Greece has always been a top destination for summer weddings with its countless islands and picturesque villages dotting the whole country. Moreover, Greece offers a magnificent backdrop for your special day, boasting clear blue waters, breathtaking views and awe-inspiring ancient monuments. Whether you choose to have your wedding on an island, in Athens among the countless historical sites, somewhere along the coastline or in the mainland, Greece has the spot for you. You should also note that Greeks have rich matrimonial traditions that can help spice up the ceremony or the reception.
Matching such a marvelous landscape may seem daunting especially if you’re planning the wedding from far away. In that case, a wedding planner will assist you in organizing the event. As an expert, they will provide you with all the important information, guide you through every step on the way and all around help so you can focus on what’s important, the celebration of your love.
But how does one plan a wedding?
Type of the Ceremony
Well, first you and your partner should decide on the type of ceremony you wish to have.
You can opt for the Christian Orthodox Legal wedding which calls for all the required paperwork and is a deeply spiritual and traditional wedding ceremony or you can go for a simple symbolic ceremony. For couples on a tight time schedule, a symbolic ceremony can prove easier to organize and more light paced.
Number of Guests
Which brings us to our next step. Do you wish for a small and intimate affair or a big party with all your social circle celebrating your love? The number of guests you will entertain can seriously affect the type of ceremony you want to have as well as your budget which is why you need to figure these important details first and then decide on a Budget. This will help with any restrictions you might have during your wedding planning as well as keep you from overspending.
Finding the right Wedding Planner
At this point, you will have to start searching for a wedding planner. Keep in mind that your wedding planner is the one who will bring your vision to life. So look for someone you can communicate and bond with. Having a greek wedding planner can also be beneficial because they will have a better understanding of the wedding location and the way things work in Greece. They have excellent communication skills and they will make your Big Day a magical experience. The wedding planning agency will then make you an offer. Once you accept the wedding planning is afoot!
Legalities
If you choose to have your Legal Wedding in Greece you will need to prepare in advance all the necessary paperwork three months prior (not earlier though!). For a full list of the documents, you will need you can click here.
Before booking your wedding venue you should decide on a date or a wedding period. Do you want a June wedding or do you prefer a late August, end of summer, one? In Greece, the wedding season is from May to October with temperatures rising significantly during July and August. Greek islands and especially Santorini are an increasingly popular destination for weddings and some require planning and booking even as far as a year in advance. If you are set on a date your options may be limited.
The Style of the Ceremony
The Style of the Ceremony can influence heavily the type of Venue you will be looking for. Having a clear vision of what your wedding will look like, the colour palette, the theme, whether the ceremony will be in the same venue as the reception will help greatly. The wedding planner is essential at this stage. They will clear your vision catering to your tastes as well as bringing new and original ideas to the table for a fresh, modern and most importantly elegant result. They will provide you with all the information about the wedding venues, helpful links and details about them so you can easily find the perfect venue for The Big Event. They can pre-book your preferred wedding date and venue so we can ensure the availability of the date until paying the deposit to make sure that the venue has been assigned to you. At this point, you should also decide if you plan on hosting the reception on the same or a different venue. Having the reception at the same place offers convenience for your guests but there may be unforeseeable drawbacks, for example, if your wedding venue is in a domesticated part of Santorini you might have to lower the music quite early on. In countryside Greece and especially in the islands the reception is held at a different venue, away from domesticated areas where loud music and lights or fireworks are not a problem.
Accommodation
When booking the best accommodations for you and your guests you should take into account that most greek islands don’t boast huge resorts, which can be found along the Greek coastline. Nevertheless, your wedding planner will be with you every step of the way providing you with the best choices and sample information about them. It is advised all the wedding party is accommodated in nearby areas for easier transportation and easier meetings. Don’t forget to clarify with your planner if the accommodation costs are covered by your deal. You should also check the accessibility of the hotel if needed as many are accessed only by stairs or steps in many parts of Greece.
Transportation
Transportation bookings are also important and should be done a few months prior, especially if traveling by plane. Flights for the islands can get expensive but if you are on a budget you can score some great deals if you book a few months in advance. If you opt-out of flying, traveling by ship may cause some discomfort due to a longer time of travel but the deep blue waters of the Greek seas make up for it. You should also plan for your transport while you are on the island. Before you choose to rent a vehicle, a private transport service or a taxi familiarise yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
Services
After getting out of the way the Big Decisions, it’s time to book the services you will need. Book a photographer/videographer whose work you love. Start looking for a caterer if your reception venue doesn’t offer one. How about Music? WIll there be a band? Or a DJ? Greek tradition is rich with customs and music ideal for a wedding, will yours incorporate any? It will surely make the ceremony stand out. For example, many brides in islandic Greece choose to arrive at the church on a donkey, a very old and fun custom, but if you need four wheels beneath your feet a limo service will give a glamorous touch to the event. You will also need a flower service for your floral arrangements for the ceremony as well as the reception. What about a fireworks show as you cut the cake? Or a few back up dancers for your first dance? The possibilities are limitless but you will need the assistance of your planner to guide you and recommend you the best specialists for the services you’ll need.
Approaching the Big Day.
The place one chooses to have their wedding at should be an important one, mostly because it will forever be the place they chose to bond their lives forever. Quite frankly Greece is the perfect place for that. From the magnificent landscapes to the booming cities, the ever-present history to ultra-modern cities, Greece’s story is at its core a love story with life. Wouldn’t Greece, the country who has five different words for love be perfect for your love story too?
Enjoy your Big Day!
