Your guide to Sara & Harv’s wedding

While we are not imposing a dress code, we kindly ask you to dress appropriately for a wedding. Formal dresses and shirts/suits in all colours are welcome - except for white dresses, of course ;)

As we will be getting married in a church, you will be asked to wait outside if not dressed respectfully. This means that dresses must be knee-length or longer and your shoulders must be covered, so bring a stola or something similar.

There will be some walking between the venues (car park to the Apéro, to the church and back to the cars), so perhaps bring a change of shoes if walking in dress shoes will cause you issues.

Most women change into flats once at the venue either way-

Guests are requested and expected to be punctual. The bride and groom may enjoy a fashionably late entrance.

While the guests gather and mingle at the apéro, the bride and groom will be having their wedding pictures taken together with their maid of honour & best man. Accordingly, they will likely arrive fashionably late to their own wedding apéro. Their arrival is marked by a small live band commencing the music and festivities.

The svirači are a small live band that will entertain and accompany the wedding from the apéro to the church and later during the reception before the DJ then lays down the music. The band usually comprises of a harmonica, guitar, improvised drums and all of them singing together.

The barjaktar is very important at a Croatian Wedding. He leads the guests from venue to venue by waving the national flag(s) of the couple and is often the main entertainer of the wedding. He also carries a flask of rakija with him, for those wanting to drink to the happy couple.

In the church, during the ceremony

• The groom’s side sits on the left side and the bride’s on the right

• Refrain from talking during the service

• Stand/sit when other people do it.

After the Ceremony

• We will stay in front of the church for a while and sing and dance together, to celebrate our marriage

• Finally, we head to the cars and travel in a procession “Kolona” to the reception venue

A wedding procession of vehicles is tradition in Croatia and is formed by the cars of the guests following each other and together making their way to the reception venue. On the road, the crossings are to be blocked by the first cars in order to allow the procession not to be disturbed.

• Turn on your hazard lights, blare the horn and play loud music. Show everyone that you’re in a wedding procession.

• Very important: block the roads at the traffic lights and roundabouts, so that the cars in the procession behind you can get through.
  Don’t worry, you are allowed to do that, so don’t be shy! It is a broadly accepted reality and an important part of the wedding.