Greece wedding venue costs: compare the whole quote

Start with the whole quote, not the headline number

Ask every venue for a written quote that itemises each charge. A single total is impossible to compare because venues bundle different things. Some include tables, chairs and basic lighting. Others list them separately. Some charge per person for food and drinks. Others charge a hire fee plus consumption. The only fair comparison is line by line.

When you contact venues, request availability and a written quote together. That is a practical way to avoid wasting time on dates that are already taken. If you are specifically considering a rural or coastal estate, browse event estates in Greece.

A verified example: Ktima48 describes itself as a coastal venue in Anavyssos and accepts morning, evening and all-day booking inquiries (Ktima48 official venue website). That does not tell you the price or availability. It simply shows that some venues offer different time blocks, which affects how you compare hire windows.

The six components that change the total

Every quote can be broken into these rows. Some will be zero. Some will be quoted as a range. Your job is to know which is which before you sign.

1. Hire fee or exclusive use. This is the cost of the space itself. It may be called a venue fee, buyout or exclusive use charge. Ask what hours it covers and whether setup and breakdown are inside that window.
2. Food and beverage minimum. Often called a minimum spend. You must reach this amount in food and drinks, or pay the difference. It is not the same as a hire fee. A low hire fee with a high minimum can cost more than a higher hire fee with no minimum.
3. Per-person menu. This is the food cost per guest. It may include service, or service may be separate. Ask whether children, suppliers or late-night guests are counted at the same rate.
4. Drinks. Look for three separate charges: drinks package, corkage (a fee for serving drinks you bring yourself), and bar service. Corkage is common in Greece but not universal. Ask whether it is per bottle, per person or per hour.
5. Equipment and extras. Tables, chairs, linens, glassware, dance floor, lighting, sound, generator, heating or cooling. Some venues include these. Others charge rental. Ask for a list of what is included and what is not.
6. Taxes and service. Ask whether the quoted price includes tax and service charge. If not, ask for the rate and which amount it applies to. Tax as quoted may apply to the hire fee only, or to everything. Get this in writing.

Overtime is a seventh row. Ask the hourly rate for extending your hire window. Also ask the cost if your event runs late and staff must stay.

Blank quote worksheet

Use this table for each venue. Fill in the quote fields. Do not estimate. If a venue will not provide a number, write 'not quoted' and treat it as a risk.

Component	Venue A	Venue B	Venue C	Notes
Hire fee / exclusive use				Hours included? Setup and breakdown included?
Food and beverage minimum				Does it include tax and service?
Per-person menu (adult)				What is included? Children's rate?
Per-person menu (child)				Age cutoff?
Drinks package				Duration? Included brands?
Corkage				Per bottle, per person or per hour?
Bar service				Is it separate from the drinks package?
Equipment rental				List each item and cost.
Service charge				Rate? On what amount?
Tax as quoted				Rate and which amount it applies to.
Overtime per hour				Staff and venue.
Supplier meals				How many and at what rate?
Total (example only)				Add all rows. Label as example.

This worksheet is deliberately blank. Any total you write is an example, not a market norm. The arithmetic is simple: add the rows. The difficulty is getting every row quoted in the same way.

Hypothetical arithmetic: why the headline lies

Imagine two venues. This is a hypothetical example, not a real quote. You expect 80 guests.

Venue A quotes a hire fee of A EUR. Food is B EUR per person. Drinks are C EUR per person. Corkage is D EUR per bottle, and you plan to bring E bottles. Equipment rental is F EUR. Service is G% on food and drinks. Tax is quoted at H% on the hire fee and equipment only.

Venue B quotes a hire fee of I EUR. Food is J EUR per person and includes service. Drinks are K EUR per person. Corkage is not allowed. Equipment is included. Tax is quoted at L% on everything.

Venue A headline: A EUR. Venue B headline: I EUR. But the totals tell a different story. Venue A food: 80 x B = AB EUR. Drinks: 80 x C = AC EUR. Corkage: E x D = ED EUR. Equipment: F EUR. Service: G% of (AB + AC). Tax: H% of (A + F). Total: A + AB + AC + ED + F + service + tax.

Venue B food: 80 x J = AJ EUR. Drinks: 80 x K = AK EUR. Equipment: 0. Service: included. Tax: L% of (I + AJ + AK). Total: I + AJ + AK + tax.

Which venue is cheaper depends entirely on the numbers you fill in. A low hire fee does not always win. An all-inclusive quote does not always lose. Run the arithmetic with your own numbers.

Questions to ask before you compare

Ask these questions in writing. The answers will either make the quotes comparable or reveal that one venue is not a serious option.

• What is the exact hire window, including setup and breakdown?
• Is there a food and beverage minimum? Does it include tax and service?
• What is the per-person menu price for adults, children and supplier meals?
• Are drinks included? If not, what is the corkage policy and fee?
• What equipment is included at no extra charge? What is rented separately?
• Is tax included in the quoted price? If not, what rate applies and to which amounts?
• What is the overtime rate for the venue and for staff?
• What is the cancellation and postponement policy?
• How many hours before the event can we access the venue for setup?
• Are there any other fees not listed here?

If a venue refuses to answer in writing, treat that as a warning. A written quote protects both sides.

What to send to venues

When you contact venues, send a single message with your key facts. This makes it easier for them to quote accurately and for you to compare.

Include: your preferred date or date range, an estimated guest count (label it as an estimate), whether you want a morning, evening or all-day booking, whether you need a ceremony space, and whether you plan to bring your own drinks. Ask for a written quote that itemises hire, menu, drinks, equipment, service, tax as quoted, and overtime. Ask for availability at the same time.

Do not sign anything until you have the full quote in writing. The venue that answers clearly and completely is often the one worth visiting. The one that avoids the worksheet is telling you something important.

Two useful next steps: What a Greece wedding package actually includes and A small wedding needs the right minimum spend.