Destination weddings in Greece do not necessarily have to be expensive or even difficult to plan. The most popular islands are Santorini and Mykonos and several wedding planners offer affordable packages for the couple to be married. However, if you are planning on inviting some family members and friends to your wedding, then perhaps you can consider a more affordable and easily accessible destination in Greece.
Athens is a beautiful city and your destination wedding can be as unique in Athens as on any island. By getting married in Athens you save on money that you and your guests would have spent on additional fares in order to get to an island. Another way to save money on a destination wedding in Athens is to plan your wedding in May or September. This will guarantee you cheaper airfare, especially if you book early. Accommodations are also cheaper in Greece during that period. The weather is still great and an outdoor wedding reception would still be possible. Average temperatures can be found on www.weather.com. In fact, a wedding in Athens is possible even during the months of October to April since beautiful indoor venues are available. It is best not to have your wedding on an island during those months since weather conditions might effect ferry and airplane schedules.
If you insist on having your wedding on an island, then an affordable destination is the island of Aegina (a 1 hour ferry ride from Athens with several ferries a day, all year round). Round-trip tickets to Aegina are easy and cheap to obtain, with no advance booking required. Aegina is a popular get-away island for Athenians (www.aeginagreece.com). In fact, when visiting Greece, it is common to combine sight-seeing in Athens and a flavor of some beautiful and easily accessible Greek islands such as Aegina, Hydra, and Spetses.
Whatever you choose, it is important to have a local wedding planner assist you in dealing with all the details. Don't get carried away by unnecessary elements that are aimed at tourists and are not truly representative of local weddings (for example donkey rides). Avoid pointless expenses such as rental limos. Focus on the important elements of a wedding reception: good food, good service, and music to your taste. Save money by minimizing florist expenses and extravagant decor. Pool and beach receptions have beautiful view and sometimes candles are all that is needed to make your event classy and elegant.
Find a wedding planner that is down-to-earth, practical, and resourceful, as well as fluent in both English and Greek to avoid miscommunication issues. Make sure your wedding planner arranges activities for your guests during the days leading up to the wedding. Avoid packages because each couple's wedding is unique and you need a wedding planner that respects that by offering customized services depending on your needs. Customized does not mean expensive. A reasonable wedding planner manages your money wisely, as if it was his own, and plans your wedding with enthusiasm, as if it was his own!
About The Author:
This article provided courtesy of Elita Laios of ElitaLaios.gr
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