I Do Abroad

Written and checked by the I Do Abroad team · Last updated 10 November 2026 · Sources listed at the end of this page

Greece is not one climate. It is two seas and a few hundred islands, and the month that flatters Santorini is not the month that flatters Corfu. For most UK couples the choice still narrows to two windows: late May into June, or September into the first half of October. The better question is which island suits which month, because that is where the weather, the wind and the price all change.

When is the best time of year to get married in Greece?

June and September are the safest answers. In Santorini, June averages a daily high of 27.5°C with 5 mm of rain across the month, and September averages 26.7°C with 15 mm, according to Climates to Travel. May is cooler at 23°C and just as dry at 15 mm. The difference between spring and autumn is the sea: 18.7°C in May against 23.8°C in September, which matters if your guests expect to swim.

July and August are hotter and almost rainless, but they bring the two things couples underestimate: wind in the Aegean and peak prices everywhere.

What is the weather like in Greece month by month?

Santorini stands for the Cyclades and the Aegean. Corfu stands for the Ionian islands on the west coast.

Month Santorini high (°C) Santorini rain (mm) Corfu high (°C) Corfu rain (mm) What it means for a wedding
April 18.8 30 19.8 75 Cool evenings. Many island venues only just open
May 23.0 15 24.5 30 Warm, dry, green. Sea still fresh
June 27.5 5 29.2 15 Reliable sun and long light
July 29.6 1 32.1 15 Dry. Windy in the Cyclades, hot in the Ionian
August 29.6 1 32.6 30 Hottest and busiest month
September 26.7 15 27.8 85 Warm sea. The Ionian turns wetter
October 22.9 60 23.7 110 Mild in the Aegean. A real rain risk in the Ionian

Source: Climates to Travel, Santorini and Corfu monthly averages.

How windy is Greece in July and August?

Windy enough to plan around, if you are in the Cyclades. The meltemi is a northerly wind that Climates to Travel says affects the Cyclades from May, in spells lasting a few days. Elxis, a Greek property and relocation firm, describes it as strongest in July and August, reaching 7 to 8 on the Beaufort scale, stronger through the day and quieter at night, with Santorini, Mykonos, Paros and Tinos among the most exposed. It also notes that ferries can be delayed when conditions are severe.

The Ionian is the other story. Climates to Travel places Corfu outside the area where the meltemi blows. So a July wedding in Santorini needs a sheltered terrace, a late ceremony and a day’s slack in any ferry plan, while the same date in the Ionian needs shade and water instead.

What is the cheapest month to get married in Greece?

The cheapest months are November to March, and they are cheap for a reason: one Greek planner’s guide, Big Fat Greek Day, says outdoor ceremonies are not reliable then and many island venues close entirely. The value months are May and October, which the same guide puts at 20 to 30 per cent below peak. Its worked example is a venue charging €8,000 in July and €5,500 to €6,000 in May.

Two details in that guide are worth knowing. June sits within 10 per cent of peak, and September is priced at or near peak, so the autumn saving only starts in October. These are one planner’s working figures, not a survey. Ask each venue for its own seasonal rate card in writing.

Lead times follow demand. The guide suggests 12 to 18 months for July and August, and 10 to 14 months for May and October, with October booking faster than couples expect.

Does the month change the legal paperwork?

It changes the timing, not the rules. What usually applies for a UK couple marrying legally in Greece is a civil ceremony conducted by the municipality, with UK documents prepared in advance. GOV.UK prices an apostille at £45 for the paper service, usually up to 25 working days, or £35 for an e-Apostille in up to two working days. Big Fat Greek Day allows three to four months for the whole file and suggests starting no later than January for a May wedding.

Who confirms it for your case is the town hall of the municipality where you will marry. It sets its own document list, its own ceremony days and hours, and which apostille format it accepts. Your local register office confirms the UK side. For an Orthodox church ceremony, the planner’s guide notes that 1 to 15 August is not available, and the parish priest is the one to confirm dates. Ask the town hall for ceremony dates before you pay a venue deposit.

So which month should we pick?

If guests and budget matter most, choose late May or early June. If a warm sea and long dinners matter most, choose September and accept near-peak prices. If value decides it, choose May, or the first half of October in the Aegean. If it has to be the school holidays, look to the Ionian, out of the meltemi’s path.

I Do Abroad Top Tip: choose the island by the month, not the month by the island. In October, Santorini averages 60 mm of rain against 110 mm in Corfu. In July, Corfu sits outside the meltemi while Santorini is in it. Then ask the venue for the same package priced in May, July and October, in writing.

Every couple’s answer is different, which is why we built the Dream Wedding Quiz. Two minutes, no pressure, and it tells you which Greek setting and which month fit the way you actually want to marry.

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