Greece Wedding Venue Visits: Complete Guide to Choosing the Perfect Location

A destination wedding in Greece is a dream come true. The stunning landscapes, warm weather, and incredible food make it the perfect place to say “I do.” Before you get swept away by the breathtaking views, pay close attention to every detail. This is important when visiting wedding venues in Greece. And it will ensure your wedding day will be hassle-free and care-free!

The venue sets the stage for your entire wedding. Knowing what to look for is essential. Be sure to ask the right questions. Double-checking details can save you from unexpected surprises down the line.

I planned my own wedding in Greece. Based on my personal experience, here’s a practical guide to help you tour wedding venues in Greece like a pro. It will help you consider all those small details that can make or break your wedding day. You can also avoid unpleasant surprises!

Location and accessibility: is it easy to get to?

The first thing to consider when touring or even considering Greek wedding venues in Greece is the location. Many dream of a Santorini cliffside wedding or a hidden gem in Crete. However, some locations are hard to reach for guests. This is especially true for elderly family members or those traveling from abroad.

We were on our way to a wedding venue. We suddenly realized that we needed to park our car. We had to walk for the last few meters under the hot sun to visit the location. What we saw was rewarding, however we soon came to realize that our family would have difficulty accessing it.

What to consider

• How far is the venue from the nearest airport or ferry port?
• Is there road access for cars, shuttles, or buses?
• Are there transportation options for guests who don’t rent a car?
• If it’s on an island, how reliable are ferries and flights to this destination?

If the wedding venue in Greece is remote, consider offering shuttle services or booking accommodation nearby for key guests.

What does the venue package include? Are there any hidden fees?

Some venues in Greece offer full-service packages. Others are more of a blank canvas. This means you’ll have to hire vendors separately. This can impact your budget and, of course, how much control you have over planning.

What to consider

• Does the venue include catering, bar service, tables/chairs, and decorations, or do you need to rent everything separately?
  
  In case of the latter, make sure to ask for their recommendations. I am sure they will be more than happy to share a list of professionals. They have good experience working with them. At the end of the day, both you and the venue owners work toward a stellar outcome.
  
• Do they have exclusive vendor partnerships (e.g., must use their caterer, planner, or DJ)?
• What does the rental fee include? (staff, security, cleaning, etc.)?
• Are there extra costs for things like extending venue hours, corkage fees, sound equipment, or setup/breakdown time?

Always ask for a detailed price breakdown, so that there are no surprises later. Make sure to get similar quotes from independent vendors to verify that the venue’s offering is fairly priced.

Wedding day coordination: who’s managing the logistics?

The wedding day coordination is simply the MOST important part of your wedding. It’s on your wedding day when everything comes together. Your dream comes to life. Without proper coordination, even the most beautifully planned wedding can fall apart.

Some wedding venues in Greece offer on-site wedding coordinators. Others expect you to bring your own planner. In fact, bringing your own planner might even be a condition to work with them.

What to consider

• Does the venue provide a day-of wedding coordinator to oversee and manage logistics?
• If yes, what tasks do they handle? (e.g., vendor arrivals, setup, guest assistance, last minute hiccups)
• If not, do they allow external wedding planners / coordinators in the venue?
• Will there be a point of contact on – site throughout the event (and until the party ends)?

If your venue does not offer wedding coordination, consider hiring a wedding coordinator. This approach can help you stay on budget. It ensures the day runs smoothly.

If you prefer having peace of mind, hiring a wedding planner may be a better option. You might not have a full vision for your wedding. Also, you may not want to sweat over the smallest details.

To find a trustworthy Greece wedding planner or coordinator, check out my curated list here.

Weather plan: indoor area or covered backup option?

Greece is known for its gorgeous sunny weather. Don’t let that fool you. Wind, rain, and extreme heat are still a possibility, even in summer! Some wedding venues in Greece don’t have a solid backup plan, which can cause last-minute stress. However, with proper planning, you can be ready for whatever may come your way.

What to consider

• Is there an indoor or covered area in case of rain or strong winds?
• If not, does the venue allow tent rentals?
• Will the venue provide fans, heaters, or shade options depending on the season?

