WEDDINGS ON KEFALONIA

Getting married in Greece combines the advantages of a wonderful climate and a wedding organised at a greatly reduced cost - all just a few hours' flight away. Couples combining their wedding and honeymoon in Greece can not only reduce the cost of the wedding but the more relaxed atmosphere may help in reducing the stress that is so often associated with getting married!

The latest Mintel report states that 'the overseas weddings market is growing steadily, whilst UK marriage rates fall to their lowest level since records began. Weddings abroad now account for an estimated 16% of all UK marriages, with cost savings and avoidance of stress proving major attractions for a growing number of couples. Meanwhile the honeymoon is ingrained in our culture and new developments such as renewal of vows have further potential to boost the market. However, destinations, product and promotion remain far more traditional than in other areas of the rapidly diversifying holiday sector. '

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Specialising in Honeymoon villas Agni Travel website.   Tel: 0030 26630 91609   Mob: 0030 26630 91609   Email: sales@agni.gr   Website: www.agni.gr/travel/kefalonia/   Visits: 337    Rating based on 7 votes   Rate This Site

One of the easiest ways to get married in Kefalonia is to opt for one of the tour operator packages which are offered by the larger tour operators such as Thomas Cook or Thomson Holidays. The tour operator will provide you with a list of requirements and arrange the wedding ceremony at one of the local town halls in Argostoli or Scala.

Another way is to enlist the help of a locally based wedding co-ordinator or wedding planner. Using a co-ordinator in Kefalonia provides you with a contact based here all year and the flexibility to have a tailor-made wedding. The only legal marriages are those that are performed in a church or in a registry office with ceremony conducted by a priest or the local mayor or deputy mayor. If you want to be wed in a romantic setting on a beach at sunset or at your accommodation the ceremony a symbolic ceremony can be arranged to tie in with the legal documentation. Some hotels that have reception facilities will also assist with the administration and planning of your wedding if you use their hotel for the reception.

Or you may wish to arrange everything yourself and we hope with the aid of the information on this website you will find useful contacts for everything from flowers to yacht hire for your special day. If you have any questions, please feel free to post them on the message boards. With over 40,000 inhabitants on the island of Kefalonia help is at hand!

Greece has no residency requirements or waiting periods to get a marriage license although for a wedding in Kefalonia the couple should be on the island 8 days before the ceremony. For a civil ceremony you apply to the local community mayor and for a religious ceremony, the license is issued by the parish priest. The process of getting a marriage license in Greece is a little complicated as personal documents have to be translated, notices in Greek must be placed in the local newspaper, and there is a short processing time. Religious ceremonies are more complicated than civil ones but in spite of the red tape, Greece is actually easier than other European countries.

Visiting the island for a holiday is recommended before arranging the wedding and you can have some fun trying out places before deciding on the venue for your reception. You could even choose the bride's dress from a selection of shops on the island specialising in bridal wear as well as the wedding rings because Kefalonia has some great jewellery shops and jewellery craftsmen based here. You will be able to afford this planning holiday with the money you will save when arranging your wedding on Kefalonia and you will ensure that everything will meet your expectations on the big day!

Catholic church weddings can only be arranged if the bride and groom have not been previously married. Either the bride or groom must be a Catholic and both parties must be baptised. The first step is to inform the Catholic priest of your local parish of your intent to marry abroad. He will then need to view both parties' Birth Certificates and Baptism Certificates and can then give information on what further documentation is needed. These are in turn passed on to the Catholic priest of the church in Greece where the ceremony is to be performed.

The Catholic Church in Kefalonia is in the Lithostrato in Argostoli. Address and telephone:
Aghiou Nikolaou Church
Argostoli,
281 00, Kefallinia
Tel. 0030 26710 22473

Both parties must be baptised and either the bride or groom must be of the Orthodox religion.

Firstly the couple must tell their parish priest at their local Orthodox church of their intention to get married abroad. He will then view both parties' Birth Certificates and Baptism Certificates and advise on further documentation requirements. These in turn are passed on to the Orthodox priest of the church in Greece where the ceremony will be performed.

The following is a list of documents and other requirements for a legal wedding in Greece:

Bride's and Groom's passports. Both bride and groom should hold a full British passport; passport holders of other nationalities should check with their embassy.

Both parties must obtain a 'full' birth certificate with parents' names as the shorter version of the Birth Certificate will not be accepted.

This document certifies that both parties are free to get married and can be obtained from your local Registrar Office. It may take up to one month to obtain as the local Registrar Office will place the document on public display for three weeks. The certificate has a 'shelf life' and must not be issued more than three months before the wedding day.

An Apostille is a special seal applied by an authority to certify that a document is a true copy of an original. Apostilles are available in countries which signed the Hague Convention abolishing the requirement of legalizing foreign public documents, . and making document certification much easier.

