There are many excellent and wildly varied possibilities for where and how you can get married in Greece. Read on to discover why more and more couples are tying the knot here
In recent years, Greece has become a leading destination for couples wishing to turn their wedding dreams into reality, with more and more couples from all over the world wishing to join together under the Greek sun. For many, it may appear that such a wedding is too challenging to organize and very expensive too. However, the internet has made it pretty straightforward to plan every last detail online, starting from choosing your desired location and connecting to a pro wedding planner who knows the ins and outs of that place, and is skilled in organising and managing everything from catering and décor to accommodations and activities for your guests. This way, all you’ll need to do is hop onto a plane and travel over for the big day.
Meanwhile, there are several good options for adjusting wedding costs according to your needs and to combine the happiest day of your life with an idyllic honeymoon in the place where you get married, thus avoiding having to forego the extra expenses of travelling elsewhere.
Right now Santorini remains the “hottest” destination for dream weddings and honeymoons because of its authentic Greek flavour, unique palette of colours and an intoxicatingly romantic air. However, whatever destination you may end up choosing, it’s always completely up to you to decide on the style of the wedding you’d prefer, whether it will be a highly glamourous mega-wedding, a small, super-chilled party, or even an underwater adventure.
Weddings with an island vibe
Santorini – Wedding with Cycladic Colour
If you wish to have a religious wedding, Orthodox or Catholic in most cases, you can choose one of the hundreds of white-washed churches and chapels in Santorini, Tinos, Syros and Naxos fit for service.
Built in jaw-droppingly scenic spots across these islands in a variety of locations, the dazzling, all-white churches some with traditional tiled roofs and others with bright blue domes, make for a picture-perfect backdrop for your wedding photos.
Zooming in on Greece’s most popular wedding destination, Santorini, if it’s a Civil wedding you’re after the mayor of Thira performs the nuptials at teh location of your choice. Thira, Imerovigli, Firostefani and most of the western side of Santorini are popular locations with dramatic backdrops and endless blue horizons. Going it alone? Contact the municipal authorities to select the date, time and location for your dream event but make sure you organize and complete all the necessary paperwork.
Where to tie the knot, here are some suggestions.
On the beach: For boho-chic weddings or celebrations doused in romance, consider getting married barefoot on one of the island’s sublime beaches with waves softly breaking at your feet and craggy volacanic cliffs as your mise en sene that will make your ceremony truly unforgettable. You can find sophisticated, expert decorators who will further enhance the ambience with floral arrangements, candles and airy fabrics for those elegant touches.
At a Winery: In recent years, island wineries have become a favoured destination for couples wishing to combine two of their favourite things – fine wines and fine romance. Santorini, which has by now cemented its reputation globally for excellent local wines, has some distinguished wineries offering up their facilities for all kinds of exclusive events. Get married on the terrace of a winery overlooking the unique caldera of Thira, or indoors in a traditional cadlelit vaulted cellar, where the warm tones of volcanic stone and hardwood will give your wedding a mystical allure. Or choose to exchange vows al fresco in a vineyard, sourrouned by the extraordinary, centuaries, old birdsnest vines.
Honeymooning in Santorini
As a top global destination for honeymooners, you’ll find an endless choice of beautifully positioned, high quality hotels offering services that cater to your every whim for a bespoke Santorini experience. Couples relish the high romance of swimming in their own private infinity pool that looks out to stunning sunsets over the sea, sleeping in luxurious cavernous suites, sharing gourmet dishes and wine in a private dinner under the stars or sipping cocktails while enjoying the island’s famed Caldera views from a comfortable chaise longue on a secluded terrace.
What you need to know:
To avoid any hitches when getting hitched, best use a tried and tested wedding planner rather than attempting to organise everything yourself. Being abroad will make it more complecated for you to deal with legal or religious institutions, the hotel or other venues related to the grand event, and all the technical minutiae related to it. Frazzled is not a great look for a wedding.
Meanwhile, it’s a good idea to decide on the date and time of the wedding well in advance of the event to offer you more both in terms of venues and prices but also so that there’s ample time to deal with all the details.
Note: Packages for religious or civil weddings start from around 1,000 euros.
A couple of alternatives
Alonnisos – Giving real “depth” to your commitment Adventurous? Check. Love the sea? Check. Wish the Little Mermaid could be your Maiden of Honour? Check. So why not get married underwater, as is currently the trend on lush, eco-friendly Alonissos in the Sporades? Take a quick scuba diving course and meet the love of your life eight metres under the surface on the picturesque seabed to tell him/her “I Love You Deeply“, as the island’s underwater wedding campaign slogan says. All you need to do for this kind of civil wedding, for which there is no added charge, is to submit your request to the island’s municipal authority.
Spetses and Hydra – An upscale wedding with a sea air: Forget the flowered limousines that will take you to the church on your wedding day. On these Saronic islands favoured by jetsetters, the bride arrives at the chapel by boat or on a horse-drawn carriage as Hydra is completely car-free and Spetses is car-unfriendly.
Read also:
Alonnisos: Greek island set to host underwater weddings
Uninhabited small Greek island hosting wedding ceremonies
