Athens Greece Wedding Cost: Your Complete Price Guide

Dreaming of "I Do" in the Shadow of the Acropolis? Or you prefer better an Athens riviera wedding? Maybe an olive grove, a farm, or a castle? Well, Athens has them all! But how much does a wedding in Athens cost?

Athens, Greece, with its ancient history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture, is an increasingly popular destination for couples seeking a romantic and unforgettable wedding. Imagine saying your vows with the Parthenon as your backdrop, or celebrating under a canopy of stars in a charming Athenian garden. Actually, about 60% of our wedding requests from couples abroad that wish to marry in Greece state Athens as their ideal location. But before you book your tickets, you're probably wondering: how much does a wedding in Athens cost? Let's break it down together, in theory and in practice, with a real wedding cost below - all data coming from Nymfee, a wedding planner based in Athens.

Athens by night

A Real wedding in Athens - Cost Breakdown:

Now, theory is great, but let's see a real wedding in Athens, with costs & pictures of the final result, to help you create your budget and set expectations for your own Athens celebration.

Specifications:

Location: Athens

Number of guests: 90

Date: End of August, on a Monday (choosing a weekend day was very crucial to the final costs)

• Venue Rental: 4,000€

• Catering (per person): 92€, and included welcome drinks, cocktail hour and fingerfood, unlimited buffet dinner, wines and beers for dinner, a dessert station, and an unlimited consumption party open bar

• Photography :2,700€ this client opted to have no videopgrapher

• Flowers: 3,400€

• DJ, Production & Fairy lights: 3,000€

• A string trio: 1100€ for the ceremony and 1 hour at the dinner

• Wedding Planner: € 3,500(See our previous blog post for a detailed breakdown, or visit nymfee.com)

• Church fees: 400€ (Catholic ceremony)

• MUA & Hair: 650€

• Photobooth for 5 hours: 700€

• Guest vans: 1400€

• Favors: 216€

• Evil eyes on the plates: 120€

• Candy bar: 210€ with donut wall, churros, marshmellows, koufeta and glass equipment

• Welcome board & Seating chart: 200€

• Basket with flip flops: 60€

  
  

  Total Athens Wedding Cost: 29,936€

wedding flowers at ceremony

donut wall

table set up by drone

bridal table set up

art de la table with Greek evil eye

wedding favor with Greek koufeta

wedding party set up

Van photobooth

wedding dessert station

Vendors reserve the right to change their prices without notice. Prices mentioned were strictly for this client, and specific date.

The Range of Athenian Wedding Dreams

Just like any wedding, the cost of a wedding in Athens can vary dramatically depending on your preferences and priorities. You could have an intimate, budget-friendly ceremony or a lavish, multi-day celebration. Here's a general overview:

• Weddings below 50 guests: By the beach, only two Athens venues are suitable for smaller weddings! Crazy right? The reason behind this is that Athens venues are designed to accept Greek weddings of more than 150 guests, a custom coming from our culture. This is key to understanding Athens wedding costs. Small venues below the Acropolis accept more intimate weddings and elopements. If your wedding guest count is less than 50, a small venue is ideal for you, so you skip the minimum guest rule of larger venues. For a smaller, simpler wedding with 30-50 guests, you could expect to spend anywhere from €15,000 to €20,000. This would typically include basic venue rental, a simple meal, local flowers, and a DJ. (Not sure this would work for you? Like our couples, you can explore an island wedding instead, by adding only one 30-minute flight to the program. Nymfee offers our couples a comparison board of all appropriate venues in Athens and the islands of interest, so you don't need to make decisions without the actual data!)

• Mid-Range Weddings: A more typical wedding, with 80-120 guests, might range from €20,000 to €30,000. This allows for a wider selection of venues, a more extensive menu with open bar, professional photography, and a saxophonist.

• Luxury Weddings: For a grand, extravagant wedding with over 120 guests, the sky's the limit! Expect to spend upwards of €30,000, potentially reaching €50,000 or more. This could include a high-end venue, gourmet catering, elaborate floral arrangements, top-tier entertainment, and personalized details.

  
  

Key Factors Influencing Cost:

Several factors contribute to the overall cost of your Athenian wedding:

• Venue:

  • A seaside venue will generally cost more than a rooftop overlooking the Acropolis. Why? Because venues in town have a strict music curfew and close at 1 am, while out-of-town sea venues can keep the party going for more hours.

  • Venue rental fees vary significantly depending on the location, size, and amenities. If you want to understand more about how venue pricing works, read this venue guide.

• Catering:

  • The type of cuisine & the number of courses will impact the catering costs.

  • Is it buffet style, served, or family style dinner?

  • The addition of fish or seafood will elevate costs.

  • Drinks package for the dinner and party. In Greece, we offer unlimited open bar for an agreed amount of hours. Does this start after dinner or after the ceremony? Are the labels premium or simple? Do you need cocktails?

• Photography and Videography:

  • Experienced wedding photographers and videographers charge higher rates, but they can capture the magic of your day beautifully. 100% go for someone with already hands on portfolios in the wedding industry. There is no bigger regret than investing a lot on the day and then having average photos.

• Flowers and Decorations:

  • The type of flowers, the complexity of the arrangements, and the amount of decoration will affect the cost.

  • Using local, seasonal flowers can help reduce expenses.

  • Understand that Pinterest wedding flowers are not the average wedding flowers; they are the best of what the industry can do. Adjust your budget or expectations accordingly.

• Entertainment:

  • A DJ is typically more affordable than a live band.

  • Do we need a wedding saxophonist for the cocktail hour? A string trio for the ceremony? A live band for the party? The latter may be a 4-digit investment in Athens.

• Wedding Planner:

  • Hiring a wedding planner can save you time and stress, but it will add to the overall cost. However, a good planner can often save you money through their local connections.

• Season:

  • Weddings during the peak season (summer) will cost more than those held during the shoulder seasons (spring and autumn). Exception to this rule is the 1st till 15th of August, when local Orthodox weddings cannot take place due to religious rules. Outdoor weddings are not suggested from November until April.

    
    

Tips for Saving Money:

• Consider a weekday wedding: Venues and vendors may offer discounts for weekday events in Athens. Greek weddings always happen on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday timeline.

• Choose a less popular month: Opt for a wedding in the shoulder seasons (April-May or September-October) to avoid peak season prices.

• Prioritize your spending: Decide which aspects of your wedding are most important to you and allocate your budget accordingly.

• Use local vendors: Local florists, photographers and bands can often offer more affordable rates.

• Keep your guest list small: a 100-guest wedding is not the same as a 200-guest wedding from all aspects.

  
  

Ready to start planning your wedding in Athens? Fill in our form to receive a personalized offer, based on your budget!

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