If either party is divorced, a Certified Copy of the Decree Absolute must be obtained.

If either of the parties is a widower, a Death Certificate is needed.

This will be required if either bride or groom has changed name by Deed Poll.

If either of the parties was adopted then this will be required.

Although not required for a civil ceremony, Baptism Certificates will be required for a Catholic or Greek Orthodox church wedding.

All the above documents must be translated into Greek at the Greek Embassy or Consulate and this should be completed at least one month before the wedding. See the Greek Embassy's website www.greekembassy.co.uk for a list of professional translators. As there is no official translation department within the consulate general of Greece, they provide a list of translators from which to choose. As you will require authentication of a translated document for official use, the consular fee for the legalisation varies from 3 to 14 gbp per document.

Two witnesses are required for all types of wedding ceremonies.

Argostoli Theatre 'Kefalos' - Mondays to Fridays from 08.00 to 14.00 hrs
Argostoli Registry office (previously Xenia Hotel) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 08.00 to 14.00 hrs
Catholic Church - Monday to Saturday, any time
Orthodox Church - Monday to Sunday, any time

For a valid marriage, the couple must visit the Registry Office at the town hall to declare that the wedding has taken place. The official wedding certificate is issued within three working days after the wedding and can be sent on to the married couple's home address. On return from your wedding, don't forget to have your wedding certificates translated back into English.

For some useful information send a self-addressed envelope and a stamp to the Consulate General of Greece requesting the pamphlet entitled Working and Living in Greece.
Address in UK:
Consulate General of Greece
1A Holland Park
London W11 3TP
Tel 020 7221 6467
Fax 020 7243 3202
e-mail consulategeneral@greekembassy.org.uk
www.greekembassy.org.uk

26710 26824

The following is quoted from the Argosotli Municipality website.

CIVIL WEDDINGS
Marriage certificates
The marriage certificate is issued by the groom/ bride-to-be at the municipality of their home town.

Foreign citizens in the municipality of Argostoli
1. Application forms (from city hall)
2. Residence permit in Greece (according to the Article 31- 2N. 1975/ 91. if one does not exist, a civil marriage certificate cannot be issued).
3. Birth certificate (officially translated in Greek)
4. Certificate from the Greek consulate of their home country that there is no obstacle to the wedding (officially translated in Greek)

5. Announcement of the wedding published in a local daily newspaper.
The announcement to the local newspaper should be written as follows:
?(the groom?s full name and family) born in (?) who lives in (?) and (the bride?s full name and family) born in (?) who lives in (?) are going to get married in the Municipality of Argostoli?
6. stamp fee from the town cashier or the Citizens? Service Center
7. duplicate pay slips for weddings held in ?KEFALOS? Town Theater.
8. duplicate pay slips for weddings held in the vice mayor?s office in the Town Hall.

Foreigners- not citizens of the municipality of Argostoli
In this case all marriage certificates should be issued from the authorities of their home country and should be officially translated in Greek by the Greek consulate of their country or the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs- department of Translation in Athens.
Greeks- not citizens of the municipality of Argostoli
In this case all marriage certificates should be issued from
a) The authorities of the town or the communities the interested person is registered as citizen.
b) The embassy or consulate of their residence.
Civil Wedding?s Certificate
A civil wedding can be officially held in any Municipality or community of the country.
Requirements
Mutual application (from the city hall offices)
The couple?s marriage certificates
Before the wedding ceremony the couple should present their ID or passport and have the presence and testimony of two adults- relatives or not. In the Municipality of Argostoli the wedding ceremonies are held working days, mornings, in the Argostoli Kefalos Theatre.
Information: Mr. Kaoukis Nikolaos, tel. 30 26710-24308, Town hall of Argostoli.

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Specialising in Honeymoon villas Agni Travel website.   Tel: 0030 26630 91609   Mob: 0030 26630 91609   Email: sales@agni.gr   Website: www.agni.gr/travel/kefalonia/   Visits: 337    Rating based on 7 votes   Rate This Site

David Elgee is a professional photographer working extensively in Kefalonia. He has created a comprehensive stock of stunning and distinctive images of the culture, colour and landscape of this beautiful Greek island.

David offers wedding photography to capture your big day in the beautiful light of Kefalonia or Ithaca. Details, anticipation, priceless moments... shot in both formal & reportage styles throughout the day, from your bridal preparations to the ceremony and on to your reception. Professional and discreet, without getting in the way or stopping the show.
Full range of prints and albums, a DVD presentation or a personal web gallery, so you'll remember your day just the way you choose.

