Ceremony Options

Types of Ceremonies

Imagine your ceremony on a sun kissed Greek island, on a soft, white sandy beach by a sparkling sea or in an ancient chapel in Cyprus surrounded by family and friends. Olympic Weddings offers a diverse range of picturesque destinations to celebrate the biggest day of your life.

We can tailor make your special day to suit your budget and needs. From barefoot and budget to traditional church services, we will help plan your day to ensure your friends and family, along with the wedding couple create a ceremony and reception you will always remember. Whether you are planning a low-key budget friendly day, or an extravagant over the top party, Olympic Weddings can assist in planning traditional, symbolic, religious or same sex ceremonies.

Civil (legal)

For couples who choose to handle both the legal and symbolic ceremony abroad the legal process can seem daunting, however our Olympic Weddings team have all the steps fine tuned to make the process an easy and stress free journey for our couples. Our weddings team will advise you on the process to obtain all the required documentation, and we are here every step of the way to help throughout. For further information please see our 'legal requirements' page.

In both Cyprus & Greece you will go to the Town Hall (this can occur either before or after the wedding day) to process all the documentation for the marriage certificate. An Olympic Holidays representative will accompany you to the Town Hall to ensure everything runs smoothly and to answer any questions along the way.

In Cyprus your wedding certificate is then signed on the ceremony day as part of the wedding ceremony.

In Greece the day you go to the Town Hall is the day you are legally married (this date will be on the wedding certificate).

Symbolic

For couples who don't want the stress of legal paperwork but are still dream of wedding abroad, then a symbolic ceremony is the perfect choice for you. By taking care of the civil ceremony at home in the UK, many couples enjoy the less administrative side of travelling abroad for the symbolic ceremony where all the paperwork is already completed and they can get on with enjoying both their special day and holiday abroad.

Symbolic ceremonies are handled with the same expertise and dedication as a civil ceremony with a celebrant conducting the service. All the same extras and special touches are available for couples who find this type of ceremony the best fit for them.

Same Sex

Whilst we can't offer a legally binding ceremony, we can offer a picture-perfect symbolic ceremony (see above) that is tailor made for you. We will help create your dream ceremony and provide the perfect setting to make a commitment to each other and to celebrate with family and friends.

Like all our other ceremony options our dedicated weddings team will help organise all the details and small touches to bring your vision to life in creating a day you will cherish forever.

Religious

Cyprus

For a religious wedding you will still need all the paperwork required for a legal ceremony, as you will shave to get your marriage license from the Town Hall (see our 'legal requirements' page for further information).

In Cyprus we offer two types of religious services, Catholic and Anglican. Before confirming your wedding date we will contact the Church authority and request the date.

Catholic

For Catholic services you need to ask your priest in the UK for paperwork to send to the priest in Cyprus. You will get married at the Town Hall first, and then after, have the Catholic service.

Anglican

For Anglican services the priest in Cyprus requests your contact details and will contact you prior to arrival.

In both cases the Church will organise a meeting with you prior to the wedding in Cyprus.

Greece

For information on religious ceremonies in Greece please contact us for further information.

Renewal of Vows

Cyprus

In Cyprus we can offer a civil service or religious service (Anglican only) for renewal of vows. For a civil service no paperwork is required, and for a religious service you will need your marriage certificate.

Please note we do not offer Catholic renewal of vows.

Greece

Renewal of vows can take place on the islands of Rhodes, Zante and Santorini. You will only need a copy of your marriage certificate, and your original birth certificates.

Please note not every venue or destination offers all types of ceremonies. For further information please contact our weddings team who will be happy to suggest a range of venue options that are suitable for your big day.

Residency in Resort

The residency time clients need to be in resort before their ceremony can vary between destination, and while there may not be a legal requirement to be there a certain number of days before, we do need to allow time for you to meet with your wedding coordinator, to make final plans, check all documentation is in order and in some cases the priest, celebrant or church may require a meeting prior to the day. In some destinations the Town Hall may also not be open daily.

Civil (legal) ceremonies

Cyprus: No legal residency in place, we recommend 3 working days as a guide.

Greece: No legal residency in place, we recommend 3 working days as a guide.

Malta: No legal residency in place, we recommend 3 working days as a guide.

Please note in Greece you will also need to allow 1-2 days between the wedding and departing for home as you will need to collect your wedding certificate from the Town Hall. In Cyprus you receive your wedding certificate on the day of your wedding.

Symbolic ceremonies:

Cyprus: 2 days recommended (celebrant will want to meet with the couple).

Greece: 2 days recommended

Malta: 2 days recommended

Same sex ceremonies:

Cyprus: 2 days recommended (celebrant will want to meet with the couple).

Greece: 2 days recommended

Malta: 2 days recommended

Religious ceremonies:

Cyprus: No legal residency in place, we recommend 3 working days as a guide (couples will need to meet the priest in resort also).

Greece: Please contact us for further information.

Please note in Greece you will also need to allow 1-2 days between the wedding and departing for home as you will need to collect your wedding certificate from the Town Hall. In Cyprus you receive your wedding certificate on the day of your wedding.

Renewal of vow ceremonies:

Cyprus: For Anglican ceremonies we recommend 3 days before (couples will need to meet the priest in resort). For civil ceremonies we recommend 2 days before.

Greece: 3 days recommended.

Need to ask a question? Simply call our weddings team on:

020 8492 6789
Wedding couple flowers and stairs