Planning your wedding in Santorini.
Although we take care of our clients every want and need when it comes to planning their wedding in Santorini, we know many of your go it alone and we thought in the spirit of community (and we all need this after the last year) we thought we’d share a few things to consider when planning your own wedding in Santorini, ‘DIY STYLE’
There’s a huge amount to do and consider when planning a wedding abroad, some you may not have even thought about, this is prepared with over 16 years of experience and could easily have been 5000words long but I kept to the basics and added some additional tips at the end.
Get your note book ready, it’s time to plan your wedding in Santorini
Before you book
The island of Santorini is now one of the most popular Greek Islands for weddings abroad in Europe, it’s easy to see why, the traditional white washed villages, the magical sunsets, the amazing vistas of this unique island. But before your drawn into the romance of this island make sure it is right for you.
Greece is known for it’s beaches and although we’ve planned beach weddings in Santorini, I wouldn’t say this is the first island I’d recommend in Greece for a ‘relaxed’ beach style wedding.
First, the beaches are a beautiful black shingle due to this being a volcanic island, not the soft white sand some expect and desire for their beach wedding in Greece.
Two The beach side of the island (Kamari/Perissa) have the sunrise and NOT the sunset. The Sunset being one of the most popular attractions for a Santorini wedding.
Finally, the main beaches in Santorini are very open, not the private hidden away coves that you’ll find on some other Greek islands.
So first consider your wedding setting, what is it about Santorini that draws you to this island?
You can still certainly have a wedding with a ‘beachy’ vibe on Santorini. What I normally recommend is pairing a sunset ceremony venue with a beach reception. You should however consider the potential of a 30 to 40 minute transfer time from the volcano side of the island to the beach, once you consider guests getting on/off the bus and the actual distance.
For most couples, it’s the prospect of the dramatic volcano views that draws them to Santorini. If this is you, then carry on reading and lets talk seasonality.
Wedding Seasons
Santorini is a seasonal island, with most weddings taking place between May and October, it is possible to get married in April and even in November, but expect many bars/hotels to be closed during these months and you’ll have to take indirect flights via Athens.
The weather can also be changeable so consider a venue inside.
I wouldn’t recommend the island for weddings in the deep winter months, even most of the locals leave during these months for sunnier climates or to visit family.
The weather in May is often warm during the day and cooler in the evening, some areas of Santorini you’re quite high so it’s not uncommon in May/October to be sat in a cloud on an overcast day….it really is that high in some parts.
The hottest months like most of the Med are in July/August, the white walls and concrete houses do exemplify the heat so consider how you handle humidity before booking.
June and September are wondering months for weddings, the day temperature is perfect without being too hot, the sea is warm enough to swim in and you still get those lovely long sunny days and dreamy sunsets.
Accessibility
Santorini isn’t the best island when it comes to accessibility, however this is the case with many Greek Islands. Santorini’s charming cobbled steep streets are a challenge for prams and especially wheelchairs.
Hotels on the volcano side of the island can be small with difficult access and cars/buses cannot always access the reception area directly so you should expect to walk some distance with your luggage.
Always check with your hotel about accessibility and also for families we suggest checking if your hotel is ‘child’ friendly.
I often recommend our couples with families to explore the resorts of Kamari and Perissa. These are flatter, hotel rooms are typically bigger and they are more capable of handling larger group bookings.
Wedding Guests
I believe it’s well known that Santorini is more expensive than many other Greek Islands. This also stands true for weddings, eating out, accommodation and excursions.
It’s to be expected as this is a luxury destination, it’s what attracts most couples to the island, looking for that ‘extra’ special experience.
I often compare it to a wedding in Italy.
Make sure your guests will be comfortable with this, there are always ways of keeping costs down, such as staying on the beachside of the island, the beach resorts of Kamari and Perissa are much more budget friendly than the hotels on the volcano side of the island. Also eating in local traditional cafes/restaurants will keep the cost of eating out reasonable too.
