Wedding in Cyprus: what documents are needed, procedures, ceremonies, locations

Cyprus is one of the top wedding destinations in Europe. Thousands of couples come to the Mediterranean island to celebrate the most romantic moment of their lives here.

Weddings in Cyprus are absolutely legal and recognized all over the world. Just imagine that the inhabitants of Cyprus enter into only 40% of all marriages registered on the island! Cyprus has become the island of the wedding industry. More than half of the celebrations are organized by foreigners.

Wedding services are very popular on the island. The procedure, subject to the availability of all necessary documents, is very simple. This is a great opportunity to combine the wedding of your dreams with a wonderful vacation and a special honeymoon.

There are many specialized companies in Cyprus offering their services to lovers. They can choose the place and time of the ceremony, entertainment program, menu, decor.

Many companies and wedding planners offer wedding packages. Prices vary, of course. You can find both a budget wedding package and a rather expensive one for a luxury wedding.

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What documents are needed for a wedding in Cyprus

• Recent certificate of marital status from an official government agency - mayor's office, Ministry of the Interior, registry office, embassy, etc.
• Birth certificate.
• If one of the spouses was previously married, then an official certificate of divorce is required.
• If one of the spouses is widowed, then a death certificate of the deceased spouse is required.
• Valid original passport or European identity card. The expiration date of the passport is at least six months.
• If one of the spouses is under 18 years of age, parental consent to the marriage is required.
• A photocopy (or two just in case) of the passport photo page.
• A photocopy (or two) of a page of photographs of each of your two witnesses.

All documents must be originals or legalized with an apostille stamp. This applies to couples from countries that are members of the Hague Convention. For other countries that are not members of the Hague Convention, documents must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cypriot embassy or consulate in the country. Documents must be officially translated into English and issued a maximum of six months before the date of application.

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The marriage procedure

Before the wedding, the couple must appear in person at the municipality of their choice to formally apply for the wedding. To do this, it is important to take a set of original documents with you.

As a rule, you need to get married within no earlier than 15 days and no later than three months from the date of application. Therefore, plan to stay in Cyprus for about 20 days. Alternatively, you can pay a fee to get married within three business days. After the wedding, the newlyweds will be sent a certified copy of the marriage certificate to the embassy of their country in Cyprus.

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How a wedding is played in Cyprus

A couple who come to Cyprus to get married can choose between two types of ceremonies: an ordinary marriage or a church one. They are both perfectly legal and recognized all over the world. The same documents are required for any type of ceremony. It should be emphasized that even in the case of a church marriage, the necessary marriage license is issued by the municipality in which the church is located.

• Civil marriage. Mostly, couples come to Cyprus to sign. Even if a couple, for some reason, cannot marry in their homeland, but formalizes it in Cyprus, their marriage is still officially recognized in their countries.
• Church wedding. In addition to a Greek Orthodox wedding, a couple may marry in accordance with Catholic or Anglican church traditions. The same legal requirements and pre-marriage procedure apply as in the case of a conventional marriage. A wedding in an Anglican church is legal if you are simply attending a religious ceremony in the church. But for a Catholic church wedding to be recognized and legal abroad, it must be preceded by a civil ceremony.
• Solemn ceremony. Some couples marry at home, and for a beautiful wedding ceremony they fly to Cyprus, where they invite guests.

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Wedding locations

First of all, the wedding is held in the town hall of the municipality. But this is not the only place where you can get married. Marriages are made on the beach, on a yacht, in hotels, beautiful locations and near ancient monuments. Weddings near ancient monuments are allowed only in some places where there is a permit from the Department of Archeology of Cyprus. Ceremonies held outside the Town Hall are subject to an additional fee.

The official wedding ceremony as such is very simple and takes very little time: only 10-15 minutes. When the ceremony is completed, the couple receives the original signed marriage certificate.

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Wedding decoration

The wedding industry in Cyprus is on a grand scale. You can easily find a photographer to capture important moments of your celebration. Designers decorate the celebration itself, a hotel room, a festive banquet.

Many hotels offer services for honeymooners, a romantic dinner or a trip on a snow-white yacht.

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Wedding traditions and customs in Cyprus

Cypriot culture is rich in traditions. You can include in your ceremony some of the wedding traditions of the inhabitants of the island:

• Bread - Cypriots often bake a special treat for guests.
• At village weddings, ceremonies often begin at the groom's house with the performance of traditional songs.
• Dance - At Christian weddings, the priest may circle the couple around the table three times.
• Bouquet - the groom can wait outside the church with the bride's bouquet while the bride's father brings her to him.
• Scarves and Crowns - Traditionally, guests wrap the pair in red scarves and place crowns on their heads.

