Dubrovnik wedding season 2013 at a glance

Dubrovnik weddings 2013, www.DoYouWed.me by Slidely - Slideshow maker

Actually that's just the first half (from April to mid June 2013). Stay tuned for more check here details on the latest weddings in Dubrovnik.

Wedding on Island of Mljet (as seen by a wedding assistant)

Hi there, it's so great to be back from almost two days trip to Island of Mljet. I've been giving a hand to Kristina Skvrce (wedding planner from Dubrovnik) and the rest of her team to organize a great event for dear bride Anna and great groom Frank (these are not real names - just to keep it private).

So,how were the things going seen through my eyes. Here is the schedule for the day.

4:00 AM
Getting up. Still dark. Kike went to her decoration store to pick up flowers and stuff that needed to stay under air condition all night - just to have it all nice and fresh for Anna and Frank when we get on the island.

5:00 AM
Breakfast

5:30 AM
We put last stuff in the car (wow, it was loaded full). There is some sunlight, although sun is still hidden by Srdj mountain. We fired up the engine of 1.2l Citroen. The goal was to catch up the ferry at 7:00 AM sailing out from Peljesac.

6:35 AM
Arrived in harbour. Grabbed two coffees on the run.

6:45 AM
Hair and makeup stylist joins us in the harbor.

6:50 AM
Car (and we) on ferry.

7:05 AM
First shot. Sun is still low, announcement of a brilliant day.

Sun's getting up, Island of Mljet wedding preparation

7:15 AM
Having a chat on board. Discussing last details of the schedule today.

Having an early morning chat while traveling for a wedding event on Island of Mljet

7:55 AM (first ride, bringing wedding planner to wedding venue)
Off from ferry, hitting the bumpy road on Island Of Mljet. It's been a while since my last visit (more than 10 years actually). I was checking Google Maps for the distance between Sobra and Pomena, we should be there in 35 minutes or so.
Ana stayed in the harbor for a coffee, the car is so full that we cannot all get in. I'll make a second ride, promising Ana picking her up in less than an hour.

7:35 AM
Parked just in front of hotel, most of the people still sleep. A good chance to block main road and do things fastly. one, two three, here we are - all stuff at the venue

7:40 AM (second ride - getting Ana to hotel)
Hitting the road again. Ana here I come to pick you up and get your big suitcase for makeup and hair!!!

8:25 AM (third ride with Ana "on board")
Reaching the Odisej Hotel, although there is some traffic now. Most of the people are awake. Polace road gets busy, this slows us down much.

9:15 AM
Took some water and juice... did already something like 80 km of local road.

09:45 AM (flowers for the reception tables almost ready)

Wedding dinner decoration, one table - from zero to full

11:00 AM (on the way to island of St. Mary where the wedding will take place)

Now a few details from the St. Mary islet while waiting for Kike to setup the church decoration for the wedding.

Monastery on St. Mary islet, wedding on island of Mljet

Melita restaurant, Island of Mljet

12:00 PM (getting back to land, well... island)

01:00 PM (had some quick lunch)
Got to know the bride Anna. Very nice and relaxed. Speaks 4 languages fluently: Spanish, Swedish, English and Croatian.

02:00 PM (dinner tables)

03:00 PM (DJ is here)

Mljet wedding reception, venue half way ready for the dinner/party

03:30 PM (hitting the road again)

Rides required to bring all suppliers and stuff for a wedding on island of Mljet

Now driving towards Okuklje, a really small place, quiet, amazing position.
OK, so let's see how many rides there are. I really start to get know Mljet's roads better now.

04:15 PM

Climbing up, reaching hill peak, Okuklje

Towards Okuklje. What an amazing road.

04:25 PM
Okuklje, got down to the sea, what an amazing place to take a bath while waiting for a fast boat with priest.

Okuklje as seen from the mountain

04:55 PM
Still in Okuklje. Priest not arriving yet - starting to get worried a bit, anyway taking another bath.

Crystal clear waters of Adriatic, Okuklje, Mljet wedding story

05:20 PM
The priest arrived with a fast boat, quickly heading back to car and hitting the road once more. Great company of Henry (not a real name of priest) during 45 minutes drive on wild roads of Mljet. Chating about software, Rome, Mljet, Ana and Frank, Dubrovnik, Cavtat.Really pleasant conversation, great guy!

Cannot do otherwise but sharing another photo of the Mljet road.

06:00 PM
Got safely to national park dock to St. Mary Islet.

06:05 PM
Another Pomena-Sobra ride, now with Ana (hair stylist on board, :)

07:45 PM
Cellist and priest with me in the car, while heading again east, to Okuklje again - fast boat is there.

08:20 PM
Musician and priest left island of Mljet (taking fast boat to Dubrovnik Gruz). Ideal time for the last bath today in Okuklje, before heading back to Pomena:

08:45 PM
Somewhere on the road, last ride to Pomena.

