Paradise is the word that best describes Greece. How else would you describe a country with a remarkable history, stunning beaches across numerous islands, rich cultural heritage, incredible food and drinks, and warm people? Besides, Greece is one of the most romantic places you can ever visit, with its picture-perfect sunsets, golden sands, blue waters, and iconic ruins. If you’re thinking of tying the knot in a pristine location where you can also soak up vitamin D, let us show you how to get married in Greece as a U.S. citizen:
How to Get Married in Greece As a U.S. Citizen?
Whether you are saying “I do” in Athens or overlooking Santorini, a wedding in Greece is one for the books. Here is how to go about the process to ensure you leave no stone unturned in your quest for perfection:
- Settle on a marriage option: U.S. citizens getting married in Greece can opt for religious or civil weddings. Some choose to have both. You need to decide what works for you, as this helps you prepare the correct documents and liaise with the right people. For example, people getting married in a Catholic Church must start their pre-marital classes early to wed in Greece.
- Hire a wedding planner: The bureaucracy surrounding weddings in Greece can delay your wedding process. The best way to navigate these junctures is to rely on an experienced wedding planner who can handle most tasks.
- Book a wedding venue: Wedding venues sell like hot cake in Greece, with couples choosing the creme de la creme first. The earlier you book a venue, the sooner you can get one that matches your style. Of course, this will also depend on your marriage type.
- Prepare your documents: Depending on your wedding option, you must present sufficient documentation proving your legal capacity to marry and your identity. These documents include passports, birth certificates, and divorce decrees. The comprehensive list will depend on several factors, including whether you have been married and your nationality.
- Apostille the documents: All original and certified copies of the required documents must have an apostille if they were issued in the U.S. The apostille confirms the validity of the stamps, signatures, and seals on the documents, making them suitable for use in Greece. You can get the apostille from the state that issued the document. E.g., a New York birth certificate requires an apostille from the New York Secretary of State.
- Translate the documents: Greece uses Greek as its official language. As such, documents issued in the U.S. must have official Greek translations. You can only get this done by certified translation services or the Greek Foreign Ministry’s Department of Translation.
- Publish a wedding notice: If you will marry a Greek citizen, this step applies to you. You must have the wedding notice in a local newspaper, showing you intend to marry, and must do this eight days before applying for a marriage license. The notices should be separate for the bride and the groom.
- Get an affidavit of marriage: Not all town halls require this document, so you need to check with the officials overseeing your ceremony. You must complete the affidavit before a consular office at the U.S. Embassy in Greece if needed. The form should have copies in English and Greek, after which you can have it authenticated by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The paperwork often takes time, and you must be in Greece for at least two days to complete this process.
- Obtain a marriage license: You will need to visit the local town hall or the president of the community’s office with all the required documents, and each of you will make a marriage application. During the process, you must declare no impediments to the marriage and sign the application form, after which the signed documents will be sent to the applicable registry office. Usually, the license should be ready eight days after the application if you meet all the requirements. Sometimes, U.S. citizens do not need to apply for a Greek marriage license. Instead, you can get one from the U.S. and amend it to include Greece.
- Inform the mayor: Once you get your marriage license, you will need to write to the town mayor, stating where and when you will get married. You should do this as a couple.
- Hold the wedding: The marriage license will be valid for six months, during which you can have the wedding anywhere in Greece. People getting married in religious ceremonies must complete the additional steps before tying the knot. Those getting married in civil ceremonies will likely need a translator as the ceremonies are conducted in Greek.
- Register the wedding: Your marriage will only be valid in Greece if registered at the Vital Statistics Office in the city where you get married. You should do this within 40 days of the wedding, or else you will pay a fee. Luckily, you don’t have to do the registration and can have someone do it by proxy.
If you get married in Greece, is it legal in the U.S.? The U.S. statutes recognize marriages performed outside the U.S. if they abide by the laws of the country where they were performed. Per Greek laws, marriages are only valid if registered at the Vital Statistics Office. Once you do this, you can get a marriage certificate, which you can use for official processes, e.g., changing your name.
What are the Different Types of Marriage in Greece?
Getting married in Greece allows you to incorporate Greek traditions into your ceremony, including crowning and making the bed. But what marriage options do you have?
1. Civil Marriage
This marriage takes place under a public official and is often held in a town hall or state building. However, if the official approves, couples can also hold their weddings outside these approved spaces by booking other venues, e.g., hotels. Such marriages apply to everyone, including foreigners. However, where one of the partners is Greek, a wedding notice must be published in the local newspaper at least eight days before applying for a marriage license. Those who live in small towns where newspapers are not common can publish the notice in the town hall or other public areas.
All documents presented for a civil marriage in Greece must have certified Greek translations and feature apostilles from their home countries.
2. Religious Marriage
While some countries do not recognize religious marriages as legally binding, Greece does. Most people are Orthodox Christians, and such marriages are thus common. Other options include Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish ceremonies. The requirements for a religious marriage in Greece include what’s set out by the church, plus the civil marriage requirements. For example, people getting married in Orthodox Church ceremonies must be baptized Orthodox or have a public notarial act for the unbaptized partner.
3. Symbolic Marriage
People who want to marry in Greece without the legal work can do so in such a ceremony. You can decide where and when to have the wedding and will not need to sign or provide any documents. As such, such a ceremony is not legally binding and is best for people who want to renew their vows or symbolically commit to each other.
Is a marriage in Greece recognized in the United States? Greece marriage laws acknowledge only civil and religious weddings registered at the Vital Statistics Office in the town where they took place. While some other unions exist, they are not legally binding. Take a look at the prohibited marriages in the country:
- Same-sex marriages: Civil unions apply to same-sex couples, but they cannot marry as the law has not provided for this. However, these unions are legal.
