Today we chatted with Sanya Percic, a visionary editor who has taken the Greek wedding industry by storm with her innovative approach to destination weddings in Greece. After obtaining degrees in Fine Arts and Design, with a specialization in Branding, Sanya launched her own destination wedding planning brand, which ultimately led her to create the highly acclaimed Ellwed Magazine.

While working as a destination wedding planner, Sanya recognized a niche gap in the market for a dedicated platform providing information and inspiration to brides and wedding professionals interested in hosting their special day in Greece. Thus, Ellwed Magazine was born - the first international boutique publication of its kind, available both digitally and in bespoke print.

Sanya's expertise has earned her recognition as a regular contributor to the International Trend Report by Weddings Academy, and her interviews and expert advice articles have been featured in various podcasts, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. Moreover, Ellwed cover shoots have graced the pages of renowned wedding blogs such as Green Wedding Shoes, Martha Stewart Weddings, Wedding Chicks, Ruffled, B. Loved, The Wed, and others. Their shoots have also been featured in the book Seasons of Yes and the International Trend Report.

Above all, Sanya believes in fostering a community over competition and helping couples realize their dream wedding in Greece, through her outlets such as the Ellwed Blog, Magazine, Treasury, and Ellwed Talks Podcast.

As a planner and the editor of the wedding magazine, she offers invaluable firsthand experience and insider knowledge on destination wedding planning.

Join me and Sanya in this interview where she shares with us her tips and advice on destination weddings in Greece!

1.     What are the top 5 wedding venues that you would recommend in Greece?

Greece is a great destination for elopements and big weddings as well. As it is in the Greek culture to celebrate in a big way! You can find venues dedicated to specifically for larger groups of people, and these are called “Ktima” in Greek.

One of the must see luxury venues, which was also in the new movie the Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, is for sure Amanzoe! Being part of Aman group, they have a certain aesthetic and high end standards.

Secondly, you can find many national and international hotel chains and resorts all over Greece and the islands like Corfu, Rhodes & Crete. For instance, the Mitsis Hotel Chain, The Luxury Collection or Grecotel Resorts or Costa Navarino in Peloponnese. You will find the opulence of luxury in every part of Greece!  

If you’re looking for something more unique, you can book the Margi Farm in Athens or Lake Vouliagmeni for medium sized weddings.

There is literally so much choice for every taste and budget! You just need to decide for the location and then find the venues you like which are in that location!  

2.     What are your top 3 tips for couples looking to have their wedding in Greece?

Planning a wedding anywhere is not an easy task, especially if you’re thinking of multiple events and activities. Let alone planning a destination wedding overseas!

That is why it is key to put down some goals and wishes first. Let’s say you want one of those famous Santorini weddings, and your budget is not an issue! Or one of the crazy Mykonos beach party weddings with a huge guest list. Maybe you just want to elope and say “I Do” in the middle of nowhere with no one but the two of you? What is your priority and what matters to you the most? Is it to celebrate with your guest? Or is the fact that you want to share certain moments or memories with the people you love most? So my first tip would be to decide on what type of a wedding you want and set some initial goals or priorities.

My second tip would be to pin down the location and of course the venue you want!

Finding your dream venue can be a daunting task! But if you know approximately what type of a wedding you want and what are your priorities it will be easier to pin down the location. Let’s say that having a destination wedding on Santorini is your absolute dream! Then, that’s your location and you can start finding venues which will fit your style of a wedding there! Or maybe you already have a slight idea of what kind of a venue you want, so then you just need to find the location which can offer that style of the venue. For instance, you will not find a Castle or a Manor type venue on Santorini or Cycladic Islands. But you can find one on the Mainland or even some other Greek Islands! 

My third tip would be to book the vendors you get along well with! If you find a good planner for instance they can also help you finding your venue and all the other pros! It is really important you choose the professionals who can understand you and who you can talk to with ease! Remember that you planner will be with you for most of the year or two and your photographer, videographer and makeup team for instance will be with you throughout the day. Your team will be working closely together to make your dream day or week come true! And in order to have a relaxed day, they need to understand you and you need to be able to communicate as if you’re old friends!

3.     Is there something that couples should pay attention to when searching for venues in Greece?

Yes, absolutely! There are few things to pay attention when searching for wedding venues in Greece.

First they should consider the fact that many venues have a curfew which can also be at midnight if they are in some populated islands or in the city centers. This means your party either has to stop at a certain hour, or the music should be lowered. Each venue has their own rules, so make sure this is not an issue if you’re planning to party all night long! In this case, find venues by the sea or somewhere secluded! Away from population.

Secondly, they should ask what exactly is included in the venue fee. Usually you book the venue for the reception and the party. But what if you would like to have multiple events, or can you use the pool? Are the decorative lights included in your fee or does it cost extra to turn on the fairy lights for instance?

Then, they should ask if the venue works with some specific suppliers or can you bring your own special caterer, your own DJ, Sound & Light engineers? Is the venue working with specific companies and has lots of restrictions of what is allowed or are you free to do what you like?

Another very important thing is to ask if there is a plan B in case of rain or if the venue is exposed to winds? Many venues in Greece are open space or on cliffs which can be very windy like the Cyclades for instance!

Before booking, couples should reach out to wedding venues and make sure to ask for all the things that is important for their wedding and of course for their Terms and Conditions.

4.     What is the most popular wedding theme for weddings in Greece?

With so many different couples coming to Greece from around the world, they all bring their own style and trends.

For some years after the Mamma Mia movie, the Greek themed weddings were a big hit! Then years before Covid, the boho pampas theme and the boho beach theme. But with new trends storming the world of weddings, we also get lots of modern, colorful, chic and classical white weddings! Lately big Indian destination weddings are also gaining popularity.

You can find more of inspirations and real wedding stories from Greece on our blog at ellwed.com/blog

5.     Do you recommend that couples find a planner that actually lives in the area?

I recommend couples finding the team of professionals who they work with well and who are right for the project at hand. Maybe it doesn’t matter so much if they are local or not, if they can provide the level of expertise and professionalism required for a specific event.

It also depends on their budget. Of course hiring local planners and professionals will save you on transportation costs and fees. It will also give you the benefit regarding the local knowledge and culture. But not every island or location has the selections of professionals who are right for your wedding.

6.     How far in advance do you recommend couples have everything planned to their wedding?

I recommend that the couples start planning their wedding at least 1 year in advance for bigger weddings. Some start two! But, personally I do not see the need for that. Unless you have a specific wedding date and you are really set for a certain professional or venue which might get booked up if you don’t act fast.

In any case, you will be doing final adjustments also a week before your wedding! Things can change in a last minute and some things do not go as planned. So, no matter how far in advance you have everything planned, remember that this is probably the biggest event of your life and things can go wrong at any moment. As we all learned now with the pandemic, lockdowns and event restrictions, sometimes we need to adjust to plan B!

7.     Anything else you would like to add!!!! 

My final advice for everyone planning their destination wedding would be to go with the flow and do not stress for the little things or things that are outside of our control. If you did your research and selected the right team of professionals, trust and lean on them! They have done this before and they usually know what they are doing!

Above all, do not forget to have fun at your own wedding! Celebrate with all the people who came from far and wide to be with you on your special day! Enjoy it! And hope to see your gorgeous wedding from Greece featured in Ellwed Magazine!