Magazine Weddings in Slovenia by Moja poroka / My wedding

weddings in Slovenia issue 01, season 2013

EDITOR Kristina Vidergar ASSociate editor Tina Zupancic graphic designer Tanja Verhunec writer Tina Zupancic, Masa Rener photography Milos Horvat, Draga Zlatanovic, Aljosa Videtic, Uros Cuden, Aleks Kus MAGAZINEWeddings in slovenia OFFICE: VIDI D.o.o. dolenjska cesta 148 1000 ljubljana slovenia t: +386 1 428 9999 E: info@sloveniaweddings.com

www.sloveniaweddings.com

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Editor's letter issue 01, season 2013

Slovenia is Europe’s green pearl. An anecdote says that some ingredients were left in God’s (the creator’s) hands during his creation. He then mixed these ingredients in his hand and created our land. In this way, in the very heart of Europe, a country with mighty Alps, clear blue sea, eventful Karst and the endless Pannonia plain was born. These four elements are completed by sparkling and friendly people. Slovenia is becoming a more and more wanted tourist destination – with its position and established connections it is easily accessible. This is exactly why it is the right choice for the unforgettable moment of your life-the vow of eternal faithfulness. Here, our dear guests, we have carefully chosen ideas and locations which are

suitable for a wedding in Slovenia. Seven couples, who have experienced the wedding moments in Slovenia, have shared their experience and treasured moments with you. In order to make the planning of your event more enjoyable, we have gathered numerous service providers and locations which will come in handy when preparing your event. A wedding marks a man for the whole life, as this is when two individuals become man and wife. These memorable moments, which you share with your friends and family, will stay in your hearts forever. Come to Slovenia (our country), meet its people and its romantic locations. Get married here!

Kristina Vidergar EDITOR

Weddings in Slovenia

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contents

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Contents About Slovenia

8 Facts about Slovenia 10 How to get to Slovenia 12 Why get married in Slovenia 14 4 seasons in Slovenia 16 Top Slovenian wedding locations 18 Ljubljana 20 Otočec 22 Bled 24 Piran & Portorož 26 Marrige & honeymoon

Real wedding 28 38 46 56 64 74

Wedding at the sea Simply perfect The mountain wedding The rainy wedding A fine romance A fairy tale wedding

Wedding ideas 86 94 104 116

Wedding at Otočec Cakes & bouquets Shooting in Venice The Disney princesses

Weddings in Slovenia

POROČNI KOTIČEK Dolenjska cesta 148, Ljubljana +386 1 427 3230 www.porocnikoticek.si Follow us on

Facts about

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Slovenia lies at the heart of Europe and borders Italy (to the west), Austria (to t It is the only country in Europe that comprises the Alpine mountains, the Medit combination of all these elements makes Slovenia a great tourist attraction. It’s the start of your lives together, as “love” is already a part of the country’s name TEXT: Masa Rener

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ljubljana

piran portorož

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lovenia

the north), Croatia (to the south) and Hungary (to the east). terranean Sea, the Pannonian Plain and the Karst. The s the ultimate romantic destination where you can celebrate e.

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527 (April 2012 Population: 2.055. Area: 20.273 km2 0.000 na, population: 28 Capital city: Ljublja e meaning

m ain: Triglav (the na The highest mount 864 m high. “three-heads”), 2. on the national l symbol, featured na tio na ue tr a is It the flag. coat of arms and 2007 ), since January 1, Currency: euro (€ ason. The average from season to se s rie va : er th Wea ound -2°C ately 21°C and ar im ox pr ap is ly Ju temperature in gov.si, info on www.arso. in January. More .com www.lonelyplanet , : Maribor, Kranj, Celje es ti ci r o aj m er Oth to, Murska Sobota Koper, Novo mes

Other useful web pages: www.visitslovenija.eu, www.travelslovenija.com, www.sloveniaholidays.com, www.inyourpocket.com, www.slovenia-touristguide.com, www.mydestination.com

Weddings in Slovenia

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How to get to S nia

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Slovenia is easy to reach from neighbouring countries, with good road and rail connections, and daily flights from numerous European cities. Slovenia can also be reached by the sea. Some essential information about travelling to Slovenia is given below.

By air Slovenia has good flight network connections with many European cities. The majority of flights arrive at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (www.lju-airport.si). This airport is also a home to Adria Airways, the Slovenian national airline, founded in 1961 (www.adria.si). The airport is served by two low-cost airlines: Wizzair (http://wizzair.com) and Easyjet (www.easyjet.com). Some international flights use the airports in Maribor (www.maribor-airport.si) and Portorož (www.portoroz-airport.si). Another possibility is to fly to one of the foreign airports and then access Slovenia by bus, train or a rented car (www.sloveniatourist-guide.com). One of the options is also the low-cost transport company GoOpti (www.goopti.com), which offers transfers between Slovenian (Ljubljana, Maribor, Portorož) and foreign airports (Croatia, Austria, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Serbia and Slovakia).

By car The majority of drivers enter Slovenia by motorway. To drive on motorways in Slovenia you must have a vignette (www.dars.si). Road safety regulations require the use of dipped lights at all times when driving, even during the day. The speed limit is 50 km/h in urban areas and 130 km/h on motorways. The use of handheld mobile telephones while driving is forbidden. The maximum blood-alcohol limit permitted is 0.05. You can find more information on www.amzs.si and www.promet.si.

By train Train is one of the most comfortable forms of public 10

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transport. Trains to Slovenia run every day from numerous European cities. Also, it is possible to travel by the sleeping car in the overnight train. Slovenia is part of the Eurail Global Pass system (www.eurail.com), which means you can use this pass to travel to Slovenia. National rail operator Slovenske Železnice offers more information about the international timetables and fares (www.slo-zeleznice.si).

By coach/bus Slovenia has very good coach/ bus connections with a number of European cities. National bus operator Avtobusna postaja Ljubljana offers more information about international timetables and fares (www.apljubljana.si). Most international coaches stop in Ljubljana, for example coaches from Italy, Austria, Germany, Serbia, Poland, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Denmark, Sweden, Kosovo and Macedonia. You can find more info on www.slovenia.info.

