Insights · Civil wedding
A civil wedding is the simplest, quickest way to say "yes". Less paperwork, less waiting, and more energy left for what matters: your moment and the celebration that follows.
This guide walks you through a civil wedding in Patras step by step: what it involves, which documents to prepare, where the ceremony takes place, what applies if one of you is from abroad, and how we photograph a ceremony that lasts only a few minutes.
Contents (5)
Why a civil wedding
Because it's quicker. The process is simple, the licence comes through in a few days, and the ceremony is short but meaningful. Some couples choose it because they want to marry without months of preparation, some because they want a quieter, more personal day with a few loved ones, and some because they pair it with a big party.
A civil marriage has the same legal standing as a religious one. And if you later want a church wedding too, your civil marriage can be blessed in church.
Step by step: the process
1. The marriage licence
Each partner applies for a marriage licence at the municipality where they live. The application can be made online through gov.gr with TAXISnet credentials, as long as your municipality offers the service. The licence is issued in about seven days, to allow time for any objections, and is valid for six months.
2. The documents
- Identity card.
- Birth certificate.
- Proof of residence.
- The issue of the local daily newspaper with your wedding notice.
- A solemn declaration that there is no impediment to the marriage.
- If there was a previous marriage, the document of its dissolution.
3. The newspaper notice
Announcing the wedding in a local daily newspaper is still mandatory. Keep the whole issue, as you'll need it for the licence. If the wedding does not take place within six months of the notice, it must be published again.
4. The date and the venue
In Patras, as in every municipality, the mayor decides on which days civil weddings take place and where they can be held: the ceremony hall of the town hall or other municipal venues. Contact the registry office of the Municipality of Patras about availability, venues and the ceremony fee, and book your date early, especially for a Saturday or the summer months.
5. The ceremony
The wedding is conducted by the mayor or a deputy appointed by the municipality. You need two adult witnesses, your koumbaroi (wedding sponsors), with their ID. They can also be relatives. The ceremony is short: the reading, the signatures, the rings, the kiss.
6. After the wedding
The marriage must be registered at the registry office of the place where it was held, within forty days. That's also where you'll get your marriage certificate.
If one of you is from abroad
A civil wedding is the simplest way for a couple to marry in Greece when one or both partners are from another country. You usually need a passport, a birth certificate and a document confirming there is no impediment to marriage. Foreign documents need an Apostille stamp and an official translation into Greek.
Requirements may differ by country, so start early and confirm the documents with the municipality before you set a date. If you're planning from abroad and thinking of a church wedding later on, see also our guide to the Orthodox wedding ceremony.
A ceremony of a few minutes doesn't mean less emotion. Often it means more, because everything happens right in front of you, up close, with nothing in between.
How a civil wedding is photographed
The ceremony lasts a few minutes, and every moment happens only once. The signature, the look as you slip on the ring, the first kiss as a married couple, the applause of your loved ones. That's why we arrive early, get to know the room and its light, and are ready before anything starts.
Because the formalities are quick, there's more time left for you. After the ceremony we take couple portraits at a beautiful spot in the city, then carry on to your celebration, wherever it is. Many couples also choose a next day shoot at a favourite place, to have more photographs in the dress and suit.
For the celebration afterwards, see our wedding venues in Achaia, and to plan your day, our guide to the wedding day timeline.
Frequently asked questions about civil weddings
How far in advance should we start the process?
The marriage licence is issued in about seven days and is valid for six months. Start several weeks ahead, though, to allow time for the newspaper notice and to book the date you want with the municipality.
Is a newspaper notice still required?
Yes. Announcing the wedding in a local daily newspaper is still mandatory.
Where do civil weddings take place in Patras?
At the venues set by the Municipality of Patras: the ceremony hall of the town hall or other municipal venues. Ask the registry office about availability.
How many witnesses do we need?
Two adult witnesses with their ID. They can also be relatives.
Can we have a church wedding later?
Yes. A civil marriage can later be blessed in church, and the blessing is registered at the registry office.
Planning a civil wedding in Patras?
Tell us the date and where your celebration will be. We'll be there for every moment, from the signature to the last dance.
Photographs: Dimitris Stergiou and the studio team