How to get married in Santorini

“Yes,” you already said. The continuation… in Santorini. So, once you’ve said “I do,” you can start preparations for the wedding ceremony. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? A dream wedding, somewhere far away. The island of Santorini, located in the Cyclades Islands, has always been a favorite destination for couples from abroad who want to organize their wedding in a dream setting.

Actually, Santorini is one of the most romantic and beautiful locations to get married. It’s a destination that many people dream of visiting for their honeymoon or wedding. There are multiple venues available for weddings and even more options for honeymoons. If you’ve been to Santorini, you know what a great time you had while exploring the island, and this would be an exceptional opportunity to take your partner on a journey.

Exclusive beaches, luxurious hotels, elegant guesthouses, rural churches, and breathtaking volcano views. All these make Santorini one of the most sought-after locations in Greece for weddings and honeymoons. Start dreaming about your wedding already; choose your wedding dress and suit and don’t worry about anything else. How to get married in Santorini? Here, you will find detailed answers to all your questions.

And here are the 30 best honeymoon destinations in Europe.

1 Who can help me with my wedding preparations in Santorini?

The first step is to find a wedding planner who will help you with all the planning and arrangements. 

The second step is to find a church or chapel, which can be found in Fira, Oia, and Imerovigli. 

The third step is to find the perfect Santorini wedding venue that can serve as both your ceremony hall and reception hall for your big day.

Local wedding planners can work with you, offering complete and personalized wedding packages to suit any budget. They can help you with: 

They can arrange everything, even transporting the bride to the church on the back of a donkey. So all you need to worry about is fixing the wedding date as soon as possible!

When visiting the island, also check this 3 days in Santorini itinerary

2 What kind of wedding ceremonies are organized in Santorini?

Civil ceremonies are held in almost any location you choose. Greek Orthodox ceremonies take place in cathedrals and chapels, Catholic ceremonies at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in the town of Fira, and Jewish ceremonies can also be organized if a rabbi is available. If you are already married but want to revive the romantic atmosphere of your wedding, wedding planners can create the perfect setting to renew your wedding vows.

As couples come here from all over the world, civil ceremonies are bilingual, in Greek and English. When necessary, there are also translators for other languages and people specially trained to ‘translate’ ceremonies for deaf-mutes.

3 Where can weddings take place in Santorini?

Santorini residents are big wedding lovers, and many venues here are equipped to provide you with everything you need so that you only have to worry about enjoying your big day. Restaurants and hotels with terraces and beachside tavernas host fabulous weddings, prepare wedding menus and organize unforgettable parties, where you can ride one of the island’s resident donkeys.

There’s no better place to celebrate for a smaller, more intimate ceremony than one of the small hotels on the edge of the volcano crater. Here, couples can get married on one of the terraces in the area or inside a vaulted cave, with a backdrop of sunset, volcano, sea, and surrounding islets. 

In Santorini you can choose one of the secluded locations, away from the constraints of reception halls: volcanic beaches, vineyards, or even boats that offer an ideal and unique setting for your wedding ceremony. If you want to party properly after the event itself, you can dance the night away in one of the clubs on the island.

Here are some of the best venues for weddings in Santorini:

Santorini Gem – Originally a private villa with a fantastic pool and a lush garden surrounding it, Santorini Gem has now become one of the top wedding venues on the island. Located in the village of Pyrgos, it offers spectacular views of the volcano and the Aegean sea. Guests seated on the wedding terrace can attend wedding ceremonies with up to 160 people. 

Thermes Villas – Located on the cliffside of Megalochori village, Thermes is a stunning villa complex. With seven villas (five with three bedrooms and two with two bedrooms) that can accommodate up to 38 guests, it is ideal for a wedding since there are different areas where the ceremony and reception can be held. There is an outdoor terrace of the villa Princess Iriana that can accommodate up to 250 guests for a seated dinner and an indoor air-conditioned room that can accommodate up to 80 seated guests in case of bad weather.  

