Getting Married in the Peloponnese as a Foreigner: Legal Steps, Venues and Season (2026)

Foreigners can get married legally in the Peloponnese, in a civil ceremony at a town hall or in a church, with no residence requirement. A civil wedding needs a marriage licence from the town hall where the ceremony takes place, issued after a one-week objection period and valid for 6 months. Apostilled and translated documents are the slow part. A symbolic ceremony, with no paperwork at all, is the simpler alternative. This guide is the pillar of the weddings and celebrations hub.

Most wedding content about Greece is written for Santorini and Crete, and treats the mainland as an afterthought. It also repeats errors. At least one widely read elopement guide still says same-sex marriage is illegal in Greece, when it has been legal since February 2024. The official Greek pages contradict each other on newspaper notices and on what non-residents need, and few guides say so. This guide flags each of those points and gives the venues, season and guest logistics region by region.

Fees, timelines and travel times below were checked against official sources in November 2026.

Legal Wedding or Ceremony Only: The Decision That Sets the Timeline

Every wedding in the Peloponnese starts with one choice: a legal marriage in Greece, or a legal marriage at home and a ceremony in Greece. The answer decides the paperwork, the calendar and the venue options.

A legal wedding in Greece is either civil or religious. Both have full legal value, and a couple does not need both. A civil wedding is performed by the mayor or the president of the local community, according to the US Embassy in Athens. The town hall decides where the ceremony can take place. A religious wedding is performed by a priest in a church. Either needs documents from home, apostilled and translated, and a Greek certificate to bring back.

A ceremony-only wedding has no legal effect in Greece. The couple marries at a registry office at home, before or after the trip, and the Peloponnese ceremony is symbolic. There are no apostilles, no town hall dates and no witnesses’ paperwork. The ceremony can be held at any hour and in any private place the venue allows.

Question	Legal wedding in Greece	Symbolic ceremony
Paperwork	Apostilles, translations, licence, registration	None in Greece
Lead time for documents	3 to 6 months	None
Arrival before the date	About 8 to 10 days if filing in person	Any time
Place	Town hall, approved place or church	Any private venue
Hour	Set by the town hall or the church	Free
Certificate	Greek certificate, apostilled for home use	Home registry certificate

Who Can Marry in Greece

Greece does not require either partner to live in the country before marrying, according to the US Embassy in Athens. Two foreigners can marry, as can a foreigner and a Greek citizen. Both partners must be at least 18, unless a court or parental consent applies to a minor.

US citizens need a Schengen entry stamp in their passport. Since the EU Entry/Exit System became fully operational on 10 April 2026, entries are also recorded electronically. Couples from outside the Schengen area should keep their entry record and travel dates consistent with the wedding file.

The wedding documents guide lists the papers by nationality in more detail.

The Civil Wedding Step by Step

A civil wedding follows the same order in every Peloponnese municipality, even if the details vary from one town hall to the next. The steps below follow the official Greek procedure published on mitos.gov.gr, the national register of administrative procedures, and the US Embassy page on marriage in Greece.

Step 1: Choose the municipality and contact the town hall

The licence is issued by the municipality where the wedding will take place, so the place comes first. Nafplio, Monemvasia, East Mani (for Areopoli, Limeni and Oitylo), West Mani (for Kardamyli) and Pylos-Nestor (for Pylos and Costa Navarino) are separate municipalities. Ask the town hall for its document list, its ceremony days, its fee and whether it requires a newspaper notice. Get the answers in writing.

Step 2: Gather the documents at home

Each partner usually needs a valid passport, a full birth certificate, and a certificate of no impediment to marriage from the home country, also called a certificate of capacity to marry. Anyone previously married needs the divorce decree or the former spouse’s death certificate. Order fresh copies, and ask the town hall how recently each document must have been issued.

Step 3: Apostille every foreign document

Documents from countries that signed the Hague Convention need an apostille, a stamp that certifies the document for use abroad. Documents from other countries must be certified by the Greek consulate in the country of issue instead. The apostille goes on the original document before translation.

