With dramatic scenery, idyllic villages, a fascinating history and world-class cuisine, it’s no wonder the Greek island of Santorini is such a popular choice for a stylish destination wedding. Whether you’re dreaming of a chic destination wedding in Santorini or have just started planning your big day, we can imagine you’ve got a lot of questions. From how much it will cost to how to plan your wedding from a different country, the Le Ciel team answer all of the most-asked questions about planning a Santorini wedding.
How expensive is a destination wedding in Santorini?
A destination wedding always delivers the wow-factor, but it doesn’t have to come at a ridiculously high cost. In fact, a Santorini destination wedding on average costs less than a UK wedding. Of course, prices range widely depending on the number of guests, the type of venue you choose and any extras you may opt for, but you can expect to pay between £8,000 to £25,000 for your Santorini celebration.
At Le Ciel, our prices start at around £750 for a 2-hour ceremony hire and go up to £3,250 as a starting price for a full day hire. Even when factoring in the cost of food and drink, it’s a fantastic competitive price for celebrating your big day in such luxurious surroundings – not to mention the fact Le Ciel boasts one of the best views in Santorini.
Is Santorini a good place to get married?
When it comes to idyllic settings for your destination wedding, Santorini is hard to beat. This charming island, surrounded by the twinkling waters of the Aegean Sea, is picture-postcard pretty. With winding streets, traditional white-washed buildings, dazzling blue-domed churches and magnificent clifftop views, Santorini is the perfect blend of traditional Greece and dramatic landscapes. As well as its striking looks, Santorini is a fantastic place to get married thanks to the friendly locals, exceptional cuisine and glorious sunshine all summer long.
How do I plan my wedding from another country?
It can be daunting starting the wedding planning process when you don’t live in the same country as your destination wedding venue. However, it doesn’t have to be stressful. The most important thing is to hire a wedding planner who knows the location inside out. At Le Ciel we can recommend a number of hugely experienced Santorini-based wedding planners who can help with everything from sourcing the very best wedding flowers to making sure your big day comes in on budget.
When is the best time of year for a Santorini wedding?
If you’re planning a destination wedding, the best time of year to get married in Santorini is typically between late spring to early autumn. From May to October you can enjoy warm and sunny weather, with very minimal chance of rain – plus the island really does look glorious, with lush green foliage and vibrant flowers in bloom. The wedding season at Le Ciel, one of Santorini’s top venues, runs from May to October, so you can enjoy the best the island has to offer.
What time of day is best for a Santorini wedding?
Avoid the late morning and midday sun, and opt for an afternoon ceremony for your Santorini wedding. This way you can still enjoy the sunshine, but temperatures will be slightly cooler. An afternoon ceremony gives you plenty of time to enjoy the day’s celebrations, as well as capture some incredible sunset wedding photographs.
Where is the best place for my Santorini wedding photographs?
The rugged coastline and picturesque villages of Santorini provide the most unique and romantic of backdrops for your wedding photos. It’s crucial to book a wedding photographer who is familiar with the island and your Santorini wedding venue so they know the best spots to shoot your couple photographs. You don’t want to spend too long away from your guests, so ideally you want to pick a wedding venue with stunning scenery in walking distance. For example, Le Ciel has the classic cobbled winding alleys, blue-domed churches, and dramatic clifftops all on its doorstep. Perfect for truly unforgettable wedding photos with the wow-factor.
What can we do in Santorini?
If you like the idea of extending the celebrations with your friends and family, Santorini has so much to offer. Depending on how long you and your guests plan on staying on the island, one thing you can’t miss is a boat tour of the caldera. Sail around the jaw-dropping caldera cliffs, hike the volcano, take a dip in the hot springs and stop off at the iconic Red Beach for a spot of snorkelling.
As well as this, you can explore the island on foot with a hike along the caldera between Fira and Oia, get your culture fix with a visit to ancient Akrotiri and indulge in the best local cuisine on a food and wine tour.
How to pick the perfect Santorini wedding venue
It’s all about the venue when planning a destination wedding, so you want to make sure you pick the right one. At Le Ciel you’re in safe hands. We’ve been lucky enough to host hundreds of beautiful weddings for couples from all over the world. Our luxurious, exclusive-use wedding venue is available for ceremony or full-day hire, to suit your big day plans and budget. We’re proud of our fabulous foodie reputation and would love to work with you to create the ultimate wedding menu for you and your guests. With spectacular views across the Santorini coastline and out across the Aegean Sea, there really is no other venue that compares. If you’d like to find out more about Le Ciel, or arrange a virtual or in-person viewing, just click here and one of our team will get straight back to you.