Wedding abroad!!!

boostyboo

Hi everyone,

I am looking to get married in Greece next year April/May time. Our budget unfortunately isn't massive so need to keep it as cheap as possible. I only want something simple anyway, maybe a ceremony on a beach and as it is only us (no guests!!!) we would only need a restaurant to have a quiet intimate meal afterwards.
The problems is, i have no idea where to start and is there a way of organizing this all myself without going through a wedding planner???
Any advice/info would be very much appreciated.

msb5262

Try posting this on the Weddings board... http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=142

boostyboo

Whoops Sorry!

Kynthia

The wedding board will have lots of good advice. However there are books you can buy and website guides that can help. The link below is some of the legal information about getting married abroad:

https://www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad

hazyjo

You could have a week's holiday there first, then choose which restaurant you love, then speak with the owner and have your 'wedding meal' there. When you say 'intimate', I presume you wont' want a room, or the whole restaurant to yourselves?! You might see a lovely table you can pre-book, or ask one near the beach if you can sit down by the sea on your own little table (a la Shirley Valentine!).

If you have somewhere in mind (Greek island?), maybe people on here can advise as to restaurants. Bound to be a few who've been before.

(Give us a link to your new thread on the wedding boards and we'll know where to add future replies.)

Jx

newcook

my best mate got married in Rhodes last year - she said that they had to be in the country a week before the ceremony. she also had to pay an additional £100 for a wedding certificate in English.

I dont know if its the same in all the greek islands but remember to look into all the hidden extras and things that may bump costs!

InsideInsurance

No need for a wedding planner but you need to be sure you fully understand the law of getting married in the area you want to do it. Many countries systems are very different to the UK and the legal & ceremonial/religious parts may be combined or separate

From what I know about Greece from a friend is that you must give notice 8 days before in greek in the local press and/ or with the priest. You must have all your documents (birth certificate, divorce certs, death certs etc) translated into greek with an apostille stamp. Once the marriage has been done you must then register it at the local registrars office otherwise its not a legal marriage.

Certainly what some do to make life easier is to do the legal aspect of the marriage in the UK and then just have the ceremony/ party part abroad. Makes things simplier and with countries where the two parts are separate it wont be anything odd to them.

blossomsuz

Also try here:


http://www.weddingchaos.co.uk/


I got married in Cyprus 5 years ago and found all the advice spot on

Errata

My neice got married on one of the islands (can't remember which one). Ceremony was in the Town Hall and very small reception at the they were staying at. Very small, because there were no guests, but they had a great party to which they invited the world and his dog when they came home.

blackandwhitebunny

I can recommend these people, Sally is the lady you want for a wedding in Corfu. Lovely little village,lots of restaurants ti choose from and they'll sort it all.
http://www.san-stefano.gr/

Gloomendoom

boostyboo wrote: »

I only want something simple anyway, maybe a ceremony on a beach and as it is only us (no guests!!!) we would only need a restaurant to have a quiet intimate meal afterwards.

I'm pretty sure that beach weddings in Greece are a two stage affair. The legal proceedings at the town hall first followed by a ceremony or blessing on the beach afterwards.