Totally in love- Wedding story of Joelle and Barry

I never met Joelle and Barry before their wedding week, we never even spoke on the phone (which was funny as I spoke to most of their guests on the phone arranging their accommodation so they always say they knew that way I really excited :))- we were just so laid back with each other that it felt like we were friends all the way through the process of a 1-year long wedding planning what in the end was a true fairy tale and the two of them indeed like a Price and and Princess as you will witness yourselves in the pictures to come. The two of them are one of those couples that you see immediately they are endlessly in love so the amount of emotions and happiness that took place that day was enormous.

On the morning of their wedding the sun was shining and despite not so good weather forecast for that day we all had more than good faith. Joelle sent me a text message in the morning that said simply: "I am so excited!" and it made me smile. It still does :)
Her friends helped her with her hair and makeup and she truly did look like a Princess. The color scheme of the wedding was pink and it was present in each segment of the day.

Barry on the other hand had a beautifully calm spirit however you could tell he was a bit nervous which I found amazingy cute- it was only natural to be nervous on your wedding day! :)
He looked very smart and by the time he was ready, all of the guest were already on the coach from the hotel they were all staying in towards the Old Town.

Barry waited for Joelle a bit more than expected at the altar as the traffic jam made it impossible for her to arrive in time so she was traditionally fashionable late- to her own wedding. Well not a lot, but enough to say she was late :) . Barry will always say she was worthwile waiting for....
They got married in a barroque church of St Blaise in the Old Town, the church of St Blaise, Dubrovnik's Patron saint. Even more special, they were married by a family friend, a priest from Rome who married both of Barry's sisters. The ceremony and service were just so beautiful, inspiring and incredibly personal.

After the ceremony we took all guests to a closeby bar for drinks and then a surprise boat cruise to the reception venue which was such an amazing surprise and special experience for everyone!
Just before we hopped onto the boat, Joelle tossed her bouquet in medieval Old Town harbour.

Just as the sun started setting, the boat docked and the wedding party walked to the sea view Neptun terrace. Champagne was flowing and ambiance was truly fantastic while the DJ was playing popular tunes making everyone want to dance immediately. The party lasted until morning hours and the dinner was something to talk about too, I still believe guests were full till next day lunch :).

The next day we organized a casual BBQ lunch for the wedding party on the island of Lokrum. Car free, nature reserve island is more than a perfect gettaway for the after party mood. Just in time to continue the party too!

Thanks Joelle and Barry for sharing your special moments with us. It has been a beautiful journey and may you always stay so happily in love.
Oh and by the way, about that bad weather forecast calling for the thunderstorm all saturday long??? It was one of the sunniest and hottest days of the year! Now that is to be deserved in your life :))))

Happy planning Brides!

www.dubrovnikevent.com

Amazing wedding story of Rachel and Ortis on Dubrovnik's rocky beach

I remember when I first met this funky couple, last year in spring and we clicked right away. I was even then so looking forward to their wedding as I knew it would be fabulous as it indeed was.
They fell in love with Vala VIP Beach Club, an exclusive part of hotel Dubrovnik Palace immediately and we booked it for 29th of May 2011, both for their ceremony, wedding dinner and party afterwards.

Rachel and Ortis at the Onofrio's fountain in Old Town, for luck :).
Photography and copyrights by Veronica Arevalo and Dubrovnik Event archive.

Day before the wedding there was Champion League (Manchester United vs Barcelona) finals so we organized a gathering on East West Beach Club in Dubrovnik with a large screen TV and cheering with cocktails flowing. The crowd that gathered for the wedding of Rachel and Ortis was fabulous and so much fun that you could hardly hear a minute without loud laughter.

The morning of the wedding ambiance was phenomenal, very relaxed and happy, ladies sipping champagne and getting ready and men taking a swim in the outdoor hotel pool and enjoying a lunch in the very last minute (ssssshhhh: the photographer had to look for the Groom for a while as they went for lunch and forgot about the photo session :)).
Rachel looked absolutely stunning and had good faith in sun sticking with us despite bad weather forecasts so we all decided to take a small chance and do it all outside as originally planned.

Rachel getting dressed.... one of my favorite moments of any wedding....

Photography and copyrights by Veronica Arevalo and Dubrovnik Event archive.

As guests slowly gathered on Vala Beach Club at the always same sound of "Aaaaaaah"s as they walked in, the anticipation rose as we all eagerly waited for the Bride to walk with sun on her face and breeze in her beautiful hair.

Happiest man on Earth in that moment....
Photography and copyrights by Veronica Arevalo and Dubrovnik Event archive.