11:00 PM
A very low quality photo of wedding (my poor mobile can't make it any better than that).

Wedding on island of Mljet

01:00 AM
Finally going to bed, zzzzz.

07:00 AM
Getting up
Pomena as seen through my apartment window.

07:15 AM
Packed all things back into the car.

Post wedding morning, terrace back to its original state

07:45 AM
Coffee at Odisej, DoYouWed.me team (too early for pie or croissant)

09:10 AM
Leaving mljet.

09:35 AM
DoYouWed.me team relaxing on ferry, heading back to Dubrovnik.

10:15 AM
Passing by Ston.

How to spend 3 days on your destination wedding in Dubrovnik

This one may have actually been called "How an UK wedding planner spends 3 days on her (yes - her) destination wedding in Dubrovnik". This post come pretty much inspired by the recent wedding we've organized back in September 2012 for Michelle and Grant. It was planned for two years, with first email contact in 2010 and the first time we've met that took place in September 2011 (a year before the wedding).

We went very good along. I was curious in knowing what would be the preferences of an UK wedding planner, what would be the itinerary she wants, budget, design, entertainment... all. Perhaps Michelle was curios from a professional side too (how are these guys in Dubrovnik organizing their weddings, what are cultural differences, food, itineraries?). Here are my notes that took on the site inspection in September 2011. I'm listing this to give you a true spirit of wedding planning:

(B means bride, G means groom, of course)

• B&G want a church wedding at the St. Blaise church with the beginning at 4 PM
• they expect 75 to 100 people
• no special decoration for the church except keeping existing flowers at the altar (iif there will be any on the wedding day).  In case flowers on the altar will not be nice, will just remove all - B said that she like very very much baroque altar of the St. Blaise Church
• music at the ceremony, organ player + singer
• gathering point will be Hemingway bar in Dubrovnik at 3 PM, just accross the Rector's Palace
• petals would be great for the church (used as confetti, for exit)
• B&G want a group photo on the main entrance (stairway) to the St. Blaise Church
• no posing, no special photo session with the photographer, only documentary style photos for this nice wedding in Dubrovnik, to be able to track later what was really happening on the day
• after the church, guests will be heading directly to Plam Terrace at Excelsior hotel, without the boat ride, without a coktail in town
• B&G and Veronica (our photographer) arrive at the terrace using a small boat docking directly at Excelsior
• guest will be served sparkling wine, 3 glasses per guest + canapes, it will all be arranged directly at the entrance ot the Palm Terrace ( Prosecco wines will be served)
• set up for the dinner includes the main table for 18 people, sitting from both sides + round tables, as many as needed
• guest will be paying their drinks directly, M&G provide decent amount of wines, water, sparkling wine, and soft drinks...
• decoration will be  made with cream color flowers in different vases put together in groups of 3, plus flowers on table and small walls near
• menu number 4 and number 5 are defined as near-the-final menus, we'll get in touch about that after via email
• Pošip will go as a white wine and Cabernet Sauvignon as red (these were tasted and loved), put some more wines than usually
• no special music at the Palm Terrace, just iPod, something easy and atmospheric
• on the Palm Terrace there will be only a dinner: no dancing, no first dance - just a few speeches
• after the dinner group will party at the East West club, it wil be hired excusively, party will continue until morning hours, club rental price will be 4000 eur (consumed through drinks), DJ makes part of this offer
• B doesn't have parents any more and G is the only son. with Veronica was agreed 8 hours hooting, big album for the couple and another smaller for G's mum
• beauty services in hotel room, she has a nice blond hair, long, very charming, G is bold (shaves head), they are really cute
• the next day they will have a BBQ at Island of Lokrum, no special boat - using ordinary public line, B&G are buying admittance tickets and paying the food, while guests pay drinks
• flowers: bouquet, bridesmaids bouquet,  12 buttonholes, 8 table decorations, big table decorations, petals for the church
• they have just tried a new dessert in Excelsior called FULL MEDITERRANEO, hey liked it pretty much, this one could perhaps change the dessert at the existing menu....
• checked East West and Revelin. Revelin seems to vbig for this party
• B visited us in decoration shop, seen everything with a great interest
• I suggested to dine in the Dubrovnik Restaurant, they look for a place to gather the day before

One year later: check bride's detailed description of 3 days destination wedding in Dubrovnik.

Have a look at the images below:

Groom gather with his party before central gathering

Guests gathering, Dubrovnik Wedding, 2011

Bridal party heads for the ceremony place - St. Blaise Church

Bride and groom enter the church (was this comment really needed?)

At the wedding ceremony in St. Blaise church in Dubrovnik

Group photo in front of the church - the only posing photo at the whole wedding (thumbs up guys)

Arrival at the Palm Terrace wedding reception in Excelsior

Dinner at the Palm Terrace (check details above)

Groom makes a speech