A Visually Stunning Island Destination Wedding in Croatia

Patricia and Naish were married in an intimate and unbelievably dreamy ceremony on the island of Solta – that’s off the coast of Croatia, one of the world’s best destinations to enjoy the warm sun, good food and romance. When you’re a pair of well-traveled foodies like Patricia and Naish, choosing this location for their wedding was a no-brainer!

This wedding, which was planned by Promessi Weddings was visually stunning, and DT Studio Photography was there to make sure we all came down with a serious case of FOMO. First, their ceremony gave off serious secret-garden vibes. I loved how isolated the event felt, surrounded by beautiful lush trees with a view of the water. The décor throughout the entire event mimicked the beautiful rustic vibe at the venue, and I’m absolutely loving the color combination of the vibrant bouquets against the deep blue attire of the wedding party. My favorite personalized touch is the laser cut wooden heart party favor made by Patricia’s sister. She incorporated and Protea (current favorite flower, by the way) and silver fern to honor Naish’s South African and New Zealand upbringing – and also a shamrock since Patricia’s family is Irish! Such a fun, intimate gathering that ended with the bride, groom and some of their guest jumping into the pool at the end of the night!

Real Destination Wedding Q&A with the Couple

Why did you choose to have a destination wedding in Croatia?

We fell in love with Croatia while there on holiday in 2014  and we wanted to share with our friends and family the beauty of Croatia, as well as the warmth of the Croatian people we had experienced. We were dead set on having a wedding that was true to ourselves and Croatia was an amazing fit for us as we are both well traveled and foodies as well.  After scouring the internet for venues we found photos and videos of Martinis and we knew we had found the perfect place to get married. Having been to the island of Solta before we knew we would have privacy and exclusivity amongst a breathtaking backdrop. We knew we found the most amazing place to get married.

How many people attended your destination wedding?

65

Did you have a wedding theme?

We didnt have a theme however we wanted to utilise colour as well as a rustic charm with local flowers and greenery.

Was there something unique or special that you incorporated into your wedding décor/theme?

My (Patricia’s) sister made the wedding favors/place names via her business. It was a laser cut wooden heart which incorporated a Protea and a silver fern (signifying Naishs South African and New Zealand upbringing) as well as a shamrock, due to me being Irish. Joanne and I also managed to sneak in a pattern from my wedding dress into the top part of the favor which was the shape of a Celtic heart. This was then slotted into a personalised place name for each guest which was cut in the shape of the Island Šolta.

What was your favorite wedding detail and why?

I loved the hhandmadewatch mechanism cufflinks Patricia gifted to me on our wedding day presented in a book called : Land of the Sun! Very fitting as Croatia is indeed the land of the sun!

Was there any tradition that you skipped?

We forgoed a church ceremony for an outdoor ceremony in a beautiful garden with the Adriatic Sea in the background.

What was the most memorable moment of your wedding day?

During the wedding reception, I jumped into the pool with my suit on. A few seconds later most of the wedding party and guests had jumped to the pool after me. Not long after my best man had my new wife in the pool as well!

What was your favorite part of having a destination wedding?

Having so many special family and friends all together on one beautiful small Island interacting with each other and creating unforgetable memories.

What was the biggest challenge in planning your destination wedding in Croatia?

Organising all the appropriate legal documentation within the required timeframe in order to have a full legal wedding in Croatia. It felt nearly impossible but will close supervision from our wonderful wedding planner, Ivana who had a lot of experience in this, everything was processed in time.

What’s your advice to other couples planning a destination wedding?

First, go for it! Then do your research to find the destination that suits your personalitiy, budget and needs. Then find a great wedding planner to help your dreams come to life.

Tell us about some of the vendors you used

As they say, Promessi Weddings, will not only provide you a perfectly organized wedding in Croatia, but they will offer you a sense of belonging, we would add – and more. With their professionalism, you’ll have a perfect wedding day you and your guests will remember for a very long time. They always tailor everything for couples and every time, they create something unique you wouldn’t imagine in your wildest dreams. With Promessi Weddings you’ll get the Mediterranean fairytale wedding you deserve.

{Our wedding band was the Junglecats} The fourteen-year-old band who happens to be experienced musicians decided to endure the most influential hitmakers for which life dedicated to music. From Stevie Wonder, through Michael Jackson to Bruno Mars and Jamiroquai, Junglecats play the perfect compilation of the favorite and most exquisite hits of the 20th century.

Vendors:

Photographer: DT Studio Photography
Wedding Planner: Promessi Weddings
Wedding Dress: Tara wedding dress by Theia purchased from The Bridal Atelier
Bridesmaid Dresses:  Stone Blue bridesmaid dresses from Mimetik via Etsy
Wedding Flowers & Decorations: Studio Mirella in Split
Venue:  Martinis Marchi Castle on Solta
Florals & Decor:  Cvjetni studio Mirela
Wedding Band: Junglecats
Groom’s Attire:   Joe Black two piece Admiral Suit combined with an Egyptian cotton shirt. The unique watch mechanism cufflink was bought at the AHW Studio
Wedding Cake: Tea Mamut from Split and Oš’ kolač