Planning a wedding abroad and deciding between a civil, symbolic or religious ceremony? Here’s how they differ in legal validity, paperwork and ceremony format — and what each option actually looks like for a wedding in Greece or Crete.

When planning a destination wedding abroad, one important question usually comes up quite early:

Do we want to get legally married in Greece, or would a symbolic ceremony be enough?

And if religion is important to you, there is a third option:

a religious wedding ceremony.

Visually, all three can look almost identical.

The bride and groom arrive, the celebrant welcomes everyone, the couple exchanges rings and vows, signs a document, shares their first kiss and celebrates with their guests.

So the biggest difference is often not the experience itself.

The main difference is the legal effect, the paperwork involved and who is authorised to perform the ceremony.

Quick answer: What is the difference between a civil, symbolic and religious wedding?

In simple terms:

• civil wedding → a legally valid marriage performed by an authorised official

• symbolic wedding → a full wedding ceremony without legal effect

• religious wedding → a ceremony performed according to the rules of a particular religion; in Greece, it may also constitute a legally valid marriage if the relevant legal and religious requirements are fulfilled
  
  

If you want to combine the legal and ceremonial part into one wedding in Greece, a civil wedding is often the most straightforward choice.

If you want a beautiful ceremony by the sea without dealing with international marriage paperwork, a symbolic wedding may suit you better.

And if your faith and religious tradition are an important part of your marriage, a religious ceremony can be arranged according to your denomination.

1. Civil wedding in Greece: a legally valid marriage

A civil wedding is a legal marriage.

Just as you would marry in front of an authorised official in your home country, a civil wedding in Greece includes a person who has the legal authority to marry you.

The marriage is then registered with the Greek authorities and a Greek marriage certificate is issued.

Depending on the rules of your home country, you may then need to register or report the marriage there as well.

What do you need for a civil wedding in Greece?

Unlike a symbolic ceremony, a civil wedding requires official documentation.

The exact documents depend mainly on:

• your nationality

• your marital status

• the country issuing your documents

• whether either of you has been married before

• other individual circumstances
  
  

Typical requirements may include birth certificates, proof that you are legally free to marry, the required authentication of documents and official translations into Greek.

We have explained the document process in detail in our separate guide: What Documents Do You Need to Legally Get Married in Greece?

For international couples, we check the requirements according to the nationality and circumstances of both partners.

Is the paperwork complicated?

It can look more complicated on paper than it actually is.

In a standard case, the couple obtains the required documents, prepares them correctly for use in Greece and we take care of the communication with the Greek authorities from there.

A civil wedding does, however, involve additional costs compared with a symbolic ceremony, such as:

• official documents

• required authentication

• translations

• administrative fees

• marriage registration
  
  

The advantage is simple:

your wedding ceremony in Greece is also the moment you legally become married.

You do not need to arrange a separate legal wedding at home.

2. Symbolic wedding: the same experience, without the legal effect

A symbolic wedding is a wedding ceremony that does not itself create a legally valid marriage.

There is no government official or other person present who has the legal authority to marry you.

Instead, the ceremony is led by a celebrant whose role is to create and perform the ceremony itself.

And this is where some couples start to worry:

Will a symbolic wedding feel less real?

Not with us.

What does a symbolic wedding with ELEMENTS COMPANY look like?

We design symbolic ceremonies so that the actual experience is almost identical to a civil wedding.

The ceremony includes:

• the entrance of the bride and groom

• an opening speech by the celebrant

• the question asking whether you take your partner as your spouse

• exchanging rings

• a shared wedding vow

• personal vows, if you want them*

• signing a symbolic wedding document**

• being pronounced newlyweds

• the first kiss

• music

• a toast
  
  

*If you wish, you can also prepare your own vows or simply use the moment to say something personal to each other.

**Instead of an official legal document, a symbolic ceremony may include signing a commemorative wedding certificate.

For your guests, the ceremony can therefore be practically indistinguishable from a civil wedding.

How different are civil and symbolic ceremonies in practice?

Often, not very different at all.

During a civil ceremony, an authorised official is additionally present to complete the legally required part of the marriage and ask the necessary official questions.

The couple also signs the official documentation required to register the marriage.

But the legal part itself does not need to take over the ceremony.

In our experience, it usually takes around five minutes or less.

The rest of the ceremony can follow exactly the same structure as a symbolic wedding.

So we would describe the difference like this:

Civil wedding = ceremony + legal effect.

Symbolic wedding = ceremony without legal effect.

The emotions, setting, music, rings, vows and the significance of the moment do not have to feel any less meaningful.

3. Who is a symbolic wedding suitable for?

There are many reasons why a symbolic ceremony may make sense.

You do not want to deal with international paperwork

Some couples simply do not want to organise official documents, translations and authorities before their wedding.

In that case, they can legally marry at home and have their main wedding ceremony in Greece.

You live in a different country from your country of citizenship

For international couples, obtaining the correct paperwork can sometimes be more complicated.

For example, you may be a citizen of one country, have been born in another and currently live in a third.

A symbolic ceremony can simplify the process considerably.

You are already legally married

A very common scenario is:

quick civil wedding at home → main wedding celebration in Crete

You take care of the legal formality at home and then come to Greece for the ceremony that feels like your actual wedding day.

You can also do it the other way around — have the symbolic wedding in Greece first and complete the legal marriage after returning home.

You want to renew your vows

A symbolic ceremony is also ideal for couples who are already married and want to renew their wedding vows after ten, twenty or thirty years.

