Greece is an amazing elopement location. Not only filled with forests, mountains, and lakes, but it is the longest coastline in Europe. There are tons of beautiful islands in Greece as well. With so many options, this guide is going to go over everything you need to consider, such as locations, crowds, seasons, and permits. Read on to find out exactly how to elope in Greece, and see the most beautiful Greece elopement locations.

Where is Greece

Greece is in Southeast Europe. Greece has airports that service both major cities, as well as the smaller areas and islands. Kalamata Airport is both the biggest and busiest, other large airports include the Athens International Airport and Santorini Airport. Choosing the best airport to fly into should be decided after you figure out where exactly you’re going to elope in Greece! There are a ton of options and great ways to get around. You can look into Rome2Rio to see flights, busses, trains, ferries, and more to figure out exactly how to get to point A-B.

When to Elope in Greece

Greece has different temps around the country. The coast stays fairly temperate year round, whereas other parts of Greece can get extremely hot, and the mountains can receive snow. The best time to elope in Greece if you’re looking for mild weather and less crowds will be the spring and fall. However, you should figure out what weather best suits your needs for your day, and look into the different seasons. Here is what each season brings in Greece!

Spring

Temps really beginning to warm up in April and May. Around May, temps are within the high 70’s, my absolute favorite weather for elopements. Not only that, but this is the “shoulder” season. Meaning there are way less crowds. Additionally, this is when nature is in full bloom. Things are getting greener, and there are lots of stunning flowers. However, this time of year the ocean is still quite cold, and might not be a great choice if you’re looking to get into the water.

Summer

Summer is the busiest time of the year in Greece. Places like Athens is wildly hot and humid, and there are a lot of crowds. However, this is an amazing time for an elopement on one of the many greek islands. The water is beautiful and picturesque, and it’s a great time of year for swimming. I only recommend summer elopements in Greece if you’re looking to be high in the mountains, or going to be swimming/on islands. Summer is also peak tourism season, so expect to pay more for flights and lodging.

Fall

Fall is my favorite time of the year for a Greece elopement. The tourism is slowing down a ton, and the weather is a lot more mild. Early mornings and nights can be on the cooler side, but during the day, it’s still super warm, enough so to even still swim! With less crowds, milder temps, cheaper flights and lodging, all with the gorgeous changing colors, this is an amazing time for an elopement.

Winter

Winter in Greece is super different depending where you are. Northern Greece in and around the mountains, can be cold and snowy. Perfect for a winter elopement with snow, snowboarding, or skiing. However the islands still remain temperate with the least amount of crowds in the year. Santorini is a super popular Greece destination that remains in the mid to high 50’s in the winter. This is pleasant weather and you’ll get to experience it with far less people. Other islands are also in the mid 50’s. If you want to avoid crowds and don’t mind cooler weather, this is an amazing time of the year to elope in Greece.

How to Get a Greece Marriage License

You do not need to be a resident of Greece to get legally married there. However, the process can feel a little tricky and can take a few weeks or longer to get everything together. If you’re looking for a simple solution, you’re able to get legally married at your local courthouse and get the paperwork done there. Following that, you can having your elopement in Greece, say your vows, and celebrate your wedding day without the hassle of getting a marriage license abroad.

You can get legally married in Greece with a civil ceremony or religious ceremony. Contact the Greece town hall most local to where your elopement to take place to inquire about specific requirements. To get legally married in Greece, you will need these documents:

• Marriage license: Issued by your state of residence in the U.S. or a valid Certificate of No Impediment
• Passports or ID cards: For both the bride and groom
• Witnesses: Along with their ID
• Birth certificate with an Apostille stamp
• Official Apostille translated into Greek
• Proof of freedom to marry, or affidavit of marriage, notarized in both English and Greek
• Decree of absolution of a previous marriage, if applicable
• Copy of the local newspaper where your intent to marry was published
• Certificates of No Previous Marriage officially certified by the Archbishop of the area of residence
• Family Status Certificates from your local registry
• Baptism registration act/certificate

Last but not least, you’ll have to state your intent to get married in a local newspaper! You will need a copy of this as well. After the ceremony, you’ll receive a marriage certificate. If you want to use it in your home country, you’ll need to have it translated into your native language and certified by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. All of this should cost in total, around $300-$350.

How to Elope in Greece

You plan a Greece elopement in similar ways as you’d plan any adventure elopement. There are a few major steps, and you can read about those here on my thorough guide on how to elope. For this Greece elopement guide, I’m going over the major things you’ll need to consider!

1. DECIDE IF YOU’RE HAVING GUESTS

This is an imperative part of the planning process for elopements. This is because some guests won’t have the hiking ability, some might not be able to travel via flights or planes, and some locations have a cap on how many guests you can have. Once you decide how many guests your having and what their capable of, it becomes a lot easier to choose an elopement location!

2.HIRE YOUR GREECE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER

This might feel early in the planning process, but bear with me. Elopements don’t have wedding planners. Most elopement photographers have taken it upon themselves to help couples with some of the planning. Many actually help you find your location! And they will think of things you might not have considered, such as: lighting, elevation, difficulty in hiking in a dress, permits, and so much more.

Each elopement photographer offers something different. Personally, I send my couples a customized list of locations based on their preferences, hiking ability, who they want to invite, and what they want to see. I also help them determine lodging options, get permits, get their marriage license, recommend vendors, and create a comprehensive day of timeline, and offer unlimited guidance calls for any questions along the way.

