Santorini has long held a place in the hearts (and Pinterest boards) of couples dreaming of a romantic destination wedding or honeymoon, and all for good reason. The island’s dramatic caldera views, whitewashed villages, and cinematic sunsets create a setting that feels almost too perfect to be real. But planning a wedding in a place this iconic takes more than wanderlust – it takes a local expert with an eye for detail and a deep understanding of the island’s rhythm. Enter Zoe Lessi from the Andronis Hotel Group, who has helped countless couples from all over the world have their special Santorini wedding. Together with our go-to Honeymoons writer Lisa Perkovic, Zoe is lifting the veil on what it really takes to get married in Santorini, and how to make your dream day effortlessly beautiful. It’s your guide to a destination wedding in Greece. 

Is there anything more iconic than saying I do among the bright, white-washed walls and blue domes of Santorini? The dramatic caldera sunsets, the crystal-clear plunge pools, and bougainvillea strewn streets – we’ve all seen the photos, but when you’re planning your big day abroad you are going to need more than just a Pinterest board. You need an expert. Enter Andronis Hotel Group’s event manager Zoe Lessi.

There are four Andronis properties on Santorini, as well as the Andronis Minois on the island of Paros. It’s Zoe’s job to ensure couples tying the knot on site at any of the sites is the special day they’ve dreamed of. Here’s her top tips on what to do, and what not to do, if you’re getting married in Santorini.

Timing Is Everything

Santorini might be famous for sunsets, but it’s not the only time for a magical ceremony. We hold wedding ceremonies from 10am through to 4pm on our Lauda Restaurant balcony in Oia. It’s one of the island’s most iconic wedding locations and is dramatically beautiful at any time of day. However, the better photos are taken when the sun isn’t directly behind you, so we actually recommend an early morning wedding or an early morning wedding photoshoot.

Beat The Crowds

In my opinion, some of the best seasons for a wedding on Santorini are May and early June, and then on the other side of Summer, at the end of September and early October. You’ll enjoy the island at its best, when it isn’t so crowded, it’s easier to get reservations and the wedding couple are usually a bit more comfortable in the cooler temperatures.

Let The Location Do The Talking

Many of our guests don’t bother with decorations as the backdrop of the properties and Santorini are so unique. We can absolutely organise flowers or additional decorations – we’ve done everything from feathers to chandeliers – but Santorini is like Paris, it has this memorable feeling you don’t need to dress up.

Since we have several properties on the island, guests can choose their own unique setting. We have adults only boutique luxury at Andronis Luxury Suites right through to the island’s biggest pool (which just happens to be heart shaped!) at Andronis Arcadia. Each spot is well versed in the art of Greek romance!

Allow Time Before And After The Big Day

Usually guests arrive just one to two days before their ceremony, and they’ll stay on for a mini honeymoon one to two days after. We support every need and preference of our guests, including music, hair and make up, photography and video, which means they don’t need to arrive too far in advance and instead can prioritise staying on for a romantic honeymoon.

Destination Weddings Done Right

If you’re bringing guests in from around the world, it’s nice to think about experiences before and after the wedding. We host sunset cruises with the freshly married couple, and white parties the night before the wedding are very popular. We’ve even held Mamma Mia themed dance parties!

We want all our guests to feel like family when they stay at any of our properties, so we’ll organise events around our different locations regardless of where the guests are staying.

Having multiple properties and venues allows us to cater to all the guests needs too. If someone comes unprepared and decides to propose, we can help with a ring, or even source a wedding dress! Usually the dress arrives with the bride, but we have done it before!

Add A Little Authenticity  

The only thing you can’t do is smash plates! A lot of our guests choose to add elegant Greek touches like olive leaves on the table, honey and walnut desserts and traditional Greek tiaras during the wedding ceremony.  We’ll usually suggest an element that matches the age of the couple – we have weddings of all sizes and ages on site.

Official Proceedings

Many of our guests choose to have a symbolic wedding, with an officiant we provide, but we also help with the proceedings for a civil ceremony. There are a few additional steps in this case – these do change so it’s important you check for the latest updates before your big day. Currently, Australians are required to personally register their marriage at the Santorini Office of Vital Statistics for a legal marriage. Personal identification documents do need to be presented, marked with an Apostile Stamp from your own Department of Foreign Affairs. The documents will need to be translated into Greek and authenticated at a Greek consulate – we can offer translation in advance, allowing you to skip the authentication process.

Whether you’re planning a grand celebration or an intimate elopement, a wedding in Santorini promises unforgettable beauty, timeless romance, and the kind of moments that linger long after the last glass of ouzo is poured. With Zoe Lessi and the team at Andronis by your side, every detail is taken care of – so you can focus on what matters most which is, celebrating your love in one of the most breathtaking places on earth.

About Lisa Perkovic: Lisa has spent the past decade travelling the world writing for Australia’s leading newspapers, magazines, and blogs about all things travel. Her own honeymoon was her pièce de résistance – an epic journey to the Maldives and South Africa. Now she loves nothing more than sharing destinations and tips to help other newlyweds work out how to have the honeymoon of their dreams.