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Getting married in Greece, do’s and don’ts

Couple Getting married in Greece Bride and groom in Santorini

Greece has become a popular destination wedding location for couples across Europe. Its breathtaking scenery, beautiful beaches, ancient history, and architecture make it a highly sought-after wedding location. Celebrant Sarah Hatjipavlis shares her best advice on how to make the most of your celebrant-led destination wedding in the Greek sunshine for those wanting to get married in Greece, along with some helpful do’s and don’ts.

Here’s how not to get married in Greece!

Celebrant Sarah said “I created and performed a unique destination wedding ceremony on the Athenian Riviera in September and whilst discussing the ceremony with the bride, she told me something rather shocking. She herself had attended a friend’s wedding in Athens just a few days previously, it had been a ‘symbolic ceremony’ as the couple, both from Lebanon, had chosen to do the legal paperwork in their own country before travel. However, the ceremony was so ‘symbolic’  that none of the people present, to include the couple themselves, realised that the short 5 minute script read out by the wedding planner was it, that was the ceremony they had all been waiting for. They had travelled thousands of miles for this special moment and it was gone in a flash. Some family members did not realise that the ceremony had begun let alone finished! It was all over in the ‘blink of an eye’!

This ceremony was not performed by a professional Celebrant!”

 2Photographer Savvas Argirou AtriumPrestigeResortSpaHotel

Photo credit: Savvas Argirou at Atrium Prestige Resort and Spa Hotel

 

Options for getting married in Greece

There are 4 main options for couples wanting to have a wedding ceremony in Greece:

  • A Greek Orthodox Church wedding conducted in a church by a Greek Orthodox Priest mostly for Greek Orthodox couples.
  • A legal civil ceremony in Greece conducted by the registrar, or their representative. It is a short script, and couples will provide all the paperwork required to sign the marriage documents on the day of the ceremony.
  • A symbolic ceremony can also be conducted by the registrar or their representative, but it will be a short script that must be followed to the letter.
  • An Independent Celebrant-led ceremony, in this case it will be truly unique, all about you, no venue restrictions, no time limits, your ceremony, your way in Greece. 

There’s good news for same-sex couples, Greece legalised same-sex marriage in February 2024. So even if you opt for a symbolic, Celebrant led ceremony, you can still formalise your marriage with a local registrar whilst you’re there.

4Photographer Manes Photo SheratonRhodesResort

Photo credit: Manes Photo at Sheraton Rhodes Resort

Why do couples choose a symbolic wedding ceremony in Greece?

 Most couples choosing a symbolic ceremony have done so for one of the following reasons.

1)      They are unable to do the official paperwork required or they don’t want the stress of legal paperwork in a foreign country.

2)      They don’t want the simple scripted short legal ceremony.

3)      They don’t want to be restricted to the authorised venues offered by the officials in the area.

4)      They want to have family participation in their ceremony.

5)      They would like to include symbolic elements and rituals such as handfasting, unity candle or sand ceremony, or other such elements.

6)      The couple is of mixed faith and would like to include a little of both.

7)      The couple has Greek heritage but are unable or not inclined to have a Greek Orthodox Church wedding.

8)      They would like to include some of their culture and traditions in their ceremony.

 

5Photographer Savvas Argirou

Photo credit: Savvas Argirou

Dos and Don’ts of Getting married in Greece

Do’s:

  1. Consider a Celebrant-Led Ceremony: Opt for a professional celebrant to conduct a symbolic ceremony that is unique, personal, and unrestricted by venue or time limits.
  2. Embrace Symbolic Elements: Incorporate symbolic rituals such as handfasting, unity candles, or sand ceremonies to make the ceremony special.
  3. Include Cultural and Family Traditions: Use the ceremony to include elements from your culture or traditions, and encourage family participation.
  4. Plan for Mixed-Faith or Same-Sex Ceremonies: Celebrant-led ceremonies can accommodate mixed-faith couples and same-sex couples, providing a personalized and inclusive experience.
  5. Coordinate with Local Registrars: Explore the possibility of having both a celebrant and a local registrar work together to combine the legal and symbolic aspects of the wedding.
  6. Be Prepared with Paperwork: If opting for a legal civil ceremony, ensure all necessary documents are ready to avoid any last-minute issues.
  7. Choose Authorized Venues Carefully: If you prefer a legal civil ceremony, select from authorized venues but be mindful of their limitations.

Don’ts:

  1. Don’t Rely Solely on Wedding Planners: Avoid using only wedding planners for the ceremony as they might offer very brief, impersonal scripts.
  2. Don’t Expect Legal Recognition from Celebrant Ceremonies: Remember that celebrant-led ceremonies are symbolic and not legally binding in Greece.
  3. Don’t Skip Research on Venue Restrictions: Be aware that some popular venues may not allow celebrant-led ceremonies due to local regulations.
  4. Don’t Forget to Inform Guests: Ensure guests are aware of the nature of the ceremony to avoid confusion or disappointment.
  5. Don’t Assume All Celebrants Are the Same: Choose a professional celebrant with good reviews and experience in creating personalized ceremonies.
  6. Don’t Ignore the Importance of Legal Paperwork: Even if opting for a symbolic ceremony, complete the necessary legal paperwork either before or after the destination wedding.

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Celebrant and local Greek Registrar, working together. 

So what about the Celebrant and local Greek Registrar, working together, side by side to create something truly unique?

There is also absolutely no reason why a Celebrant and the local registrar couldn’t work together and on rare occasions this can be arranged in certain areas of Greece. The couple can submit all the legal paperwork required but still have a Celebrant to write and create a unique ceremony just for them, the local registrar will play their role accordingly, and then we have the best of both worlds for couples who really want to sign the legal documentation on the day but don’t want to be confined to the simple script available to them.

3Photographer Savvas Argirou

Banner photo credit: Costas Delis Sinterina Athens.

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