An Outdoor Wedding in Thessaloniki That Lasted Until 3am

August 27, 2022 | Nomarchy Gardens, Thessaloniki

Some outdoor wedding in Thessaloniki surprise you. Not because something goes wrong but because everything goes more right than you ever planned.

Eirini and Lennaert found me online. They were living in the Netherlands, planning a wedding back in Thessaloniki, and looking for a DJ who could handle more than just music. When Eirini first emailed me in January 2022, her message was direct: 80-90 guests, an open-air venue at the Nomarchy gardens, sunflowers everywhere, and a party that would bring together Greeks and Dutch in equal measure.

“We read very good comments and saw photos where it’s clear you raise the mood and put on a great show,” she wrote. Seven months later, we were dancing under the pine trees until 3 am.

The Venue: Nomarchy Gardens, Thessaloniki

The Nomarchy building is one of the most atmospheric spots for an outdoor wedding in Thessaloniki. Its gardens, tucked behind the building under tall pine trees, are something else entirely. Shaded, atmospheric, and surprisingly intimate for a city venue.

But there was a catch.

Outdoor venues in residential areas come with noise limits. Under normal circumstances, music at a venue like this would need to wind down around 1 am the neighborhood, the proximity to apartment buildings, the city rules. Every experienced DJ knows this going in.

The question is: what do you do about it?

The Sound Strategy

My answer was the setup itself. Instead of a large, powerful system that would fill the space with volume, I chose a compact column array configuration, four speakers (db Technologies DB602). The goal wasn’t maximum loudness. It was controlled, directional sound that stayed inside the venue and didn’t spill into the street.

The other part was patience. From the first song of the evening, I never pushed the system to its limits. I built the energy slowly, kept the headroom, and let the crowd — not the volume — drive the atmosphere.

The result? Not a single complaint from the neighborhood. Not one. And the party ran until 3 am.

The Music: Greek Classics, Dutch Anthems, and One Custom Edit

Planning the playlist for Eirini and Lennaert was one of the most enjoyable challenges I’ve had. They sent me a Spotify list with everything from Greek traditional songs to Dutch party anthems artists like Andre Hazes, Snollebollekes, and Guus Meeuwis that meant everything to Lennaert’s family and friends.

We worked out a system together: which Dutch songs were for early in the evening, which ones were strictly after the party reached full swing. Lennaert himself was going to signal me during the night.

For their couple song “Μαζί Σου Στο Φως”, I made a custom edit so the key moments landed exactly where they wanted. When Eirini heard the first version, she asked me to adjust the ending to catch the final phrase. I sent her a new version the same evening.

The Greek traditional set was kept short and well-chosen, a few songs that gave the Greek guests their moment without losing the international guests. And then the dancefloor opened for everyone.

The Night

The ceremony was at the chapel of Agios Vasileios at the Nomarchy, at 5pm. By the time the reception began, the vintage VW T2 bar was open, the string lights were glowing between the pines, and the sunflowers on every table caught the last of the August light.

By midnight, nobody wanted to stop. And thanks to the sound system choices made months earlier, nobody had to.

What Irini Wrote Afterwards

“He was very kind to provide us with tips and information that helped us deal with other vendors for our wedding concerning the drinks, etc. just because he wanted to help, which we give a high value! He was also flexible and helpful on the day itself and took initiative in the planning.”

# Irini P., married 27/08/2022, WeddingWire ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Planning an outdoor wedding in Thessaloniki?

The city has some extraordinary venues — and some real logistical challenges. Sound, permits, timing, vendor coordination. I’ve done this before, and I’m happy to help you think it through.

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Wedding DJ: Nikos Seitanidis aka DJ Seitan 📍 Based in Katerini | Available across Greece & worldwide 🌐 weddingjockey.gr