Step 4: Translate into Greek

Every foreign document must be translated into Greek. The official procedure accepts translations by the translation service of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by a lawyer, or by a certified translator. The English page of the same procedure asks for a translation into Greek by a Greek translator. Ask the town hall whether it accepts translations made abroad before ordering any.

Step 5: File the licence application

Each partner files an application for a marriage licence (adeia gamou) at the town hall, in person or by post. The application gives names, occupation, parents’ names, place of birth, last residence and the place of the wedding. The e-fee (e-paravolo) is €18 per application in 2026, according to mitos.gov.gr. Ask the town hall whether it charges a separate fee for the ceremony.

Step 6: Publication and the one-week objection period

The town hall waits one week after filing for written objections from third parties. The official procedure also requires a notice of the marriage in a local daily newspaper. Whether that notice applies to non-residents is one of the points where sources disagree (see the next section). The licence is issued once the week has passed and the conditions are met. It is then valid for 6 months.

Step 7: The ceremony and the witnesses

The ceremony is performed by the mayor or a deputy mayor, in Greek. Two witnesses with valid ID must attend. The US Embassy in Athens says one of the two witnesses acts as interpreter when the couple does not speak Greek. Ask the town hall whether it allows a ceremony outside the town hall, for example in a castle, a square or on a hotel terrace.

Step 8: Register the marriage within 40 days

After the ceremony, the marriage must be declared to the civil registry office (lixiarcheio) of the municipality within 40 days. The registry then issues the Greek marriage certificate. Many couples ask a planner or lawyer to file the declaration so they can leave Greece the day after.

Step 9: Apostille the Greek certificate for use at home

To use the Greek certificate at home, it needs its own apostille from the Greek authorities, and often a translation into the home language. French couples instead have the marriage transcribed at the French Consulate General in Athens, which also gives them a family record book (livret de famille).

Where the Official Sources Disagree

Three points in the Greek procedure are not settled by the official pages, and couples should get a written answer from their town hall on each one.

Newspaper publication for non-residents

The official procedure on mitos.gov.gr lists a notice in a local daily newspaper as a required document. That page is written for foreign residents of Greece. The US Embassy in Athens lists the notice for couples where one partner is a Greek citizen. The two sources do not match, so treat the notice as something the town hall may require, and ask.

Which licence non-residents need

The licence procedure published on mitos.gov.gr covers foreigners legally resident in Greece and asks for proof of residence, such as a utility bill. It does not address tourists. A Ministry of the Interior answer to municipalities, dated 1 June 2017 and reproduced by the citizens’ guide odigostoupoliti.eu, says two foreign tourists need a marriage licence valid under the law of their own country. In that case, according to the same answer, the town hall only performs the wedding. The US Embassy in Athens also warns that a town hall may ask for a marriage licence issued by the couple’s US state of residence. Confirm with the chosen municipality which route it applies.

The waiting time

The official procedure gives a processing time of up to 7 days and a one-week wait for objections. The US Embassy in Athens says the licence is generally issued eight days after the application. Both point to the same practical rule: file at least 8 working days before the wedding date.

Documents by Nationality

The core list is the same for everyone. The certificate of no impediment and the home registration differ by country.

Nationality	Certificate of no impediment	After the wedding	Source
United States	Affidavit of Marriage sworn at the US Embassy in Athens, if the town hall asks for it	Greek certificate with apostille	US Embassy in Athens
United Kingdom	Requested through the UK government online service	Greek certificate with apostille	gov.uk
France	Certificat de capacité à mariage from the French consulate, with banns published for 10 days	Transcription at the French Consulate General in Athens	service-public.gouv.fr
Other EU and Hague countries	From the civil registry or consulate	Greek certificate with apostille	Town hall

United States

The US Embassy in Athens says US citizens need a passport with a Schengen entry stamp, an apostilled birth certificate translated into Greek, and proof that any previous marriage has ended. Apostilles for US documents are issued by the Secretary of State of the state that issued the document, not by the Embassy. Some town halls also ask for an Affidavit of Marriage, sworn before a consular officer at the Embassy and then authenticated by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a €30 e-fee.

