cyprus - wedding ceremony

In Cyprus you can choose to have either a Civil or Religious Wedding Ceremony.

Wedding ceremonies are conducted in English and their format is very similar to the civil marriage ceremony conducted in the United Kingdom on which the Cypriot system is based. Your marriage licence and all paperwork will also be issued in English.

Civil Ceremony

Civil ceremonies can be conducted in the local town hall of the town where you are staying, in a hotel that has a special wedding room or outdoor area or in one of Cyprus' designated civil outdoor wedding venues.

If you wish to personalise your civil ceremony you have the option to choose your own music and readings.

Wedding Vows for a Civil Ceremony

Following are the vows for a civil wedding ceremony. These may vary slightly, so please use them as a guide only.

Section 1 - Spoken by the Registrar

You (Grooms Name) and (Brides Name) know that by your simultaneous consent which is given publicly and formally in my presence and in the presence of the persons now here, accept each other as your lawful spouse and with the confirmation of this fact by your signature you contract a lawful marriage for all the purposes of civil law.

You should further know that your marriage cannot be dissolved during your lifetime except by a valid judgement of a court. If either of you (before the death of the other) contracts a marriage while this one remains undissolved you will thereby be guilty of bigamy and be liable to the consequences provided by the law.

Section 2 - You Repeat after the Registrar

I call upon all persons here present to witness that I (Your Name) accept you (Partners Name) as my lawful spouse, to love and to share with you as from this day, moments of joy and sorrow, wealth and poverty, happiness and unhappiness, throughout our life until death do separate us.

Section 3 - Spoken by the Registrar

As from this moment I pronounce you man and wife. You are joined together by your free consent in matrimony and you owe each other love, fidelity and respect throughout your life. This marriage constitutes the fulfillment of your life and links your destinies on good and rainy days, in happiness and unhappiness, in wealth and poverty, until death do separate you.

On the basis of equality you should face together all the problems and all the difficulties of life. Together you should shoulder the burdens of marriage each one according to your capabilities. You have both the right and obligation to take care of the upbringing and education of your children so that they may become useful and good citizens and free personalities.

Section 4

Exchange of rings and signing of the marriage certificate.

Religious Ceremony

Many hotels now have their own wedding chapels and there are also many churches in Cyprus who welcome wedding couples. Most churches cater both to Anglican and Catholic denominations.

If you wish to personalise your religious ceremony you have the option to choose your own music and readings.

If you choose to have a religious ceremony in Cyprus the same marriage application process must be followed as for a civil marriage ceremony.

Note: A Catholic ceremony is not legally binding unless you first have a civil wedding ceremony. However if you have an Anglican wedding ceremony you are not required to have a civil wedding ceremony.

For more detailed information on the legal requirements to get married in Cyprus please click here. 

Anglican Order of Service

Following is an example of the Anglican Order of Service for a wedding ceremony in Cyprus. This may vary so please take this information as a guide only.

• Prelude
• Processional/Bridal March
• Introduction by the Minister/Priest
• Hymn - optional
• Reading - optional
• Marriage Ceremony
• Hymn - optional
• Reading - optional
• Prayers said by the Minister/Priest
• Blessing said by the Minister/Priest
• Signing of the Register
• Recessional

Anglican Ceremony

Following is an example of an Anglican wedding ceremony in Cyprus. This may very so please take this information as a guide only. For ease of reading, I have named the Bride & Groom Jayne and Richard.

Minister/ Priest:
In the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
we have come together
to witness the marriage of Richard and Jayne,
to pray for God's blessing on them,
to share their joy
and to celebrate their love.
Marriage is a gift of God in creation
through which man and wife may know the grace of God.
It is given that as man and woman grow together in love and trust,
they shall be united with one another in heart, body and mind,
as Christ is united with his bride, the Church.
The gift of marriage brings husband and wife together
in the delight and tenderness of sexual union
and joyful commitment to the end of their lives.
It is given as the foundation of family life
in which children are [born and] nurtured
and in which each member of the family,
in good times and in bad,
may find strength, companionship and comfort,
and grow to maturity and love.
Marriage is a way of life made holy by God,
and blessed by the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ
with those celebrating a wedding at Cana in Galilee.
Marriage is a sign of unity and loyalty
which all should uphold and honour.
It enriches society and strengthens community.
No one should enter into it lightly or selfishly
but reverently and responsibly in the sight of almighty God.
Richard and Jayne are now to enter this way of life.
They will each give their consent to the other
and make solemn vows,
and in token they will [each] give and receive a ring.
We pray with them that the Holy Spirit will guide
and strengthen them,
that they may fulfil God's purposes
for the whole of their earthly life together.

Minister/Priest to groom:
Richard, will you take Jayne to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and protect her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?
Reply: I will.

Minister/Priest to bride:
Jayne, will you take Richard to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and protect him, and, forsaking all others, be faithfulto him as long as you both shall live?
Reply: I will.

Minister/Priest to congregation:
Will you the families and friends of Richard and Jayne, support and uphold them in their marriage now and in the years to come?
Reply: We will.

Minister/Priest to groom and bride in turn:
I Richard/Jayne, take you, Jayne/Richard,
to be my [wife] [husband],
to have and to hold
from this day forward;
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
till death us do part,
according to God's holy law.

Minister/Priest to groom and bride in turn:
Jayne/Richard, I give you this ring
as a sign of our marriage.
With my body I honour you,
and all that I am I give to you,
and all that I have I share with you,
within the love of God,

This is then followed by:

• The Proclamation
• The Blessing of the Marriage
• The Prayers, including 'Our Father.......'
• The Final Blessing
• The Registration