By sea Between May and October, powerboats operate frequent routes from Venice, Trieste, Poreč and Rovinj. Cruise ships occasionally dock at Koper. If arriving on your own vessel, you should be aware that the international border crossings are at Koper, Piran and Izola (between May and October). You can find more info on www.policija.si. Izola, Koper and Portorož have fully equipped marinas where boats can moor. More info is on www.marinap.si, www.marina-koper.si, www.marinaizola.com.

Biggest wedding shop in Slovenia POROČNI KOTIČEK +386 1 427 3230 www.porocnikoticek.si Follow us on

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Why get married in S nia

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Potica: the most typical dessert filled with ground walnuts or poppy seeds and usually made for holidays and various festivities.

Bosman: ceremonial bread, which used to be a compulsory gift to the brides. It is decorated with several lines of plaited dough and various dough ornaments, as well as paper flowers.

Gibanica: another

Affordable prices and excellent food Wedding menus are relatively cheap – the prices start at 30 Euros per person. The service is great and you get graced with a royal feast! If you are getting married in Slovenia (or not), you must try some of the traditional national dishes which are:

Štruklji: one of the most characteristic dishes, made from different kinds of dough filled with a wide range of fillings. They can be baked or cooked, sweet or savoury.

Žganci: one of the basic and most typical dishes (of Gorenjska region); can be made out of buckwheat or corn and less frequently barley flour.

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well known dessert (from Prekmurje region); which is stuffed with poppy seeds, cottage cheese, walnuts and apples.

Kranjska klobasa: made from the finest pork, bacon and seasoned solely with garlic and pepper; it is one of the most widely spread and internationally recognizable Slovenian dishes. It represents a culinary specialty that can be produced by no more than 11 Slovene producers who own a required certificate. Ričet: a thick stew with barley porridge and smoked pork or sausage. It is a typical dish in most parts of Slovenia. Slovenia prides itself not only with good food but also excellent wines that should be tasted by any wine lover. Maribor -

Slovenia’s second-largest city is in fact home to the oldest grapevine in the world. With over 400 years of age, it is registered in the Guinness Book of Records. Despite the age, its Žametna Črnina grapes still produce wine every year. Almost 70% of Slovenian wines meet the criteria for quality and premium wines. A few of them are:

Cviček: a dry red wine produced from both red and white grape varieties. In 2001, this traditional wine blend was awarded the mark of a recognized traditional name.

Metliška črnina: a dry red wine is characterized by a nice dark ruby colour, a pleasant fruity bouquet and a mild taste.

Teran: a wine with numerous medicinal characteristics. The wine produced from Refošk grape acquires the distinctive flavour and bouquet only when it is grown in the specific red earth soil that is typical of a restricted area. Refošk: a dark red wine (ruby to violet), moderate in alcohol and acids. The young wine is lively with a fruity taste suggestive of raspberry and black currant.

Rebula: a dry, white, fresh, lively and balanced wine; its neutral bouquet and aroma suggest a slight reminiscence of cedar.

Šipon: a very old type of wine, origins of which are placed in the Ljutomer - Ormož area (the Podravje region) by some oenologists. Due to its rich acids, young Šipon is not a wine for a delicate stomach. Malvazija: a golden yellow wine that has a balanced flavour with no special bouquet. It is a rather strong wine with an average of 12% of alcohol.

Beautiful nature Slovenia is among the most biologically diverse countries in the world, the third most forested country in Europe and one of the richest European countries in terms of water. More than one third of the country’s territory lies within the Europe-wide Natura 2000 network protected areas. A direct contact with nature is possible even on the outskirts of the cities.

Diversity of choices Even though Slovenia spreads over a really small piece of Europe, you can ski in the morning and take a romantic stroll down the beach in the afternoon. There are a lot of wonderful locations to charm even the most demanding guest. Every season offers a pleasant break and has its attractions: golf courses, cycling, hiking, and of course a lot of other recreational sports or events. Let’s take a look at a few of them, according to season/weather. Weddings in Slovenia

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4 seasons in Spring (March to May)

is a great time for hiking in the lowlands and flower-carpeted valleys (www.logarska-dolina.si), downhill/park biking (www.bikepark.si, www.mtbpark.com, www.vogel.si), visiting theatres and other cultural venues (www.culture.si), exploring mine underground (http://muzej.rlv.si), cycling (www.hiking-biking.com), countryside hiking, golfing (www.golfslovenia.net), walking through the salt pans (www.kpss.si), panoramic flights (www.letileti.si, www.renospot.eu) …

Summer (June to August)

is time for rafting (www.socarafting.si, www.kolparaft.com …), canyoning (www.top.si), using hydrospeed (www.hydromania.si), paragliding (www.avantura. org), kayaking & canoeing (www.thinkslovenia.com, www.outdoor-slovenia.com), mountain biking (www. boveckanin.si, www.pac-sports.com, www.belakrajina.si), free climbing (www.lifetrek-slovenia.com), exploring caves (www.podzemljepece.com, www.park-skocjanske-jame.si), visiting adrenaline parks (www.pustolovski-park-geoss.si, www.pustolovski-park-bled.si, www.socafunpark.si, www.kovac-kolpa.com, www.pustolovski-park.si), summer sledding (www.bled.si, www.rogla.eu, www.pohorje.org), zip lining (www.ziplineslovenia.si, www.golte.si), zorbing (www.zorb.si, www.zorb-slovenija.com) …

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Autumn (September to November)

is the perfect time to visit Slovenia and its high mountains (www.tnp.si), lakes (www.bled.si, www.bohinj.si, www.bohinj-info.com, www.notranjski-park.si), waterfalls (www.slapovislovenije.info), natural parks (www.ljubljanskobarje.si, www.park-skocjanske-jame.si, www.portoroz.si, www.arboretum-vp.si, www.mozirskigaj.com, www.botanicni-vrt.si), cave trekking/cycling (www.go-turizem.eu), monster rolling (www.bovec-sc.si), river rafting (http://maribor-pohorje.si, www.flosar.com, www.splavarjenje.com), horse riding (www.slovenian-alps.com), visiting wine routes (www.vinskacestakras.si, www.slovenska-istra.si) …

