How to Plan a Destination Wedding in Santorini?
Santorini is one of the most famous Greek islands and it couldn’t be more of a perfect place for a destination wedding. It’s incredibly romantic and boasts some of the most beautiful scenery making it a perfect backdrop for your special day and some incredible wedding photos. So if you’re after a wedding that entails crystal clear waters, rows and rows of white washed houses, boat trips, volcano tours, delicious wine and authentic Greek cuisine then you’re looking in the right place!
We’ll run through all the things you need to start thinking about to plan a destination wedding in Santorini from the more mundane (but important) things like legal requirements to the fun parts like picking the perfect wedding venue.
If you’re thinking of getting married in Santorini then there’s no time like the present to start planning. It’s best to plan your Santorini destination wedding a year in advance as places can get quickly booked up so you want to be able to have the choice of your favourite venues. So grab your pen and paper so we can start planning your dream wedding…
The legalities of getting married in Santorini
Getting married in Santorini is super easy if you’re prepared and as it is the destination for weddings they embrace all types of ceremony. Any destination wedding will require certain documents, and Santorini is no different and it’s important to get these sorted well before the day of your wedding. We would suggest getting these documents ready and prepared at least one month before your wedding.
Here is what you both need for a civil wedding ceremony in Santorini:
Passports (Plus photocopies)
Birth certificates
A photocopy of your witnesses passports
Name change deed poll certificate
A sworn affidavit from a solicitor
Certificate of No impediment
Divorce or death certificates if needed
Religious weddings require all of the above, as well as:
Certificates of no previous marriage certified by your home country
Family status certificate from local registry
Baptism registration certificate
If one of the party is not baptised a public notary to state children will be baptised as christian is required
Family status certificate for the best man, who must also have had a religious wedding
All the above documents will need to be translated via the Greek Embassy of your country or via a lawyer in Santorini. They will also need Apostle Stamps which acts as an authenticator of your documents for use abroad. These documents cannot be older than 3 months from the day of your wedding date.
Many couples choose to have a symbolic wedding in Greece as it takes away the pressure and stress of paperwork and lets them focus on exchanging vows and celebrating with their loved ones in a new destination. Same sex couples welcomed to have symbolic ceremonies in Greece.
When is the best time to get married in Santorini?
A huge benefit of getting married in Santorini is that the wedding season is quite long, running from May to October. This is when the weather is at its best and you’ll not have to worry too much about rain and the island will be in full bloom. If you choose to go from September to October you’ll probably be able to save some extra pennies as prices in hotels and restaurants tend to be cheaper so if you’re conscious of your budget then September to October could be the perfect time for your wedding. Have a think about when you’d like to set the date…
Best spots for a wedding in Santorini?
Have no idea where to get married in Santorini. Fear not we’ve got some of the most gorgeous wedding venues here to help make your choice a bit easier:
Cavo Ventus: With picture perfect views of the Aegean Sea and the volcano, Cavo Ventus is a luxury villa built around a 200 year old stone windmill. It is true Greek wedding goals. If you dream of delicious and decadent al fresco dining on a terrace overlooking the ocean then this is an amazing wedding spot. You can also choose to stay at the villa to prepare for your big day! This venue hosts up to 130 guests and you can party at the wedding reception until 2am.
La Maltese Estate & Buddha Bar Santorini: La Maltese Estate is right in the heart of Imerovigli, right next to the blue domed Anastasi church. It’s a five star boutique hotel so if you’re after luxury then you need to go here. Weddings take place on the upper terrace overlooking the sea with up to 120 guests and you’ll have exclusive access to the Buddha Bar for your reception. Accommodation is available here but this is also a good choice for guests as there are plenty of hotels in Imerovigli a couple of steps away so guests can choose where they stay!
Venetsanos Winery: If you want to say “I do” at the same time as a beautiful sunset then look no further than Venetsanos Winery. The Venetsanos family built the winery in 1947 and it was the first winery on the Island. It has the perfect backdrop for a beautiful sunset, incredible panoramic views and is a truly special place. Catering must be booked separately and you can have up to 120 wonderful guests.
Santorini Arts Factory: Having a wedding big enough to feed the five thousand? This unique landmark that was once a tomato canning factory is now a cultural landmark that hosts a range of cultural and educational events. You’ll have over 1500sqm to house all your guests for the celebration and can be hired for private use after 8pm so you can party all night long.
Theros Wave Bar: If you dream of a tropical beach bar wedding this venue will be perfect for you. You can have your wedding ceremony on the beautiful beach and you can choose to have a BBQ buffet dinner, true beach style vibes. Then have your wedding reception and party til late with up to 200 guests.
Akro: Drive down a dirt track in Mesa Pigadia and you’ll find this hidden gem. Akro is a secluded bar and restaurant right on the beach that can offer you a dreamy, picture perfect wedding with up to 120 guests. Ceremonies can be held on the beach or at the upper terrace and then the dining is where it gets exciting.
