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

Weddings Abroad in Croatia

Legal procedure and validity of your wedding abroad

If you decide for a wedding abroad in Croatia - no matter from where you arrive, you will be issued an international wedding certificate. Documentation details vary from country to country, however: birth certificate, no impediment statement and yours and witnesses passports are generally enough for a full valid civil marriage in Croatia.
Compared to some other European countries there is no need to stay in Croatia more than two days before your wedding day. This simplifies things a lot, actually the only thing you have to do personally before your wedding day in Croatia is a very short interview (about 10 minutes).
Ceremony is performed according to Croatian law and it cannot be interrupted. Custom readings that are sometimes required by couples may take place only before or after the official part of the ceremony in over.

When to plan your wedding abroad in Croatia

Regarding the weather: any time from April to early October will be fine. For really stable weather (almost no chance of rain) head for a period between 15th June and 15th September. For still-good-weather-period go for April, May or late September or early October.
If you decide on a wedding in Dubrovnik and you like concerts, plays and other events go for July or first half of August when there is a Dubrovnik Summer Festival taking place.

Spend your honeymoon in Croatia too 

Wedding abroad in Croatia would not be such a good deal without this option. Suppose you are getting married in Dubrovnik and you spend there a few days. Best thing you can do is to head up north for your honeymoon: Island of Mljet is amazing (national park), Islands of Lopud or Sipan are close to Dubrovnik - very nice. Korcula and Hvar are theri own worlds - each worth of 5 days stay.
Head up to island of Pag if you wish to party day and night.

You had enoghh sea already? head to Plitvice Lakes up north and spend a few days there (brings a great refreshment in summer) - this  way you may take the plane trip back to your land from Zagreb.

Pre-wedding and post-wedding events

Explore the region (and Croatia) diversity. Let's suppose you have a wedding ceremony on one of the historic places like Sponza Palace (or churches?). The day before you can go for something completely different: a nice full-day cruise through Elafiti Islands (with a lot of sun and good baths at places that will be for you and your guest only. E.g. after the Wedding day in Dubrovnik you may organize a nice BBQ or relaxed dinner someplace in Konavle region (south from Dubrovnik, half hour ride).

Find a good wedding planner 

Unless you have a great deal of time and at least some basic experience of organizing an event (bigger than a birthday party, :) you can do without the planner. An average wedding has at least 15 different suppliers that need to be selected. Any wedding planner that is in business for a longer time has a list of proven partners able to carry out their part of duty without a mistake. Wedding planner will close the bookings for you, settle the bills, will be on the filed making sure it all goes well - and you can have a relaxing day. Wedding planner will not permit herself bad job from suppliers and suppliers will go for highest quality of their services because  they need wedding planners to get them 

Book your guests at least a short boat ride 

In Croatia it's all about the sea. Crystal clear waters of Adriatic is something that attract the travelers here for the big part. For your wedding abroad in Croatia, book at least 1-2 hours ride, with a few glasses of drinks - you may do this always between your wedding ceremony and reception event.
Some of your guests may get sea sick? Rent a small boat for you to arrive at the reception place after the ceremony or pick a nice night ride that will bring you back to hotel after the wedding reception is over.

How to reduce costs of your wedding in Croatia

 This is a tip-list of its own. I will list how-to-reduce-costs-tips here in order of importance:

1. Avoid high season months: July and August: you'll save on accommodation
2. If you cannot afford 5*. search for 4* places - e.g. in Dubrovnik there are a few very decent 4* 
3. Chase group accommodation discounts (the best is to do so in collaboration with your planner so she/he can take care of bookings, additional info, etc... and the price you will pay will stay the same or lower than when booking directly - so you get support for free.
4. It's not a problem if you cannot afford 4* place - go for good self catering apartments - there are plenty of them in Dubrovnik
5. For you dinner reception do not order wines in restaurant, go for out-sourced wines and corkage fee
6. Book early, both: accommodation and flights

What will make your guests to attend your wedding in Croatia

Wedding abroad in Croatia, brings an extra value compared to other Mediterranean countries. Croatian coast is not devastated by mass tourism resorts (like Spain), has lower prices than Italy or France and diversity and rich historical heritage that you can compare even to Greece.

What sorts of wedding venues there are in Croatia

From sea view terraces with 5* or 4* service, nice gardens, forts, boats historic palaces to relaxed beach wedding venues.

Boat Wedding in Croatia

There's an island to suit every taste: nearby Island of Lokrum with amazing Mediterranean plants and a few historic sites, Island of Kolocep (the nearest of Elafiti islands, very suitable for wedding receptions), magic island of Lopud that's been home to Dubrovnik captains in ancient time of Dubrovnik Republic (wedding ceremony and reception may be planned there), Island of Sipan which seems like end of the world place (ceremony, reception and accommodation options), green Mljet which further north and best known for surprisingly nice nature. The best approach to hopping between islands is to hire a private boat for a wedding day. Thus you may have all in one place: wedding ceremony, relaxing time on hidden beaches, wedding BBQ or dinner, with a part afterwards.

No matter what is the size of yoru wedding party, you may talk to your wedding planner who will propose you the best vessels good for a boat wedding in Dubrovnik exactly matching the size of event you plan. She (he) will take care of on-site (well, on-boat) wedding coordination too and create you timeline ofr the day.

Depending of your preferences you may just go for a shorter one hour cruise for the post ceremony refreshment with view, a longer cruise with snacks and drinks catering, you may add entertainment for your guests such as music or you can go for longer half-day or full day boat wedding.

Wedding on boat or post ceremony cruise is a great choice for making a nice photo shooting, with great colors of sunset, nice historical background, capturing turquoise Adriatic Sea and beautiful islands.

120+ vessel for a boat wedding in Dubrovnik

Boats may also be a transport means to get to the venue. Check out below a few shots from wedding events in Dubrovnik and brides taking boats accompanied by bridesmaids or family.

Arrival at the wedding ceremony on Island of Lokrum

Wedding on Island of Sipan, bride with her bridesmaids arrival at the ceremony place

Some third (or fifth?!) option may be to use a boat to get back to the place where you are accommodated after the wedding reception is over. Check out below a beautiful boat that may be used for the occasion.

Getting back to accommodation place after the wedding reception