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The best wedding venues in Cyprus

Thanks to the mild weather, sea and incredible scenery, a wedding in Cyprus will be unforgettable. On the island, it is customary to get married outdoors, on the beach or in a villa. And there are plenty of beautiful places for this. Here are the main cities:

• Limassol is the capital of winemaking and a city with a beautiful waterfront. The municipal building includes beautiful gardens that can serve as a suitable place for a wedding ceremony.
• Paphos - right next to it, according to legend, Aphrodite herself, the goddess of love and beauty, emerged from the foam.
• Ayia Napa is the most party city, with a vibrant nightlife. Here is one of the coolest locations for newlyweds - the Bridge of Love.
• Larnaca is a famous resort with a long promenade and sandy beaches.

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Some of the most popular locations:

• Medieval castle of Paphos (Kato Paphos). Old Byzantine fort overlooking the harbor.
• Gate of Famagusta (Nicosia). Beautiful historical arch and main gate of Nicosia.
• Pier Enaerios, Limassol.
• Cape Greco (Ayia Napa). National forest park with sea caves and a small church.
• Larnaca Castle. Medieval fort with courtyard on Finikoudes waterfront.
• Hills of Aphrodite (Kuklia). Resort on the hills of Paphos, by the sea with swimming pools and gardens.
• Ammos beach (Ayia Napa). Sea view wedding venue.

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Ayia Napa

While it has a reputation for being a party town, Ayia Napa also has a quieter and more sophisticated side. The Bridge of Love is located near the famous Cape Greco, in the eastern part of Cyprus, and is a fantastic location for your wedding or ceremony.

• Get married at the Olympic Resort Lagoon Resort

The Olympic Resort Lagoon in Ayia Napa has 7 stunning locations where you can have the wedding of your dreams, from a dreamlike setting with a private garden (with lake and waterfall) to a tropical island surrounded by palm trees.

The honeymoon suites are breathtakingly beautiful and designed for post-banquet wedding celebrations in style. At the Olympic Resort Lagoon has a team of banquet professionals who can personalize your wedding menu to your individual preferences.

• Nissi Resort Beach in Cyprus

Nissi Beach Resort is famous for its generous hospitality and high level of service. Here is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And 5 locations for your wedding in an exotic and romantic atmosphere.

You can organize gala concerts with cocktails and barbecue buffets or celebrate on the covered tennis terrace in the garden of the resort, overlooking the sandy beach and the turquoise sea.

Nissi Beach Resort

Limassol

The second largest urban area in the country.

• Royal Apollonia is an elegant and luxurious 5-star hotel where you can have a magnificent private wedding on the beach with panoramic sea views.
• Columbia Beach Resort boasts five stars and offers a complete wedding package. The resort is located in a secluded Pissouri bay, and the area breathes history, which gives a certain charm.

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Paphos

Known for its cultural heritage and Roman mosaics.

• King Evelthon Beach Hotel & Resort is a luxury hotel that has its own wedding coordinator. The resort offers 5 stunning venues to choose from, with the Rooftop being particularly interesting, offering stunning views of Chlorakas Bay and the surrounding ocean from the roof of the hotel.
• Coral Beach Hotel is an amazing place for a wedding. The hotel enjoys a beautiful location in Paphos overlooking the magnificent blue waters and golden sands of Coral Bay Beach. It is he who is considered one of the best in the Paphos region and is marked with a blue flag. Choose for the ceremony the amphitheater is a replica of the traditional Cypriot amphitheater overlooking the private harbor and pier. Unforgettable and romantic experience!

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Protaras

The tranquil resort of Protaras is another popular destination for honeymooners. Protaras is located on the east coast of Cyprus, a small coastal town surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches and incredible scenery. The area is famous for its beaches, including the fabulous Fig Tree Bay Beach, which has been repeatedly voted one of the best beaches in Europe. This makes it a popular wedding venue.

• St Elias is a world famous hotel located close to the famous blue flag Elias beach. This resort has its own wedding coordinator. You can be sure that your wedding will be stylish. At the St Elias has several venues to choose from, Lavender stands out in particular pergola. This place is on the seafront with a magnificent view of the chapel of St. Elijah and the sapphire sea.

Louis St Elias Resort & Waterpark

Wedding on the yacht

Instead of going to a resort, you can have your wedding on a luxury yacht. It is festively decorated and a sumptuous dinner is served. The yacht will set sail with your family and friends on board for a truly unique experience!

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A wedding in Cyprus is bright photos against the backdrop of the emerald sea and breathtaking landscapes. Fabulous beauty, unique cuisine and hospitality of this region will make your event special!