- Polygamy: People cannot have more than one wife or husband at a time, as this is illegal. As such, anyone getting married must prove they do not have other marriages.
You should also note that while symbolic weddings are not illegal, they have no legal bearing on your marital status.
Marriage Requirements in Greece for U.S. Citizens
When arranging a marriage in Greece, you must prove fit for marriage on many fronts. Below are the boxes to check as you near the big day:
- Residence: On the upside, U.S. citizens do not need to be residents of Greece to get married. Instead, they can stay in Greece for up to 3 months, provided they have a stamp showing when they entered Greece or another Schengen country. Greek citizens or residents must present valid residence permits.
- Age: The legal marriage age is 18. However, younger people can marry if they can get approval from the court and their parents. The court must prove the significant reasons for allowing the marriage.
- Marital status: Greece does not allow polygamy. Thus, only single people can marry and must prove they do not have existing marriages.
- Relationships: You cannot marry people closely related to you by blood or adoption. However, marriages to third cousins are acceptable.
- Waiting Period: You must wait before getting married as there is a waiting period between the license application and the wedding date. Civil ceremonies require about eight days, while other ceremonies can have waiting periods of weeks to months.
- Translation: U.S.-issued documents must be translated into Greek as they are unacceptable in English. The translation must be by a certified translation service.
- Apostille: You must validate your documents for use in Greece by getting an apostille to prove the authenticity of their stamps, signatures, and seals.
The marriage requirements in Greece also differ based on the type of wedding ceremony. For example, most churches require you to undergo pre-marital counseling before tying the knot.
What Documents Do I Need to Get Married in Greece?
A U.S. citizen getting married in Greece must provide the following documents when applying for a marriage license:
- A valid passport: Your passport must have an entry stamp to Greece or another Schengen Area. It should also be valid three months past your departure date, in good condition, and have enough blank pages.
- A certified copy of your birth certificate translated into Greek,
- A divorce decree: This applies to people whose previous marriages ended in divorce. Have the document translated into Greek,
- A death certificate: If your previous spouse is deceased, you need to present their death certificate translated into Greek,
- An apostille: All original and certified copies of documents issued in the U.S. must have accompanying apostilles that prove the validity of their stamps, signatures, and seals. You can get this from the Secretary of State that issued the document.
- A certificate of no impediment in English and Greek, and certified by the applicable consulate: This document states that you are free to marry and have nothing getting in the way of such a marriage.
- Proof of wedding notice in the paper: You only need this if you are marrying a Greek citizen,
- A court order: People younger than 18 must present proof of a court order allowing their marriage.
What do you need to get married in Greece if you choose a wedding ceremony? Most churches will request all of the above plus the following:
- A marriage license: You must prove you meet the conditions to get married.
- A baptism certificate: Most churches require that at least one partner be baptized in the church.
Please note that couples marrying in both religious and civil weddings should have two copies of each required document. Travel Visa Pro offers passport, apostille, and translation services and can help you prepare your documents before leaving for Greece.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Get Married in Greece?
The legal age for getting married in Greece for foreigners is 18. However, since the court allows people younger than 18 to get married, how old do you have to be to get married in Greece? Greek authorities will only allow underage partners to marry if the court finds significant reasons for the wedding. An example is when an underage girl is pregnant.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Married in Greece?
Many people spend tens of thousands of dollars on weddings in the U.S. So, how much does it cost to get married in Greece? Per previous yearly statistics, a wedding costs anything from $15,000 to $30,000. These costs include videography, photography, a wedding venue, and catering. Thus, you can vary your cost per your choices.
How to Choose a City and Wedding Venue in Greece?
Greece has so many beautiful wedding locations that choosing one city or venue can be challenging. An easy way to do this is to hire a wedding planner who can review all your options and guide you on the best ones by considering the following things:
- Capacity: Venues can hold anything from ten guests to hundreds of guests. Create a guest list and use this to find the perfect fit.
- Location: Besides the views you get from the venue, consider its accessibility. Is it easy to arrive at the venue? How far is it from your accommodation or the airport?
- Style: If you have a custom idea, choosing a venue with almost no fittings is best. This blank slate allows you to impart your preferences and implement your style. But if you have an idea that can mesh with some venues, choose the options that best align with the wedding theme.
- Cost: As you assess costs, consider the inclusions of the venue. Some venues charge high prices because they offer decor, entertainment, catering, and other items that rack up the costs. In such cases, paying more for the inclusions is often cheaper than outsourcing these services.
The aesthetic appeal of the venue also matters. If you can’t do a walkthrough, ask your wedding planner to do this and film the venue so you can make an informed decision.
How to Find a Wedding Planner in Greece?
Your wedding planner is one of the most important people in your wedding. They almost come second to the bride and groom as they help with nearly everything, from dress shopping to venue selection to music playlists. Here is how you can find the best one:
- Read reviews about Greek wedding planners and narrow down those with the best ratings,
- Sift the planners and choose those who have dealt with foreigners’ weddings, as they will understand the differences in paperwork,
- Contact the planners and understand their schedules, how many weddings they handle simultaneously, whether they will work with you directly, and how they liaise with their clients,
- Ask as many questions as you like regarding their style, ask for pictures from previous weddings, discuss your vision, and get a feel of how they work with their clients,
- Get quotes from the planners that best match your style and select the pricing that feels reasonable.
Just like that, you can start planning the wedding of your dreams!
