Insights · Getting married in Greece
The sun, the sea, the stone churches, the table under the olive trees. Every year more and more couples from abroad choose Greece for their wedding. And the first question is always the same: what does it take to make the marriage legal?
In this guide you will find your three options, a civil wedding, an Orthodox wedding or a symbolic ceremony, the documents you need, what to do after the wedding so it is recognised in your country, when to come, and which parts of Greece to consider, from the Aegean and Ionian islands to the Peloponnese.
Your three options
- Civil wedding. Performed by the municipality, legally valid and the simplest route for couples from abroad.
- Orthodox wedding. Held in church and also legally valid. At least one of you must be Orthodox.
- Symbolic ceremony. It has no legal standing. The couple marries legally at home and holds the ceremony of their dreams in Greece.
Civil wedding in Greece for couples from abroad
You do not need to live in Greece to have a civil wedding here. You apply for the marriage licence at the municipality where the wedding will take place, and each municipality has its own list of documents. So the first step is always to contact the municipality you have in mind.
The documents usually required
- Passport.
- A recent full birth certificate.
- A certificate of no impediment to marriage or of single status.
- If there was a previous marriage, the divorce decree or death certificate.
- The wedding notice published in a local Greek newspaper.
Foreign documents need an Apostille stamp, if your country is part of the Hague Convention, and an official translation into Greek. The translation can be done by the Translation Service of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by a Greek consulate or by a Greek lawyer. Many municipalities require certificates issued within the last few months, so don't get them too early.
The marriage licence is usually issued in about seven days and is valid for six months. Two witnesses are needed at the ceremony. If you don't speak Greek, ask the municipality whether an interpreter is required. See the whole process in detail in our guide to a civil wedding in Patras.
An Orthodox wedding with a partner from abroad
For a wedding in the Orthodox Church, at least one of you must be Orthodox. The other must be a Christian baptised in a church that recognises the Holy Trinity, such as the Catholic Church or most Protestant churches.
The non-Orthodox partner usually needs a baptism certificate, a certificate from their church that there is no impediment to marriage, and a declaration that the children will be baptised Orthodox. All with an Apostille and an official translation. The marriage licence is issued by the Metropolis, and each Metropolis has its own procedure.
There are also times of year when no weddings are held, such as Lent before Easter, the first half of August and the days around Christmas. Ask the parish before you set a date. To see how the ceremony unfolds, read our guide to the Orthodox wedding step by step.
Symbolic ceremony
Many couples from abroad take care of the legal part at home with a simple civil wedding, and come to Greece for the ceremony they truly dream of. A symbolic ceremony has no legal standing, but it gives you complete freedom: vows you write yourselves, your own language, your own music, and whoever you want to "marry" you.
If you want the ceremony in a public place, such as a beach, check in advance with the venue or the municipality whether a permit is needed.
The paperwork is the only part that takes patience. Everything else, the light, the sea, the people, is the reason you came.
After the wedding
The marriage must be registered at the registry office of the place where it took place, within forty days. That is where you get your marriage certificate. To use it in your country, it needs an Apostille, issued by the relevant Decentralised Administration office. If you leave Greece straight after the wedding, someone with power of attorney can register it for you. Registering the marriage in your home country follows that country's own rules.
Same-sex couples
Since February 2024, civil marriage in Greece is also open to same-sex couples. A religious wedding is not possible. If you come from a country where same-sex marriage is not recognised, ask the municipality early about the documents you will need.
When to come
The most beautiful months for a wedding in Greece are May, June, September and early October. July and August are very hot, and no church weddings take place in the first half of August. To choose the time of your ceremony, see the sunset times for every month.
Start on the documents several months ahead. When certificates need an Apostille and translations, time passes faster than you think.
Where to get married in Greece
Greece has so many different faces that every couple finds their own. We travel and photograph weddings all over the country.
The Cyclades: Santorini, Mykonos, Paros
The white islands of the Aegean are the picture most people have of a wedding in Greece. Santorini with its caldera and sunsets, Mykonos with its windmills, the lanes of Chora and its cosmopolitan energy, and Paros, calmer and more authentic, with Naoussa and its white villages. In July and August they are crowded and windy, so May, June and September are often the best choice. See our pages for Santorini and Paros.
The Ionian: Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Lefkada
Greener islands, with turquoise waters and dramatic coastlines. Zakynthos with Navagio and its sea caves, Kefalonia with its mountains, colourful villages and beaches such as Myrtos, and Lefkada, connected to the mainland by road and home to some of the most spectacular beaches in Greece. They are also the islands closest to us, so they pair beautifully with a next day shoot.
The Peloponnese and western Greece
For those who want something more authentic, the Peloponnese has everything within easy reach: medieval Monemvasia and Mani, the Venetian harbour of Nafpaktos, estates among vineyards and olive groves, and churches overlooking the sea. Patras is the port that links Greece with Italy, and Araxos airport, about 45 kilometres away, has seasonal flights from Europe. From Athens airport, the drive is about two and a half hours.
For your reception venue, see our wedding venues in Achaia and our wedding churches in Patra. And if you would like to experience a little more of Greece, see our next day photo shoot locations.
Your photographer in Greece
We travel for weddings all over Greece, from the Cyclades and the Ionian islands to the Peloponnese.
When you marry far from home, you need someone who knows the place. We know the churches, the venues and the light of every season, and we help you plan the day so you miss nothing. We can speak English with you from the first message to the delivery of your photographs and your wedding film.
Frequently asked questions about getting married in Greece
Do we need to live in Greece to get married there?
No. Couples from abroad can marry in Greece without living here.
What is the simplest way to marry legally?
A civil wedding at the municipality. If you want more freedom in the ceremony, you can marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in Greece.
Can we marry in church if one of us is not Orthodox?
Yes, if they are a Christian baptised in a church that recognises the Holy Trinity. Permission from the Metropolis is required.
How early should we start the paperwork?
Several months ahead, because certificates need an Apostille and translation. But make sure they are not too old, as many municipalities require recent documents.
Do you photograph weddings on the islands?
Yes. We travel all over Greece: Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Lefkada and anywhere else you dream of.
What is the nearest airport to Patras?
Araxos airport, about 45 kilometres from Patras, with seasonal flights. Athens airport is about two and a half hours away.
Dreaming of a wedding in Greece?
Tell us where you are coming from, when you are thinking of marrying and what kind of ceremony you want. We will help you from the very first step.