The yellow Dubrovnik Wedding of Mia and Torstein- island ceremony and villa reception

It has been exactly 2 years since Mia and Torstein got married. I will never forget their wedding and it was special in many different ways, and I hope photos will tell you enough of it. I have been planning to write a blog post about this particular wedding for so long now, well two years exactly, and better late than never right :)?
So this is my way of saying happy 2nd anniversary Mia and Torstein, you beautiful people who reminded me what love is all about.

******

By Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved.

When I first met Mia and Torstein and when they presented to me their wedding vision, I absolutely fell in love with it. I will tell you about the wedding in the story to come and have no doubts you will love the scenario of this lovely day these two amazing people prepared for their friends and family. It was a true pleasure being part of it....

By Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved.

It was a morning ceremony, well a late morning one, at 11am. It was a beautiful, sunny, crisp and pleasantly breezy day and nothing could get in a way of this beautiful bride heading to the man of her dreams..... while guests were taken by a boat to wait for the bridal party on the island of Lokrum, Mia and her entourage slowly made their way - in a speed boat (well, maybe not so slow?). Bond. Mia Bond style :)
It was sooooo much fun :)

By Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

Torstein was already there, anxiously waiting for his Bride. Set up was perfect, it wasn't too hot under a pleasant shade of the palm trees and the sea breeze coming from all sides on this beautiful island.... The ceremony was so personal, it is difficult to explain in words and I still so vividly remember it. EVERYONE was crying, just everyone....

by Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

by Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

by Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

After the touching ceremony, guests were served cocktails to toast to the newlyweds and canapes to grab a bite while Mia and Torstein, now husband and wife, went for a photosession with Veronica, their wedding photographer. Everyone was in their formals, but with extra bags as they knew an informal part is coming soon :)

By Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

Shortly aftterwards, guests were ushered to the boat, for lunch snacks, drinks and a bit of swimming too. This was the first time this fabulous idea actually came to life and to the fullest- absolutely every guest, including the Bride and the Groom, jumped in. It was a perfect afternoon.... After a couple of hours of summer joys, guests were taken to their hotels for an afternoon nap before the beautiful villa reception....

By Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

Just before heading there, Mia had another hair and makeup touch up and it was time to get the party rolling. We spent a whole day in the villa , making it up as the Bride imagined it to be, loaded with yellow lanterns, cushions around the pool. small table details to make a big picture look so magnificent. And it did look magnificent, didn't it?

by Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

By Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

By Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

By Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

By Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

Guests were welcomed by klapa band, Croatian's traditional songs and everyone just loved the local touch. Bride came the last, as it should be, at a fabulous cheer of all the guests. It was a midsummers dream. A true one....

By Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

By Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

By Veronica Arevalo, all rights reserved

After a big set of speeches, the Norwegian way :), and a fantastic buffet dinner full of Croatian specialties, guests were more than happy to hit the floor. The DJ did his job and the dance floor was full in no time. The party continued quite long as neighbours were more than tolerant and we will be eternally gratefull for that as they made two people's happyness complete.
It was one fabulous wedding.

So happy 2nd anniversary Mia and Torstein! May you always be happy and in love as you were 27th of June 2011!!!

With love, your Dubrovnik Wedding Planners :)

Ines & Marin

(info@dubrovnikevent.com, www.dubrovnikevent.com )

Dubrovnik Island Weddings- Villa Ruza Story of Maria & Enrique

I always loved number 7. It sort of followed me thoughout life and it turned out to be my lucky number in many ways. Who knows, maybe I end up with having 7 kids :) (Luka watch out and enjoy being the only child for now ! :))
I was so excited when Maria and Enrique chose 7th of July as their wedding day! From the start, I knew there was something special about this wedding. And these wonderful people, happy and relaxed and a true joy to be aboard with for their special wedding planning journey.

Red roofs of Dubrovnik, one of its greatest trademarks, a must be in your wedding album!

Day before the wedding, we organized a get together BBQ in a lovely local tavern for Maria and Enrique's guests who gathered in Dubrovnik for their celebrations from literally all over the world. Before they joined their friends and family for the barbique, these two love birds went for an engagement photo session with Veronica, their wedding photographer (www.svadbasphotography.com ) and, as you'll see in photos below, they had loads of fun and got some amazing shots out of Dubrovnik's walks....

They joined their guests in a lovely local tavern with incredible Old town views for some great food and flowing wine and the evening was a fantastic prediction of a fantastic wedding to come. Tomorrow....