Choose to dine either al fresco right on the beach or in a magical cave dining room carved into the rocks of the beach. Drinks and food can be provided by the venue with a variety of delicious Greek and Mediterranean cuisine.
If you’re having a more intimate wedding then these locations are perfect, you’ll have a small area overlooking the cliffs and ocean just for you and your friends and family:
Dana Villas
Canaves Oia Panorama Balcony
Fanari Villas
Grace Hotel
El Viento
Santa Irini Chapel Terrace
Book a pre-wedding trip
This isn’t necessary but some people love an excuse to book a pre-wedding trip to Santorini to explore all the potential venues, hotels for guests and maybe squeeze in some trial runs with hair and makeup artists in order to prepare for the big day.
If you’re not going on a pre-wedding trip and hiring local hair and makeup artists then make sure that you clearly communicate your vision and how you want to look clearly with photographs, mood boards and confirm everything with your vendors before the big day!
Set A Budget
One of the most important things you should do before any wedding is to set a budget. You and your partner will know how much you want to spend on a wedding and what you can afford so make sure you agree on a budget or a range and try and stick to it. Consider these elements:
Venue: There are so many amazing venues in Santorini to explore so decide on a rough budget and look around different venues to decide what kind of venue you can afford with your budget. You need to make sure the venue is perfect for you and your partner. Sometimes catering is included with certain venues so make sure you clarify this beforehand.
Catering: Food food food! If you’re in Greece it’s a good idea to go traditional and experience the Grecian delicacies. We’re talking spit roasted lamb and chicken, meatball soup, spanakopita, tiropita, stuffed grape leaves, baklava and kourabiedes.
Research a range of catering companies you could use and their menus. Many catering companies in Greece offer traditional Greek and Mediterranean menus. Many venues also include the catering in the venue hire.
Lighting & Decoration: Flowers, Fairy lights, bulbs, plants and trees, fireworks?! How big or small do you want to go. Decoration has the power to create a magical and romantic atmosphere and will be the cherry on top of a gorgeous venue.
Some people like to go extravagant with their decoration and some people prefer to be more pared back, but make sure you consider this in your budget. Decoration is sometimes included in the venue hire so please check this when booking.
Music & Entertainment: Do you want a string quartet as you recite your vows in front of the glistening sea? And a vibey DJ for the reception as the sunset drops behind the cliffs and you head into the balmy night? Or all of them. Consider the cost of hire, travel and extra vans for equipment in your budget.
Photography: Probably one of the most important aspects of the day as after all the planning, prep and hard work that goes into planning a destination wedding you’ll want to be able to look back at all the amazing memories for years to come. And in a place like Santorini you’ll want to capture the stunning scenery.
Make sure you pick a wedding photographer and videographer that fits the style of film you want and captures the atmosphere of your wedding well. Why not take a look at some of the weddings we’ve captured along the way. We love capturing adventurous couples and what’s more adventurous than jetting off to the islands of Greece to be married!
Hair & Makeup: Decide if you want a hair and makeup artist from home to fly out with you to do your styling on the day, if so will you pay for their flights and accommodation or split the cost? Or if you want a local vendor to glam you up!? You might even want to just do it yourself. Whatever you pick, make sure if you’re choosing a vendor you research and communicate everything you want beforehand so you’re prepared.
Travel Costs: Flights, transfers, taxis and then any other travel costs need to be accounted for in your budget. Remember sneaky things like extra suitcases for all the wedding attire and equipment depending on how much you’re bringing.
If you’re bringing hair and makeup stylists from the UK or your photographer and videographer with you, will you pay for their flights and travel or will they be paying for themselves. Make sure you discuss any travel arrangements with everyone.
Decide on your Guests
It’s typical that a destination wedding might not have as many guests as you would at home, or you might be planning to have the exact same amount of guests as you would at home! Write down exactly who you and your partner want at your wedding in your notebook so you can gauge how many people might potentially attend.
The best thing about a destination wedding is that it’s like a mini holiday for everyone and guests will most likely make a big trip out of it so once you have decided on the venue and your guest list then you can write your save the date invitations!
Include where you’re getting married, a description of the area, hotels and apartments that are nearby to suit a range of budgets and how much taxis and flights will roughly cost so guests can decide if they will attend or not. Then wait for the RSVPs to roll in!
Final notes…
Make sure you fly out a couple of days before your guests so you have time to go over all the final arrangements, visit the venue to clarify everything and have some fun and spend quality time together before your big celebration.
After the wedding you need to stay in Santorini for at least one day after your wedding to get your marriage certificate signed by the Town Hall, this will then be sent back home to you. Then once all is said and done you could carry on the adventure with a Greek honeymoon and explore all the beauty that Santorini has to offer.