Mljet Wedding- their own wedding island....

I sit here and think where to start with this blog post? From the couple who were the most amazing people you can imagine, or the island that is a national park as a whole, or maybe the venue- tiny island on the island's lake saying that the couple had their own island for the wedding? Absolutely everything about this wedding was perfect, and that makes it even more difficult to write about it.
I will leave the photos speak for that....

Islet of St Mary, tiny island on the lake of island of Mljet. There is a monastery, family owned restaurant and a park. Most amazing wedding venue one can find. A truly hidden gem.

When Nevena first emailed, her wedding vision was so clear and romantic, wanting for her guests to enjoy the time and for the two of them to promise to each other surrounded by her loved ones. With good food and wine and a natural feel. An island came as a given idea for this as it perfectly fit her wedding vision.

Nevena & Robert, a first kiss... smiling.... :)

I can't explain how excited I was to plan a wedding on island of Mljet, one of the most amazing places you will ever see in your life... The tranquility of the place, the romance of it, the magic around you are just beyond any words. I always loved island weddings and Mljet was just a dream come true, even for me as a wedding planner. So we hit it off with great ideas and plans and we made it all come to life on a bright sunny day on July 3rd 2012. There are a lot of people who will surely never forget this day...

Photo session in the nature... 

Guests were picked up by a boat from a village on peninsula of Peljesac where most of them were staying. The beginning was promising with everyone singing along and sunbathing on the decks. All the guests stayed in the hotel Odisej on Mljet and were transfered by private shuttle vans to the lake dock where the boat took them to islet of St Mary, where ceremony and reception took place.

Nevena getting ready and smiling all the way. 

Robert geting ready. Smiling most of the time but when he had to put the tie on :)

The atmosphere was just brilliant- relaxed and easygoing, and absolutely no stress in the air. Maybe it's the island's charms or just them being like that, but it was more than a pleasure being a part of this wedding.
As guests gathered on a sea side walkway for the ceremony, I took Nevena and her maid of honor to a small local fisherman's boat (which Nevena absolutely loved - it was her perfect carriage!) and when we got a cue from Marin who was with Robert and wedding guests , the motor was turned on and we slowly approached the islet, with guests cheering, applausing and taking photos. Nevena was beaming at them. It was the most amazing bridal arrival ever.

Bridal arrival. Original or what? :)

It was that time- ceremony time.... I can't really find words to describe it- there were laughs, happy tears, guests comments and more laughs and happy tears. Most casual, most natural, most beautiful wedding ceremony I have ever witnessed.

Flower girls and maid of honor walking down the aisle.... 

Nevena walking down the aisle....

Exchange of rings after exchange of vows. And don't you just love that bouquet?

After Nevena and Robert exchanged their vows (more happy tears and laughs :)), they walked together down the aisle and had their guests congratulated them. While they had a mini photo session with Sinisa the photographer around the island, guests enjoyed homemade liquors and grappas and some nice refreshing bites to keep them going. Sun was shining just for them and everyone felt like they were on another planet. Even we did :)

Photoshoot on the island.... Laughing away....

Charms of Croatia and Croatians :)

Happily married :)

Speeches were held very casually too, before, during and after the meal and it was difficult to say who was enjoying more- the Bride and Groom or their guests. The guestbook table had an empty photo frame and polaroid camera with photo props for guests to capture the fun into eternity.
It took us a whole day to decorate the venue, Nevena brought loads of fabulous decoration props, combined to our Dubrovnik Event props, there was quite some decorating to be done. I was amazed at the venue when I saw the end result of what my girls put together. It was a true venue transformation, and an incredible one too. But still staying true to itself, romantic, authentic and charming.
Kids were laughing, playing and running around the island, it was a fairytale wedding indeed.

Sweetheart table....

You cannot imagine how much fun guests had with these!

Looking at the Polaroids.... what a fantatsic keepsake...

Party time!!!

The menu was simple and local and wine was flowing, it was time for a cake cutting, first dance and the party, which continued till early morning hours. Guests were if desired taken back to the main island every hour and shuttles took them to the hotel. Even locals say it was the best wedding ever- they heard the party all night long and loved it....

Wedding cake, wine barrel style, chocolate on the inside. Beautiful and tasty. 

First dance... Their love was tangible....

