Insights · Getting married in Greece
The sun, the sea, the stone churches, the table under the olive trees. Every year, 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?
This guide explains how to get married in Greece: 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 back home, when to come, and which parts of Greece to consider, from the Aegean and Ionian islands to the Peloponnese.
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Your three options
- Civil wedding. Carried out by the municipality. It is 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. You marry legally at home, then hold the ceremony you really want 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 official translation into Greek and, if your country is part of the Hague Convention, an Apostille stamp. 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 request 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. For the full process, see 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 of these need 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 the Church does not hold weddings, such as Lent before Easter, the first half of August and the days around Christmas. Check with the parish before you fix a date. For how the ceremony itself unfolds, see 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, then come to Greece for the ceremony they actually want. 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 why you came.
After the wedding
Within forty days, the marriage must be registered at the registry office of the place where it took place, and that is where you get your marriage certificate. To use it back home, 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 best 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 pick a time for your ceremony, check the sunset times month by month.
Start on the documents several months ahead. Once Apostilles and translations are involved, time goes faster than you expect.
Where to get married in Greece
Greece has so many sides that every couple finds one that feels like theirs. 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 has its caldera and sunsets, Mykonos its windmills, the lanes of Chora and a cosmopolitan buzz, while Paros is quieter, with Naoussa and its white villages. In July and August they are crowded and windy, so May, June and September are often the better choice. See our pages for Santorini and Paros.
The Ionian: Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Lefkada
These islands are greener, with turquoise water and dramatic coastlines. Zakynthos has Navagio and its sea caves, Kefalonia its mountains, colourful villages and beaches such as Myrtos, and Lefkada, linked to the mainland by road, some of the most spectacular beaches in Greece. They are also the islands closest to us, which makes them a natural fit for a next day shoot.
The Peloponnese and western Greece
For something less touristy, the Peloponnese has it all 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 Patras. And if you'd like to see a bit more of Greece, have a look at 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, it helps to have 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 nothing gets missed. We can work with you in English from the first message right through to the delivery of your photographs and 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 being resident 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, as long as the other partner is a Christian baptised in a church that recognises the Holy Trinity. You will need permission from the Metropolis.
How early should we start the paperwork?
Several months ahead, because certificates need an Apostille and translation. Just 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 wherever else you have in mind.
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're coming from, roughly when you'd like to marry and what kind of ceremony you have in mind. We'll help from the very first step.
Photographs: Dimitris Stergiou and the studio team