United Kingdom

The UK government’s former page on marriage in Greece no longer exists. British citizens apply for a certificate of no impediment through the UK government’s online service for marriage abroad. The gov.uk marriage abroad pages do not name the document Greek town halls accept, so ask the town hall before applying.

France

French couples ask the French consulate for a certificat de capacité à mariage, which involves publication of banns for 10 days. After the wedding, the marriage is transcribed at the French Consulate General in Athens, according to service-public.gouv.fr.

A Timeline That Works

The calendar below assumes a legal civil wedding in late May, June or September, with 60 to 120 guests.

When	What to do
12 to 18 months before	Choose the region and the venue. Hold the guest room block.
9 to 12 months before	Contact the town hall or church. Confirm the date and the document list.
6 months before	Order birth certificates and certificates of no impediment.
4 to 5 months before	Apostille the documents. Order the Greek translations.
2 to 3 months before	Send copies to the planner or town hall. Book guest transfers.
8 to 10 days before	File the licence application in person if no planner files it earlier.
Wedding day	Two witnesses with ID. Interpreter if needed.
Within 40 days	Declare the marriage to the civil registry.
After return	Apostille the Greek certificate and register it at home.

The wedding planners guide explains what a local planner files on a couple’s behalf.

Planner or Do It Yourself

A legal wedding in the Peloponnese can be organized without a planner, but few foreign couples do it. The paperwork is in Greek, the town hall works office hours on weekdays, and several steps must happen in person. A planner based in the region usually handles the file, the translations, the town hall booking, the interpreter and the registration within 40 days.

What a planner usually does

A local planner collects the apostilled documents by courier, orders the Greek translations, files the licence application and books the ceremony slot. On the day, the planner brings the witnesses’ forms, coordinates the interpreter and keeps the ceremony on time. Afterwards, the planner files the declaration at the civil registry and can order the apostille on the Greek certificate. Ask each planner for a written quote.

What couples can do themselves

A couple marrying in Nafplio with a small guest list can handle the paperwork alone if one partner reads Greek or the town hall staff speak English. Start by email nine to twelve months ahead, ask for the document list in writing, and keep a scan of every apostille and translation. Plan two visits to the town hall: one to file, one for the ceremony.

Questions to ask before hiring

Ask whether the planner has filed weddings with the chosen municipality before, who the interpreter will be, whether registration and the apostille of the Greek certificate are included, and how the fee changes with the number of guests. Ask for references from weddings held in the same region and the same month.

Religious Weddings: Greek Orthodox and Other Churches

A church wedding in Greece has full legal value, so it replaces the civil ceremony rather than adding to it. The church handles part of the paperwork, but the marriage must still be registered at the civil registry within 40 days.

Greek Orthodox weddings

The conditions for a Greek Orthodox wedding are set by the local Metropolis, the diocese. Ask the priest early whether a partner who is not Orthodox can marry in the church. The priest and the Metropolis ask for baptism certificates and grant the permission. The ceremony uses the crowns (stefana) and the sugared almonds (koufeta) that many couples also borrow for a symbolic wedding. The Greek Orthodox wedding guide and the Greek wedding traditions guide cover the ritual.

Small chapels

The Peloponnese has hundreds of small chapels, many on headlands or in villages. A chapel is not a hotel venue. Ask the parish priest and the Metropolis for permission, not only the owner of the land around it. Access by guests, parking and the distance to the reception decide whether a chapel works.

Catholic and other churches

Catholic and Protestant churches are few in the Peloponnese. Couples of other faiths usually marry civilly and add a blessing led by their own celebrant.

Same-Sex Marriage in Greece

Same-sex civil marriage has been legal in Greece since Law 5089/2024, passed in February 2024. A same-sex couple follows the same civil procedure as any other couple: documents, licence, ceremony at the town hall, registration within 40 days. The Greek Orthodox Church does not perform same-sex weddings.