Travel and flights
Most of the main tour operators service Santorini and this is by far the most popular way for tourists to visit the island.
We’ve noticed in recent years an increased use of couples and guests booking Airbnb’s. This is a great way to save on costs but just a word of warning.
Some of these Airbnb’s are quite remote and almost impossible to find, Greece doesn’t use postal addresses like we do.
A few times in the past we’ve have to had to ask these guests to make their own way to a local pick up point or make their own way to the venue.
Flights
Flights are quite regular with most airlines flying in on Tuesday and Thursdays and East Jet fly the island 3 days a week.
Getting around the island is quite easy, with small buses that go from one side of the island to the other. Taxis’ are not always readily available, there is only one taxi firm on the island and they are based in Fira, so be prepared to wait.
For this reason we’d highly recommend transporting your guests too/from the venue on your wedding day, interestingly some venues with strict closing times are now insisting on this.
Important to note that the more expensive resorts are Fira and Firastefani, Imergliovi and Oia and the less expensive beach resorts are Kamari and Perissa
Oia can be a logistical nightmare if you are marrying in Fira/Firastefani or Imergliovi (the most popular locations for wedding venues), there is one main long road that connects the island and if you’re stuck behind a tour bus or an airport transfer bus, this can take a while.
Your Budget
We touched briefly on budget, but lets explore this more.
Santorini IS and more than likely will ALWAYS be more expensive that other Greek Islands (with perhaps the exception of Mykonos). A wedding here for 30 people wont give you much change from £10,000 but typically a wedding of this size will cost around £15,000.
Of course this depends on how many guests you have and if you want a relaxed or extravagant wedding.
Venue hire, food and drinks will take up a large proportion of your budget, as much as 70%. So always start here.
But don’t forget that items such as photographs, videography entertainment, transport, flowers & decoration that will soon add up.
Here are some important Q’s to ask your venue during your research which will affect your budget.
- Is there a mandatory open bar – this can increase your budget quite a lot.
- Is the hire fee based on number of hours used, or based on all day hire. If it’s by the hour find out how much each additional hour will be.
- Does the venue insist you use any specific suppliers? Such as their own DJ/Photographer etc? If yes find out the cost of these if they’re not already included.
- Are there any restrictions re music, fireworks, decoration? (what can you and can’t you do?)
- What’s included in the basic hire fee. Some venues have amazing brochures which list clearly everything that is and isn’t included. With others trying to read and understand their brochure is like ‘pulling teeth’. So ask as many questions as you need until you understand exactly what you’re paying for.
I’ts important NOT to presume something is included, the venue will often use it’s best images in advertising material, make sure you understand what decoration/furniture is included in your hire fee.
It isn’t easy, but do your research, effort at the outset will save disappointment and heartache down the line.
Cuisine
Greek food is certainly one of my favourite cuisines and is usually a firm favourite with our couples that marry in Greece. In Santorin they are particularly proud of their locally grown produce. The tomatoes, fava beans and white eggplants are all delicious and feature heavily in local restaurants and on wedding menus.
Although many venues will happily tailor menus and simplify them for more ‘fussy’ guests, you’ll find they wont completely go away from their style of cuisine, and yes I was once asked if a venue would replicate a UK style ‘Sunday dinner.
I kid you not.
Some venues may also turn their nose up at doing French fries. So always ask for menu samples and ask what style of dining the venue offers before you book.
Many venues have tiny kitchens and can only provide sit down meals for smaller wedding parties, for parties with 50 or more they offer a buffet.
Some wont offer buffet/BBQ menus as their layout wont support it and some are less flexible when it comes to tailoring menus, so if you’re quite particular about your wedding menu you need to do your research before booking.
Your Wedding Day Schedule
A wedding in Santorini often takes place later in the day, typically no earlier than 4pm, any earlier and it could be too hot, this ceremony time allows for a cooler temperature and a more relaxed flow to the day, from afternoon ceremony into evening celebration.
