One of the most precious and significant days of every couple’s life is the day they become one in marriage. Many couples are choosing Greece as a wedding destination because it offers some of the most magical and mystical views, with incredible festivals seemingly every month of the year and some of the world’s most breathtaking sunsets all while being reasonably priced.
First, the legalities that must be met to marry in Greece.
Couples are required to present birth certificates that have been translated into Greek and that carry an apostille stamp. The apostille stamp is an authentication seal placed on any documents for use abroad. They are available at your local Foreign Ministry.
“Letters of No Impediment” – also sealed with an apostille stamp stating that both are free to legal marry. This serves as your marriage license. Copies of divorce decrees, if any and copies of passports, no translation needed for either.
With the serious formalities taken care of, we can get down to the interesting and pleasurable portion of planning the prefect wedding in Greece, selecting the location and planning the actual ceremony.
It is a good idea to hire a wedding consultant in Greece. There are many affordable services that handle all of the paperwork and offer packages for Civil Ceremonies, Catholic Ceremonies, Gay Ceremonies as well as Greek Orthodox.
There are some incredible locations to choose from, most of which include extraordinary ocean views. Mykonos, dubbed the jewel of the Aegean Sea, is perhaps the most famous of the Greek Islands and is a top pick among couples. Imagine a sunset ceremony beneath a deep blue sky and a deeper blue ocean with a backdrop of windmills and cubist whitewashed architecture. Few sights can compare.
Perhaps, a bit more adventurous locale will best suit your passions and Mount Olympus, an isle of Cyprus could just be the perfect selection. Cyprus is the third largest isle in the Mediterranean and each year more and more couples are exchanging vows stop the isle’s highest peak, Mount Olympus. It is also the location of the of the annual festival to Aphrodite in the fall and one of the best times to mix festivals and merriment with your special day.
Another of the many Greek isles, Santorini is among the most popular venues for weddings. It is easy to comprehend why. What could be more mystical than exchanging vows in the shadow of a volcano overlooking the clear blue sea?
Many partners choose to have their wedding ceremony coincide with one the many Greek Festivals. There are far too many to name all of them, but following are a few of the more important religious festivals.
- January 1: New Year’s Day
Known as the feast of Ayios Vassillios or Saint Basil is celebrated on this day with a church service and children exchange gifts. - January 6: Epiphany
This is the feast of Fota and celebrates the vanquishing evil spirits and the blessing of the waters. - April to May: Easter
The most celebrated time of the year in Greece is Easter, with easer Sunday being the most revered of all days and every village throughout all of Greece. - December 25: Christmas
This is a time for celebrating the birth of Christ and Greeks enjoy numerous musical festivals and shopping festivals at this time.
There a few places on the planet that offer as exquisite a selection of wedding venues as Greece and wedding packages average between 1,950 and 4,390 Euro, with the cost coinciding with amenities chosen.
Greece has something special for everyone and promises to make your wedding ceremony a timeless memory that will forever hold a magical place in your heart.
And if you are planning on getting married in Greece, then why not stay for your honeymoon? Greece has always been a highly sought-after destination for honeymooners. Warm seas, blue skies, sun and a host of romantic islands to explore together. What else do you need for a wonderful start to your life together.
The great news is that there are honeymoon packages for every pocket from a luxury Greek villa to a budget beach holiday. Many hotels offer a honeymoon package which can include spa treatments, car rental, candlelit dinner, a complementary bottle of champagne and flowers in the bedroom. What more incentive do you need to? The best time to go for a Greek honeymoon is usually at the end of summer or early autumn. This will allow you to escape the fierce Mediterranean sun.
The most popular destination for newly-weds is the romantic island of Santorini. This volcanic island, with its links to the fabled Atlantis, is both mysterious and irresistible. It has pretty blue-domed churches (over 250 of them, in fact), whitewashed houses, friendly locals and sunsets to die for. Rhodes has to be the island with the most honeymoon resorts and some of the best and cleanest beaches in Greece. Try the beach at Kallithea with its hot medicinal springs and wild, rocky crags. This is the ideal place to get away from it all. Afandou beach is the place to relax with your lover with its long, sandy beach and numerous tourist facilities. If lazing on a beach isn’t your thing, there are lots to see and explore together. Spend some time at the Aquarium and the Water Park, and if time allows visit the Acropolis at Lindos which is just Fascinating. Be sure to take your spouse to the romantic Valley of Butterflies, with its cool running streams and groves of trees – a veritable paradise.
Mykonos, is a favorite for honeymooners. It combines a vibrant nightlife, beautiful beaches, typical Greek villages and luxury hotels – many of which do splendid honeymoon packages. It is famous for its whitewashed windmills where one can overlook Little Venice, the picturesque part of the island. Look out for Petros the Pelican, a celebrity of the island who likes nothing better than to pose for photographs in exchange for a tasty snack. Mykonos also boasts numerous cafes, bars and jewelry shops – a memento for your honeymoon perhaps? There are also museums of folklore, archeology and the maritime life of the island.
Crete is a must when contemplating a honeymoon in Greece. This island is renowned for its rocky coves, sandy beaches, enchanting villages and harbor, it is the location of the famous ruins at Knossos. There is a lively nightlife with many bars and eating houses. The romantic island of Corfu has long been a favorite of newly-weds. It has a lot of the features of many of the Greek islands but is famous for lush vegetation, calm, warm waters, quiet coves and bays. There is plenty to keep you both occupied here. The Paleokastritsa monastery has a museum housing a collection of rare Byzantine icons. The Sea Shell Museum is popular and has the rare Cypressa Fultoni Shell as well as other intriguing artifacts. Spinanada Square is a lovely place to take your partner. There are several archaeological sites as well as lots of charming bars, cafes and restaurants to refresh yourselves.
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