Getting Married In Greece
Athens
overview
Whether you’ve always dreamed of a Big Fat Greek Wedding or crave an elegant hilltop ceremony against a dramatic sunset, the landscapes of mainland Greece and its islands can provide. From a village in Santorini to the beaches of Zakynthos, a Cretan farm or a mainland winery, a destination wedding in Greece is steeped in romance, history and indulgence.
the lowdown
Greece has some serious standing for culture vultures, a pillar of the ancient world, a beacon for foodies and a renowned nightlife capital, all bases are covered here. It’s also a location that excels at natural beauty, from its enchanting islands to the rolling hills of The Pelion (“Greek Tuscany”).
Your guests can arrive by air or rail, or via a short spell of island hopping in the Cyclades & the Dodecanese.
Getting married in Greece not only guarantees you a stunning setting but quite the party too. Greek weddings are a tale of two events –a very formal ceremony and a long and boisterous reception; everything you’ve heard about them is true.
Not only is this one of the oldest wine producing regions in the world but it’s also the home of ouzo and tsipouro (Greek brandy) – expect your dance floor to be filled with happy, shiny faces well into the early hours.
Greece also has much to offer discerning palettes, with an incredible range of edibles to choose from for the wedding feast. If you’re on an island or a beach, you just can’t beat sea-fresh calamari, scallops, crab or grilled fish. Dishes like moussaka and the much loved Gyroskebab can follow a more refined wedding breakfast menu -they are the perfect evening fuel for the all night dancers among your party.
Greece is a wonderful, winning location for any wedding. Whether it’s a wedding venue in Crete, Corfu, Mykonos or Rhodes – this land of Gods and Goddesses is the perfect place to get hitched.
Make sure to check out our hand picked selection of the best wedding venues in Greece.
insider note...
There are a number of traditional elements to a Greek wedding that are easy and charming to integrate. The “crowning” of the bride and groom, for example, features flower or precious metal crowns made for the couple and swapped three times during the ceremony. And if you want to guarantee a raucous reception then make Greek wedding dances compulsory – the Sirtaki, for example, was choreographed for the film Zorba the Greek and adopted locally as recent Greek folklore. It’s danced in a line or a circle and all the participants have their hands on each other’s shoulders.
Flight Duration
3hrs 50+
Currency
Euro
Language Spoken
Greek. If you’re an English or Italian speaker you’ll be fine too.
Vaccinations
n/a
Transportation
Athens is the only city in Greece with a metro system but most towns have reliable transport, whether buses or taxis. If you’re on an island or by the coast then the best way to get around is often on foot.
Public Holidays
Greek Independence Day falls on 25th March each year and Ochi Day (also known as World War ΙΙ National Holiday) falls on 28th October. Other than that Greece’s public holidays are the fairly standard religious holidays and Labour Day (1st May)
Good Time to Go
April - November
good to know
The largest of the Greek islands is Crete, which boasts beautiful weather year-round.
the marriage
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GETTING MARRIED IN GREECE
You can legally marry in Greece, in either a Civil wedding ceremony or a religious ceremony. Greek Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish ceremonies are all possible. There are no residency requirements for foreign nationals but if you do reside in Greece (but are not a citizen) you must have a residence permit. Alternatively, to avoid the legalities and paperwork involved, couples can have a low-key civil ceremony at a registry office in the UK to fulfil the legal requirements followed by a Wedding Blessing/Humanist Ceremony in Greece at a venue of their choice.
Civil Ceremony
✕In Greece, civil ceremonies are often performed by the mayor and take place at the town hall, Mayor’s office or other community office. The couple’s hotel or resort may also be an approved venue. Civil ceremonies cannot be held at archaeological sites.
Although there are no residency requirements couples need to have a wedding notice published in a local Greek language newspaper at least 8 days prior to applying for their marriage licence.
Same sex couples cannot legally marry in Greece.
If you would like more information on the application process and documentation required, download our printable Full Guide to Getting Married in Greece.
download full guideReligious Ceremony
✕You can have a legally binding religious ceremony if…
…one/both of you are Greek Orthodox and you wish to have a Greek Orthodox ceremony.
…one/both of you are Protestant and you wish to have a Protestant ceremony.
…one/both of you are Roman Catholic and you wish to have a Catholic ceremony and neither of you are divorced. However, Greek law does not allow a religious marriage between a Christian and a non-Christian.
…both of you are Jewish and you wish to have a Jewish ceremony.
If you would like more information on the application process and documentation required, download our printable Full Guide to Getting Married in Greece.
download full guideWedding Blessing/Humanist Ceremony
✕The private, non-denominational, non-institutional nature of a Wedding Blessing or Humanist Ceremony gives you the flexibility to marry when, where and how you want.
There is no legal requirement for the ceremony to take place in a licensed building. Therefore, you can hold your ceremony wherever you like—at your favourite restaurant, in a private villa, on a secluded beach or in the middle of an olive grove. The choice is yours.
There is no legal requirement for the ceremony to follow a set structure so it can be as formal or informal as you like—you can have a traditional Church Ceremony with the religious parts replaced with readings and vows or you can have a light-hearted ceremony with humorous readings and vows. Once again, the choice is yours.
These ceremonies are usually performed by a celebrant who will be able to help you select the style, structure, readings, music and vows that reflect your tastes and feelings as a couple resulting in a highly personalised and unique, non-religious ceremony.
Please note: If you do choose to have a Wedding Blessing or Humanist Ceremony you will also need to have an official civil ceremony in order for your marriage to be legally binding.
If you would like more information on the application process and documentation required, download our printable Full Guide to Getting Married in Greece.
download full guide