The open question concerns couples from countries that do not recognize same-sex marriage. The mitos.gov.gr licence procedure asks for a certificate of no impediment and does not say what applies when the home country refuses to issue one. Couples in that situation should ask the town hall before booking a venue. A symbolic ceremony in the Peloponnese remains open to every couple. See the same-sex marriage guide.

Symbolic Ceremonies, Elopements and Vow Renewals

A symbolic ceremony has no legal weight, which is exactly what makes it easy. No documents, no waiting week and no town hall calendar. The couple chooses the celebrant, the words and the hour, and the venue sets the rest. The symbolic wedding guide covers the format in detail.

Elopements

An elopement is a wedding for two, sometimes with a photographer and a celebrant. In the Peloponnese the usual settings are a west-facing bay in the Mani at sunset, the lanes of Monemvasia early in the morning, or the beach at Voidokilia in Messinia. Professional photography inside a ticketed site needs a paid permit, and drones need prior approval (see below). The elopement guide lists more spots.

Vow renewals

A vow renewal is a symbolic ceremony for a married couple, often on an anniversary. Most content on vow renewals in Greece covers only the islands. On the mainland, any hotel that hosts weddings can host a renewal, usually with fewer guests and a shorter ceremony before dinner. The vow renewal guide goes further.

Drones and photo permits

Drones are covered by EU rules, and archaeological sites, ports and military areas are restricted zones in Greece. A drone flight there needs prior approval from the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, requested at least 5 working days ahead, according to the authority. Professional photography or filming at an ancient site also needs a permit from the Ministry of Culture. Ask the local Ephorate of Antiquities for the current fee before booking the photographer. See the wedding drone rules guide.

Wedding Venues by Region

The venues below are grouped by region, and the regions follow the coast from the Argolid in the northeast to Messinia in the southwest. Within the Mani, venues are listed from north to south. The list gives verified names only. Capacities are given only where a venue publishes them, and prices are not listed because no venue below publishes package prices. The wedding venues guide is more complete.

Nafplio: the town and its civil ceremony

Nafplio is the most practical wedding town in the Peloponnese. It is about 140 minutes from Athens airport, it has many hotels within walking distance of each other, and the old town gives guests a full evening without transport. Couples considering a civil ceremony should ask the municipality of Nafplio which places it approves for weddings and on which days. The Nafplio wedding guide has more.

Nafplio: Nafplia Palace Hotel & Villas

Nafplia Palace Hotel & Villas sits on the Acronafplia hill above the old town, with views over the Argolic Gulf. It has rooms and villas, an outdoor pool and a terrace. It appears in wedding listings for Nafplio. It suits couples who want the ceremony and dinner above the town, with guests walking down to the old town afterwards. Self parking is free.

Monemvasia: the walled town

Monemvasia suits small weddings. The walled lower town has no cars, so guests, flowers, food and music arrive on foot through the gate. A religious wedding in one of the churches inside the walls needs permission from the priest and the Metropolis. The upper town is reached by a steep, unlit path, which rules out evening guests in formal shoes. The Monemvasia wedding guide covers the logistics.

Monemvasia: Kinsterna Hotel

Kinsterna Hotel is a restored Byzantine-era mansion at Agios Stefanos, about 7 km southwest of the Monemvasia rock, 10 to 15 minutes by car. It is set among vineyards and olive groves, with a restored cistern at its center and views to the rock. It is listed as a wedding venue by photographers and hotel guides. It has 51 rooms, suites and villas, according to the hotel, which helps house part of a guest list on site. Parking is easy, unlike inside the walls.

The Mani: Melitsina Village Hotel, Kardamyli

Melitsina Village Hotel is on the coast near Kardamyli in the Messinian Mani, the northernmost of the Mani venues listed here. It is listed as a wedding venue with water views and in-house catering. Kardamyli itself has tavernas and small hotels for guests, and it is the closest part of the Mani to Kalamata Airport, about 75 minutes by car on the coast road.