Besides being utterly romantic, they are great party people too  :)

Dancing time :)

Fun fun fun....

Bouquet tossing. That is a bouquet even I wanted to catch :)

Love is in the air....

I know I didn't talk much in this blog post and excactly that's why I put more photos, as not much words could describe what a beautiful day and what a beautiful wedding that was.
So do I finish off with the venue, island or the people? Always, the people- Nevena and Robert, thank you from my heart for choosing us to be aboard this special journey with you. We will most surely never forget this wedding nor you. And it gave us an opportunity to stay on the island for the weekend, and that my friends is pure luxury in July....

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Happy Planning dear Brides! Dont forget to email at info@dubrovnikevent.com for your own wedding info. It can truly be a dream come true....

With love,

Ines, your Dubrovnik wedding planner

Love is in the air- Happy Valentine's Day from Dubrovnik Event Wedding Planners

This one is from a wedding of a couple I will surely never forget. The love they had for each other  was almost tangible. and truly inspirational.... Marijana & Bas, married in June 2010

Happy Valentine's day to all of you! I know a lot of people say that it's just another day and we shouldn't wait for commercialized so called holiday to express and remember our love and our loved ones, but I can't help but feel something specially romantic in the air every Valentine's day. Call me a traditionalist or a dreamer, but I truly feel that Valentine's Day has a meaning deeper than just buying flowers or pressies for your loved ones and should be honored as such....
So I find it very appropriate to write a mini blog post today, about love, in photos. AS we all know, they say a thousand words.
So enjoy, and may your Valentine's day be as romantic as any day you dream of.... Happy Love!

This is one of the first photos I have seen when I started working with Vero, our wedding photographer. It was by far one of my fav and still is, and not only the couple but the faces of the people around them. Truly, love was in the air....

We live love through our work and there is nothing more rewarding I assure you, than being a wedding planner. It reminds you of things you sometimes forget and show you how love truly is simple. We see it in your eyes and in your vows. In you speaking to each other and just know that love is to be for a lifetime...

Kelley & Andrei, married in June 2010. If you just spent more than 10 seconds with them, you  would know these people have found each other's second half....

I love you. I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I've ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, everyday we are together is the greatest day of my life. I will always be yours.

- From The Notebook

Rachel & Ahmed, a couple for whom words wouldnt do any justice. An inspiration to everyone and anyone.....

Anne & Thorbjorn, married in July 2011, they know what they were willing to do for each other. And we were moved to tears....

Claire and Ryan, married in in Dubrovnik in May 2011, were together for 12 years before he popped the question. She was so excited about her wedding she was teary eyed already at the pre wedding meeting. And his eyes were teary when he waited her walk down the aisle....

Kisha and Kamau- he organized a surprise wedding for her in Dubrovnik and she followed him all the way. That's LOVE.

Lisa & David, married in June 2011. Their looks say enough, True Love. we see them every year since then, it is still the same....

Now this is a look of a man in love... Rachel and Ortis, married May 2011 in Dubrovnik. Dear friends, amazing people, supporting and love life partners....

Do you know that place between being asleep and awake, where you still remember your dreams? Thats where I'll always love, that's where I'll always wait for you.

- - Tinkerbell (Hook)

Kellie and David, married in July 2011, amazing people with such incredible love for each other that even we, who only spent a couple of days with them, couldnt' not admire at it....

"I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of what I saw. I'm scared of what I did, of who I am.... and most of all, I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I'm with you."

- "Baby" in Dirty Dancing

There is something about first dances. Amanda & Barry, cool people cool Love.

Marijana & David, married July 2012. Couples have so few moments on their own in their weddings. That's why the ones they have are truly cherished...

Katie & Jon, married June 2012 in Dubrovnik. Throughout the wedding planning he kept saying- whatever it is to make my Katie happy... I thought that was so selflessly loving....

"If you love someone... you say it, right then, out loud. Otherwise... the moment just passes you by."

- From My Best Friends Wedding

Nevena & Robert, married on island of Mljet in July 2012. It took me 10 minutes to choose a photo from their wedding to post, the fact is that every single one of them is bursting with love....

That thing, that moment, when everything around you becomes hazy.. and the only thing in focus is you and this person..and you realise that that person is the only person you should be kissing for the rest of your life.. and for one moment you get this amazing gift.. and you wanna laugh and you wanna cry cuz you feel so lucky that you found it and so so scared that its all gonna go away all at the same time.