The being said, hiring your Greece elopement photographer early is going to take a massive amount of planning stress off of your shoulders. Wanna chat? Contact me here!

3.DETERMINE WHAT WEATHER YOU WANT TO BE IN

This is going to help you choose a date and location. Some locations are warmer than others in winter, some are still cold in late spring, and each season brings something different to Greece. Choosing what kind of weather you want to be in will help you choose both a time of year, and location that would suit your needs the best.

4.PICK YOUR GREECE ELOPEMENT LOCATION

Once you’ve decided on how much you’d like to hike, how many guests are coming, your ideal weather, and the landscapes you want, you’re ready to deep dive into researching Greece elopement locations. Finding the perfect spot will be a lot simpler after considering all of your needs and logistics.

This is information I collect from my couples through a questionnaire, and then use to make a customized list of Greece elopement location options for them.

5.HIRE VENDORS

Once you have your location, it’s time to consider if there’s anything you need vendors for. Do you need any event rentals? Do you want a friend or family to officiate, or do you want to hire an officiant? Will you go out to eat, or do you want something catered, like a meal at an Airbnb from a private chef?

Figure out what extra services you may want, and hire your vendors in advance!

6.GET YOUR PERMITS

You will need to get the correct permits for your elopement. These are usually “special use” permits that you apply for on the National Parks website, or National Forest/BLM website.

Personally, I get all permit information for my eloping couples that hire me. With that, all you need to do is fill out the application when it’s sent to you and pay the fee. Fee’s vary, but are usually around $150 or less.

7.CHOOSE ADDITIONAL ELOPEMENT ACTIVITIES

Activities are such a fun part of an elopement. When you choose to elope, you’re opening yourself up to having a wedding day celebration that feels unique and resonates with you. Incorporate things that will elevate your elopement day experience. Here’s just a few ideas to get you brainstorming:

• Going on a hike
• Having a bonfire
• Having a picnic on a mountain top
• Star-gazing or astrophotography
• Swimming
• Cliff jumping
• Visiting waterfalls
• Camping
• Glamping
• Hiring a private chef
• Hot air balloon ride
• Helicopter tour (landing on glaciers, mountains, etc)
• Kayaking
• Paddleboarding
• Sightseeing
• Scenic driving with time to stop for pictures
• Boat ride around the islands
• Exchanging gifts
• Reading letters from friends or family

8. MAKE A DAY-OF TIMELINE

Making a timeline is an important part of any elopement. It strings together all of your locations, activities, and lets guests know where to be and when. Creating a well thought out timeline will help you feel relaxed during the day, instead of stressed or rush. Make sure to include drive times as well as buffer times between each “event.”

Here are the things I include in the timelines I make for my couples:

• All addresses
• Sunrise time
• Sunset time
• Drive times
• A linke to Accuweather
• A list of all names for group shots
• Vendor info
• Emergency contact info
• A packing list

Lodging in Greece

Lodging is important when it comes to elopements. A lot of couples incorporate their lodging into aspects of their wedding day. For example, getting ready + getting ready photos, a first look, an intimate reception with friends, a dinner made by a private chef, etc. Once you’ve decided what you’ll incorporate in your day, pick a location that will allow everything you want to include.

If you want to host an intimate reception, I highly recommend a vacation rental such as a cabin or an Airbnb. You can also stay at hotels, resorts, chalets, campgrounds, etc. Here are some amazing lodging options in Greece:

• Mykonos Hotel Apsenti
• Porto Zante Villas
• Herodotos Studios
• Rocobella Santorini
• List of Villas in Greece
• List of Airbnb’s in Greece

How Much Does it Cost to Elope in Greece

If you’re getting legally married in Greece, all of the applications and paperwork will technically cost $300-$350 to elope in Greece. That being said, most couples spend an average of $5000-$25,000 on their elopement. This includes flights, lodging, permits, vendors, wedding attire, meals, and anything extra a couple might want.

Greece Elopement Locations

There are an endless amount of beautiful Greece elopement locations. Greece is large and diverse, so you have options from mountain to sea. Remember, when you work with me, you get a customized list of unique locations that suit all of your needs including: the scenery you want to be in, how much you want to hike, drive times, and weather. For now, here is a list of beautiful Greece elopement location ideas:

Santorini

Polylimnio Waterfalls

Crete

Corfu

Mykonos

Meteora

Delphi

Mount Olympus

Paros

Greece Elopement Packages

Elopement photography by Emilee Setting Photo, and everything included in my packages:

• Explore anywhere within Greece, all travel fees included in the price!
• Packages from half day elopements to multi-day elopements
• Receive a customized location list
• Help finding lodging that suits your needs if you’re having an intimate reception
• Included comprehensive timeline design
• Help obtaining your permits
• Help obtaining your marriage license
• A planning checklist
• Unlimited planning and guidance calls 
• All of your stunning photos delivered under three months
• Day of polaroid sneak peeks

Greece elopement packages starting at $8800. Want more information on my pricing and what’s included? Click here

Ready to Elope in Greece?

This Greece elopement guide is a way to get you excited about all the possibilities of what your day could look like. Although, this amount of information can be overwhelming. I’m here to help. I can answer any and all questions you have on a complimentary low pressure consultation call. If you then choose you’d like to work together, I’ll do all of this planning right by your said to alleviate any stress, and bring your Greece elopement vision to life. We can chat here!