Winter (December to February)

is ideal for skiing and snowboarding (www.slovenia.info, www.sloveniaforyou.com), night and day sledding (www.sankanje.info, www.nocnosankanje.si, www.velikaplanina. si, www.starivrh.si), hiking (www.julijana.info), ski touring (www.lifetrek-slovenia.com), ice climbing (www.bovec-sc.si, www.trek.si), tours with dog and horse-driven sledge rides (www.nomad2000.si, www.bealive-ecotours.com), cross-country skiing (www.pohorje.org), visiting wellness centres (www.visitslovenia.net), skating (http://maribor-pohorje.si, www.sport-ljubljana.si, www.drsaj.se), freestyle skiing (www.rogla.eu, www.sneznipark-kg.si), snow tubing (www. pohorje.org, www.rtc-krvavec.si), snowshoeing (www.trek.si, www.bovec-rafting-team.com), snow rafting (www.pac-sports.com), sleeping in igloo (www.eskimska-vas.si), curling (www.maya.si) …

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Top S nian wedding locations

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TEXT: Masa Rener

Photo: magazine archive

There are a lot of absolutely astonishing wedding locations in Slovenia. This article will help you discover which of them are the most popular and beautiful.

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Weddings in Slovenia

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ljubljana

Ljubljana

Ljubljana is the capital of the country; and therefore also the political and cultural heart of Slovenia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a small and pretty city which is full of surprises, and where finding your way around the town is not hard.

Blue and White Halls at the Ljubljana Castle are designated as the official wedding places of the area. You may get married on Wednesday or Friday (from 11.00 to 16.00) and on Saturday (from 9.00 to 18.00). The medieval Ljubljana Castle has served many different purposes in the past â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at first it was a fortress, then the residence to the provincial governor, later the barracks and even a prison. Today, it is one of the major tourist attractions and city landmarks. It is also a place of numerous cultural events including concerts, theatre performances, exhibitions, congresses and official receptions. Access to the Castle is possible by walking, tourist train ride (www.visitljubljana.com) and a fast access provided by a funicular railway which departs from the Krekov trg square in the Old Town (www.visitljubljana.com). Engaged couples should first register their marriage at the Administrative Unit, Sector for Administrative Internal Affairs, Births, Marriages and Deaths Registration Department at the address TobaÄ?na ulica 5 in Ljubljana. They will also tell you what to do next. If the future spouses are foreign citizens, the following supporting documents must be attached to the Marriage application: passport, extract from Birth register, information on witnesses to a marriage, single status certificate or some other certificate showing the marital status and the certificate of the competent authority of the country whose national he or she is that there are no reservations about the couple getting married. All extracts and certificates must be issued in line with the international traffic use, thus appropriately certified and translated into the Slovenian language. Any extracts can be issued on an International Printed Form, if the country is a signatory to the Paris or Vienna Convention. The submitted extracts and other documents may not be older than 6 months (from the date of issue) unless these documents are issued in the countries where such an extract is normally issued only once, certifying individual register evidence and not including any personal status. If a future spouse or witnesses to the marriage do not understand Slovenian language, an official translator or court interpreter must be present at the marriage registration or marriage.

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More info: You can get detailed information by calling +386 1 306 32 10 or +386 1 306 32 56. Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (from 8.00 to 18.00), Wednesday (from 8.00 to 19.00), Friday (from 8.00 to 14.00).

Web page: www.ljubljanskigrad.si

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otočec

Otocec

Otočec Castle - a jewel rising from the mists of the Krka River, is the only water/island castle in Slovenia. Wedding ceremonies at the castle are carried out by the Administrative Unit Novo mesto. You must first call Otočec Castle to inquire about free dates. Afterwards, the organizer will give you all the further information, contacts of the Administrative Unit, etc. There are two basic wedding ceremonies: a castle wedding at the Knights’ salon or an outdoor wedding. You can also make a basic wedding ceremony special in a different way. A Knights wedding, wedding with a maid of honour and a celebrant, a wedding on the Krka river, a romantic wedding lit by torches and candles; or a wedding with the Count and Countess can be arranged for you. You can see all the detailed explanations on the official web page (www.terme-krka.si). The ceremony starts with a reception and a speech by the Count and Countess, and is later accompanied by a pianist or/and a sound system. The official part of the ceremony takes 20 to 25 minutes. After signing the wedding certificates, a short announcement by the Count follows. After the marriage ceremony, all guests are required to do a double row for the traditional throwing of the fertility wheat. If requested, a ceremonial opening of champagne with a sword can follow.

More info:

You can get detailed information about the procedures, date reservations, required documents, etc. by calling + 386 7 38 48 909 or writing at poroke.otocec@terme-krka.si.

Web page: www.terme-krka.si

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Bled

Bled is really unique, as it is home of the only Slovenian island, which lies in the middle of a lake called Blejsko jezero. Civil marriages can be held at different places, but one of the most beautiful is Castle Bled, with a breathtaking panoramic view of the lake around which you can walk/cycle, ride with horse carriage (www.bled.si, www.fijaker-bled.si) or tourist train (www.bled.si, www. sloveniaholidays.com). On the island, (www.blejskiotok.si) there is a church, where religious ceremony can be held. Access to the island is possible by a famous boat called Pletna (www.pletna-bled.si, www.bled.si), which can be find in different locations all around the lake. The prices for a return ride are usually the same everywhere. You can also rent a boat (www.pletnaboat.com, www.pletna.com, www.bled.si) and row to the island yourself. These prices may vary from place to place - containing small differences. The first step is to register your marriage date at the Administrative Unit Radovljica (phone number: + 386 4 537 1600) where they tell you everything about required documents and the following procedures. You can also book a date and time of your wedding at the Bled Town Office (phone: +386 4 576 83 80), but only during opening hours every Wednesday (from 8.00 to 12.00, and from 13.00 to 17.00) or Friday (from 8.00 to 12.00). The Registry Office officials can be otherwise reached at mateja.koselj@gov.si. When booking, you should specify that you wish the wedding ceremony to be held at the Castle. Wedding ceremonies take place in the afternoon, starting no earlier than 15.00. On the day of the wedding, your wedding party will be met at the castle parking lot ten minutes before the wedding takes place by a pageboy who will escort you to the well at the lower castle courtyard. The Lord and Lady of the Castle will then descend down the staircase, greet everybody present and accompany you to the Knight’s hall where the ceremony will be held. The ceremony is accompanied by zither music as a perfect backdrop to the wedding protocol. The official part of the ceremony takes 15 to 20 minutes. After signing the wedding certificates, the bride and groom, best man and maid of honour toast with sparkling wine, which is included in the price of the basic wedding package. For other wedding guests, sparkling wine or drinks can be ordered from the castle restaurant.