The ceremony was so beautiful that I think there was no dry eye among all of us. It was all about the two of them as it is supposed to be and it was laid back, funny, emotional and funky. Their friend, Ezra, who funnily enough missed the flight day before made it to the wedding just a few hours before and honored us all with a capella singing of beautifully chosen songs by Ortis and Rachel.

Rachel and Ortis, married and happy walking up the aisle for the final Ghana blessing on the pool
Photography and copyrights by Veronica Arevalo and Dubrovnik Event archive.

After the ceremony, Ortis' father held a beautiful speech and a special traditional blessing where each of the guests treated themselves to a fabulous strong grappa shot before heading for cocktails on a separate terrace while Vala is being made up for the wedding dinner.

Traditional Ghana blessing held by Groom's Father
Photography and copyrights by Veronica Arevalo and Dubrovnik Event archive.

Champagne and canapes followed while Rachel and Ortis took a limousine for a few quiet moments of their own and a few shots in Dubrovnik's Old Town, they had to!

Rachel and Ortis in Old Town underneath Lovrijenac Fortress
Photography and copyrights by Veronica Arevalo and Dubrovnik Event archive.

You must admit they look amazingly handsome, and together, like a match made in heaven. I told you, I knew we were in for a treat of a wedding the minute we met! And I will never be able to thank Rachel and Ortis enough for their trust and the honor of sharing their special moments with us. what fabulous weekend it was!

Cocktail on sunny pool terrace before dinner
Photography and copyrights by Veronica Arevalo and Dubrovnik Event archive.

While they enjoyed Old Town, guests enjoyed cocktails before wedding dinner. Sun was shining and nothing could make the day go wrong. It was absolutely perfect.
After the wedding couple came back it was time for dinner. The set up was amazing, ambiance fabulus and music their friend DJ was playing just ideal for the whole atmosphere set by the day.

Vala Beach set up for Rachel and Ortis' wedding dinner during sunset
Photography and copyrights by Veronica Arevalo and Dubrovnik Event archive.

And how they danced, man, this was something I think none of us will ever forget. It was one beautiful event, thanks to the beautiful and relaxed wedding couple, God's will to leave the sun out for their Big Day and a bit of our organization too :)
Thanks guys, we loved every miute of it and hope you did too :)

Dancing mood- and this is how it was all night long!
photography and copyrights by Veronica Arevalo and Dubrovnik Event archive.

Happy planning all!
www.dubrovnikevent.com
info@dubrovnikevent.com

Emma & Alan's Wedding- a perfect wedding story in Dubrovnik

Interestingly enough, Emma, our Bridal star of this story, first contacted me on my 30th birthday and just a bit less than a year before her big day. She said she wanted nice venues, with old style touch but modern approach, good food and wine and great time for their family and friends. Having said she read great reviews of Dubrovnik Event, the pressure was even greater to find perfectly suitable venues...

Almost a year later....
We met a few days before the wedding for the pre-wedding meeting and to finalize every detail. Emma was a bit nervous as the weather wasn't too good the day they arrived but Alan's calm spirit and our detailed wedding chit chat have made Emma her old self- positive, perky and cheerful person, very much looking forward to her wedding! It was great getting to know them after a whole year of wedding planning without ever meeting in person!

When I came up to her bridal suite in Hotel Excelsior a couple of hours before the ceremony time, Emma's hair and makeup were done and she was breezing though the suite like a fairy. She was beautifully calm and happy.
It was a perfect day.
Just when I expected her to start putting her dress on, room service knocked on the suite doors and the waiter came in with what looked like a dozen sandwiches!
I always stress out the importance of breakfast for the wedding day as due to excitement and adrenaline, lack of food can never be good, but this was a (positive) shock even for me. This meant the whole wedding party was laid back and in a very good mood. Champagne was flowing and the ambiance was fantastic, and I really look forward to seeing some cool photos from this part of the wedding!
Shortly afterwards, time has come to go to the Old town and meet her husband to be.

Meantime, Alan and his groomsmen party were already gathering at the Sponza Palace. Piano and cello were playing their selected tunes while the whole wedding party awaited for the Bride's entrance.

Emma and Alan got married in one of Dubrovnik's trademarks- the fabulous medieval Sponza Palace. This choise was only logical as it was everything you want from your wedding ceremony venue- it is celebratory, monumental, grand and absolutely stunning.

