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Getting married in Greece: Everything you need to know
Dream of getting married in Greece? Learn everything you need to know, including costs, types of marriages, and legal requirements.
Greece is a dream wedding destination for many. With the Mediterranean sea, towering cliffs, good weather, and plenty of charming cities, towns, and villages throughout the country, it’s easy to see why. Follow along to learn everything you need to know about getting married in Greece, including legal requirements, types of weddings, and wedding costs.
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Types of marriages in Greece
Several types of marriages can take place in Greece, each differing in requirements and how legally binding they are. Let’s take a look at the most common ones:
Civil wedding
A civil wedding is a legally binding marriage that typically takes place in a town hall or other dedicated venue. The wedding ceremony typically takes around 15 minutes and is held by the town Mayor or a person designated by the Mayor.
You’ll need two witnesses for the ceremony, as is the case in most European countries. You’ll receive your wedding certificate right after the ceremony, and you’ll be officially married. Civil ceremonies are typically held in the Greek language, so you may need an interpreter for the ceremony.
Religious wedding
Religious weddings in Greece are both legally and religiously binding as long as you include the civil part in the wedding. If you don’t, you can still have a religious wedding but will need to provide proof of your civil marriage in advance.
A Pastor or Priest holds the religious ceremony and includes Catholic customs such as the nuptial blessing, reading your vows, and reading from the Bible. At least one of the partners needs to be Catholic for the religious wedding to take place. If one of the partners isn’t of Catholic faith, you’ll need to agree to baptise your children as Christian Orthodox.
Civil union
A civil union is a legally binding union between two partners of the same sex. The Greek church opposes gay marriages, but civil unions have been legal since 2015, and same-sex marriages have also been legalized as recently as 2024. All in all, they’re nearly identical in terms of legality and requirements to civil weddings.
Symbolic wedding
Symbolic ceremonies are not legally or religiously binding in any way. They’re simply celebrations of love that can be held in any way you see fit. There are no legal definitions of how or where you hold your ceremony or who officiates it. This means that you can craft your perfect Greek wedding without any restrictions.
Legal requirements for getting married in Greece
The documents you’ll need to get married in Greece depend on the type of marriage you choose to go with. Here’s everything you will need:
- Both partners need to be 18 years old or older.
- Passports or international IDs of both partners.
- Birth certificates of both partners.
- Certificate of no impediment, a marriage license, or capacity to marry for both partners.
- If one or both partners had a previous marriage, you’ll need to provide proof of divorce or a death certificate of the previous partner.
- A declaration of intent to marry, submitted to the Greek registrar.
- Two witnesses and photocopies of their passports or IDs.
Additional documents for a religious wedding
- Baptism, first communion, and confirmation certificates.
- A certificate for a pre-marriage course.
- A letter of permission from your Priest or Pastor.
- If the civil part of the marriage doesn’t take place together with the religious marriage, you’ll need to provide proof of civil marriage.
Best wedding venues in Greece
The best wedding venue for you will depend on your needs and preferences. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of places where you can get married in Greece.
- The Greek islands — there are plenty of islands right off the coast of mainland Greece, each varying in size, yet all having stunning beauty. Santorini, Corfu, Crete, and Mykonos are some of the most popular wedding destinations, but you can’t go wrong with any of the Greek islands.
- Small towns — charming small towns are an essential part of the Greek identity. Athens is the only really big city in the country, with one-third of the Greek population living in the capital. Choose any of the smaller towns for your wedding to get a true Greek experience.
- The mountains — Greece is often overlooked as a mountain destination, with the famous Alps gracing the neighbors to the North. However, Greece is home to some stunning mountains and mountain valleys, including the iconic Mt. Olympus. And you can’t get a more epic wedding destination than the foot of a mountain that Greek gods called home.
Keep in mind that if you want a civil or religious marriage, the official ceremony has to take place in a dedicated town hall or church. These are widely available in most towns, but still limit your options for exact locations. That said, you can hold your own celebration after the ceremony wherever you want to do so the most.
How much does it cost to get married in Greece?
Marriages have a reputation for being harsh on your wallet. And this reputation is largely justified. But how much can you expect to actually pay for your wedding in Greece? Let’s take a look at some numbers.
- Paperwork for civil marriage — ~€100
- Trip to Greece — €100-1000+ depending on where you’re coming from
- Wedding venue — €500 to 2,000+
- Food and drinks — around €150 per person
- Photographer/videographer — €500-1,000
- Accommodation — around €100 per person
- Wedding planner — €1000-2,000
- Celebrant — €500-1,000
- Entertainment — €500-2,000+
Of course, all the numbers above are estimates and will depend heavily on the venue, food, and people you choose. That said, you might be able to fit in a budget of €10,000 to €15,000 for a modest wedding, while a big, fancy, multiple-day celebration can easily set you back €50,000 or more.
How to plan your Greek wedding
The amount of effort you’ll need to put into the planning of your wedding depends on whether or not you decide to hire a wedding planner. That said, there are some things that you’ll need to do in preparation for your wedding day, regardless.
- Set your budget — having a fixed budget for your wedding is essential. Set a hard cap on how much you’re willing to spend and do your best to fit inside the budget. If you don’t, the end cost of the wedding can surprise you, and not in the most pleasant of ways.
- Pick a wedding date — while you may associate Greece with hot weather and endless sunny days, that’s not exactly the case, as the winter months can get pretty cool and dreary. For good weather, anything from April to October is a fairly safe bet. If you can, visit Greece around the time of your wedding a year before to see what the weather is like.
- Book everything early — you’ll have to start booking venues, wedding ceremonies, and pretty much anything related to your wedding well in advance if you want the best Greek wedding possible. Otherwise, the best venues and people might quickly be taken for your wedding day. It’s best to start booking things at least a year in advance.
Make wedding planning easy with Holafly
Having mobile internet in Greece is essential when planning your wedding. It helps with staying in touch with your wedding planner, translating marriage documents, or simply finding your way around. Using an eSIM is the most convenient way to stay connected, and Holafly offers some of the best eSIM plans for Greece.
All Holafly eSIMs for Greece include unlimited data, hotspot sharing, and 24/7 customer support, ensuring you’ll always stay connected. If you plan to stay in Greece for a while, Holafly also offers a pay-monthly eSIM subscription with Holafly Connect. Simply pick a plan that suits your needs, get online, and cancel it whenever you no longer need it.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