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More info: The basic wedding package also includes floral decorations on the wedding table and free admission to the castle for all wedding guests. For further information and booking, contact Bled culture institute (phone: + 386 4 57 29 770) or write at lea.ferjan@zkbled.si.

Web pages: www.blejski-grad.si www.bled.si Weddings in Slovenia

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piran portoro탑

Piran & Portoro탑

Under the Slovenian law, only a civil marriage service is considered valid but you may also have a religious ceremony if you wish. All marriages made in Slovenia are officially valid in all countries. 24 24

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Portoro탑 and Piran are well known Slovenian coastal cities and beautiful holiday destinations. It takes approximately 30 minutes to stroll from one city to another.

More info: You can get detailed information by calling + 386 567 10 400 or writing at ue.piran@gov.si. Opening hours: Monday and Tuesday (from 8.00 to 12.00, from 13.00 to 15.00), Wednesday (from 8.00 to 12.00, from 13.00 to 18.00) and on Friday (from 8.00 to 13.00).

Web pages: www.upravneenote.gov.si-2-ang www.upravneenote.gov.si-1-ang

Many stunning locations for a wedding can be found here. In Portoro탑, you can get married in a luxurious hotel Kempinski Palace (www.kempinski.com), any of the Lifeclass hotels (www.lifeclass.net) or in Grand Hotel Bernardin which is situated between both cities (www.h-bernardin.si). In Piran you can have an open air wedding on a terrace of Hotel Tartini, which offers a magnificent view (www.hotel-tartini-piran.

com) or a wedding at the officially designated premise in the Municipal palace (http://sl.wikipedia.org) at the Tartinijev trg square. Weddings are possible on Saturdays (from 9.00 to 19.00) but in exceptional cases, a wedding can take place some other time. In Piran, there is also a possibility of an unorthodox wedding such as a hot air balloon wedding or an underwater wedding. 25 Weddings in Slovenia

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Marrige & honeymoon

If you were to imagine a place that combines both, an astonishing wedding location and a honeymoon destination at the same time, Slovenia is the best answer possible. Here are some other nice locations that offer both, a place for a wedding and a honeymoon adventure:

The Old Castle Celje The biggest Slovenian medieval Castle is situated on a narrow rocky overhang above the city Celje, which is the third largest city of Slovenia. Castle is open every day of the year, and you can visit it by yourself or join a guided tour. It is also a very nice place for a wedding. Here you can combine a wedding ceremony with the honeymoon activities such as: water adventures (http://lake. smartinsko-jezero.com), sightseeing, www.celje.si, www.celeia.info), spa centres (www.terme-zrece.eu, www.thermana.si, www.terme-dobrna.si ... More info: http://castle.grad-celje.com Lipica is known after a Stud Farm, which is the cradle of all Lipizzaner horses in the world. Nowadays it is also one of the most beautiful cultural and historical monuments of Slovenia. Its history reaches back to 1580. Stud Farm has extended its activity and established a multi-purpose leisure centre comprising hotels, golf courses, tennis courts, mini golf, fitness and casino, in the recent years the. Near Lipica, there are three bigger towns: SeĹžana, DivaÄ?a and Kozina. But that is not all: a well known rock climbing spot Osp (www. slotrips.si) is situated only 30 minutes away, and the Slovenian coast awaits just a bit further. More info: www.lipica.org

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cave Postojnska jama is the best-known Slovenian cave. It is also the greatest tourist attraction in Slovenia and one of the world’s largest Karst monuments. The Postojna Cave is the only cave in the world that offers a unique and adventurous ride with a train, which takes you into the cave through the spectacular underground arches and a beautiful subterranean world full of playful limestone sculptures. A wedding ceremony can be held in the cave or at a beautiful and unique Predjama Castle, only 10 km away. The castle is more than 700 years old and reigns in 123-metre high cliff. It used to be a perfect hideout for the bold knight Erazem of Predjama - a “robber baron”, who is the protagonist of a romantic and legend. The biggest city in the area is Postojna (www.postojna. si), with various attractions and sport activities. More info: www.postojnska-jama.eu, www.slovenia.info Bohinj is a valley (20 km long and 5 km wide) that stretches from Soteska to Ukanc and is surrounded by the Lower Bohinj Mountains on the southern part (which rise to 2.000 m), and the Triglav mountain range with Triglav (Slovenia’s highest mountain) on the northern side. It is the country’s centre of eco tourism and outdoor adventures. Its main feature is the periglacial Lake Bohinj. It is traversed by the Sava Bohinjka River and Bohinj, and is therefore a perfect place for lovers of fly fishing (www.flyfish-slovenia. com), skiing (www.bohinj.si), kayaking (www.sport4fun.si, www. alpinsport.si), wellness, biking (http://amigo.si) and other sports (www.bohinj.si). One can also get married on a boat in the middle of the lake or with an escort of medieval knights. More info: www.bohinj.si, www.bohinj-info.com Prekmurje is the north-eastern-most province of Slovenia. It is named after the Mura River, which separates Prekmurje from the rest of Slovenia. The region is divided into three geographical sub regions: a hilly area north of Murska Sobota, known as Goričko (The Highlands), the eastern flatlands stretching between the Mura River and the border crossing, known as Ravensko (The Flatlands), and the western lowlands around the city Lendava, known as Dolinsko (The Lowlands). This part of Slovenia is perfect for biking (www.mura-drava-bike. com, http://hiking-biking.net) relaxing in one of a couple of spas/ wellness centres www.sava-hotels-resorts.com/en/banovci, www. sava-hotels-resorts.com/en/radenci,)..., river rafting (www.raftingdrava-mura.com, hiking (http://hiking-biking.net, visiting the Island of love – the mill on the Mura river (www.slovenia.info) or a tropical garden (www.oceanorchids.si). More info: www.slovenia.info Weddings in Slovenia

