Getting married in Athens as a foreign couple: legal, civil or symbolic?
Most foreign couples marrying in Greece — roughly 70–80% — choose a symbolic ceremony: they complete the legal paperwork at home and celebrate in Greece with no Greek bureaucracy involved. A legally binding civil ceremony in Athens is possible but requires documents such as apostilled birth certificates and a certificate of no impediment, usually prepared 2–3 months ahead.
The three routes
A symbolic ceremony has no legal standing in Greece — you marry legally in your home country (before or after) and hold the celebration, vows and all, anywhere you like. A civil ceremony at an Athens town hall or licensed venue is legally binding and recognised internationally, but involves Greek paperwork. A religious (Greek Orthodox) wedding is also legally binding and has its own church requirements.
Why most couples go symbolic
No document translations, no waiting on Greek administrative timelines, total freedom of venue and celebrant, and the legal part takes twenty minutes at your local registry office at home. Planners report the large majority of their international couples choose this route.
If you want the civil route
Expect to prepare apostilled and translated birth certificates, passports, and a certificate of no impediment / single status. Athens municipalities publish their own checklists, and most planners in our directory handle the paperwork as part of full-service packages.