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