Can You Legally Get Married in Rhodes? A Complete Guide for UK Couples

If you’re dreaming of saying "I do" with the Aegean Sea as your backdrop, golden sunlight in your photos, and a relaxed island vibe that makes the whole thing feel like a holiday — Rhodes ticks every box.

But before you start dress shopping and Pinterest-boarding your beach ceremony, you’re probably wondering:

Can you legally get married in Rhodes as a UK citizen?

Yes, you can — but it’s not as simple as just showing up.

There are a few important rules, deadlines, and documents you’ll need to know first.

This guide breaks it all down for you: what’s allowed, what’s required, and how to make it all totally stress-free.

Let’s get the big question answered right away:

If you follow the correct legal process, your wedding in Rhodes will be 100% legal and recognised back in the UK.

This applies to:

• Civil ceremonies (the most common choice)

• Religious weddings (with additional requirements)

• Symbolic ceremonies (beautiful, but not legally binding)

Most UK couples opt for a civil ceremony, conducted by the local town hall or registrar. These are held at stunning licensed venues across Rhodes — including chapels, beaches, private villas, and traditional Greek buildings.

This is where things get a bit tricky — because Greek bureaucracy is no joke.

Here’s what’s required for a legal civil wedding in Rhodes:

✅ Core Documents (for both bride and groom):

• Full birth certificate (showing parents’ names)

• Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) – proving you’re free to marry

• Passports (valid for at least 6 months)

• Statutory declaration – signed and stamped by a solicitor in the UK

• Decree Absolute (if divorced)

• Death certificate (if widowed)

• Deed Poll / change of name documents (if applicable)

All documents must be:

• Certified

• Translated into Greek

• Apostilled by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

Yes, it’s a lot. But it’s absolutely doable — and your wedding planner in Rhodes can take care of most of this for you (more on that below).

Timing is crucial. Here’s the general timeline:

• You must apply for your Certificate of No Impediment at your local registry office in the UK at least 28 days before it’s issued PLUS it needs to be issued within 90 days of the wedding day.

• All documents (translated and apostilled) must be sent to the local Greek authorities at least 4 weeks before the wedding.

• Once in Rhodes, you’ll need to:

  • Visit the town hall before the wedding to finalise paperwork

  • Return after the wedding (within 3 days) to register the marriage officially

If that sounds like a lot of back and forth — it is. But again, an experienced local planner will take the lead on this for you.

Let’s break it down:

💒 Civil Weddings (Most Popular)

• Conducted by the Rhodes local authority (usually a mayor or registrar)

• Held at licensed venues: beaches, gardens, chapels, villas

• Available any day, Monday to Saturday

• Fully legal and valid in the UK

⛪ Religious Weddings

• Orthodox weddings are allowed, but only if both parties are baptised Orthodox Christians

• Require additional documentation from your church

• Catholic, Anglican and Protestant weddings are less common — often held symbolically or after a civil wedding

• Still legally valid if civil paperwork is completed

🌅 Symbolic Ceremonies

• No legal paperwork required

• No limits on location or style

• Popular with couples who do the legal bit in the UK and celebrate in Rhodes

• Not legally binding

Technically, no. But practically? 100% yes — unless you want to spend months chasing translators, consulates and town halls.

A Rhodes-based wedding planner (like us!) will:

• Help you prepare every required document

• Translate and apostille paperwork

• Liaise with local authorities

• Book and confirm your venue

• Be with you at the pre-wedding appointments

• Make sure your marriage is registered correctly after the ceremony

We’re not being dramatic — one wrong document or deadline and your wedding could be delayed or invalid. That’s why 99% of couples planning weddings abroad use a professional planner to manage the process.

Here’s a rough breakdown (note: prices can vary by location and service):

Keep in mind: if you book a wedding package with a planner, many of these fees will already be included — along with venue hire, decoration, and on-the-day coordination.

Yes — and this is where Medlife and Rhodes Wedding Planner truly shine.

We’re not just planners. We’re also part of a UK-based travel company which means:

• You can book your flights, accommodation, and transfers with us

• All travel is ABTA and TTA protected

• We can manage your guests’ travel too

• You get one point of contact for the whole experience

No juggling travel agents, planners, and hotel emails. Just one team, one plan, and total peace of mind.

✅ Are you a UK citizen?
✅ Do you have all the correct documents?
✅ Will you get them translated and apostilled on time?
✅ Are you registering your marriage before and after the ceremony?
✅ Do you have local support for Greek bureaucracy?
✅ Are you working with a planner who knows the system?

If you can tick all those boxes — your Rhodes wedding will be 100% legal and unforgettable.

From paperwork to pink peonies, we handle every single detail. And because we’re part of the Medlife Group, we also sort out your travel, hotels, and guest bookings — all with full financial protection.

👉 Contact us today to find out how we can plan your wedding in Rhodes, legally, beautifully, and without the stress.