Where everything happens at a villa wedding
At a villa wedding, each part of the day usually has its own corner of the garden: chairs and a flower arch for the ceremony, facing the view; a bar and the DJ for the drinks; long tables for dinner; and a dance floor under the lights. Guests move from one to the next, which keeps the evening flowing and gives the team time to set up the next space. The bride and groom often get ready at separate villas, or in separate rooms of the wedding villa. Browse wedding villas to see the spaces.
Moving the ceremony time
Change the ceremony time above and the whole day moves with it, from the hair stylist’s arrival to the cake. A 17:00 ceremony avoids the worst of the summer heat. If you want the ceremony itself in golden light, start 75 to 90 minutes before sunset; our sunset guide explains which coasts face it. The sun sets about 1 hour 20 minutes earlier in mid-September than in mid-June, so a late ceremony gets dark sooner.
A church or civil wedding?
This timeline follows a villa wedding with a symbolic ceremony. A Greek Orthodox wedding starts at the time the parish gives you and lasts about 45 minutes to an hour; then everyone moves to the reception venue. A civil wedding in Central Corfu starts between 11:00 and 14:00 on a Thursday, or takes place on the last Saturday of the month, so the party is often in the evening. Church weddings in Corfu and symbolic vs legal explain the choice, and the ceremony quiz helps you decide.
Plan for the weather
July and August need shade, water and fans at the ceremony. May, June, September and October need a covered plan B. The plan B weather tool shows what each month needs, and the date checker flags church fasts, holidays and busy Saturdays for a specific date.
Frequently asked questions
What time does a Corfu villa wedding start?
In summer, many villa weddings in Corfu start around 17:00, after the worst of the heat: welcome drinks at 16:30, the ceremony at 17:00, portraits at 18:00, dinner at 19:00 and the party from about 21:00. Couples who want the ceremony itself in golden light start 75 to 90 minutes before sunset, around 19:45 in mid-June and 18:30 in mid-September. A church wedding starts at the time the parish gives you, and a civil wedding in Central Corfu starts between 11:00 and 14:00 on a Thursday.
When do hair and make-up start on the wedding day?
In the running order above, for a 17:00 ceremony, the hair stylist arrives at 09:30 and the make-up artist at 11:00. That is a long morning because the bridesmaids get ready too. Tell your stylist and make-up artist how many people they are getting ready, and they will set the start time.
How long does a Greek Orthodox wedding service take?
Usually about 45 minutes to an hour. There are no spoken vows: the service includes the blessing and exchange of the rings, the candles, the crowning with the stefana, the common cup and the Dance of Isaiah. Add time for congratulations outside the church and the drive to the venue.
When and where are civil weddings held in Corfu?
In Central Corfu, civil weddings take place on Thursdays, with ceremonies starting between 11:00 and 14:00, and on the last Saturday of the month (municipal decision of 2020, which gives no hours for the Saturday). The mayor or a deputy mayor performs them at the Town Hall (San Giacomo) or one of the municipality’s other sites, some of them outdoors. The ceremony is short and in Greek. North and South Corfu set their own days, so check with the municipality where you marry.
What time does the music stop at a Corfu wedding?
It depends on where the venue is. In South Corfu, outdoor music may play until 01:00 in summer under a 2022 municipal decision; in Corfu Old Town the limit is 23:00 in summer. National quiet hours start at 23:00 in summer. Get your venue’s end time in writing before you book. Our timeline never runs past 01:00.
Can we see the timeline for our own ceremony time and month?
Yes. Pick your ceremony time and month above. Every time on the page moves with the ceremony, and the light, the sunset and golden hour follow your month in Corfu Town. Venues with hills to the west lose the sun a little earlier.