The Making of a Wedding in Greece

“The sweetest thing of being a wedding planner is to help couples fulfill their dreams and making new friends.”

Joycelyn, our experienced wedding planner from Aegean Dreams, shares her thoughts and tips on having a destination wedding in Greece, specifically in Santorini.

Why Santorini?

First and foremost, Greece has an extremely large number of islands, claiming close to 6000 islands in which about 227 are inhibited. Generally, these inhibited islands are grouped into a few clusters: Northeastern Aegean, Sporades, Cyclades, Dodecanese, Ionians, Argosaronic, and Crete. Among them, Santorini, a crescent-shaped island in the Cyclades group stood out. She is absolutely one of the magical places on earth.

“The allure of its majestic landscape – sculptured by mother nature some 3,500 years ago – is one of the main reasons that attracted many couples here to tie the knot,” Joycelyn explained. White-washed houses are in abundance in this sun-kissed island along with sprinkles of blue dome chapels make her such a sight to behold. With these romantic settings, beautiful sunset and warm hearts and big smiles of the Greeks, it is not difficult to understand why Santorini remains the most coveted wedding destination in Europe.

Love at first sight

On one hand, the spectacular sight of the Cycladic-style houses hanging precariously along the cliff is unbelievable and somewhat intimidating. On the other hand, the unsurpassed view of the caldera and the volcano “Nea Kameni” is revealed right in front of your eyes was surreal. Consequently, there could only be one outcome: the look of amazement whenever our couples and guests every time they set foot in Santorini!

“I have always enjoyed looking at their expression because I would relive the exact emotion of mine a decade ago!” exclaimed Joycelyn. When the excitement finally calms down, she would give an orientation of Santorini, must-visit places, and of course, good food. “This is really important to settle my folks down and make sure they are comfortable before the nervy wedding affair,” she added.

Wedding is an Art

According to Joycelyn, every couple is unique so every wedding is different. However, the anticipation and excitement leading to the wedding day remain the same. Preparation work is an art and this started long before the wedding day. First, wedding planners are the jack of all trades. Next, they must have an eye for details because being meticulous is essential. Last but not least, a wedding planner needs to be on top of all things and be aware of situational changes. For instance, the venue selection, flora arrangement, guest’s list, logistics arrangement, weather, vendor coordination, the lists go on.

Choosing the right partners is also an art. That is why we work closely with the best vendors, suppliers, and professionals on the island. Joycelyn maintained: “Every successful wedding is a testament to our closely knitted collaboration and a reward for our perseverance.”

Wedding Day

Coordination and setting up the ceremony area are the crucial parts of the actual day preparation. Wedding planners have to be meticulous in making sure the right people turn up at the right time with the right stuff. Wedding is also a team effort, it is impossible to accomplish so many tasks alone. Most often than not, many events take place at the same time. For example, bride getting ready, photoshoot session, guest arrangement, wedding reception, dinner, etc. As a result keeping watch on the schedule becomes a big challenge. You will need help, a lot of help really. “I am always blessed and thankful to have good people around me when the most unexpected things happen,” Joycelyn recounted.

Tips for Couples

So what tips can Joycelyn offer to potential wedding couples planning a destination wedding in Greece? Greek islands are extremely popular for romantic holidays and weddings. A dream destination wedding could take place in many locations throughout the year but the shoulder or low seasons are some of the favorite periods. The good news is Greece enjoys the Mediterranean climate which promises mild winter. Moreover, Santorini welcomes visitors all year round. Therefore, April to June and September to November are some of the good months due to comfortable breezy weather and better light for photos.

“Do plan ahead to secure the ideal venue and auspicious dates, especially so if the couple is anticipating a wedding with guests,” Joycelyn recommended. Do not rush things, the couple has to first establish some common understanding among themselves. Talk to a few wedding planners, not too many though as this could lead to the couple being overwhelmed with information and creating undue stress. The couple also has to be honest with their expectations. Keep an open mind, and establish a good communication channel with the wedding planner. Finally, choose, commit and trust your appointed planner. You are then not too far from a dream wedding in Greece!

“People look at a successful wedding from many perspectives. To me, what matters most is the journey and not the destination. All the little moments leading to the wedding will etched in our memories forever.”

Planning a destination wedding and photoshoot in Greece? Get in touch with our wedding planner today!