Here are my 5 top tips to help you plan an intimate elopement wedding anywhere in Greece.

Photo credit Savvas Argirou and main photo, from an intimate elopement ceremony on the Island of Rhodes.

Are you planning to get married abroad? Just the two of you?  Do you need help to plan an intimate elopement wedding in Greece? As a wedding celebrant, there is nothing I love more than writing and officiating a unique, intimate elopement wedding in Greece.

Here are my 5 top tips to give you inspiration and to help you plan an intimate elopement wedding in Greece. As a modern wedding celebrant, I have plenty of ideas based on a lifetime of experience in Greece and my own ‘Greek wedding’ back in the day.

The beautiful small Island of Chalki

• 1) Choose your venue.

Greece is made up of hundreds of Islands and the mainland of course. Some Islands are more famous than others. Do you choose one of the popular Islands, such as Santorini or Mykonos, or would you prefer a smaller, classic more traditional Island like Symi, Kastellorizo, Chalki or Tilos? The Greek mainland also offers so much choice.  Furthermore, you could combine your intimate elopement wedding with a visit to the amazing city of Athens and its incredible Acropolis in which case choose a venue on the Athenian Riviera.

Villa wedding at Andrealexia Villa on the Island of Rhodes, photo credit Katerina Giallouraki

 

• 2) Type of venue.

Once more there are many options here for an intimate elopement wedding in Greece.

• Poolside at your holiday villa
• In the lush gardens of your hotel
• On the beach at the water’s edge
• Onboard a yacht
• At a local Greek winery
• In a traditional olive grove.

Which is your favourite?

 

• 3) Wedding planner or coordinator.

Don’t try to do everything alone. Of course, these days there are hundreds of destination wedding suppliers on the internet. Look for the perfect photographer, the florist, a restaurant or private chef, local musician, videographer online. Find suppliers who are good communicators, people who reply quickly to your questions. Many wedding planners will recommend suppliers and this is probably the easiest way.  If you don’t want to have a wedding planner, book a wedding coordinator to take over on your special day, to ensure everything goes to plan. You really do not want to be dealing with any suppliers on your wedding day!

 

• 4) The ceremony.

A legal civil marriage

If you choose to have a legal marriage in Greece, then you will definitely need to work with a wedding planner in order to submit all the paperwork required at the appropriate time. The wedding planner will then book the local registrar to officiate your ceremony. Don’t be misled if the officiant is described as a celebrant, most often they will be the registrar, the local mayor or their authorised representative.

The venue must be either the local town hall, or one which is recognised and listed by the authorities. The ceremony is a civil ceremony read in Greek by the registrar, with a vow exchange and takes about 10 minutes. You will sign the local registry on the day and you must go to the local town hall a couple of days later to sign the legal documents. Your marriage certificate will be in Greek, and you can have this translated in to your language back home.

A celebrant in action out on the Athenian Riviera, photo credit to Kostas Delis

 

A symbolic celebrant led wedding

If you choose to find a celebrant to write and officiate your intimate elopement ceremony in Greece, you should look for your celebrant in Greece, early on during the planning phase. Find someone who suits your style, a person who will write a ceremony just for the two of you. A celebrant won’t just show up on the day and read a script but will be by your side during the planning phase and will be your ‘rock’ on the special day. You can include religious readings, non-religious readings, you can have symbolic rituals, you can have elements from your culture, you can exchange your own personal vows of commitment. There are no time limits, no venue restrictions and if necessary your ceremony can be organised at the very last minute! No legal paperwork required, as there are no marriage documents done on the day.*

*Most couples choosing a symbolic celebrant led ceremony will pop to their local registry office in their home country before or after travel if they wish to legalise their marriage.

 

• 5) How to celebrate!

• A sunset yacht cruise, champagne and canapes on board, a little Greek music playing in the background, do I set the scene?
• A romantic set up at your holiday villa, candles, flowers, a Greek violinist playing a ballad, a private chef with your chosen favourites.
• Your favourite restaurant, a table for two followed by a celebratory nightcap.

 

I could go on and on! These are my 5 top tips to help when planning an intimate elopement wedding anywhere in Greece. If you would like to learn more about symbolic English/Greek celebrant led ceremonies of any type in Greece, contact me via e mail info@grecianceremonies.gr

 

Sarah Hatjipavlis-Grecian Ceremonies-Celebrant in Greece