- Drew Barrymore in Never been kissed

Sylvie & Guy. The fate really played with them before the finally found each other while meeting each other in various stages of each other lives. Now they know they were always meant to be.... 

Love and Lee, married in Dubrovnik, on island of Lokrum in July 2012. When I first thought about making a Love blog post on Valentine's they, they were the first couple that came ot my mind. I think that says enough... :)

Claire & Grahame, married in Dubrovnik in August 2012. Every single one person who actually worked on their wedding was wowed with their love and their personalities. It was a very touching day....

A life without love, is no life at all.

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And so I leave you with this thought. With these amazing quotes and photos of people whose love I had the honor to witness, at least for a day. I truly do have the best job in the whole wide world and wouldnt change it for any other. I got all of you to thank for.....

With love,

Ines, your Dubrovnik wedding planner

www.dubrovnikevent.com

Elopement weddings in Dubrovnik

KARINA & LOU, from the US, married 2010 in Dubrovnik

There is something about small weddings. Especially the elopement ones, with only the Bride and Groom, eloping in their love somewhere new or somewhere special to them, without any hassle a traditional wedding would embrace and with all the romance of a wedding indeed.

For some reason, every single of our weddings seasons so far has started with an elopement wedding. It is a best way to start a very busy season to be and such a romantic introduction to months of love ahead of us. 

Vildan & Dagny, from Sweden, married May 15th 2009 in Dubrovnik.... 

Sonia & Benoit, from Canada

Jessica & Raoul, from India, married 2009 in Dubrovnik

Nina & Asbjorn, from Norway, married May 2011

Sarah and Bryan, married April 12, 2012 in Dubrovnik. Just the two of them..... 

Most of the time Marin and myself are honored to be the witnesses for the couple and witness such amazing moments you cannot feel but blessed in those times. Yet again, do you feel lonely at a time when you feel the closest ones need to be next to you? 

I really believe it is like beauty, in the eye of a beholder and whatever suits one best. Some like it big, some not so much. And some like it this way- easy, romantic, natural. No guests to think about, no reception thoughts or menu choices. Just getting married to a person you love. 

Dubrovnik luckily enough has some amazing locations for elopement weddings - small seaside forts, amazing viewpoint terraces and incredibly romantic boats... just to name a few.

Davor & Ivana, married May 2010

Nastasja & Anatoliy, from Russia, married August 2006

Caragh & Darryl, from Australia, married September 2012

Kisha and Kamau, from the US. a surprise wedding organized by the Groom. June 2011.

Bracera Lady of the Seas, presented to us only recently and absolutely perfect for weddings up to 10 people.

Obviously prices of venue rentals are less expensive than those for larger weddings and this proves to be one of the first reasons why a lot of couples elope to Dubrovnik- reduced cost and the value of the money gotten for how much you spend. The cost is reduced to a couple of thousands including travels and accommodation compared to tens of thousands to marry on a larger scale.

Then there's a thought that you will spend less time on the whole wedding planning process, which to tell you the truth is a great misconception as you have to plan to buy your dress, the rings, the travel, the hotel, paperwork, flowers, venues, and it often happens that Brides spend more time wedding planning, researching and inspiriation seeking for smaller than for larger weddings to make up for the "smaller scale wedding". There are no however seating planning miseries and choosing bridesmaids, which can prove to be quite a challenging task when planning a wedding.

Finally, one of the greatest reasons couples come to marry alone abroad is the fact they avoid any family arguments, pleasing everyone and anyone and obssessing over who will think what and this is proven to be a greatest stress factor for most couples planning their wedding. 

Elopement wedding solves all of these, nonetheless you end up most of the time throwing at least a party back home to celebrate the union. Much less of a scale than a traditional wedding though.

The choice is all yours and good news is that Dubrovnik has it all- whichever size or ambiance you had in mind and we will truly be there for you every step along the way, whether we are honored to witness your eternal love getting crowned in marriage or in a party with a big bang. A wedding is a wedding, always one of a kind, always a reflection of the couple. Do what you two feel best to do. And if it is just the two of you- why not?

Happy planning and don't forget to contact us to start your Dubrovnik Wedding story at info@dubrovnikevent.com

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DUBROVNIK EVENT!!!