When we had everyone seated, right at the church's bell tower rang 15:30hrs, the Nessum Dorma started playing and we let it play for a few seconds before we opened the doors for Sarah, Emma's sister to walk down the aisle before Emma and Jack, her father who proudly took her down the aisle a couple of minutes later.
The ceremony was perfect- personalized with a couple of readings and marked by some laughter of Emma and Alan. It was amazing looking at them so laid back, being pronounced husband and wife- at last!

While enjoying a glass of fizzy and laughing out loud chilled and relaxed, they took formal shots of family, friends and colleagues and a group shot too- always a lot of fun, followed by some famous Dubrovnik ice cream in the Old town harbour after which a cocktail reception followed on the paniramic boat cruise. As Emma put it, the sea was a bit choppy but hey everyone is still raving about how much fun they had and they would never change a bit. Cocktail and canapes were served on the boat and then the wedding party strolled through the old town city walls to the restaurant terrace of Hotel Excelsior for yet another few drinks and wedding dinner.

Atmosphere was fantastic, and it didn't rain just until we reached the hotel which was a good sign as all plans of the big day were laying out perfectly. After everyone was seated, short but excellent speeches were held and it was time for dinner.

Chicken canelloni everyone is still talking about , followed by option of either  fabulously cooked beefsteak or beautifully made John Dory fish fillet and nicely flowing Croatian wine told us it was time to cut the cake and serve it indorrs as it was getting dark and a bit chilly too.
The cake Emma chose was one of the most original I have ever seen and the hotel made a perfect replica of the picture sent.

We slowly moved indoors where the party started with Emma and Alan's first dance and some partying till morning hours... It truly was a perfect Dubrovnik wedding, set off by a perfect wedding couple, happy, laid back and married to live happily ever after....

Thank you Emma and Alan, for the trust you have put into Dubrovnik Event and our wedding planning skills without knowing us or meeting us before the wedding week. We are honored that we had the pleasure of taking part in your special day. Wishing you days full of joy....

To the rest of you- happy planning :)

http://www.dubrovnikevent.com/

our first 2011 wedding in Dubrovnik- Marie-Therese & James

Last October Marie and James were traveling and read about us in an in-flight magazine, when they decided to contact us about planning their special day in April in Dubrovnik. after a few emails and a couple of phonecalls they informed us we will have the honor of being their chosen wedding planners. we were absolutely thrilled. and the story began....

It was an intimate gathering of their closest ones- they said it would be an either extremely large or extremely small wedding so decided to do a family affair in Dubrovnik with an after party in England.

Marie-Therese was getting ready in a beautiful apartment in Old Town, overlooking the church where should would say her wovs in a few hours time. Yes, you could tell she was a bit nervous, but hey, every Bride is and with her it was sort of cute as well as she really is an adorable lovely girl who stayed really kind every second of her big day, while being a Bride having every right to go a bit crazy :)

Flowers arrived just in time and Marie-Therese loved them, a perfect combination of whites, creams, and blues and a hint of a sweet peas as well. They suited her just ideally, same as her wedding dress and her incredibly stunning funky blue shoes.

Hair and makeup girls did their magic, though Marie Therese really didnt need much of it being truly naturally beautiful. Finally her Mother pinned her veil onto her amazingly styled hair and she was ready to meet her husband to be...



James was already with Veronica, the photographer at that time, with his brothers and parents and one of his brother's fiance who I am sure thought at least for a second how will she ever beat this Dubrovnik wedding magic :)

James is a graphic designer, a really cool guy who is genuinely nice, funny and calm in the same time. a fantastic combination, and they truly do match each other perfectly. James' mother prepared them a wedding cake she brought all the way from Ireland and when we took some pictures and placed cake at the restaurant's safe fridge it was time to slowly start gathering at the church, as the ceremony was scheduled to be at 1500hrs.

As the time passed, the anticipation rose as violin and piano played selected tunes of Marie-Therese and James, who had a very extensive and specific music requirements for the church music, carefully selected by their professional family friend who is a musician.

Just when Marie-Therese stepped in front of the church, greeted and cheered by dozens of tourists walking the streets of Dubrovnik, the moment was at its peak. James was ready, along with their guests to gaze at his Bride and marry her at last.

When first tunes of Pachebel's Canon in D played, I am sure I saw a tear in the eye of my First 2011 Bride, and I knew it is perfect time for her walk down the aisle, with her father giving her away.

If you ask me this is my very favorite part of every wedding and it never fails me , the emotions are at their peak and the wedding too, really starts her in its formal but such warm and personal way.