When preparing your wedding day schedule there are a few things to find out.
- What’s the earliest time you’re allowed to get married?
If your wedding is in high season make sure you have some shade or access to parasols/water to keep guests comfortable, until the ceremony starts. - What time is the Sunset? Find out your sunset time here
It’s not uncommon for a whole day to be planned around the hour of sunset, however we rarely start a ceremony at sunset because it can be as late as 8.30pm high season. If you’re venue closes at midnight that doesn’t leave a lot of time for celebrating. You can always arrange a sunset photo shoot during dinner courses nearby your venue. - Work out your timings for different parts of the day to make sure the day flows until the event closes.
I suggest leaving 2 hour for the ceremony, canapés and photos (the actual civil ceremony is only 10/15 minutes long) 2.5hours if you want a second location shoot that’s away from your venue. 2 hours for dinner and 3 to 6 hours for the cutting of the cake, first dance and the party. So typically we recommend from 7 hours to 9/10 hours hire.
Other timings to consider.
Also note how long it takes to transfer to the venue from your hotel and allow plenty of time for hair and make-up , there’s nothing worse than feeling rushed in the heat, when you’re already probably feeling ‘nervous/excited’.
You’ll need to be in your dress at last 1 hour before the ceremony, more if you want getting ready shots with your bridesmaids and family.
Decoration
Whether you’re going DIY or hiring a florist always make sure the delivery/ set up fee is included in their quote.
When it comes to setting up decoration, first ask your venue if they will help, some will happily do this, others will help but will charge, some venues wont offer at all.
If you’re bringing lots of items from home and you don’t have a wedding planner or anyone local to help, then make sure you allocate enough time to set up.
Venues usually allow 1.5hours to set up, especially if they are open to the public during the day.
Don’t try to do this yourself, you should be relaxed and taking your time getting ready and enjoying the experience so make sure you assign this to a trusty person in your bridal party
You can always ask for them to send you photos after it’s set up.
A note on accessibility and layout, it’s important you understand the set up of your venue. Not all venues will have room for a gazebo, there may be restrictions on sticking/pinning items to walls, and restrictions on having live flames or using items that could stain surfaces. Make sure you ask these questions before spending huge amounts of money on decoration items you may not be able to use.
Booking Your Suppliers
Recently Santorini island has become quite strict on who can work at weddings, suppliers have to provide paperwork and insurance documents.
I’d advise against using anyone who asks for you to pay them cash without providing some type of receipt or invoice or contract. If for any reason you have you claim on your insurance you may find it difficult if there is no paper trail or evidence of booking.
Always try to protect yourself by paying in a way that gives you a record. Most reputable suppliers will be used to this. If they’re not I’d consider walking away, there are so many talented suppliers on the island you wont be short of options or choice.
Some Extra Tips
- Santorini is a highly demanded destination for weddings and books up well in advance. Make sure you book a date before you consider any travel or hotels. For example 2022 is already looking very busy and we’re now booking into 2023.
- Reconfirm all bookings/details of services again a few weeks before the wedding, especially for anything that was finalised months in advance. Make sure you have all the contact details you need and dates for any appointments once you arrive.
- If you want to arrange a pre wedding visit you’ll need to book an appointment, don’t just turn up, many venues are closed during the day and are very busy in high season.
- Pre wedding visits are amazing, who needs an excuse for a weekend away! But seriously they are invaluable when it comes to visiting the venue, menu tasting, seeking out venues for pre/post get togethers, venues visits and meeting suppliers. But it’s not in everyone’s budget, the beauty of Santorini being one of the most photographed and videoed locations in the world means that you can see everything you’ll need to see on youtube. And there is something special about seeing the island and your venue for the first time at your wedding.
I hope you find this helpful, if you planned your own wedding in Santorini and want to share any tips let us know.