The Mani: Manifest Boutique Hotel, Karavostasi

Manifest Boutique Hotel is at Karavostasi, beside Oitylo village at the head of Oitylo bay, facing Limeni. Its wedding space is beside the infinity pool, looking over the bay, which faces west to the sunset. It can host up to 350 guests, according to the hotel. The hotel has 18 suites in local stone and wood, so most guests stay elsewhere in Limeni, Areopoli or Oitylo. Limeni is about 6 minutes by car and parking is free.

The Mani: Petra & Fos Boutique Hotel & Spa, Neo Oitylo

Petra & Fos Boutique Hotel & Spa is at Neo Oitylo, on the shore of Oitylo bay. It is listed as a wedding venue, with a spa and a church within walking distance. Its position on the same bay gives the same west-facing evening light. It suits couples who want a ceremony at the church and a reception a short walk away.

The Mani: Kyrimai Hotel, Gerolimenas

Kyrimai Hotel is a converted 19th-century stone house and warehouses on the small port of Gerolimenas, in the Deep Mani. It is a member of Historic Hotels of Europe, which lists it among its wedding hotels. It suits a small wedding at the end of the road, with a dinner on the water. Gerolimenas is about 275 minutes from Athens airport by car.

Messinia: Costa Navarino

Costa Navarino is a resort area near Pylos with four five-star hotels: Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino, W Costa Navarino, The Romanos and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino. All four host weddings, with beach, garden and ballroom settings listed by their operators. The W is adults-only. Costa Navarino suits large weddings where every guest stays on site, with golf, spas and more than 40 restaurants. It is about 245 minutes from Athens airport and closer to Kalamata Airport.

Porto Heli: Amanzoe

Amanzoe is a hilltop resort near Porto Heli in the southern Argolid, with 38 guest pavilions, each with a private pool, according to Aman. Aman publishes a celebrations brochure, and the resort’s amphitheater and beach club are used for ceremonies and dinners. It suits couples who want privacy, a small or medium guest list on site, and a boat to Spetses or Hydra for the day after. Spetses is about 15 minutes by boat from Kosta.

Hydra and Spetses

Hydra and Spetses sit just off the Argolid coast. Both host weddings, but both restrict cars, so every guest arrives by boat. Hydra has no cars at all. Fast catamarans are the first boats cancelled in strong wind, which makes a mainland venue the safer choice for guests arriving on the day.

Season, Heat and Wind: Planning a Plan B

The outdoor wedding season in the Peloponnese follows the hotel calendar, since many seaside hotels in the Mani and Messinia close from late October to around Easter. The best months are late May, June, September and early October. The best time for a wedding guide goes month by month.

Month	Kalamata high (°C)	Argolic Gulf high, Astros (°C)	Sea at Kalamata (°C)	Note
May	24.6	25.7	19.4	Fresh evenings, cool sea
June	29.1	30.9	22.8	Long days, before the crowds
July	31.3	33.7	25.9	Hot, meltemi wind on the Aegean side
August	31.4	33.2	27.0	Peak prices and crowds around 15 August
September	28.4	29.1	26.0	Warm sea, calmer
October	24.3	24.1	23.7	First rains, some hotels closing

Air temperatures are long-term averages from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service. Sea temperatures are monthly averages published by seatemperature.info.

Heat

July and August highs average over 31°C in Kalamata and over 33°C on the Argolic Gulf. An outdoor ceremony should start after 18:30 in those months. Provide shade, water and fans for guests, and keep the photographer’s schedule away from 12:00 to 17:00.

Wind

The meltemi is a north to northeast wind on the Aegean, strongest in July and August. It hits the Saronic and Argolic gulfs, Hydra and Spetses harder than the Ionian coast of Messinia. Any outdoor setup needs weighted decor, a sheltered side and, for a beach, a fallback terrace. Check the forecast for boat transfers the day before.