They woke up to a gorgeous sunny and hot day, July's best, with a light breeze and not a cloud in sight. They were both so relaxed it was difficult to believe it was their wedding day and so the guests had the same mood, it's always a reflection of the bride and groom and how they feel....
Enrique and all wedding guests apart from Bridal party met up in the harbour where the love boat waited for them to take them to the love island :) Love was truly in the air :)

Maria Getting ready...

Shortly after that, bridal party was picked up by limos in their Old town villa and headed to the same harbour for their private speed boat pick up. Meantime, guests settled in and with great anticipation, waited for the bride....

Bride arriving in style..... Waving her bridal bouquet off her speed boat :)

Walking to the ceremony while guests are cheering and snapping photos...

Ceremony was just like the two of them- happy, laughter filled and so personal. It was symbolic ceremony (similar to civil one in form but without any legal bindings) which gave them all the flexibility when it came to texts, music, readings and whole scenario. Completely tailored to them....

All the eyes at the Bride....

Finally..... :)

Maria and Enrique with heat props :)

Personalized ring box

After the ceremony, guests went to the Villa Ruza lounge for cocktails and apetizers while Maria and Enrique had a nice walk with Veronica around the island. A true serenity, with sunset behind them and crystal blue Adriatic sea around them.... No cars, no people, just the two of them, finally happily married....

Havin fun while taking photos.... Such ideal backdrops for a wedding photo shoot isn't it?

Speaks for itself :)

When they got back to Villa Ruza restaurant and lounge bar, guests were already making themselves at home- music was playing, drinks were flowing and everyone was loving the homemade nibbles made by the renowned Chef. It was a fairytale wedding already, and the best was yet to come :)

This wedding had so many details and so many personal items to it , you could feel like you know the couple even if you didn't (Maria brought 2 huge suitcases of wedding props with her :)). Inspirational... They had CDs with their favorite songs for each guests laid on the guestbook table.
Empty photo frame with photo props was there too and everyone, but everyone had so much fun with it (the photographer too as you will see :))

Personalized CDs

Where to start? :)

Seating plan made so personal it was unbelievable- each guest had their own photo with the couple and a  personal message on the back of it....

Photo props

EVERYONE had fun! Literally!

Without any special announcements or rush, everyone was slowly seated and dinner started. menu was fantastic- started off with homemade fish pate, followed by grilled Lobster with mediterranean herbs on rocket salad and new potatoes carpet. Dessert was absolutely delicious- white chocolate cake with coulis of fresh berries. Heaven!

Sun setting over Villa Ruza. Most amazing wedding venue indeed.....

Speeches were held as dessert was served... Maria and Enrique went to each table and spoke to people why they loved them and decided to have them at their wedding. Talking about personalizing your wedding.... This was as good as it gets.... So much laughter and fondness in one evening, it gave us strength for the rest of the season.... 

Shortly afterwards, it was party time!!! Maria and Enrique opened up the dance floor and were followed by all the guests. People were taking the microphone as they wished to extend their beautiful wishes to the newlyweds, the night was hot and blessed with a light breeze. It was a wedding everyone will talk about for the rest of their lives. And all because of the two people, who fell in love and decided to make it a different way, on a small enchanting island of Kolocep, at a most incredible restaurant Villa Ruza in the Dubrovnik area and with the people they love the most....

First dance and a beautiful cupcake wedding cake...

Dancing feet :)

Guys' business.... Spanish tradition where the guys are cutting the Grooms boxers and giving it away as memento from the wedding. As I said- guys' business! :)

The special light system Maria and Enrique had at their wedding added a new dimension to the venue, the trees around Villa Ruza were beautifully lit in purple, the color theme of the wedding....

And to top it all, at midnight a special birthday cake was brought out with everyone singing happy birthday to one of the wedding guests. Maria and Enrique didnt forget about anything or anyone. They knew it wasn't just their day, it is a day of their dear guests too who travelled with them from accross the globe to celebrate the special moments of these two incredible people.... Indeed, we were honored to be their wedding planners and a part of this truly special story....

Happy birthday!!!!

First water taxi left the island around midnight and people who had to go as they had kids with them really didn't want to. The rest of the wedding guests stayed till 3am, partying, dancing, laughing and spending a wedding like they should. The next morning everyone went for a typical Croatian dessert, nothing healthy about it but if I start talking about the breakfast menu, well you'd understand- it was an after wedding breakfast :)
It was everything a Bride and Groom could want, and it was everything a wedding planner could want. Thank you Maria and Enrique. We will never forget neither you or your amazing wedding....

Happy Planning Brides! Hope this story inspires you as much as it did me....
Email us at info@dubrovnikevent.com and visit www.dubrovnikevent.com for more photos.... We are there to make your dream wedding come true....

With love,

Ines, Your Dubrovnik Wedding Planner