The earlier the better! We are essentially trying to coordinate a vacation with 30ish of our closest friends and family so it helps us plan if you let us know as soon as possible! We will try are best to adjust stay arrangements as much as possible to make sure everyone is comfortable but it will become more difficult to do this the closer we get to the wedding date.
We invite you to dress in a way that reflects the elegance of the occasion, while also keeping in mind the beautiful Greek setting. For women, we suggest elegant midi dresses or formal long gowns. Light, breathable fabrics like chiffon or silk are perfect for the warm climate, and soft, summery colors like pastels or jewel tones are encouraged. For men, we recommend a suit or a tuxedo. Depending on the formality level you feel comfortable with, a well-tailored blazer with dress pants is a great alternative for a slightly more relaxed approach. Given the warm weather, light fabrics like linen or cotton are ideal. This is a celebration of love and joy, so feel free to dress in a way that makes you feel both stylish and comfortable as we celebrate together in beautiful Greece! Here are some examples if you don't know what to wear! https://docs.google.com/document/d/10NZ7GlgR_xT_Zi-XwPiOQ4-kcSyNYtUTDPMAi1iN5yA/edit?usp=sharing
We have booked the villa from May 30th to June 6th so you may arrive as early as May 30th which is when we will be arriving! Please let me know what day and time you are arriving as that will help us with wedding planning and coordinating driving. When booking flights, please note that Delenia is best accessed by ferry boat from Agia Marina, which start at around 8AM and end at around 6-10PM, depending on day of the week and time of the year. So, if you are planning on coming straight to Delenia from the airport, it is best if you can arrive at Athens airport between 5AM and 6 or 7PM to catch the ferry, and likewise, if you are leaving straight to the airport upon departure, it is best to book a flight that leaves between 10AM and 11PM. It is not possible to book ferry tickets in advance. Cars are allowed on the ferry.
We recommend that you rent cars – but they are not essential if you are not planning on exploring the island. If you do rent cars, please make sure they have plenty of clearance from the ground as the last 2 kms is a dirt track with plenty of pot holes (4X4 not essential, but a high SUV is a good option). Please ensure it is manual rather than automatic and petrol rather than diesel – you will need lots of engine power to get up the last hill. We recommend you rent cars from Athens airport – all major companies have a presence there. You can take the rented cars on the ferry (16 euros per car, 5 euros per person – 45 mins ferry ride) A taxi from the airport to the port of Agia Marina costs 50 euros for 4 passengers, 70 euros for a mini van for 8 passengers, and 150 euros for a bus for 20 passengers one way. Then you take a ferry that costs 5 euros per passenger and 16 euros per car.
From the Athens airport: Head towards Athens, but avoid going into the city. Pass through tolls and ask for Marathonos Avenue. Exit 14 and 15: Take Exit 15, turn right onto Marathonos Avenue towards Rafina (not left, which leads to Athens). Stay on Marathonos Avenue: Travel for about 25 km, passing signs for Rafina and Nea Makri, heading towards the village of Marathon. Signs for Agia Marina: After approximately 40 km, look for signs for Agia Marina or Kato Souli and turn right after 25 km on Marathonos Avenue. Kato Souli: After 6 km, you'll reach the village. At the crossroads, turn left towards the Ferry Boat sign. Continue for 3 km, then watch for a sign to Ferry Boat, and a taverna on the left with a white village house opposite it. Turn right here. Port of Agia Marina: You’ll soon arrive at the port, where ferries depart every two hours. From Nea Styra Port: Enter Villa Delenia in Google Maps and follow the route via Polypotamos (takes about two minutes longer). Elaiochori: Avoid turning left at the white cabin before the church. Instead, go around the church, then continue on a dirt track after Elaiochori. Follow it, making a sharp right when the road stops. Delenia is at the end of this track. Final Route: In summary: Airport → Marathonos Avenue → Kato Souli → Agia Marina → Nea Styra → Villa Delenia. I have a google doc with more detailed instructions, please reach out to me and I will share with you!
There is free internet but if there are too many devices on at the same time it might jam. Also, please switch off background data and auto-sync: On your smartphone, go to "settings", then "accounts and sync", then "background data" and turn it off; and also "auto-sync" and turn it off. Please ask if you need clarification.
Sunday 5/31 - We will have a welcome dinner catered (menu TBD) Monday 6/1 - We will have our wedding feast catered (traditional Greek food) The rest of the evenings at the villa (5/30 - 6/5) we will have dinners prepared by Maria, the villa's housekeeper. The cost of meal preparation is complementary but we will need to pay Maria for the cost of ingredients. Unfortunately, she only accepts cash and it has to be in euros. If you would like to be a part of the group dinners, please plan on bringing with 15-20 in euros per person per meal. For breakfast and lunch, we are planning to cook meals together.
The Airbnb host has several rules they have asked everyone to follow that I wanted to share here: 1. Switch of the AC when you leave your bedroom. Electricity is very expensive in Greece. 2. Please don't use too many devices on the Wi-Fi at the same time. Please switch off the wi-fi on your phone unless you are using it. Also please switch off your background data and auto-sync on your phone. 3. Do not throw toilet paper in the toilets as it will cause blockages. 4. Please be nice to Kizette the cat. She is not allowed in the houses. Please give her water in the disposable bowls if you can. She enjoys scraps but nothing spicy, peppery, or anything else that might make her sick. The blander the better!