Santorini is straight out of a romantic fairy tale novel and is not only one of my top pics of places to elope in Europe, but a top favorite for many locals. It has gorgeous views, architecture, culture, history, and weather. What more could you ask for in a elopement location? In this blog, I’ll walk you through planning your Santorini elopement so you can have an incredible wedding experience!
Greece has so much history and so many landmarks & landscapes to make it a dream location for wedding or elopement. Not only does it offer beautiful mountain peaks, deep blue ocean views to compliment the historical structures on the cliffs cliffs overlooking the sea, but it has so much culture and unique aesthetic. It makes it so easy to see why this is one of the top choices for couples who want to celebrate their next chapter.
A Santorini elopement is perfect for those who want to combine a unique and unconventional way to get married, but also lets you explore a place with so much history, culture, and beauty. Any of my Mama Mia fans out there probably saw that movie and drooled over the beauty of Greece and began dreaming of their own wedding amongst the cliffs of Greece.
Does this sound like something you have been envisioning for your elopement day?
Well that’s awesome, because I ma here to guide you on how to make this dream reality & find the perfect person to come alongside you to plan it & capture it.
HEY FRIENDS, I’M JEN, YOU’RE GUIDE AND PHOTOGRAPHER FOR YOUR DREAM ELOPEMENT
A seasoned Elopement & Destination Wedding photographer & planner. My mission is to be your brain in figuring out how to make your dream elopement happen, and then capture it to it’s entirety. I adore traveling, getting to know my couples, and making their dream day possible by helping them step by step with Eloping & getting married in their ideal way.
From start to end of your elopement adventure, I will be there for you every step of the way giving tips & tricks, but also helping with all the logistics.. Including all photo needs covered! Sound like a dream? Ok. Here is how we get your elopement started in Santorini.
I offer a free consult call to go over your vision, share pricing info, and get to know each other so we can make this happen. Ok, let’s do this.
HOW TO LEGALLY ELOPE IN SANTORINI
Before getting to the fun adventure planning, here are some must know legalities to make sure your elopement is official & ready!
1. Make sure your passport is valid and good to go! I recommend making sure you have at least 3 months before it expires since most European Countries may not allow you to enter if it is less than that.
2. A birth certificate with the Apostille stamp certifying the copy in order to ensure you are able to legally marry.
3. An official Apostille translated into Greek, which can be certified by a lawyer, a foreign ministry’s translation department, a certified translator or the Greek consulate from your home country
4. Proof of freedom to marry, or affidavit of marriage, notarized
4. A decree of absolution of your previous marriage, if applicable
5. A copy of the local newspaper where your intent to marry was published
6. That last one is unique – in Greece, you need to state your intent to get married in the local newspaper, or at the town hall. After that, you’ll be able to apply for a marriage license. The entire process costs an average of 307 euros, or 363 USD and you can start the process before arriving.
OK, NOW THAT WE HAVE THE LOGISTICS, LET’S GET TO THE FUN! HERE ARE IDEAS OF WHERE TO ELOPE IN SANTORINI.
SKAROS ROCK
Skaros rock is an infamous formation formed by volcanoes over time. This former site of a castle protrudes over the sea, offering a beautiful spot for couples who love the natural landscapes as a wedding location with a backdrop of ocean and cliffside architectures. Getting here requires hiking, so this is great for outdoorsy couples!
ROOFTOP IN OIA
There are several rooftops in Oia Santorini to choose from! These are all perfect for a two person & intimate elopement of exchanging vows. This is so unique to this location and is so dreamy and classy. It’s the best of both worlds. Views and gorgeous architecture.
RED BEACH
Red beach is one of the most stunning beaches named after the bold red sand cliffs surrounding the beach. It is a beautiful & romantic place to tie the knot. The stark contrast between the bright blue water, vibrant red cliffs screams santorini, and dark sand is a perfect canvas for elopement photos & a sweet ceremony.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO ELOPE IN SANTORINI?
Santorini’s weather rarely dips below 50 degrees fahrenheit / 10 degrees celsius, so this is one of the most consistent when it comes to temperature. All around it is the perfect island getaway and wedding/elopement destination and honeymoon all in one!
FALL & SPRING
The best time for a Santorini elopement is fall or spring when the temperatures are very comfortable for an elopement. It is not too hot or too cold, and a plus side is it is a lot quieter this time of year since most locals & tourists come during the summer time.
SUMMER
Summer is definitely beautiful, but it is the busiest time of year. I would say avoid summer if you want a more private elopement experience. It is beautiful this time of year, however, it is your choice on how busy you want it to be!
WINTER
Winter in Santorini tends to be very rainy, so that is definitely something to consider. But on the up side, it is the least busy time of year!
HOW DO WE TRAVEL TO AND AROUND SANTORINI?
To get to Santorini you can fly or take a ferry.
Once you arrive in Santorini, you’ll find taxis and bus options as well!
You can also rent a car if you want more flexibility.
LOCAL VENDORS & PLANNERS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN
LOCAL COORDINATOR: Check out these local Santorini experts at TheKnot Santorini to help you figure out the logistics if you are worried about planning from afar or over seas!
HAIR & MAKEUP: Need a makeup & hair artist? I got some recs for that too! Check out Renia Beldacki who is local to Santorini!
FLORALS : if you want local florals, check out Betty! She is well known in the area and does amazing work.
READY TO START PLANNING YOUR SANTORINI ELOPEMENT
Santorini is the perfect mix of relaxing island getaway and luxurious experiences. Couples claim it is the perfect mix of classic, adventurous, and island getaway. If this sounds like it’s for you, and you want to know where to start planning, contact me to get your free consult scheduled so we can start dreaming and making it happen!
Jen is an adventurous & seasoned elopement & wedding photographer here to help you dream, plan, and capture your dream wedding or elopement day.
