Greece is very safe. Just take caution with pick pocketers in more touristy areas and in public transit (similar to anywhere else in Europe).
If this is your first time in Greece, we recommend 7-10 days at minimum in order to best experience and explore the Greek culture and the diverse islands. If this is all the time you have, we highly recommend using all of it in Greece vs travelling to other countries. We know it's tempting and we are biased, but you will barely scratch the surface if you split up your trip (not to mention the travel between cities, islands and countries takes up a lot of time and is exhausting).
International flights (subject to change for summer 2022): - From Canada: Air Transat and Air Canada offer direct flights to Athens from Toronto and Montreal. - From the US: United Airlines, Delta Airlines and American Airlines offer direct flights to Athens from Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Atlanta. - Mark and Kat’s recommendation: fly Lufthansa or Swiss Air with a layover in Germany or Switzerland. The flights are usually much cheaper if you purchase tickets in advance (4-6 months).
Choosing a place to stay in Athens will depend on your travel plans and what you want to see. The archeological sites, museums and local shopping destinations are mostly located in the Athens city center. The area around the wedding venue in Alimos is popular for its beach bars, restaurants, clubs, and shopping. - Mark and Kat’s recommendation: spend two nights in an accommodation in the city center of Athens from where you can walk to the archeological sites and downtown Athens; and then spend two nights on the Athens coast for the wedding festivities before heading out to the islands! Airbnb and apartment rental options are very popular for both the city and the coastal area – we highly recommend www.booking.com to find cost-efficient options for the area.
Ble Pavillon is approximately 15 minutes from the center of Athens, 15 minutes from the port of Piraeus and 40 minutes from Athens International Airport.
Greece has 227 inhabited islands to choose from, so good luck! Just kidding - feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have around planning a Greek vacation. Choosing islands can get overwhelming and our recommendations will depend on the numbers of days you have and the type of vacation you are looking for. More recommendations can be found in the 'Things to Do' section. And don't forget - you can't do all of them, but Greece will always be there for you when you decide to go back!
We recommend starting the passport process as soon as possible so you can avoid expedited fees. It can take up to 8 weeks to obtain a passport. Additionally, make sure your passport doesn't expire until at least 3 months after your trip, and was issued within the past 10 years. For example, if your return date is July 3, 2022, your passport must be valid through October 3, 2022.
For your convenience and ours, we kindly request that any cards and gifts be mailed to our home addresses rather than brought to Greece. For Canada, please send to: 294 Van Gogh, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, Canada, H9A3J6 For USA, please send to: 141 Beaconsfield Rd, Brookline, MA, USA, 02445
While we certainly appreciate any and all gifts, we’re very fortunate to have most of what we need for our future home. For this reason, we will not be setting up a wedding registry.
Summer-chic cocktail attire Ladies: Long or short dresses, pantsuit/romper, etc. Comfortable footwear is recommend for dancing into the wee hours. For those wanting to wear heels, note that the venue has grass. Gentlemen: Pants with a button down. Coat and tie optional. No jeans, shorts or flip flops please. If in doubt, dress as you would for a normal summer wedding. This is not a "beach-themed" wedding.
The average temperature for Athens in the month of June is 32°C / 22°C or 89°F / 71°F. Athens has a Mediterranean climate and the daytime will most likely be hot and dry with evenings being cooler. Additionally, since the reception is beach-side, expect for a little breeze and slightly cooler conditions. * On June 30, 2021, the temperature in Athens was 38°C / 26°C or 100°F / 78°F. Let's hope things are cooler next year :)
The reception will be outdoors.
In order to keep our guest list on track we are only able to accommodate those guests formally invited on your wedding invitation. Please feel free to e-mail or text us with any questions!
Please refer to the Travel section for room block details.
Technically, Uber doesn’t exist in Greece, you can use the app to request and pay for a taxi in Athens. The taxi drivers use the app like all other Uber drivers. The difference is that you cannot see the total price of your Uber ride until after the ride is over. All the taxis have a set price schedule for rides, so your rides will always be priced right. If you hail a cab from the street, always make sure the taxi driver has the meter turned ON - never get in a taxi with the meter off, as they could try to rip you off. Also, from the airport, beware of taxi scams (same as any other city).
While most places in Athens accept credit cards, but we recommend carrying some cash in Euros for smaller purchases (artisanal shops, water bottles, snacks, etc.). You can convert USD or CAD at your local bank before leaving for Greece or at the exchange desk in the Athens airport.
Greece operates on a 240V supply voltage and uses different plugs than in the US and Canada. You will need an electrical adapter to use the wall sockets and charge your electrical devices. Also ensure that your electrical devices can operate on 240V. For example, most hair dryers cannot be plugged into 240V without a transformer. More info: https://www.tripsavvy.com/electricity-and-power-in-greece-1526374 Adapter: shorturl.at/iwyVZ
Please let us know what food allergies we should be aware of. The food will be served buffet style, and there will be many choices.