Marie-Therese & James exchanged their vows, rings, as well as silver coins and the priest read out the Pope's blessign they got a couple of weeks prior to the wedding. The ceremony was just perfect- intimate, emotional, funny at moments and entirely personal. It truly was one of the most memorable and beautiful ceremonies we had the honor of coordinating and attending.

After the church ceremony we took the guests for drinks at a nearby bar when the couple went with the photographer for a small photo session around Dubrovnik's Old Town after which they joined their guests for a few drinks and nibbles too. Look at the tractor Marie-Therese just fell in love with during her walk and out of pure joke they made it happen and captured for good- when is the last time you saw a Bride on a tractor? :)

The wedding party of Marie-Therese and James continued with a fabulous dinner at Gil's Cuisine and Pop Lounge (http://www.gilsdubrovnik.com/ ). They loved every second of the pampering at this very special place where truly all of your senses will be overwhelmed. in a positive way of course.

It has truly been a pleasure planning, organizing and coordinating their wedding, and we can only thank Marie-Therese and James for honoring us with having a part in their special day.

For your wedding offer please contact us at info@dubrovnikevent.com

Happy planning!

How to find your true wedding planner - stuff to keep in mind when looking for one

This last couple of weeks I have witnesses a few occasions where a couple's wedding vision and the whole special day were compromized to a great extent due to the fact they had no reliable local contact to ensure all of their wedding vendor communication is indeed agreed upon and set in stone. I couldn't help but think: see, this is exactly why one needs to hire a wedding planner, especially for a wedding abroad.
the questions is- how to find a reliable one, that will indeed work in your best interests and ensure your dreamed of day truly goes as a day of your dreams?

We give you a few tips how to know the professional you hire is indeed an expert professional wedding planner:

1. RECOMMENDATION is the most obvious way to find out if your wedding planner is any good- look for testimonials from other couples and maybe even vendors. Other people's experiences with the person you are looking to hire to plan the most important day of your lives will help a lot in making this decision. Don't ask for reference letters only, but contact details of couples as well, especially those who have had similar wedding to what you have envisioned. It will also help get an idea of what they thought of these choices and how the planner contributed to the whole day.

Ines with Mairead and Neil in front of St Ignatius Church in Dubrovnik, after their wedding ceremony on 20/08/2009

Ines & Marin as witnesses at St Blaise church to Niall & Olivia, 20/10/2006

2. SAMPLES OF PREVIOUS WORK- we all know that any craft is crafted and perfected with practice, so is the wedding planning. Ask for a brief history of the planner's company, how many weddings they have done up to date and pictures of previous weddings. Ideally, if you are asking for references, your planner will supply you with a couple of contacts from each of the previous 3 years of business at least. Also, ask for photos and maybe even videos of weddings that have a similar concept to your own to see the closest picture possible.

Ines & Marin as witnesses to Jessica and Raoul, after their elopement ceremony on Dubrovnik viewpoint on 09/09/2009

 3. PROFESSIONALISM, INVOICING AND CONTRACTING- your planner should clearly explain you how the payment and contracting procedure takes place for your wedding and draft you a contract proposal immediately after your date confirmation, outlining all agreed upon segments, cancellation policy, their fee structure and explanation of potential costs that are upcoming. You should also expect from your planner to issue you another annex to the contract closer to the wedding with every single detail agreed for your wedding with all prices and fees agreed upon, leaving no space for misunderstandings or unpleasant surprises. Make sure you check with your planner any potentially unexpected costs at the initial stages and if they would increase their fees if your guestlist goes up or the scope of their work goes wider. Finally you need to expect to receive a receipt for each deposit you make as well as final invoice for your wedding, outlining each and every item of your wedding.

Aine & Ines, who became very good friends during their wedding planning days, just minutes before Aine's wedding ceremony in Dubrovnik on 10/09/2010

4. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING LOCAL can never be stressed out enough. Local people look after each other and will always have a better relationship with local vendors than a foreigner will, and as much as we say this shouldn't be true, this is an unwritten rule and there are rarely exceptions. By hiring a local wedding planner you will ensure there are no miscommunications either as you wouldn't appreciate the fact that your flowers came purple instead of pink due to the language barrier. Finally, a local will know and feel the region, venues, possibilities, capacities and "hidden" vendors better than anyone else.

5. THE FEELING OF TRUST that you won't miss when you meet your true bound wedding planner. Your personalities will match and compliment each other and you will simply feel like that's the right person to entrust this important role. Everything about Your wedding should have the right and good feel to it, as does your Wedding Planner. They will become your best friend over the coming period whom you will be in touch with more than with anyone else probably, so it has to be a person you feel comfortable with -sharing your thoughts, feelings and asking any questions that pop your mind.
Your true wedding planner will know exactly how to calm you down when needed or nudge you into being proactive if you are not.
Your true wedding planner will make you feel at ease at any step along the way and will indeed plan and make your dream wedding day your reality.

