If you’re ready to plan how to elope in Greece as an American, you have come to the right place! We released our How to Elope in the UK as an American series earlier this year:
Next up GREEECEEEE!! I mean, really, is there anywhere else that screams epic elopement in 2024? Get ready for polaroids, delicate invites, and vow books that will bring you to tears. Just because your eloping doesn’t mean you should miss out on any of the tradition fun if YOU want it! We are going to walk you through the basics – how to elope, what it costs, what a two day elopement really is, and then we have two THICC blogs coming up to cover all of the amazing locations. Trust us, no two Greek islands are made the same.
First things first, you have to know where Greece is in order to know what you need. Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe, situated on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula. Greece shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east. This makes Greece part of the EU, important to know when we discuss technology!
Cost to Elope in Greece
We know, the only thing stopping you from eloping in Greece are the funds to do it. We love the question, “how expensive is it to elope in Greece?,” because so much of that answer is dependent on YOU! Do you want first class flights, champagne flutes, and a monogrammed captain’s hat? Are you comfortable sharing a beach with a group of Greeks? CHI CHIS OUT! Please note – toplessness is actually more common among Americans in Greece than the locals.
POINT BEING – there are costs you can control and those you cannot. Now we share with you our REAL TIME calculations researched in October 2023 for April 2024, because that’s when you should definitely elope in Greece.
Based on traveling as a couple, with roundtrips wherever you go, and in US dollars:
Flights from:
Atlanta to Athens = $1,794
LA to Athens = $1,033
Boston to Athens = $1,490
JFK to Athens = $1,012
Ferrying from Athens to Santori = $84.
Three nights at Onyx Hotel & Suites = $500.12.
The Hive Elopement Experience = $4,500-$7,000 depending on package choices.
Misc expenses (food, taxi, etc) = $1,000.
You can count on anywhere from $8,000-$11,000, for an adventure to kick off your lifetime of happiness.
When to Go
The best time to visit Greece is outside the busy summer peaks, during spring (April to June) and early fall (September and October). Audley Travels explains that temperatures are warm but not stifling, and you’ll find that destinations are open but still relatively quiet.
The period from November to February tends to be colder, but city attractions remain open and are pleasantly quiet. Summer brings steamy, hot weather and hordes of visitors at the main sights and on the islands.The weather in Greece is recorded in celsius.
IE – Join us in April 2024! Great weather, low crowds, insane photography opportunities!
Technology
You don’t have to worry about your phone IE lifeline while in Greece. Virtually all modern smartphones are compatible with Europe’s mobile infrastructure.
What you will have to consider is your charger. The standard Europlug socket has two round prongs. For these plugs, you can use adapter types “C” or “F”. These are often labeled as a Northern Europe adapter. Be sure to pick up an EU plug adapter for about $20.00 before you go. However, if you forget, converters and adapters can be found at electronic stores, souvenir shops and bookstores and some major hotels.
Currency
All major credit cards can be used across Greece. If you are looking to pay by paper, use the Euro. The equivalent to the dollar is around 1.06 Euro in October 2023. For reference, when we built out our UK guide in the Spring, the conversation was 1.05 so it has remained consistent.
Passport
All foreign countries require a passport! If you are legally marrying in the states first, hold off on changing your name until after you are back. Receiving a new social security card and using that to get your passport can take MONTHS.
Elope in Greece legally – get married in Greece as a US citizen.
Following the tradition we began during our American’s Guide to Getting Married in Europe, we have the Honeybee Standard of Ease in making your elopement legal. We understand that some couples are fixed on eloping abroad and we are here to help you every step of the way for your wedding in Europe. For those who prefer to legally elope in the states and have a symbolic ceremony in Greece we are happy to support you in that as well.
Rating: Mild, like the red sauce at Taco Bell. Our Greek friends have made it to the middle of the pack. We are here to be straight up with you every turn and we have had to tell our couples before when they are best off eloping at home and when it is reasonable to elope abroad. Don’t start your marriage with a legal hassle.
U.S. citizens may marry in Greece in a civil ceremony, a religious ceremony, or both. The process to obtain a marriage certificate can take several weeks.
If you are eloping in Greece, you may be required to present a marriage license issued by your State of residence in the United States. You MUST contact the local City/Town Hall in Greece for the local requirements before making your travel plans.
Overview of Documents you may need and where to take them:
- A passport or other travel document
- An Apostilled birth certificate with an official translation which you should obtain in the United States.
