A concept so perfect, it sounds like something from a movie: hopping on a plane to get married in one of the most history-rich places in the world?
Cinematic – for sure, but for Paula & Brian from Canada it was the most real thing they did in their time together. They booked a plane ticket to Croatia and their intimate celebration unfolded.
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For the bride, who is an accomplished graphic designer in Toronto, this intimate celebration didn’t take away from the aesthetic nor importance of the day. A sculptural and polished vision was very important in the memories they wanted to bring back home and it was something to think about in the months that were leading up to their wedding in Dubrovnik.
Pushing the traditions aside, but drawing inspiration from the authenticity of the place, their non-negotiables were: a wedding with a sense of place, taking pleasure in the Mediterranean way of life, indulging in Dubrovnik’s finest hospitality and photographs that would be an heirloom art in their future life.
The appeal in their decision was making the whole journey feel special – from beginning to end.
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For Paula & Brian, travel completely changed the feeling of their wedding. A wedding in a far-away, spectacular destination made their experience even more special. “I feel our nuptials and time together will forever be locked away in this space. “If we visit Dubrovnik again, which I am sure we will, it will be like an attempt to go back in time”.
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The ceremony itself was a small portion of their day, but the whole day was directed toward special series of experiences that would in the end become their wedding day.
Their day began with a specially planned portrait session, specifically directed towards enjoying the empty streets of Dubrovnik’s Old Town and showcasing the architectural beauty in an album their future children will flip in their Toronto home.
The morning setting in Dubrovnik felt amazingly serendipitous as the small bay by Pile Gate brought warm and windy air as the sun was rising behind Lovrijenac Fort. The bride’s silk dress fluttered around as her future husband took her by the hand, up the stony steps, so characteristic for the city’s core spaces.
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“The early hours felt so special. I never witnessed the city quite so empty and it gave a whole new sense of how beautiful this space exactly is”, the groom explained.
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Taking a short photography session in Dubrovnik feels almost impossible, because any artist is bound to feel completely mesmerized by the centuries-old space. Even though if, like me, you have strolled around here dozens of times, you’ll be drawn by every wall and pillar that can act as your backdrop for photos.
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The couple, seeing my work during their vendor search, felt immediately connected to my approach. The airiness and spaciousness of the images I create in my coastal work won them over as it felt just right for their August elopement. It was the analogue photography add-on that ultimately sealed the deal, as Paula feels drawn to everything vintage and nostalgic, and Brian felt is was something that would naturally complete the authentic feel of Dubrovnik.
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After the morning session which showcased many of both authentic and modern corners of Dubrovnik, they enjoyed their day in private: having a long breakfast and a beach day away from the crowds. Showing up in their wedding attire untouched for their ceremony at the viewpoint of the Dubrovnik Palace Hotel, their disposition and energy matched the warm August day.
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The ceremony centered around the exchange of vows, followed by a traditional rope-tying ritual – a symbolic gesture to seal their promises to one another. Having the ceremony on a week day made finding a private location for the vows possible.
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After a short portrait session, with a focus on their newly exchanged rings and the intimacy of the occasion, the couple shared a quiet dance on the hotel’s private beach before heading to Nautika, one of Dubrovnik’s most renowned restaurants. There, they continued the evening over an intimate dinner, celebrating their union in the privacy of the Adriatic night, warm and visible constellations of stars – typical for an August evening in Croatia.
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Some weeks after Paula and Brian traveled back to Canada as husband and wife, they received their full wedding gallery with a special package on their door: specially crafted prints in a box all the way from Europe. Turns out the Dubrovnik wedding was only one layer of their wedding experience. The second one was the look-back at their time across the ocean, with a newly formed yearn to return to a special time capsule memory they created together.
