What to Wear to a Wedding in Greece as a Guest

Meet Priya, a Londoner invited to three Greek weddings in one summer. Priya is invented for this guide, but each of her three weddings is a very ordinary one. A church in Oia in August, a town hall ceremony with a rooftop dinner in Athens, and a village church in Crete with 300 guests and a taverna reception.

Her verdict: the dress code was never the hard part. The ground was. Polished marble steps in Oia, a cobbled square in Crete, a rooftop that turned cold at midnight. And her partner Ollie, in a navy wool blend suit, was soaked through before the crowns were even on.

So here is what to wear to a wedding in Greece as a guest, split by the kind of venue you're actually going to. Greek opinions on this genuinely differ, so where they do, we say so.

TL;DR:

• Church ceremony: smart and a little modest. Cover your shoulders inside, uncover them at the party.
• Never wear white unless the couple ask for it.
• Summer means linen. Men in wool suits suffer. Jackets come off early at most receptions.
• Shoes matter more than the outfit. Block heels or flats for cobbles, marble and gravel.
• Bring a layer. Receptions run past 2am and island evenings get windy.

First, find out which wedding you're going to

A Greek wedding can be one of four quite different events, and the invitation won't always tell you which.

If you can't tell from the invitation, look at the couple's wedding website or ask someone on the bride's or groom's side. Asking is normal and nobody will think it odd.

The church ceremony: shoulders and hemlines

Many Greek weddings are still Orthodox church weddings, and the church sets the tone for the first hour.

There's no dress code written on the door, and plenty of Greek women go in sleeveless. Still, covered shoulders inside the church are the safe, respectful choice, especially in villages and with older relatives watching. A light shawl or a thin cardigan does it, and you take it off when you leave.

Very short skirts and plunging necklines read badly in church. Bright colours, prints and red are absolutely fine.

Pro tip: A pashmina in your bag covers the church, the evening breeze and the air conditioning in the hotel ballroom. It's the most useful thing you'll pack.

White, black and the colours people argue about

White: don't. It's the one rule nearly everyone agrees on. Ivory, cream and very pale blush can look white in photos too, so avoid those as well.

Black: this is where Greeks disagree. At an evening wedding in Athens, black dresses and dark suits are everywhere and nobody blinks. At a daytime village wedding, some older guests still link black with mourning. One Reddit thread on Greek wedding etiquette ran to 311 comments, and the advice ranged from "skip the very dark colored dress" to "you simply dress well to honor the occasion". Our view: black is fine in the evening, especially with colour in accessories. If it's a morning church service in a village, pick something else.

Everything else: go for it. Greek wedding guests wear colour, and summer weddings are full of it.

Summer heat: what men should actually wear

This is where foreign guests get it most wrong.

A Greek summer wedding usually starts in the early evening to avoid the worst heat, but a churchyard at 6pm in August is still hot, and you may be standing outside for most of the service. Ollie learnt this the hard way. Around him, Greek men were in linen, open collars and loafers, and several skipped the jacket altogether.

What works for men:

• A linen or cotton suit in a light colour. Creases are part of the look.
• No tie unless the invitation says formal. Ties tend to disappear by the first dance anyway.
• Loafers or leather sneakers for islands and villages. Save the hard leather soles for a city hotel.
• A spare shirt in the car or bag if you sweat easily. Nobody will notice you changed.

City hotel weddings in Athens are the exception. Expect dark suits, often with ties, and long dresses for women. That's the one setting where overdressing is hard to do.

Island weddings: the ground and the wind

The Church only allows the service inside a church, so on islands that often means a small chapel reached on foot. In Oia that meant marble steps, polished smooth by centuries of feet. Priya slid in new block heels.

• Stilettos: no. They sink between cobbles and slide on marble.
• Block heels, espadrille wedges or flat sandals: yes.
• Flats in your bag for the dancing if you insist on heels for photos.
• Wind: light chiffon blows up and hair goes everywhere. Pick a heavier fabric or a fitted dress.

Our post on the questions guests ask at Greek island weddings covers the climb, cash and seasickness. If you're still working out how to get there, read our guide to ferries and transfers for island weddings.

Civil weddings: dress well, not formal

Civil ceremonies at the town hall are short, often well under half an hour, usually with a smaller guest list. A smart day dress, a jumpsuit, chinos and a blazer are all fine. Long gowns look out of place.

If there's a party afterwards, dress for the party. If the couple are doing a civil ceremony now and a church wedding later, the church one will be the dressier day. Our guide to civil vs religious weddings in Greece explains how the two compare.

The 2am rule

Greek receptions start late and finish later. Dinner often comes after 10pm and the dancing goes on past 2am. In Crete, Priya watched an uncle in jeans and a cousin in full sequins dance the same circle dance for an hour, and both looked right.

Plan for the whole night. Comfortable shoes in the car, a layer for midnight, and nothing so tight you can't eat a five course dinner. If you're new to the customs you'll see that night, from plate throwing myths to the money dance, our guide to Greek wedding traditions explains them.

A note for couples: say it once, clearly

If you're the couple, you'll get the "what do I wear" question from every guest abroad. Save yourself forty messages by writing a few lines on your wedding website: the venue type, whether jackets are expected, and the shoe warning.

You can copy these:

• "Smart summer wear. Linen is perfect, jackets optional."
• "The chapel is up stone steps. Please bring flat or block shoes."
• "Covered shoulders in church, please. A shawl is fine."
• "It gets windy after sunset. Bring a light layer."
• "The party goes late. Comfortable shoes in your bag are a good idea."

Packing list, in one paragraph

Dressing for a wedding in Greece comes down to the venue, the heat and the ground under your feet. Cover your shoulders in church, skip white, choose linen over wool, and pack shoes you can climb steps in. Do that and you'll look right in Oia, Athens or a village square in Crete.

For couples, the dress code question is one of the first things guests ask, and they ask it individually. One clear line saves you from answering it forty times. Put the dress code and the shoe warning on your digital wedding invitation and every guest reads it before they open a suitcase.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to cover your shoulders at a Greek Orthodox wedding?

There's no written rule, and many Greek women go in sleeveless. Covering your shoulders inside the church is still the respectful choice, especially at village weddings. A shawl you can remove afterwards is the easy answer.

Can you wear black to a Greek wedding?

At an evening wedding in a city, yes, it's very common. At a daytime or village church wedding, some older guests still associate black with mourning, so a colour is the safer pick.

What should men wear to a summer wedding in Greece?

A light linen or cotton suit, a shirt with no tie unless the invitation says formal, and loafers or leather sneakers. City hotel weddings in Athens are dressier, so wear a dark suit there.

What shoes should I wear to a Greek island wedding?

Block heels, wedges or flat sandals. Island paths are often cobbled or stepped marble, and stilettos sink or slip. Pack flats for the dancing.

What do you wear to a civil wedding in Greece?

Dress well, but not formally. A day dress, a jumpsuit, or chinos and a blazer all work for a town hall ceremony. If a party follows, dress for the party.

Recommended

• Greek Island Wedding: What Guests Will Ask
• Island Wedding Travel: Ferries and Transfers
• Greek Wedding Traditions: A Complete Guide
• Civil vs Religious Wedding in Greece
• How to Be a Great Wedding Guest