece?
Couples from almost all over the world have the right to get legally married in Greece. The paperwork required is differentiated in the case of a civil wedding or religious wedding. The certificates required can also be differentiated from case to case, depending on the citizenship and place of residence of the couples, on their marriage degree (1st, 2nd etc.), as well as on the Greek region the couples dream to get married.
It is important to work closely with your wedding planner, as to be properly guided through the exact procedure.
For example, in order to get married in Santorini with civil wedding, the basic certificates you need to present are:
- FULL birth certificate of the bride and groom,
- Certificate of no impediment to marriage or marriage license or capacity to marry of the bride and groom,
- Divorce / adoption / change of name certificates where applied,
- Passports of the bride and groom.
All of the above need to be legalized for use abroad and be officially translated by a certified translator. The official translation can take place in Greece or abroad, depending on weather your wedding planning package includes the official translations or not.
The paperwork procedure lasts from 6 to1 months, depending on the expiration of the certificate of no impediment to marriage or marriage license or capacity to marry of the bride and groom, which is different in every country.
In case of the religious wedding, in Greece you can have a legal Orthodox wedding, upon certain conditions (e.g. the bride or the groom or both need to be baptized Orthodox; in case one of them is not Orthodox, they need to present a Public Notary’s act where they state that their children will be baptized in the Orthodox Church; the witness “koubaros” needs to be either single either married in church etc.). The paperwork can be slightly differentiated from region to region, but in general more certificates than the civil wedding are required and these are:
- Certificates of No Impediment to marriage from the Municipality where the applicant is registered,
- Certificates of No Previous Marriage officially certified by the Archbishop of the area of residence,
- Full birth certificates from your local registry (Certified copies including the names of the parents; shorter versions will not be accepted),
- Family Status Certificates from your local registry,
- Baptism registration act/certificate,
- If either the bride or the groom is not baptized a Christian Orthodox, a Public Notary’s act is required where it is stated that the children will be baptized Christian Orthodox,
- Copies of the Passports,
- Divorce certificate (if any, from Civil and Church Authorities),
- Family Status Certificate for the best man (koubaros) from the Municipality where he is registered; in case the best man has been married with a civil wedding or has stipulated a civil partnership, he will not be accepted by the church as best man.
Can we get married in Greece symbolically?
There are many couples that have been already married and want to celebrate their love in Greece with a symbolic ceremony. They can skip the paperwork procedure and concentrate in exchanging vows of love and in celebrating with their loved ones the whole destination wedding experience.
Same sex couples cannot be legally married in Greece so far.
Same sex couples are welcomed to have symbolic ceremonies in Greece.
The cost of a wedding in Greece
A wedding in Greece can cost from a few to many thousands of euros.
It is important that you set an approximate budget and to work with the wedding planner closely as to create a wedding package that truly reflects your needs and desires.
At Santorini Gem we believe that each wedding is different and we work on bespoke basis to address the couples’ requests. From the initial stages of planning until the actual coordination of the wedding day, the Santorini Gem Wedding Planners are there for you to provide consultation, guidance, planning of every minimum detail, to contact and book the wedding suppliers, to coordinate them during the set up and during the event. The planning period is very important and the coordination of the day even more to ensure a nice flow of the events on your very special day.
A perfect Greek wedding in Santorini
The professional wedding planner of Santorini Gem will help you to organize your dream wedding embracing all your concerns and demands, in order to meet your preferences and make your special day unforgettable! And it is not only the wedding day. It is the entire experience of the destination wedding that will offer you life time memories with your friends and families! Here are some of the services we love to help you plan:
- Pre & After wedding events
Bring families and friends together for a dinner party, a caldera cruise, a wine tour, a day at the spa! So many the experiences Santorini has to offer!
- Wedding preparations
Trust our Hair & Makeup artists to shine like a Princess!
- Wedding decoration
Minimalist or Lavish, choose the elegance that suits you best!
- Wedding Photography and Cinematography
Attentively selected and talented suppliers will capture moments that will be cherished forever.
- Wedding Entertainment
Live music, Dj, lights, dancers, mirror booth, fireworks, games to rock this party!
- The Ceremony
Your special moments in the wedding terrace, with majestic caldera views!
- The Reception
Following the ceremony, the guests are welcomed to the enchanting reception area by the pool, to sip lavish cocktails.
- Safe & private transportation
We’ll pick you up and drop you off as sparkly!