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wedding

Wedding at the Sea

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Photographer: Dragan Zlatanovic TEXT: Tina Zupancic

WHO The Bride: Nadine Celovic, 32 years, Stylist The Groom: Mient de Jong, 36 years, Engineer

WHEN July 2, 2011

WHERE Piran and Portorož, Slovenia

THE STORY Bride’s parents are originally from Slovenia and Serbia, but she was born and raised in Germany. The groom is from the Netherlands. They met on a hot summer night in 2003 in Piran (Cafe Teater).

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wedding

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The inspiration A personal, warm and DIY-style with no standard procedures was chosen because they don`t consider themselves a “standard couple”. They came up with the ideas that expressed their love and combined both cultures, Slavic and Dutch. A request that the children of their guests could sleep in a calm room next to the ballroom and be supervised by babysitters (so their friends could stay and party with them late into the night) was made. Nadine and Mient’s stay in Slovenia stretched over two weeks. The couple also wanted to show their guests, who come from different parts of Europe, everything the Slovenian coast has to offer!

THE WEDDING IN SLOVENIA They decided for Slovenia because, according to them, it is the most magical country in the world where they met and fell in love. They planned the whole wedding by themselves. Since they knew it took quite some time, planning began on the day after the proposal. The inspiration and some great ideas were found on the blogs listed below: www.snippetandink.com, www.stylemepretty.com, www.fraeuleinkasagtja.de, www.weddingchicks.com, www.life-is-delicious-weddings.com, www.sodapop-design.de

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wedding

Proposal The proposal took place on the Valentine’s Day 2010, by the coast (somewhere between Bernardin and Portorož) - at the exact place where Mient kissed Nadine for the first time in 2003!

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THE WEDDING DAY They celebrated their love for three days! The night before the wedding they had a relaxed BBQ with the closest family members, and the day after the wedding they had a summer brunch in bride’s parents’ garden with all the guests. The wedding day was simply perfect! It started with the preparations and a light lunch at the bride and groom’s old vineyard cottage which they renovated themselves. An emotional ceremony was held at the Piran city hall. The ceremony was carried out in Slovene by the mayor Peter Bossmann, and was followed by the English translation by an official translator. After the ceremony the big reception and congratulations took place in Cafe Teater, the place where the bride and groom met. Then they took a lively and sunny boat trip to Portorož where the dinner and party took place at Kempinski Palace. Eda Orlic, the friendly event manager from the hotel, helped them to assemble their ideas. She always made them feel good and did everything in her power so their wishes and demands were met. They also hired a cool Jazz Band named Peaceful Colors (from Ljubljana) that entertained the guests during the dinner and a DJ (Boštjan Kofol from Ljubljana) who made sure a great dinner was followed by an even better party! They danced and celebrated till early morning hours. A photo booth, where all of their guest could take funny pictures with items and gadgets like a cylinder on a stick, a wig or a moustache, was placed in the restaurant. Among other activities, there was the first dance of Mrs and Mr de Jong, a number of speeches, and tossing of the wedding bouquet and the garter. At the wedding of his cousin, Mient caught the garter and now, he had to do the same as his cousin did – throw the garter and whoever caught it is the next one to marry - a Dutch tradition).

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Bride and groom´s advice 1) Decide carefully what you want. A band or a DJ? Buffet or seated menu? Wedding games, speeches or none of them? The most important is to try and do it your way, not the way everyone else does it or expects it to be. Establish your own traditions! Try to surprise your guests, make them curious. For example: we did not send off paper wedding invitations but white suede luggage tags - as a hint for an upcoming holiday simply marked with the link to our wedding website. 2) Make an inspiration board, where you can attach (and after reconsideration - even detach) pictures, colours, modes, notes and ideas. It can help you get a clearer look of what you both want and how everything should look like. That way everything can run smoothly. It’s so nice to tie a “red ribbon” through your wedding day. 3) The last months and particularly weeks are very important. Write and rewrite To-Do-Lists to avoid stress and get calm and confident. Try to work off all the topics continuously - both of you. Remember that at the end all threads should run together. On the wedding day, try to find moments with your partner when you can focus on the really important aspects of the day. Always be aware that the day you both have yearned for, has come. Enjoy it and remember that the time flies! 4) Wedding website is a very helpful tool. It gives the guests from abroad information about the country, journey, accommodations and event. For us, it was very important that everyone had the opportunity to combine their trip with our wedding. It helped the guests arrange the trip in advance. We also wanted them to spend a few more days there to get to know the beautiful Slovenia. All in all we were very pleased with the outcome and, without any doubt, we recommend a wedding in Slovenia!

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IN SHORT Bride`s wedding dress: Ugo Zaldi Paris Groom`s wedding dress: Ermenegildo Zegna Wedding car: TVR 3000s (English Old-timer) Bouquet: White flowers of hydrangea and peony Table decorations: lemons, camomile and lavender Cake: 10 round ice-cakes with yellow icing and lilac ribbon around them (the colours of lemon and lavender that matched the main colours of the wedding) filled with red berries and cream. The 10 ice-cakes were arranged beautifully on a plateau on different levels. They also had cute vanilla cup cakes with yellow icing for the children. Rings: Cartier. Photographer: Dragan Zlatanovic Nadine and Mient were very pleased with their wedding photographer: “He is the best: full of brilliant ideas and overwhelming emotions, very inspiring and incredibly talented. He brings out the best of everyone and gives 1000%. We are so happy we got to know him as he made wonderful pictures that will keep the memories of our wedding day alive forever!”