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Kefalonia Wedding Photography David Elgee Photography website.   Tel: UK 0044 1995 671 302   Mob: Greece 0030 6973 462509   Email: davidelgee@mac.com   Website: www.imagesofkefalonia.com   Visits: 337    Rating based on 10 votes   Rate This Site

Our photography combines essential and traditional family shots with impromptu, informal and lively photographs. We will become a part of your day from the morning preparations to the evening reception, blending into the background to record your memories of the day. We will become a familiar and friendly face creating more natural photographs of you and your guests.

We are totally committed to your wedding and will personally oversee all aspects of your photography.

Please visit our website for full details.

Philip Barnett
Telephone UK: 07721 741941

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Contact Philip Barnett Fuel Images website.   Tel: UK: 07721 741941   Mob: UK: 07721 741941   Email: fuelimages1@mac.com   Website: www.kefaloniaweddingphotography.com   Visits: 254    Rating based on 7 votes   Rate This Site

Book your venue villa or honeymoon accommodation with Agni Travel, an agency registered with the Greek National Tourist Organisation.

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Specialising in Honeymoon villas Agni Travel website.   Tel: 0030 26630 91609   Mob: 0030 26630 91609   Email: sales@agni.gr   Website: www.agni.gr/travel/kefalonia/   Visits: 337    Rating based on 7 votes   Rate This Site

Wherever you get married, Kefalonia is a very romantic island for a honeymoon. If you want scenic beauty, romantic sunsets and a four-poster bed, book your flights now!

Mythos are the most experienced caterers in Kefalonia, organising a range of functions for the local population including weddings, christenings, anniversaries, engagagements and business functions for up to 1,800 people. This takes them all round the island so they know the best venues for your wedding and have a team ready to make your day special.

Mythos Wedding Services will ensure that you have the Kefalonia wedding of your dreams and that means we help you with every aspect of the planning and organisation so that you can relax and enjoy the day. We will co-ordinate all the arrangements for your wedding guiding you through the documentation required to get married in Kefalonia and make all the legal arrangements.

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Kefalonia Wedding Planners Mythos Weddings website.   Tel: 0030 26710 23590   Mob: 0030 6977 889123   Email: homers@otenet.gr   Website: www.kefaloniawedding.com   Visits: 259    Rating based on 2 votes   Rate This Site

Welcome to My Greek Wedding planners, Kefalonia
From laying the foundations through to sorting out the finer details, let My Greek Wedding planners eliminate the stress by planning, tailoring and personalising your special day.It will not be immediately obvious how much has been spent on your wedding. What you will notice is how much thought, effort, care and attention has gone into it.
Whether it's a romantic Greek wedding, a Mama Mia wedding or beach wedding, let My Greek Wedding planners coordinate your dream. From engagement to honeymoon, we offer expert advice on as little or as much of your Greek wedding as you need, offering religious or civil ceremonies and also renewal of wedding vows.

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Lourdas Wedding Planning My Greek Wedding website.   Tel: and Fax 0030 26710 31639   Mob: and text messages 0030 6972 287830   Email: mygreekwedding@yahoo.com   Website: www.mygreekwedding.gr   Visits: 317    Rating based on 4 votes   Rate This Site

Cephalonia Concierge offer solutions to all events management. With a vast experience in corporate hospitality, tourism, and food and beverage management we provide high end organization of:
Weddings
Corporate events
Conference & banqueting
Party planning
Group Activities

Cepahlonia is a charming yet sophisticated destination and makes a perfect setting for any occasion, our objective is to provide an exclusive tailor made service to all of the above and any other requests we receive. We use only the best venues and suppliers both north and south of Cephalonia.
So be it an intimate occasion dinner to a large scale wedding let us arrange every fine detail for you. Or from an employee team building jaunt to a large company conference choose us to manage your requirements in the most professional manner possible.
We can also offer assistance with flights, car hire and accommodation.

For a bespoke package or any other information please contact us.

For further information on Events Management in Kefalonia contact Cephalonia Concierge by telephone or email.

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Events Cephalonia Concierge website.   Tel: 0030 26710 23110 Fax: 0030 26710 24146   Mob: 0030 6939 405 740   Email: info@cephaloniaconcierge.com   Website: www.cephaloniaconcierge.com   Visits: 213    Rating based on 14 votes   Rate This Site

SEAFARIS offer one of the most exhilarating, once in a lifetime wedding experiences for small and intimate weddings of up to 15 people which can be arranged using on a one day charter.

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RIB boat charter Ionian Seafaris website.   Tel: Alie 0030 6974 842708   Mob: Wayne 0030 6946 087154   Email: alie@ionian-seafaris.com   Website: www.ionian-seafaris.com   Visits: 1250    Rating based on 8 votes   Rate This Site

All text and some photos on this page are copyright Francesca Roe. Photos are watermarked Agni Travel for administrative reasons to prevent misuse . Where photographers are advertised, the photos are copyright of the specified photographer. Use of this site is subject to the terms and conditions of copyright of www.agni.gr.