Venetsanos Winery – Founded in 1947, this winery was the first industrial winery on the island, built by the Venetsanos family. The Aegean Sea is always in the background at Venetsanos Winery in Megalochori, as well as one of the most beautiful sunsets you are likely to see. Santorini’s volcanic rocks blend beautifully with their earthy colors. On the Upper Terrace, wedding ceremonies and receptions can be held with up to 120 guests. 

Cavo Ventus – The luxurious Villa Ventus at Akrotiri is built around an antique stone windmill that dates back to the late 1800s. It provides sweeping views of the volcano and the Aegean Sea from its cliffside perch. Weddings at Cavo Ventus Santorini are not only a beautiful setting for an outdoor ceremony and alfresco dinner on the terrace, but the couple can also stay at the villa and prepare for the big day while they are there. In addition to the breathtaking outdoor surroundings, the indoors offer a minimalist interior design typical of Santorini with warm-colored walls, big windows, and plenty of natural light. 

Le Ciel – The restaurant Le Ciel is located in Imerovigli, steps away from the Rocabella Resort & Spa. A terrace with stunning views is available for the ceremony, which can seat up to 80 people seated, while the reception area can hold up to 120 guests seated. With a seated menu for up to 60 guests, a buffet menu for more than 60 people, as well as a great variety of ceremony and reception drinks packages, all mandatory for all guests, the venue provides delicious menus with distinct Greek flavours.  

4 “Excellence is in the details,” as an old Greek proverb says

For the bridal bouquet and the groom’s boutonniere flower, you can choose from the vast selection of flowers that are available locally. As a tip, try a colorful and exuberant floral arrangement of lilies and red roses; Christmas flowers, yellow roses, pink lilies, and blue “Liatris”). The wedding planners will take care of the wedding menu and the cake (for example, Serrano mousse with whipped cream and decorated with flowers made from edible Neapolitan sheets is a real treat). Wedding rings can be purchased from one of the island’s jewelry shops. If you like a certain kind of music for the party, you can bring your own band.

5 How can you please your guests and family?

Go for hotel accommodation. They will do their best to help you with your wedding preparations and welcome your guests properly. Spend the day at the beach, explore the island, or laze on a sun lounger. If you’re interested in exploring the archaeological sites of Santorini, this itinerary will suit you just fine.

What documents do you need to get married in Santorini?

Legal information: There are a few legal formalities that couples planning to join their destinies in Santorini must fulfill, so have all the documents you need ready before leaving the country. As these can vary significantly from those required in your home country, contact a wedding planning company that will help you with all the arrangements for a proper event. For getting married in Santorini, you will need to provide the following documents:

• Passports of husband and wife
• Birth certificates for husband and wife, with parents’ names on them. No short versions aloud
• Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marry for husband and wife
• Death Certificate or Final Divorce Decree for the person who has been married before
• Free to marry paper – a declaration on your own that you are free to marry, with no obligations. It has to be legalized at a Greek Notary Office

You will need to translate all documents related to the marriage into Greek and have them certified by the Greek embassy or consulate in your home country. You will also need to have certain documents (like birth certificates) apostilled.

Can two people of the same sex get married in Santorini?

Remember that two people of the same sex can’t marry in Greece. In order to get married in Greece as a same-sex couple, you would have to go through an extra process called “sponsorship,” which will allow one partner to come from outside of Greece and marry their partner there.

The Top 5 Things To Do In Santorini as a Bride-To-Be

Santorini is a beautiful Greek island with many things to do, so you will not be disappointed in any way.

1. It is an amazing destination for a honeymoon because it has a lot of romantic restaurants and beaches. The best Santorini beaches are:

2. One way to enjoy this island is by renting a bike and going on a bike tour around the island.

3. There are also many tours that you can take, such as the volcano tour or the wine tasting tour.

4. You can also go on boat trips around the island or take photos from different viewpoints, such as from the top of the lighthouse or the church on top of Oia’s hillside

5. One last thing you can do in Santorini is go shopping at one of its many quaint boutiques and souvenir shops

Are you also planning to get married in Santorini?

In conclusion, Santorini is a stunning destination for a wedding and honeymoon. It offers incredible views and unparalleled memories.

After you visit the island, be sure to take a moment to enjoy the view and soak in all of its beauty.