How to Plan a Wedding in Santorini, Greece
Just south off of the coast of Greece is an island created by volcanic activity many years ago – Santorini! The combination of brilliant turquoise waters, stark black sand beaches, and unique volcanic sculptures create one of the most incredible locations to get married in all of Europe. If you’re thinking about a destination wedding, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about planning a wedding in Santorini!
Here’s what’s in this guide to planning a wedding in Santorini:
- Step 1: Choosing a Date for Wedding in Santorini
- Step 2: Finding a Santorini Wedding Photographer
- Step 3: Santorini Wedding Venues
- Step 4: Getting Legally Married in Santorini
- Step 5: Planning Your Wedding in Santorini
- Santorini Wedding Packages
Choosing a Date for a Wedding in Santorini
The first step you’ll take when planning your wedding in Santorini is to choose a date! While you don’t have to have an exact date right away, knowing generally what time of year you want to get married in Santorini can be nice when you’re looking for venues and a photographer or videographer. Plus, knowing what to expect in each season can help you plan your wedding better!
When you’re deciding when you want to get married, you’ll want to consider a few key things that can make a big difference on your wedding day. Knowing about the weather and crowds that you should expect for each season will help you decide what kind of experience you want on your wedding day.
The rainy season in Santorini is winter. If you’re looking for a more relaxed, local feel for your wedding, winter is an incredible time to get married in Santorini! You won’t see many tourists around this time of year, and a lot of the touristy spots close down so you’re left with the cozy local taverns and shops. If you do decide to have your wedding in the winter, you’ll probably want to have your ceremony indoors since you can expect some rain and strong winds.
Beautiful flowers bloom all along the cliff side in the spring, making it a wonderful time for a Santorini wedding! The vivid colors of pink, red, and green are a stark contrast to the classic white and blue architecture that Greece is known for. The weather in the spring is mild, so it’s a great time to get outside and hike the caldera! You should expect a bit of rain early in the season, but late spring is the perfect time to get married in Santorini!
The hottest season in Santorini is summer – both for weather and tourism! People come from all over to experience the warm waters and prime weather in the summer, so the streets are bustling with life. Hotels are usually booked out, so if you decide to have your Santorini wedding in the summer, be sure to plan ahead to make sure you get the venue you want!
I think the best time for a wedding in Santorini is in the fall. The warm weather lingers well into mid-October, the sunsets are absolutely gorgeous, and you’ll find fewer crowds around. The nights can get cool, but the days are comfortable and great for going on an adventure in Santorini.
Finding a Santorini Photographer
After you have an idea of when you want to get married in Santorini, you’ll want to contact a Santorini photographer and videographer! Besides capturing all the amazing moments on your wedding day, your photographer likely also has a little more experience planning a wedding so you can ask them any questions you might have. Planning a wedding is so exciting, but it can seem really overwhelming, so having someone on your team who has planned weddings before can help you feel less stressed!
My job as your Santorini wedding photographer and videographer is to make sure that your wedding goes as smoothly as possible – from the moment you book me!
Santorini Wedding Venues – Where to Get Married in Santorini
The island of Santorini is known for its stunning architecture built right into the cliffside, so you’re sure to find a Santorini wedding venue that has jaw-dropping views that’ll make you feel like you’ve stepped into paradise! Here are a few of the best places to get married in Santorini!
Dana Villas
The high altitude of Dana Villas creates an unobstructed panoramic view of the volcano, caldera, the sea, and especially the sunset that gives you a beautiful backdrop for your ceremony at any time of the day! This venue has a lot of steps, so it’s not an accessible place if you or your guests need assistance with stairs, but it’s a gorgeous place for ceremony photos!
Rocabella
With unobstructed views of the Santorini Caldera and its gorgeous sunset, the Rocabella is the perfect Santorini wedding venue! Offering four different beautiful locations to have your ceremony, you’re sure to find one that suits your needs. Three of the venues are on site, but you can also choose to tie the knot on their exclusive yacht!
La Ciel
Sitting at Le Ciel’s terrace atop the Santorini Caldera, you’ll get stunning views of the island, the volcano, and Santorini’s iconic sunsets. They offer both indoor and outdoor options for your ceremony, and you can enjoy their exquisite cuisine and hand-crafted cocktails. This venue is a great option for both large and small weddings, as well!
In Nature!
If your ceremony is going to be small, you can always have your wedding on a beach, hike, or anywhere else you can think of! Having an elopement or small ceremony might make saying your vows feel a little more intimate and private, and Santorini has so many beautiful places to explore! You can even turn your wedding day into an adventure with a helicopter ride over the volcano or a cruise along the Aegean Sea.
Getting Legally Married When You Elope in Santorini
When you get married abroad, it’s typically a little more complicated than getting your marriage license at home. The rules are different and you’ll need to get it authorized in your home country as well. Because of this, I usually recommend getting your marriage license at home and having a symbolic ceremony for your Santorini wedding.
If you’re still set on getting your marriage license in Santorini, you’ll need to get the proper paperwork ahead of time and it can take a while to get it all in order and officially translated into Greek by an authorized translator! Here’s the paperwork you’ll need:
- A valid passport
- A certified birth certificate
- A divorce decree, if applicable
- Proof you’re able to get married, also known as an affidavit of marriage
Your documents and application must be sent or faxed to the civil office or your wedding coordinator at least 21 days before your ceremony, and you must have all the official documents with you when you arrive in Greece – you must be in Greece for 2 full business days before your ceremony. The whole process typically costs about £300.
Planning Your Wedding in Santorini
Getting married to your best friend should be a day you enjoy that you’ll remember for the rest of your lives. You’ll be able to choose from so many exciting things to do in Santorini, that you can turn your wedding day into anything you want! Every love story is a little different, so there’s no right or wrong way to spend your wedding day! Whether you want to spend a day watching the waves roll in on the beach, soaking in the hot springs in Palea Kameni, or hiking the volcano’s caldera, your wedding day will be perfect for you!
Santorini Wedding Packages
If you’re ready to plan the wedding you’ve always dreamed about, I’ll be ready to help turn your dreams into a reality! Your ceremony should be unique and all about you – that’s why my Santorini wedding packages are created with you in mind. As your Santorini wedding photographer, I can help you make a timeline, find the perfect venue, and of course, capture all the moments that make your wedding day special!
If you want to learn more about my Santorini wedding packages, get in touch, so we can start talking about your wedding adventure.