Fire season and fireworks

The fire season starts on 1 May. A daily fire-risk map is published the evening before, and on level 4 or 5 days access to forests and protected areas can be banned by regional decision. Lighting an outdoor fire is illegal during the season. Ask the venue and the municipality whether fireworks, sky lanterns or open flames are allowed on the date.

Rain

November and December are the wettest months, with more than 140 mm of rain a month in Kalamata. October can bring the first storms. Any wedding outside June to September needs an indoor plan.

Getting Guests There: Airports, Transfers and Beds

The guest logistics often decide the region more than the venue does. The guests’ travel and accommodation guide covers this in more detail.

Airports

Athens International Airport is the year-round gateway for the whole Peloponnese. Kalamata Airport is seasonal and listed 22 international destinations and 31 routes in 2026, including Jet2 from Manchester, London Stansted and Birmingham from 5 April 2026. British Airways flies to Kalamata from London Gatwick from summer 2026, according to the airline. The Kalamata Airport flights guide lists the airlines.

Driving times for guests

From	To	Time by car	One-way tolls (2026)
Athens airport	Nafplio	About 140 minutes	About €7.40
Athens airport	Porto Heli	About 205 minutes	About €7.40
Athens airport	Monemvasia	About 290 minutes	About €20.35
Athens airport	Areopoli (Mani)	About 245 minutes	About €20.35
Athens airport	Costa Navarino	About 245 minutes	About €19.15
Kalamata Airport	Oitylo bay (Mani)	About 105 to 120 minutes	None

Driving times are calculated without traffic and run longer on the Mani roads. The Athens to the Peloponnese guide covers the routes and tolls.

Transfers

Public KTEL buses (the regional intercity coaches) run from Athens to Nafplio in about 120 minutes, but they do not serve hotels on the Mani coast or the resorts. Most couples book coaches for guests on fixed days, from Athens airport or Kalamata Airport. Guests who rent cars should know the motorway tolls and that the Mani roads are slow after dark. The car rental guide helps.

Beds for guests

Base	Guest capacity	Note
Nafplio	Large: many hotels in and around the old town	Easiest for 100+ guests
Costa Navarino	Large: four resort hotels on one site	Everyone on site
Porto Heli	Medium: Amanzoe plus hotels and villas around the town	Villas common
Monemvasia	Small to medium: small hotels inside the walls, more in Gefyra	Luggage carried on foot inside the walls
The Mani	Small: hotels of 3 to 50 rooms spread across villages	Coaches needed between villages

Welcome Dinners, Boat Days and the Day After

A destination wedding in the Peloponnese is usually a three-day event, and the days around the wedding shape how guests remember it. The private events guide covers celebrations beyond weddings.

The welcome dinner

A welcome dinner the evening before the wedding gives guests who arrived from Athens or Kalamata a first meal together. In Nafplio, an old town taverna or a restaurant on the waterfront can take a large group. In the Mani, a harbor taverna in Limeni or Gerolimenas suits a smaller group. Book a private room or the full terrace, and confirm the closing time, since village tavernas may close earlier than city restaurants.

A boat day

A boat day the morning after the wedding suits the coastal regions. From Pylos, boats cross Navarino Bay. From Porto Heli or Kosta, boats reach Spetses in about 15 minutes. From Limeni and Gerolimenas, ask at the harbor or the hotel about boat trips along the Mani coast in season. Morning trips avoid the afternoon wind, especially on the Aegean side in July and August.

A day at the sites

Guests who stay on often want one ancient site. From Nafplio, Mycenae and Epidaurus are each 30 minutes away and cost €20 each in 2026. From Costa Navarino, the Palace of Nestor costs €10 and Ancient Messene €15. From the Mani, the Diros caves are about 25 minutes from Oitylo bay. Ticket prices have been the same all year since 1 April 2025. Send guests early, since heatwave closures from 12:00 to 17:00 can be ordered at short notice.

