Santorini is one of the most popular Wedding Destinations in the world.
And did you know that you can legally marry on Santorini? Yes, you can! A legal civil wedding is possible.
A civil wedding can take place anywhere on the island. In some villas, hotels, in a wedding location or somewhere out in the nature - of course also on the beach. The registrar can hold the civil legal wedding ceremony anywhere.
After obtaining the necessary papers, you'll need to submit the legal documents to the registrar's office in Santorini in order to obtain permission to marry. If you have hired a wedding planner, the planner will do this for you, but not the obtaining of the legal papers in your home country, the planner can only assist you in this purpose.
One or two working days after the marriage you go to the registry office to get your legal marriage certificate. There you'll be given a document - in Greek - for verification, which the groom must sign.
This document will be forwarded for authentication and apostille and will return to Santorini about 2 weeks later. This document is needed so that you can register the marriage in your home country and change the name if necessary.
YOU ARE NOT BIG FANS OF A CIVIL MARRIAGE? NO PROBLEM AT ALL!
If you prefer to have the civil ceremony in your home country or if you don't want a civil ceremony at all, you can also have a beautiful and personal symbolic ceremony in Santorini.
BUT WHAT IS A SYMBOLIC WEDDING CEREMONY?
A symbolic marriage is an unofficial ceremony performed by a celebrant, friend, family member or with your own vows. The same applies here as for civil weddings, the ceremony can take place anywhere you want - there are no limits.
To customize your symbolic ceremony there are many different ways to do this, such as filling colored sand into a vessel, tying the knot and much more.
MY SERVICE REGARDING OPTAINING THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS:
I have prepared a special leaflet for my couples to show which papers have to be obtained, which documents have to be translated into Greek and which documents need an apostille.
I check the documents for my couples with the registrar 6 weeks before the wedding to make sure that everything is in order and correct, so that there are no unpleasant surprises on the wedding day.
My service includes the service of a lawyer who takes care of the "after-wedding" paperwork for us. That means, we don't have to go to the registry office after the wedding at all. The lawyer takes care of all that. Because my couples do not stay on the island for so long, I send the documents to the couple at home.
And now I hope that these tips about the "Legal Wedding on Santorini" could help you a bit - what form do you choose for your wedding, a civil or symbolic ceremony?
Do you need help planning your destination wedding on Santorini or do you have any questions? I am at your disposal, just write me an email - I look forward to hearing from you.
Love,
Sandra from Bespoke Weddings Santorini
Pictures: 1. & 3.Phosart Photography | 2. Jaypeg Photo & Film
Planning: Sandra Ebner - Bespoke Weddings Santorini