Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Destination Wedding: Greek, A Classic Old-World Wedding

Wedding facts

Greece has no residency requirements or waiting periods to get a marriage license. For a civil ceremony, you apply to the mayor (or "president") of the community where you plan to get married. Greece requires couples desiring a religious ceremony to get a marriage license from the parish priest of that town.

The process of getting a marriage license in Greece is a little complicated -- documents such as birth certificates must be translated, notices in Greek must be placed in local newspapers and there is a short "filing period" (processing time).

Religious ceremonies have other restrictions and requirements. Despite the red tape, Greece is still easier than other European countries. You may want to seek the help of a professional wedding planner, however, to wade through all the requirements and rules.

Here's another nice option: For a civil ceremony in Greece, you can actually use a U.S. marriage license, as long as it is authenticated by a Greek consulate in the United States and translated.


When to go

Greece has a bewildering series of high and low seasons, depending on where you are. As you might expect, beach-front resorts have a high season in the summer months (June through August).

Meanwhile, Athens and other inland cities have discounts in summer months. Islands also have their own high and low seasons. The bottom line: Check carefully for the best deals at each location.


Insider tips

If you plan to wed in Greece on a Unique Tours package, all your documents must arrive at the company's office at least two months prior to your departure. As a result, you may need to begin planning a Greek wedding and honeymoon a good three to six months in advance.


Who to call

You may also contact the Greek National Tourist Organization (212) 421-5777

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