The farewell

A farewell brunch at the main hotel lets guests leave in waves for their flights. Athens airport is about 140 to 290 minutes away by car depending on the region, so morning departures need an early start. Kalamata flights in season make the Mani and Messinia easier for guests from northern Europe.

By Situation

You want a legal wedding with 100 or more guests

Choose Nafplio or Costa Navarino, where guests can stay close together. Start the paperwork six months ahead and use a local planner to file at the town hall. Book coaches from Athens airport for the day before the wedding.

You want a small wedding with a sunset

Choose the Mani, on Oitylo bay or in Limeni, where the bay faces west. Keep the guest list small enough to fit two or three hotels within 15 minutes of each other. Schedule the ceremony an hour before sunset.

You want to elope

Marry legally at home, then hold a symbolic ceremony in Monemvasia at dawn or in the Mani at sunset with a photographer. Avoid ticketed sites and drones without permits. See the elopement guide.

You are renewing your vows

Pick a hotel that hosts weddings in the Mani, Monemvasia or Porto Heli and ask for a short ceremony before dinner. No paperwork is needed. Late May, September and early October give the gentlest weather.

You are a same-sex couple

A civil wedding in the Peloponnese is open to you on the same terms as any couple since February 2024. If your home country does not recognize same-sex marriage, ask the town hall how it handles the certificate of no impediment before you book.

You want a winery or olive grove setting

The Nemea wine region and the olive groves of Messinia and the Mani suit this, with a tent and generator for anything outdoors. See the Nemea winery wedding guide and the olive grove wedding guide.

What It Costs

Few wedding costs in the Peloponnese are published. The destination wedding cost guide tracks the ranges as they become available. The figures below are the ones published by official bodies in 2026.

Item	Cost (2026)	Notes
Marriage licence e-fee (e-paravolo)	€18 per application	mitos.gov.gr
Ceremony fee at the town hall	Ask the town hall	Not listed on mitos.gov.gr
Apostilles at home	Set by the issuing country	Per document
Greek translations	Quoted by the translator or lawyer	Ask for a quote per document
Tolls, Athens airport to Nafplio	About €7.40 one way	Per car, €10.35 via the Moreas motorway
Tolls, Athens airport to the Mani	About €20.35 one way	Per car
Unleaded petrol	€2.001 per liter	National average, 12 November 2026
Climate resilience fee	Per room per night, charged by the hotel	Varies by hotel category and season

What is not included: venue hire, catering, planner fees, photographers, flowers, music, guest coaches and hotel rooms, none of which is published as a fixed price by the venues above. Ask every venue for a written quote that lists service charges, overtime after midnight, and the minimum number of guest nights. Tipping is not compulsory in Greece. Any tip for restaurant staff is left to the guests.

Common Mistakes

1. Believing same-sex marriage is illegal in Greece. It has been legal since Law 5089/2024 of February 2024. Some widely read guides still say otherwise.
2. Arriving three days before a legal wedding without filing ahead. The licence follows a one-week objection period. Either file through a planner or lawyer in advance, or arrive at least 8 to 10 days before the date.
3. Forgetting to register the marriage. A Greek marriage must be declared to the civil registry within 40 days. Without that, there is no Greek certificate to apostille and take home.
4. Translating documents abroad without checking. Greek town halls accept translations by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs service, a lawyer or a certified translator. Ask before paying for a translation at home.
5. Planning a ceremony inside an ancient site. Ticketed sites are not wedding venues, and professional photos and drones need permits. Marry nearby and photograph outside the fenced areas.
6. Choosing a venue before counting beds. The Mani and Monemvasia have small hotels spread across villages. A guest list of more than 80 usually works better in Nafplio, Porto Heli or Costa Navarino.

Where to Go Next

Start with the weddings and celebrations hub, then work through the paperwork with the wedding documents guide. Couples who want to skip the legal steps should read the symbolic wedding guide. For the place itself, the wedding venues guide compares settings across the region, and the Peloponnese honeymoon guide plans the trip that follows.