You simply want a beautiful ceremony

Sometimes there does not need to be a more complicated reason.

For some couples, the most important part is the moment itself, the destination, the people around them and what they want to say to each other.

In that case, a symbolic wedding may be everything they need.

4. Is a symbolic wedding cheaper?

Usually, yes.

A large part of the cost connected with legal administration disappears.

You do not need the same level of:

• official documentation

• translations

• authentication

• government fees

• legal administration
  
  

The wedding itself can otherwise remain exactly the same.

The venue, decoration, photographer, music, catering, rings, outfits, guests and the rest of the programme do not need to change at all.

5. When would we recommend a civil wedding?

We would generally recommend a civil wedding to couples who want to:

“Arrive in Greece unmarried and leave as a married couple.”

You want:

• everything completed during one wedding day

• a legally valid marriage in Greece

• a Greek marriage certificate

• the feeling that this particular ceremony was also the moment you legally became married
  
  

For many couples, that has significant emotional value.

They do not want to feel:

“Technically, we already got married at the registry office two weeks ago.”

They want their wedding day in Crete to be the day.

In that case, a civil wedding makes a lot of sense.

6. When would we recommend a symbolic wedding?

A symbolic wedding may be the better choice if:

• you want minimal administration

• your international paperwork is more complicated

• you are already legally married

• you want to renew your vows

• you do not want to deal with authorities before travelling

• you want maximum flexibility in the ceremony itself
  
  

A symbolic wedding is not a lesser option.

It is simply a different way to create the same wedding experience.

7. Religious weddings in Greece

The third option is a religious wedding ceremony.

Here, the process depends heavily on your religion and the type of ceremony you want.

Greece is traditionally an Orthodox Christian country, so Orthodox weddings are naturally more widely available.

An Orthodox wedding has its own:

• rules

• documentation

• ceremony structure

• church requirements
  
  

If all applicable legal and religious requirements are fulfilled, a religious marriage in Greece may also be legally valid.

What about a Catholic wedding?

A Catholic wedding can also be arranged in Crete.

However, there are significantly fewer Catholic churches and suitable locations than Orthodox ones, so the options are more limited.

The required documentation also depends not only on Greek rules but on the requirements of the relevant church.

For this reason, we always organise religious weddings individually according to the couple’s faith and circumstances.

If you are considering a religious wedding, tell us at the very beginning of the planning process.

Civil vs. symbolic vs. religious wedding: quick comparison

Do you want to get legally married in Greece?

Choose a civil wedding or, where the relevant requirements are fulfilled, a legally valid religious wedding.

Do you want the least possible paperwork?

Choose a symbolic wedding.

Do you want to legally marry at home but have your main wedding day in Greece?

Choose a symbolic wedding.

Do you want the ceremony in Crete to be the exact moment you legally become married?

Choose a civil wedding.

Is religion and church tradition important to you?

Choose a religious wedding, with the exact process determined by your faith.

Do you want to renew your wedding vows?

Choose a symbolic ceremony.

So which option is best?

There is no single right answer for every couple.

Ask yourself one question:

Is it important to us that this exact ceremony legally creates our marriage?

If the answer is yes, choose a civil wedding or an appropriate legally valid religious marriage.

If not, a symbolic ceremony can give you almost the same wedding experience with significantly less administration.

The legal format itself does not determine how beautiful, meaningful or emotional your ceremony will be.

FAQ: Civil, Symbolic and Religious Weddings in Greece

Is a symbolic wedding in Greece legally valid?

No. A symbolic ceremony does not have legal effect on its own. If you want to be legally married, you will need to complete a legal marriage separately.

Does a symbolic wedding look different from a civil wedding?

It does not have to. At ELEMENTS COMPANY, our symbolic ceremonies follow a very similar structure to civil weddings and can include the entrance, vows, rings, signing a commemorative certificate, being pronounced newlyweds and the first kiss.

Is a civil wedding in Greece legally valid?

Yes, provided that it is performed according to Greek legal requirements. Any subsequent registration or recognition in your home country depends on that country’s national rules.

Do we need documents for a civil wedding?

Yes. The exact paperwork depends on your nationality and personal circumstances. We explain the process in detail in our separate guide to the documents needed for a legal wedding in Greece.

Can we legally marry at home and have a symbolic wedding in Crete?

Yes. This is a very common option. You complete the legal marriage at home and have your main wedding ceremony and celebration in Greece.

Can we have a symbolic wedding first and legally marry after we return home?

Yes. You can choose whichever order works best for you.

Can a religious wedding in Greece be legally valid?

Yes. A religious marriage can be legally valid in Greece if the relevant legal and religious requirements are met. The exact conditions depend on your faith and personal circumstances.

Can we have a Catholic wedding in Crete?

Yes, although the options are more limited than for Orthodox weddings. The church, paperwork and exact requirements therefore need to be arranged individually.

Planning a Wedding in Greece or Crete?

Not sure whether a civil, symbolic or religious ceremony is right for you?

Tell us:

where you are from, where you currently live, what type of wedding you are imagining and whether you want the legal marriage to take place in Greece.

At ELEMENTS COMPANY, we will talk you through the options and help you choose the format that makes the most sense both practically and personally.

Whether you choose a civil or symbolic wedding, your wedding day itself can be every bit as beautiful.

You decide what you want your ceremony to mean. ELEMENTS COMPANY takes care of everything around it.