Planning your wedding in Santorini
Planning your wedding in Santorini
Planning your wedding in Santorini. Important tips to know!
Santorini is one of the most popular destinations for weddings in Grece; even locals choose to tie the knot here. And who can blame them? With breathtaking views of the deep blue sea, iconic architecture, and a delicious variety of food and wine, who does not want to get married on this island.
But one thing is dreaming, and a different one is planning. Especially if you are planning a destination wedding and have no idea about the best venues, legal requirements, and trustworthy wedding vendors. It is common for couples to forget about certain important details; that is why as an experienced wedding planner in Santorini, I have gathered a list of important tips to know for your Santorini wedding to be a total success.
Start planning early.
Since you chose a popular location, you need to know both venues and accommodation book quickly, with up to a year of anticipation. So, our best advice is to look for a hotel, plane tickets, and your wedding venue as soon as possible, particularly if you have many guests. You will have more options if you start soon.
Plan a pre-wedding visit.
We understand it can be out of your budget, but book a visit to meet your vendors whenever possible. Make sure you arrange an appointment previously so you can make the most out of your visit. You can also use this visit to get to know the locations you want to visit for wedding photography and register transportation times from your ceremony location to the reception venue.
Ask the right questions to your venue.
Once you have a list of potential wedding venues, you need to find a couple of details to stay within your budget. Keep in mind your wedding reception takes around 70% of the total wedding budget, always start by defining this high cost.
- How many hours are included, and what is the cost per extra hour of service?
- Can I bring my vendors, or do you have a list of preferred vendors?
- Which services are included within the price?
- What restrictions does the venue have? For example, what is the curfew for music, can you light up candles, fireworks, what restrictions do they have regarding décor?
- Find out if the basic hire includes lighting, tables, chairs, tablecloths, china, and decoration. Many times, the fee only includes the rental of the space, and everything else is extra.
Before signing each contract, ensure you read every part of it and clarify any doubts that arise. Ask about cancellation and rescheduling fees; with the experience we all have from 2020, it is important to have a clear idea of how flexible our contracts are.
Know the legal requirements.
While planning such a special and exciting event like a wedding, we often skip the important part of legal requirements, but they are as important as your reception. Determine with anticipation if you want to perform a legal or symbolic ceremony. If you want to avoid any hassle regarding documents, you can get legally married at home and only have a symbolic ceremony to exchange vows in Santorini.
But if you are planning a civil ceremony, here are some of the general requirements:
- Application for a civil marriage.
- Passports of both parties.
- Original birth certificates of both parties.
- Certificate of non-impediment for both parties.
- Both must be 18 or older.
- The parties cannot be related.
- Two witnesses are required.
- Divorce certificate if applicable.
- All documents must be issued not earlier than three months.
- All documents must be officially translated into Greek.
- Authenticated copies must be faxed with anticipation.
- You must present all documents in their original version and the original translations for your ceremony to happen.
Which vendors do you need to hire?
Vendors are crucial for your Santorini wedding to be flawless and perfect. Wedding vendors are everything, and if you hire professional vendors, you can be sure it will all flow in the right direction. Here is a list of the main vendors every wedding need:
- Wedding venue.
- Catering
- Bar
- Decoration
- Florist
- Photographer
- Videographer
- Hair and makeup artist.
Do not forget about after wedding plans.
Couples often focus only on the ceremony and reception. Still, when planning a visit to a magical destination like Santorini, you need to make plans for your whole stay. The island has many hidden gems for you to discover; you can arrange plans for you and your guests or escape for a private honeymoon.
Hire a wedding planner.
As you have read so far, planning a wedding from a distance can be challenging. So, you need to know each vendor you hire is professional and deliver the result you are dreaming of. And it is almost impossible to handle all the related paperwork and planning without a local helping hand; having a wedding planner with experience organizing Santorini weddings will provide you peace of mind.
A wedding planner in Santorini will know the right wedding venues for your style and budget, all the legal requirements, and, most importantly, the right vendors. You can even hire a Santorini wedding package including all you need in one place. So, whenever possible, hire a professional wedding planner and make your planning easier.
Wedding packages
No matter the style, season, or size of your wedding, we have the right Santorini wedding packages for you. We are here to make your vision a reality. For us, your wedding is not only another celebration but also a once-in-a-lifetime moment that you will forever treasure, and we take the task of planning it seriously.
If you are still looking for a wedding planner who understands how important your wedding day is and goes above and beyond to make sure you enjoy your celebration, look no further, we are here to make your dreams come true. Contact us so we can start planning your Santorini wedding today.