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Simply Perfect Photographer: Milos Horvat TEXT: Tina Zupancic

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THE WEDDING IN SLOVENIA John discovered Lake Bled in an EasyJet magazine article the first time he and Kasia flew to Ireland to meet Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family. He did not show Kasia the article, but kept the place in his mind and hoped someday he would marry Kasia there. They took a weeklong trip to Lake Bled in late September 2011 and arranged to meet with the local Catholic Priest, the Registrar, and sample the food and locations for the wedding reception. They found Vila Bled on their first day and were impressed by the warm welcome and professionalism of the staff and the manager Petra Cuk. The location and surrounding gardens are really special. Not to mention the cuisine and wine selection which was world class. They came back in 2012, just before the wedding. They arrived on Wednesday, had the wedding on Saturday, and then left for Venice to go on their honeymoon.

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WHO:

The Bride: Kasia Kozlowska, Psychology student, 28 years, from KedzierzynKozle, Poland The Groom: John Hall, Financial Trader, 31 years, from Portaferry, Ireland

WHEN:

August 25, 2012

WHERE:

Lake Bled, Slovenia

THE STORY

They met through social network called clicktonight.com four and a half years earlier. John took Kasia for a walk around the river Thames in London one evening in February 2011. At the Tower of London, John got down on one knee in front of a number of tourists and walkers, and took out the ring box. Kasia tried to pull him up from his knee as she thought it was a joke. But when John opened the ring box, she said yes. Many people clapped and congratulated the happy couple.

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THE WEDDING DAY John stayed in Pension Zaka with forty family members and friends. Kasia stayed in Vila Bled with her three bridesmaids. On Saturday, they had a civil ceremony in the gardens of Vila Bled, followed by tasting of the local Bled cake and sparkling wine. Then they ferried to the church on the lake for the catholic ceremony and, as tradition requires, John carried Kasia up the 99 steps to the church. After the wedding they had the traditional bled nuts, salt and bread, and took the boats back to Vila Bled. The reception dinner was held in the concert hall, which was decorated with a historic mural from the period of President Tito. They decided to decorate the tables with sunflowers and rubber bath ducks for the place cards.

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Bride and groom´s advice “Visit the country and sample the locations, food and organisers. We were very lucky to have met Petra Cuk at Vila Bled. Petra helped us with every stage of the wedding preparation.”

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IN SHORT Bride`s wedding dress: Ivory dress designed by Marcus Booth, London Groom`s wedding dress: Navy blue from Turnbull & Asser, London Bouquet: Local Bled florist Cake: A sunflower themed cake with mixed berries and chocolate Rings: Platinum bands for both Photographer: Milos Horvat. They spent long hours online viewing samples and Milosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work immediately stood out from the rest.

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The Mounta

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ain Wedding Photographer: Aljosa Videtic TEXT: Tina Zupancic

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WHO Dima Polsky, 31, Israel, USSR origin, Senior Software Manager Dasha Segal, 27, Israel, USSR origin, Photographer/Artist

WHEN August 7, 2012

WHERE Pristava Lepena, Slovenia

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THE STORY They met at a Birthright Taglit programme (www.birthrightisrael.com) in 2006. Dasha was a participant from Saint-Petersburg while Dima was a member of the Israeli group of soldiers escorting them. The wedding proposal was quite unusual. Dima wrote a simple Android game and gave it to Dasha to play it on her phone. The target in the game was to smash beavers that were popping from their holes. After ten beavers came up, Dima’s image with a proposal appeared on the screen and he pulled out the ring at the same time. “We wanted a special, small and private wedding in a peaceful environment, with nature and mountains.“

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THE WEDDING IN SLOVENIA Dasha was browsing through the sites of interesting international wedding photographers and found the pictures of a wedding in Pristava Lepena. When they saw them they immediately fell in love with the place and contacted the photographer to find out where it is. Respecting the organization and planning, they turned to Bob from www.slovenedream.com, who planned most of the logistics and documents, and Silvia from Pristava Lepena who organized everything on site. Dasha and Dima said that they had done an excellent job and they were extremely happy with how it all turned out. They started the initial discussions around December and most of the arrangements were done a couple of months before the wedding. When they came to Slovenia they stayed at Pristava Lepena for a week and their whole trip was about the wedding so, unfortunately, the honeymoon has been delayed for a while. They did drive around a bit, did a few small nature walks, horse riding and kayaking. They also visited Bled on their way home and walked a bit around Ljubljana. They liked Slovenia and they hope to return there for some serious vacation time.

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THE WEDDING DAY The first three days that they have spent in Pristava Lepena were all about finalizing the details for the wedding â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the flower arrangements, dinner menu, DJ, guest accommodation, visiting the Registrar (who was really nice and helpful) etc. All of the guests they invited to the wedding were on site the day before, so they could have a big introductory dinner. On the morning of the wedding, while Dasha was getting ready, Dima was running around taking care of the last errands. The ceremony was scheduled for 13:00. Afterwards they had a photo session with all the guests and then continued down to the river with friends and, at the end, the couple had a session just for them. At 16:30 the dinner was served. There were a lot of toasts, dancing, and entertainment during the dinner - a whole show was organized by the relatives. At approximately 21:30 they moved the party down to the bar.

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IN SHORT Bride`s wedding dress: Jesus Peiro, www.jesuspeiro.com/ Groom`s wedding dress: Izak, www.izakroz.co.il/ Bouquet: Magda Kenda, ‘Amak’, Bovec Cake: Sebastijan Kovačič, Pristava Lepena restaurant Rings: Royality, Jerusalem, Israel Photographer: Aljoša Videtič. They really liked his style and they were impressed with how good he was at capturing those little moments that make the wedding magical and special.

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Bride and groom´s advice “We have only good things to say about our wedding experience. All the parties from Slovenia that were involved are the reason for that. Silvia and Milan from Pristava Lepena immediately made us feel at home while helping us in so many ways. Andreja and Sebastjan from the restaurant made this an unforgettable culinary experience. Our thanks also go to Magda from flower shop “Amak” in Bovec, Aljoša, the photographer and others there are just too many to list all.”