If your wedding is in the hottest months (July – August), ensure there are cooling solutions for guests. You can provide shaded areas, fans, or choose a later ceremony start time.

Music and noise restrictions: what’s the cutoff time?

Did you know that some wedding venues in Greece strictly enforce noise restrictions? Many outdoor venues, especially those near residential areas, have curfews. Midnight music cutoffs are more common than you’d expect. In fact, we discounted a number of venues because they would enforce a midnight curfew.

What to consider

• Until what time can music be played?
• Can you extend the music time for an extra fee?
• Are there indoor options if you want to party later?
• Are certain types of music (e.g., live bands) restricted?

If your venue has an early curfew, plan for an after-party at a nearby bar or beach club! Check if the wedding venue has (paid) options to extend the curfew by a few hours.

Venue condition: how well is it maintained?

I learned the hard way that not all wedding venues look as picture-perfect in person as they do online. Sometimes, venues don’t maintain their grounds properly, especially during off-season months.

What to consider

• Grass & gardens – Some venues have dry, patchy, or over-watered grass (a nightmare for high heels).
• Lighting – Is your wedding at night? If so, ask to see the venue at the same time of day. This helps check the ambiance.
• General upkeep – Look out for peeling paint, neglected spaces, or broken furniture.
• Venue surroundings – is there construction nearby? One of our top venues on paper had large construction trucks driving through!

Visit the venue close to your wedding date or request recent photos to ensure everything looks as expected. Make sure that the venue grass won’t be watered close to your wedding day to avoid muddy conditions.

Accommodation and parking: is it convenient?

Your guests will appreciate a smooth experience – so checking for nearby accommodations and easy transportation is key.

What to consider

• Are there hotels or villas nearby for guests?
• Does the venue provide parking spaces or valet services?
• Are there shuttle options if guests won’t be driving?

If accommodation is far, consider organizing group transport for guests staying in the same hotel.

Planning spectacles during the reception: are they allowed?

You may think of having a jaw-dropping firework closure for your wedding. You might also introduce an attraction during the festivities, such as a traditional Antikristo barbecue in Crete. These additions elevate the reception. They make the experience more memorable. However, the wedding venue might not be willing to accommodate them!

What to consider

• Do you allow fireworks, fire crackers, etc at your location?
• Is it possible to allow Antikristo displayed at your location?
• Are there any limitations in terms of celebratory prompts, such as confetti, etc?

For fireworks, consider a launching pad near the sea, if the wedding venue is located near one.

Organize, real-time, the answers to your questions, feelings and take photos!

One of the most overlooked task while visiting venues is taking proper, detailed and comparable notes. You will talk to many venue owners. You will experience a wide range of emotions during the conversations and visits. It’s important that you document every single detail, feeling and thought real-time.

Things to document

• Answers to the list of questions you have created. By doing so, you will be able to easily compare the venues when the time comes.
• If there are any areas that aren’t well maintained, consider allocating them for aspects of the evening. You can use them, for example, for children entertainment. By taking pictures, you will be able to follow up on your thoughts. You can also brief the vendors better when the time comes.
• The venue owners might mention extra charges. They may not explicitly include them in their offers. You will need to further confirm these charges before you book.

Consider creating a common template with questions which allows you to easily compare the information once all visits are completed. In our case, we used an Excel file to compare simple criteria. These criteria included ease of access and distance from the airport. We also maintained separate venue notes on Notion. These notes contained all details, feelings, and pictures during the visit. By doing so, we easily relived the visit and decided objectively.

Final thoughts: touring Greek wedding venues like a pro

Touring a wedding venue in Greece is an exciting step. However, asking the right questions can save you time. It can also save you money and stress later on. Take notes, compare options, and don’t hesitate to ask for extra details!

Before booking, make sure you:

• Visit the venue at the same time of day as your wedding for lighting/weather check.
• Ask for a full cost breakdown to avoid hidden fees.
• Check venue rules for music, vendors, and guest count.
• Ensure there’s a solid weather backup plan.
• Confirm who’s coordinating everything on the big day.
• They allow spectacles on location
• Have organized a way to take comparable feedback every time you visit a wedding venue.

To help you start your Greek wedding venue exploration, I’ve curated some venues that you can explore and research here.