Legalities of getting married in Greece/portugal/italy

We looked into a wedding in Italy a few years ago but changed our minds so full disclosure things may have changed but this is what we found out:

We would have to pay to get some documents translated, certified and sent to Italy. Can't remember the specifics but think it was things like birth certificates, ID and if relevant proof of divorce.
We would have to appear in their equivalent of a registry office like 4/5 days before our ceremony so we would need to plan enough annual leave and budget to stay in the country for a week before, never mind a honeymoon afterwards.
Vows must be said in Italian or you have to pay extra for an interpreter.
We felt we would need to pay for a wedding planner who knows local suppliers, the customs and the language better than us.
I worried about flying with my dress.
In the end, it seemed easier to legally get married in the UK first and just have Italy as the celebration. But then it didn't make sense for us to go through the extra expense of a wedding planner and travelling back and forth for visits and having grandparents that couldn't travel so they couldn't come, just for something that wasn't even our legal wedding day.

It may be more complicated marrying abroad than the UK but you should weigh the pros and cons for you as a couple because it may still be the wedding of your dreams (just with a bit more admin)!

View quoted message Thank you so much, that’s really helpful! Glad you still managed to have your special day in the UK x

Hi,


We are getting married in Italy in 4 weeks and although there are quite a few steps involved it wasn’t that complicated. I would (with most abroad weddings) recommend a wedding planner who will advise what you need.
The most important part is timing. The documents cannot be older than 6 months so we started the process 5 months before our date. For Italy we got our CNI as usual in the UK registry office, that takes 30 days after the interviews for £30 pp. Then at the same time you fill in your statutory declaration (found on the UK gov website) and have a solicitor witness and sign both for £10. Then send both of these documents to the FCDO in Milton Keynes for apostles for £125, this takes 21 days max.
We then sent all of these to our wedding planner plus photocopies of our passports. You do the declaration of marriage 2-3 days before so ours is 2 days before the wedding. Cost of that is €30.
Your ceremony will be in Italian with an interpreter but the nice part is you get your wedding certificates in two languages
Good luck!