Are you planning an elopement in Greece? Small intimate weddings are the trend when planning a ceremony in the Greek Islands. You may be travelling from afar, many couples choosing this type of wedding are flying in from the USA, Canada and Australia. These couples know exactly what they want, they have chosen Greece for a reason, they are going to stand up together, say their vows to each other, in a stunning setting, overlooking the unforgettable blue seas of Greece.
Most often, couples choosing to elope, are not doing it for financial reasons, but because they have decided to make their special day all about them, it’s just something so personal, so intimate, so private and very often a total secret from their family and friends.
How to elope to Greece.
First decision to make, legal or symbolic?
When eloping it really isn’t important to have the legal paperwork done on the day. A marriage is the paperwork side, the wedding is the celebration of that marriage. You may choose a symbolic celebrant led ceremony; will it feel symbolic? The answer is, definitely not! For some couples it can be so stressful sorting out the paperwork side of a legal ceremony so for them the choice is easy.
With an elopement, the ceremony is the focus, it is of course the most important part of the day. Many couples choose sunset, as this is such a romantic time and perfect for the photographs, but why not sunrise? Dawn is the beginning of a new day, a fresh start and so the perfect time to tie the knot and move forwards as partners for life.
Wedding planner or not?
When organising an intimate elopement in Greece, you may not feel that you need a wedding planner, and this decision really depends on you. A wedding planner will have all the local information you require for your wedding day, they will liaise with the venue, help you with a local photographer and florist, and in the case of a legal civil ceremony, advise you of the paperwork requirements and translations needed. In some areas of Greece, you will have your official ceremony in the local town hall, in others the officiant/registrar will come to your venue, if it is venue recognized by the local authorities. The latter is unlikely if you have chosen a private villa that you have found online for your intimate elopement.
It would be wise to find a wedding planner if you are doing the legal paperwork in Greece, however if you decide to have a celebrant led symbolic ceremony, you will then avoid the paperwork side altogether. All you need to do is register your marriage in your own country either before or after travel without any celebrations and then this would free you up to have the intimate elopement ceremony of your dreams anywhere you like, so at your holiday villa, at the hotel, on the beach, on a yacht, at a winery, the list goes on and on.
Registrar or Celebrant-a simple script or a unique personalised ceremony
Many couples are not aware that there are celebrants in Greece, often the local registrar or their representative is called a ‘celebrant’ so this can lead to some confusion. A true celebrant will not just show up on the day of your wedding, you will get to know them during the planning process, and often they will become lifelong friends! You will plan your ceremony with your celebrant and your family and friends can participate, in many ways. Just to clarify, the registrar/officiant reads a scripted ceremony, a celebrant writes and creates a unique ceremony, the official one takes about ten minutes the latter as long as you like!
Symbolic elements.
These days many couples are looking for ways to make their ceremony memorable and ask for symbolic elements. A unity sand ceremony is proving very popular when there are children taking part, and for those of you who don’t know what this is, it can be anything you want it to be. It is after all a unique ceremony, so if you want to use sand off the local beach, or you actually want to bring some sand with you from home, if you want to include 1 member of your family or just blend the sands as a couple, then of course you can.
Mixed faith ceremonies.
A celebrant is the perfect choice for a mixed faith ceremony, one half of the couple may be religious and the other not, it is the celebrant’s job to create a ceremony with just the right mix of both. I have found that a rose ceremony just before the vows and ring exchange, where the couple present roses to each other can be a wonderful intimate moment to remember for ever. You may have ideas of your own, from your culture, your traditions, your background.
Thinking back over the weddings that I have performed this year, there are so many examples of traditions that we have incorporated into the ceremony. For a couple from the Ukraine we featured the ‘rushnyk’ a special embroidered towel which was laid down by the parents of the bride, the couple stood on it during the ceremony and then at the end the bride’s father then performed a ‘union rushnyk’, by tying their hands together with this amazing work of art which was beautifully embroidered with red thread symbolising life, sun and fertility. This was very moving and there were many tears.
Another couple brought sand with them from their local beach and before they said their words of commitment to each other we blended this sand with some off the beach in Rhodes, the colours we used were symbolic and chosen by the couple. Once more this made for an emotional moment and made the ceremony truly special.
It makes no difference if you have chosen a 5* VIP venue for your elopement in Greece or if you just want to find a quiet spot on the beach at the waters edge. If it is a famous Island such as Santorini, Mykonos or Crete, or a less well known, smaller rock; with a celebrant, you can have the elopement ceremony of your dreams, there are so many options, so many choices; your ceremony, your way, your intimate elopement in Greece!
If you are planning an intimate elopement in Greece and you would like more information, contact me via e mail info@grecianceremonies.gr
Grecian Ceremonies, Sarah Hatjipavlis, Celebrant in Greece, creating lifelong memories!
George Pagonakis 