- Ιf applicable, apostilled documentary evidence (death certificate or final/irrevocable divorce decree) of the termination of all previous marriages with an official translation.
- An Affidavit of Marriage (if required by City/Town Hall where you are getting married) in Greek and English signed and sworn by the U.S. citizen(s) before a consular officer at the U.S. Embassy in Athens.
- Τhe fee for the notarization of the affidavit. If both parties are U.S. citizens, both must sign an affidavit and pay the fee ($100 for both). You must plan on being in Athens for at least two days to complete the required paperwork.
- To use the Affidavit of Marriage in Greece, it must be authenticated by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs validation department.
- Present the documents above in person at the City Hall (Demarchio) or President of the Community (Proedros Kinotitos) where the marriage will take place.
- If both partners are foreign nationals, each submits a separate set of documents. Authorities generally issue the marriage license eight days after the submission of the application. The marriage certificate is valid for six months.
- Upon receipt of the license, the partners jointly apply to the Mayor or President of the Community where they wish to marry. The marrying couple must arrange for two witnesses to attend the wedding ceremony, one of whom will act as an interpreter. Witnesses should carry passports or Greek IDs.
Registering the Marriage – IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE READ THIS!
Marriages are not legal in Greece until registered, so don’t skip this important step. The U.S. Embassy does not register marriages of U.S. citizens in Greece. Instead, you must record your marriage at the Vital Statistics Office (Lixiarcheio) of the city where the marriage is. All marriages, civil or religious, should register within 40 days following the ceremony.
Find the Embassy’s fancy PDF containing all of that information here. We have led the charge on legally eloping abroad before so don’t let all the fancy wording deter you if that’s a big deal to you! Elopement planning is in all Honeybee Abroad packages.
How to elope in Greece with Us!
If all this sounds exciting to you, let’s talk! You don’t need to have the exact date and specific location booked before we start talking about eloping in Greece. In fact, we are location matchmakers for a reason! Once you book with us, WE will help you find the best time, the right place, and incredible activities for your dream elopement! We are committing to creating a meaningful, once in a lifetime experience for you on your wedding day and there’s no better way to celebrate your day than to make it a two day elopement! Let’s celebrate your love in a truly unforgettable and adventurous way. We have created an hour breakdown of a two day elopement photography for your convenience.
Elope in Greece Day 1
The first day is all about the I DO! We capture all the getting ready details of your elopement day. This can include photos of your dress, the rings, vow books, you sipping coffee out on the balcony above the water! All the details you want to remember.
A few hours into your wedding morning when you elope in Greece, it’s time for the adventure to begin. Hop in the car and drive up a gorgeous mountain pass to start a hike. We love watching our couples take their time soaking in view points and enjoying snacks. Being able to have a longer elopement allows us to dedicate time to spontaneity. You can watch the wild boar go by, toss goldfish (the snacks) into each other’s mouths, dip a toe into the Aegean Sea. It’s your time to enjoy and be you.
While you’ve been focusing on the hike, each other, and the views, we’ve been capturing it all with our handy backpack system. The goal is for you to be enjoying the adventure and us to do the heavy lifting. Metaphorically and physically, our cameras and obligatory champagne are in our packs! About two hours from sunset, our eyes are on the lookout for a perfect elopement spot. We will find the best place to elope in Greece that makes you feel like you’re on cloud nine!
Elope in Greece Day 2
While day one is filled with love and ceremony, day two of eloping in Greece is all about being you! There is only so much time on the wedding day, so getting those photos in the epic place you wanted might not be able to happen. You traveled to Greece and there is SO much left to explore. These are the meaningful moments that will kick off your marriage and we want to work with you to make the memories you’ll look back on throughout your lives together.
In Greece, there are so many options for day two!
On your second day, hop on Island Spirit Cruises, kayak through Sea Caves in Lefkada, hike to Paros Park, take a cooking class with Katerina’s Kouzina. Even something as low key as grabbing a pastry in a coffee shop in your newlywed bliss is special. Whatever you want to do, we are here to make it happen and capture the joy! We are here to make your two day Greece elopement adventure come true. Contact us now to start making your dream elopement a reality and stay tuned for our Part 2 in Your Ultimate Guide to Greece where we dive into which Greek Island is best for elopement.
Friendly reminder: Traveling is the ultimate gift. To be able to see the world, feel the cultures, embrace the diversity, and immerse yourself! We believe travel is good for the soul, as well as good for the world and why conscious tourism is a way of life. At Honeybee Weddings we tie together conscious tourism and elopements.
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