Sarah and Rob’s modern and contemporary, mediterranean wedding was held in Croatia in August of 2022.
The couple tied the knot in the dreamy destination wedding venue setting of Villa Dalmatia and hired Ivana fromPromessi Weddings & Events to plan and style their day. Sarah wore an effortlessly classy and elegant gown by Eva Lendel which featured a huge statement bow at the back. She also carried a bouquet of white and neutral blooms.
Shoes, Veil & Accessories
I wore a a cathedral length ivory Italian ‘barely there’ tulle veil from Britten.
I wore super duper high platforms from Aldo. I’m 5’4, and wanted as much height as I could get! The platforms were swiftly changed for a far more sensible pair of Stuart Weitzman’s as soon as pictures were done.
With such a simple dress, it left room for a statement mother of pearl bridal headpiece. My perfume was Libre by Yves by Saint Laurent.
I booked makeup artist Matea without a trial – a very nervy move! But I was very glad I gambled on that. She really listened to what I, and each of my bridesmaids wanted. I went for a golden smoky eye and a nude lip. The golden smokey eye tied really well with the gold in the hairpiece
The Groom
Rob and the boys wore suits by Dobell. We had quite the range of heights to accommodate for, so we needed a supplier that had a range in sizes and lengths. The groomsmen picked their own white shirts and black trousers.
Rob’s scent was Black by Bvlgari.
A Villa Wedding in Croatia
We got married at Villa Dalmatia in Split, Croatia. The ceremony was held on the pier at the venue. We got engaged on a pier in Mykonos, and when we first saw Villa Dalmatia’s pier, and its spectacular views of the sea, we were sold.
The reception was held in the Villa’s courtyard.
Photography
Our photographer was Nina Anić. I was instantly drawn to Nina’s work as soon as I laid eyes on her portfolio. She captures the Adriatic beautifully, and her soft and romantic style was a perfect fit for our setting.
White & Neutral Flowers
I wanted a neutral palette, something that wouldn’t compete with the beautiful Villa setting. The main floral piece was the arch on the pier, which featured roses and hydrangeas. The arch was moved into the outdoor lounge area after the ceremony, and our guests had a lot of fun using it as a backdrop for pictures.
How They Met
Ours is the quintessential modern-day romance; we met on a dating app seven years ago. Our first date was getting ice cream on a rainy and cold January afternoon.
We dated for three years before getting engaged, and were engaged three years before getting married. Our wedding was delayed by a year because of covid.
Reception, Decor & Detail
I run a catering company, so the food was always going to be a focus point. Rob and I curated the menu and Gusar executed it to perfection. I’m a veggie- and quite often found that the veggie option at weddings was a mere afterthought, so I was very keen to have a strong veggie menu. We focused on Mediterranean flavors, all sourced locally.
I have a raging sweet tooth, so the cake selection was a very fun process. We went for a 3 tier semi-naked cake by Oš Kolač, with streaks of gold and decorated with fresh flowers
Order of the day cards were printed locally. Our wedding stationary was from various Etsy vendors.
We put together hangover kits, sourced from Team Hen on Etsy. We handed out fans as guests arrived, and I think they turned out to be one of the best decisions for guests in that August heat.
First Dance & Evening
Our first dance was to La Vie En Rose by Daniela Andrade. We actually had an entirely different song picked out, but a couple of weeks before the wedding, this song came on a random playlist we had on in the background while we were doing wedmin one evening, and we both knew it had to be our first dance song.
I especially loved our first dance. Our planners surprised us with dance floor fireworks. We had no idea they were coming, and there are some very amusing pictures of our flabbergasted expressions mid-dance.
Words of Wedded Wisdom
I loved browsing through Love My Dress for inspiration.
My biggest kernel of wisdom would be to get yourself a wedding planner if you can! Specifically: an Ivana. Ivana was the organised angel that we needed. Forever patient, calm and pragmatic, and with an ability to make anything happen.
We requested guests to donate to a couple of charities that are close to our hearts, in lieu of gifts.
It was lovely to have everything happen in one venue. The villa was also a speedy 10 minute cab into the centre of town, so it was just perfect for guests.
Words from The Wedding Planner: Ivana from Promessi Weddings & Events
Sarah possesses a seamless elegant style that we extended to the whole wedding design styling paying much attention to detail. Sarah and Robert’s wedding style can be described as Contemporary with a Mediterranean twist.
The wedding ceremony was held on the water, along the old stone pier with a gorgeous round flower arch at the end made of lush white roses, lavish hydrangeas, and foliage. Cocktail hour was held immediately after the ceremony at the beautiful gardens of Villa Dalmacija. Cocktail party hors d’oeuvres and the finest selection of wines from local wine producers and Prosecco set the tone for unforgettable soirée in the Adriatic to follow.
Later, a contemporary reception dinner unfolded, layered in all-white styling and adorned with golden details, foliage, and white blooms. Dinner was set on Villa’s terrace facing the Adriatic sea which we styled with long tables covered in white linen and decorated with garden roses, orchids, foliage, and neutral ceramics with golden accents. The idea was to set a tone of light and elegant dinner setting during the day to romantic and intimate as the night sets. Candlelight along the long tables and fairy light ceiling above the terrace set the mood perfect for alfresco dining by the sea. Underwater lights lit the whole bay in blue accentuating the privacy of this stunning venue just for their wedding day.
Our florist Gordana from Hedera Design used a combination of white flowers, Italian ruscus, orchids, ranunculus, Lisianthus and garden roses creating a clean line of airy, hand-tied centrepieces of different heights and shapes. Sarah’s bouquet was all white orchids and garden roses to compliment her impeccable bridal styling.
The wedding stationery was minimal, with delicate font and neutral colours perfectly blended with the elegant setup.
The curated wedding menu brought the finest of the Mediterranean on carefully garnished plates by chef Ivan Tošić from Gusar Catering. A three-course served dinner – Cold starter: Beef carpaccio on baby spinach and rucola, with olive oil and lime emulsion; Warm starter: Homemade gnocchi with ground beef and vegetables, parsley pesto, olive oil, and fresh basil. Main: Selection between Grilled lamb chops on dehydrated parsley crust, basil, and sheep cheese; roasted potatoes aromatised with lemon thyme, garlic, and seasoned butter; and Grilled Swordfish fillet with Swiss chard; toasted cherry tomato with lemon thyme, seasoned olive oil emulsion.
A three-tiered wedding cake was literally the cherry on top of this gastronomic journey through the Mediterranean in all white with golden details and olive branches delight executed seamlessly by chef Tea Mamut from Oš Kolač.
