This year, Condé Nast Traveller, a highly regarded and globally influential travel journal, has published a list of the world’s ten most beautiful nations. And it is no coincidence, that Greece has been added to the top tier of their elite list. Greece is a nation brimming with natural beauty. It has become famous for summer vacations due to its distinctive light, sunny climate, delicious cuisine, infinite blue waters, and clusters of unique islands. The country’s coastline spans for almost 16,000 kilometres, with many picturesque beaches and beautiful harbours. The mainland makes up about half of this shoreline, while the remainder is made up by hundreds of Greek islands, many of which remain, as yet, uninhabited, unspoiled, with breath-taking sight of beaches, gorges, valleys and mountainsides.
Greece’s rich cultural heritage still influences modern cultures today and hundreds of Greek historical landmarks draw in curious visitors from all around the world every year. Because the country has been populated from ancient times, evidence of humankind may be discovered throughout the country. Amphitheatres, public gathering halls, shrines, and ancient marketplaces, reveal a history that dates back more than 5,000 years. Greece has something for everyone, and this is why Greece is such a favoured destination in the international wedding arena. Greece’s landscape is extremely diverse, with a variety of venues and accommodations to suit each couple’s wedding vision. From lively urban centres to serene villages tucked away in the mountain valleys and tranquil seaside towns, Greece is able to accommodate every wedding concept. The only problem, really, is choosing a wedding venue from such an extensive list of options! You might choose to get married in an area of Greece that you have wanted to visit for a long time or a place where you’ve already enjoyed meaningful moments in together. Following is a taste of the best types of wedding venues and locations that Greece has to offer you for your wedding day.
Many couples choose Athens as their wedding location since the city is beautifully romantic, with an ancient rich past, and home to a plethora of sightseeing opportunities and organised events and activities. Leading up to their wedding day couples and wedding parties may visit ancient world-class monuments such as the Panathenaic Stadium, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Acropolis and the Parthenon. There are countless churches in Athens that make idyllic wedding venues for those wanting religious ceremonies. The Byzantine churches in the city are among the oldest in the world and are enchanting architectural buildings. There are many Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical churches in Athens to choose from as well, and many small chapels on the Athenian hillsides which have spectacular views of the Saronic Gulf. If you want to have a civil wedding ceremony in Athens, you may opt for a prestigious hotel venue in the city centre and host your ceremony and reception on its extensive grounds. Fine dining is available in many of the prominent hotels in the city centre and most hotel staff members are seasoned in the field of weddings and catering. If you want a more informal experience you may discover tavernas and restaurants with huge courtyards where you can organise your reception party. There are also several luxury hotels by the water along the Athenian coastline, the Athens Riviera, that make idyllic wedding venues, all with views of the majestic Parthenon. The Athenian Riviera is a popular location for wedding photo shoots as are the maze of cobbled alleys, lined with neoclassical architecture in old Athenian neighbourhoods, such as Plaka and Monastiraki. Simply put, the choice of venues, the magnificent sights and experiences that Athens has to offer to couples on their wedding day are endless.
If you want to get away from the city and have a wedding in nature, Greece has dozens of beautiful islands to choose from. In Greece, there are many islands to select from as wedding locations, and each island gives its wedding guests unforgettable experiences and a huge choice of venues. There is something for every type of couple, from islands known for their gorgeous beaches and natural characteristics to islands dedicated to night life and entertainment. The Cycladic Islands, Ionian Islands, Saronic Gulf Islands, Sporades Islands, Dodecanese Islands, and North Aegean Islands are the six main clusters of islands in Greece.
The islands of Santorini, Mykonos, and Paros in the Cyclades are known for their distinctive architecture, lovely beaches, and magnificent scenery, among many other things. The main island in the Ioanian cluster is Corfu, known for its exquisite traditional food, which, like the other Ioanian islands, has been shaped by the island’s 400-year Venetian rule. The Saronic Gulf islands include Hydra, which is the most serene island closest to Athens, and is best known for its beautiful stone mansions, Poros is a lovely green island with pine woods, charming villages, and well-kept beaches and is great for sailing and Aegina is perfect for family holidays and famous for The Ancient Temple of Athena Aphaia, which dates from the 6th century BC, a most remarkable archaeological site. The Sporades Islands are east of Athens, and Evia, the second-largest Greek island after Crete, can be found here with its hilly interior with rivers, streams, and woods, as well as stunning beaches and coves on its east coast. Rhodes is the biggest island in the Dodecanese and is famous for the site of Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The islands of the North Aegean, located between Turkey and Thessaloniki, are largely undiscovered and have a secluded feel about them which are ideal for couples wanting to be at one with nature on their wedding day. And then there is Crete, the largest of all Greek islands, with its varied terrain, with mountains visible from each point on the island, fertile plains a plenty, and a clean shoreline that stretches for thousands of kilometres around the island. Crete has a broad range of beautiful wedding venues that lend themselves to weddings. To name a few, they include beaches, resorts, hotels, villas, vineyards, and churches. The gorgeous landscape and vistas are some of the finest reasons to get married on a beach on a Greek island. On a wedding day, the sight of deep blue waves lapping against golden coastlines, framed by rich amber sunsets, is unrivalled. Regardless of the island, you can expect a blue sky overhead, lovely waters nearby, breath-taking sunsets every evening, and a romantic ambiance.
This is just a small sample of what Greece has to offer in the form of idyllic venues and romantic locations for your wedding day. To discover more about the best venues in Greece and for more guidance on choosing the perfect wedding venue for you and your other half, do not hesitate to contact the team of expert wedding planners at Luxury Weddings. Get in touch with us to make your dream wedding in Greece a reality!