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POROČNI KOTIČEK Get behind the scenes of the biggest wedding salon in Slovenia

The unforgettable experience of wedding planning With our complete offer we try to save time and stress, which often accompany wedding planning, to the future newlyweds. Poročni kotiček is the synonym for the newest trends of wedding fashion and top design. The most important aspect of this is the needs and wishes of every bride. We offer expert help to each and every one of them when selecting her dream wedding gown and accessories, which will fit her style and personality. We wish to offer to our customers a complete view on contemporary weddings and the newest trends. We share our stories, gained experience and emotions with them.

What makes Poročni kotiček so special? We understand your needs and wishes better than anyone else, because we regularly track wedding events at home and around the world. A professional stylist will be by the future bride’s side on her fitting. The stylist knows the styles of wedding dresses and will offer advice on which suits her best. The unique needs and wishes of

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every bride are accepted as an everyday challenge and we will help them come true. In our wedding salon, costumers can also find thematically made invites, confetti, corsages, menus and other paper goods, which will mirror the unique style and ideas that originate from our own development in this field. The products rank us at the very top, so we are establishing ourselves outside Slovenia too.

What should a bride do prior to her first visit? Before your first visit, we advise you to check the offer on our website and trends that you can find on the Internet or in wedding magazines. While browsing through the pictures, try to discover your own style, which will be appropriate for your occasion. Before you come to Slovenia, call us or contact us via our e-mail address, so we can book the time and date for your fitting. During the time of your fitting, our advisor will dedicate her time entirely to you and together you will surely find the wedding gown of your dream. Alterations on the dress will be made immediately and you can take the dress with you the SAME day. Our wedding dresses are available for rent

(in this case, you bring it back to the salon the day after your wedding) or for purchase.

Come, see, take Established brands, like Cymbeline Paris, Pepe Botella, Colet Bride, Miss Kelly, Divina Sposa, Just For You, Kelly Star, Miss Paris etc. are available for you to purchase or rent. The costs of renting a wedding gown start at 380 € (sewing alterations and cleaning included). Our own line of gorgeous wedding dresses SILHUETE BRIDE is available only for purchase. The prices start at 160 €. The SILHUETE BRIDE dresses are meant for every bride-to-be. For those who don’t quite like the classic wedding dresses; for those who want to have their own wedding dress but at a more affordable price; for those who get married in the summer months; for those who want to dress into a lighter dress for their wedding evening; for those who get married on a sunny beach abroad… in two words – for everyone. And the best about the whole thing is that dresses are in stock, so you just come, try it on and take it with you.

Bridesmaids Your bridesmaids, mother or maid of honour will find her dream dress in our salon too, as we have taken care of them with the SILHUETE collection,

which is full of wonderful colour combinations and different designs.

Representative and wholesaling The owner of Poročni kotiček store is the general representative of a top brand of wedding dresses and accessories Cymberline Paris for the area of ex-Yugoslavia. The wedding salon is also the representative of an acknowledged brand of wedding shoes Paradox London for Slovenia and Croatia.

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The Rainy Wedding Photographer: Uros Cuden TEXT: Tina Zupancic

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WHO The Bride: Alena Tikhonravova, 25 years, graphic designer The Groom: Andrey Borodin, 25 years, software developer

WHEN August 8, 2011

WHERE Lake Bled, Slovenia

THE STORY Andrey first noticed Alena during a spontaneous stroll around Alena’s academia campus in 2003. The next year, Alena was acquainted with Andrey at a birthday party of a common friend. It took 4 years, during which they were merely glancing at each other, or sometimes meeting somewhere and somehow, each time feeling the sparks between them. They live in Yekaterinburg – a city with a population over 1.5 million and yet they have managed to see each other quite a lot. In 2008 everything changed. They finally understood what was happening to them for the last couple of years.

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To cut the long story short, the wedding bells rang for them in 2011.

THE WEDDING IN SLOVENIA At first they were thinking of marrying in Montenegro or Croatia but then they started a research on the internet. They were not looking for a “standard agency pack”. They wanted to come up with and customize every detail themselves. Therefore, finding the appropriate agency was a tough task. While

searching through the agencies, Alena reviewed the countries surrounding Croatia and Italy. She finally found Slovenia and fell in love with it, because it has everything - amazing mountains, beautiful green woods and a nice coast by the Mediterranean Sea. Together they decided on Slovenia, since they wanted the wedding to take place by a mountain lake and close to the forest. Alena was searching for the right agency for quite some time. When she found good reviews on one of the forums, she decided to hire Yulia Shmidt and her agency. Yulia helped them to choose the exact place for the wedding, photo session locations and managed the rest of the details like transport, make-up artist etc. Alena is a designer and that is why it was very important to her

that the wedding day would be special and unique, and that it would express the bride and groomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s characters. That is why she had been thinking about the details like colours for quite some time. Lots of forums and sites gave her many unusual ideas and inspirations. They started e-mailing to Yulia in March and the dialog was quite active until the early August. They opined it was a good decision to make a wedding day at an unusual place and combine

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IN SHORT Bride`s wedding dress: THE DESSY GROUP, SANDALS / Destination wedding dresses (www.dessy.com) Bouquet: Cvetličarna Art Rings: Ira Frid, http://irafrid.ru Photographer: Uroš Čuden, www.medit-foto.com Wedding planner: Yulia Shmidt, www.wedding.si Wedding video: Jon Aleksander, http://vimeo.com (short film), www.happyweddingfilms.com

it with their honeymoon. The ceremony took place at Lake Bled where the couple stayed for three days. Then they spent 5 days travelling across southern Slovenia, spending most of the time in Piran and Portorož where they enjoyed warm and bright days, clear sea and blue sky. They also visited Postojna cave and some other sights, sunbathed and after a rest, they left for Venice. Instead of visiting the crowded tourist attractions, they attended most of the Venice biennale exhibitions and discovered new aspects and views on modern art. Afterwards they went to Paris which offers romantic evenings, wine and baguettes, long pedestrian walks, and a trip to Disneyland.