Ines with AnnMarie and Killian, after their wedding ceremony in St Ignatius church in Dubrovnik, 01/05/2010

Dubrovnik Event wishes you happy planning!  

If you would like Ines & Marin of Dubrovnik Event to be your wedding planners, for your personalized wedding offer please contact us at info@dubrovnikevent.com
for more info about us and more pictures please visit www.dubrovnikevent.com

Top 10 reasons why get married in Dubrovnik

1.      Dubrovnik’s beauty has long been inspirationally known and world renowned, even the famous poet Bernard Shaw said it himself: “Those who seek Paradise on Earth, must come to Dubrovnik”. This says it all and surely you will know what he meant once you visit and experience the picturesque sites this amazing city has to offer. You will be enchanted by its clear blue sea, pristine beaches, hospitality of the locals and that familiar feeling like you are at home, at a first glance. You will always want to come back to it.

2.   Dubrovnik is also known under its alias “Pearl of the Adriatic”, as it truly offers you and your wedding guests absolutely anything you may need and want while leaving you without breath with its natural beauties, rich history, culture and romantic alleys. It has been a vacation getaway location for many celebrities including Beyonce, Paris Hilton, Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Mickey Rourke, Nick Nolte, Steve Buschemi and Roger Moore, to name a few.

3.   Today, you can directly fly to Dubrovnik for your wedding from most European and world cities, including New York from 2011! You can also fly to Dubrovnik’s local airport from England, Ireland, Germany, Russia, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland and Austria, to name a few. This definitely saves a lot of time and money for your guests, making it convenient, easy and even more desirable as a destination wedding location.

4.   UNESCO has placed Dubrovnik and its famous city walls in 1979 as a city under their protection due to its incredibly rich cultural and historical heritage and the preservation of the mentioned. You will surely have lots to do around here- from learning about our rich history and culture, to, for some more fun stuff, such as paragliding, water sports, diving, kayaking, or simply sun bathing with an occasional swim in the clear blue sea. And you wont even have to look very closely to see the fish swimming around you- the sea is just that clear!

5.   While walking through streets of Dubrovnik, you will be able to pick a lemon for your morning freshly squeezed lemonade, a tangerine to have for breakfast, some pomegranate for snacking fresh and healthy at the beach; and pretty much wherever you go- to a local tavern or your private accommodation Bed and Breakfast, you are most likely to be served mostly homemade and home grown produce. Croatians take pride in this so enjoy the organic fruit and vegetables at your hand’s reach.

6.  Dubrovnik has 2554 sunny hours per year in average. looking for a sunny destination wedding location? You can't beat that!

7. Dubrovnik has been a host to Dubrovnik Summer Festival for over 60 years- concerts under the stary skies, theatrical plays in most amazing lcoations you can imagine and medieval costumed festival on each cobbed corner! Your guests will have loads of options to choose from on their list of "what to do while in Dubrovnik".

8. Dubrovnik's accommodation and restaurant/bar offer reached an enviable assortment of all different kinds and categories of the properties, so you can stay and offer your guests to indulge at a 5 star hotel overlooking the famous Dubrovnik's city walls while enjoying a relaxing massage with a glass of champagne, or enjoy the authenticity in one of the local B&Bs in the Old Town up in the cobbled streets. Or maybe a Villa with a pool for your guests, there are loads to choose from! Whatever their budget and preferences are, we assure you Dubrovnik has it all.

And when it comes to dining and wining in Dubrovnik, you are in for a treat! We will happily send you a list of must visit places to taste the very best of Dubrovnik.

9. Your guests will be happy to visit a place for your wedding week where they will be able to make a vacation out of it- there is a bit for everyone's tastes in this beautiful city. Also, Montenegro is half hour away and Medjugorje is only 2 hours away if your family wishes to do a pilgrimage trip.

10. After a couple of days walking through Dubrovnik streets and visiting local bars, you will feel like home, already getting exciting at the thought of coming back, and you will leave with so many beautiful memories and locals' contacts who will truly be in touch with you for years to come.

Indeed, Dubrovnik is a very special place for Your very special day.

***for your personalized wedding offer in Dubrovnik , please visit www.dubrovnikevent.com or email us at info@dubrovnikevent.com

we look forward to hearing from you and making your dreams come true!