THE WEDDING DAY The most important part of their wedding day was the ceremony at the pier. It took a long time for them to choose the right place for the wedding ceremony. Unfortunately they did not take into account that the weather at Lake Bled is subject to change at any moment. The day before the wedding, all forecasts predicted rain for the next day. 15 minutes before the ceremony, it was decided the wedding was to be moved to a covered veranda which was very frustrating for the couple. Despite the bad weather, they took yellow umbrellas and decided that the ceremony will be held at the pier. Alena still cannot believe that they were able to organize their wedding, without seeing the place where the ceremony took place, previously. Her dream got realised mostly thanks to Yulia, the great wedding coordinator. She solved all issues and answered every question even though they were in Russia and not in Slovenia. Alena really liked working with Julia, since she had the opportunity to plan their wedding day. Alena was also very pleased with the people who made sure that the memories of their wedding would stay alive forever: the photographer and the videographer. Uroš Čuden and Jon Aleksander were able to convey the atmosphere and the mood of their wedding day and project it to photos and a short film. Another important part of the day was their trip to Pokljuka - a nice village in the alpine meadows, where they launched a kite. After that, they had a wedding dinner made by one of the best chefs at Lake Bled.

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Bride and groomÂ´s advice Organize your wedding at a location you have never been to, even a place which you have never thought or heard of - at a new place, in a new city, new countryâ&#x20AC;Ś This will make your wedding day brighter and more memorable. You have to be ready for changes - the plans you have will be altered - and open to find something unexpected and exciting which will leave a special stamp on your day. Make this day not only a dream come true but also an adventure you will never forget.

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A Fine Romance Photographer: Aleks Kus TEXT: Tina Zupancic

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THE STORY: They met on the internet dating site and immediately liked each other: they had the same attitude towards life and purpose. Both wanted a family and children, so they did not need much time to realize that they were made for each other. “Sasha did not do me a loud offer because we both knew we would be together. I had planned a trip with my family to Spain before meeting with Sasha. Before leaving for Spain Sasha gave me a beautiful ring and offered to become his wife and of course I agreed. He said he wanted it to be the first and last time when he lets me go on a trip without him.”

THE WEDDING IN SLOVENIA: They did not want to have a Moscow wedding because it was already September and the autumn in Moscow is not the most pleasant time of the year for a wedding.

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They began to search for an appropriate destination for the wedding ceremony. They wanted to do something unusual, new, fabulous and beautiful, but at the same time they wanted to keep the colourful autumn atmosphere. They had some knowledge of Slovenia prior to the internet research. Because Sasha and Dinara absolutely love to travel, they were immediately interested in the possibility to organize the wedding in Slovenia. They agreed that getting married and visiting a new country at the same time is a good idea. They chose the castle on Lake Bled without much thought. The magical beauty that was conveyed in the photos and on the web pages had taken them aback. Now they remember the words of their wedding organizer Yulia Shmidt: “If you have not been to Bled, you were not in Slovenia!” Being there and seeing the location themselves, they agree with this statement!

WHO The Bride: Dinara Syunyaeva, Moscow Russia, 28 years, Engineer of Ecology. The Groom: Aleksandr Smiretckii, Moscow Russia, 28 years, IT Manager.

WHEN November 7, 2012

WHERE The Bled Castle

Yulia, with whom they met through the site www.wedding. si , took over the organization and the planning. They started writing to each other in mid-September. Dinara and Sasha were worried about the short period of time they had on their hands - they had only two months - but Yulia reassured them, that everything is possible. Fortunately for them, everything was prepared in time and at the highest level. The only thing they had to do was express their wishes and send the pictures of bouquet, cake and other wedding details. Their trip was carefully planned. When they came to Slovenia, they stayed in Ljubljana at the City Hotel. The first day they strolled around Ljubljana, the second day they visited Maribor, and the third day they went to Piran. They were struck by the cleanliness, comfort and convenience of Slovenian cities. They realised that everything was done for the people: everything in Slovenia is smart, inexpensive and cute. “We loved Slovenia

and we will always remember it as a country we want to return to. The residents of Slovenia can be proud of themselves and their country. I am an engineer of ecology and the care of nature and the places where one lives is very important for me. I am delighted to find out how many environmental programs are being carried out in Slovenia. We were impressed, how residents of Slovenia love their country and nature, and we believe that the people of the world should follow the Slovenian example.” After three days they went to Bled and stayed at Hotel Golf. They had 4 days of absolute paradise: walking around the lake, cycling, enjoying fresh air, clear skies, stunning vistas and the beauty of the snow-capped mountains. Bled greeted them with open arms. Hotel also offers a huge pool complex and spa, an excellent service and a luxurious room overlooking the Bled Castle. “We had the best holiday on the planet!”

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IN SHORT Bride`s wedding dress: Dinara had the dress custom made,

but before she ordered it, she visited a couple shops and selected the appropriate style of the dress. She showed the picture of her dream dress to the dressmaker who made â&#x20AC;&#x2039;â&#x20AC;&#x2039;the perfect dress for her figure. The price was not too high and Dinara was very happy with how it turned out. Groom`s wedding dress:

Suit for the groom was bought in Moscow. Bouquet and cake: Dinara sent Yulia the photos of a bouquet and a cake by e-mail and then Yulia ordered them in Slovenia. They got exactly what they wanted. Rings: Rings were bought in Moscow. Photographer and videotape operator: Yulia sent references for several photographers and videographers, from which they chose the one who suited most to the style of the wedding. They decide to on two wedding photographers - Aleks and Irena Kus - and a videotape operator - Jean Kanoyev. Both admire their work. Dinara and Sasha want to take this opportunity to express their thanks to the people who have supported them throughout the wedding day.

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THE WEDDING DAY The wedding day was long and memorable. It all started with the preparation of the bride: hair and makeup were done by local craftsmen, who came to the hotel in the morning. The girls were true professionals. They understood her without knowing any Russian, and Yulia has always been near to help them - she translated everything word for word, so that there were no linguistic problems. During this process Yulia brought the bride’s bouquet and boutonniere to the groom. At the same time Dinara’s sister and friends were preparing the redemption (Russian tradition - a small test for the groom before meeting up with the bride). The girlfriends have to prepare a series of small competitions or questionnaires concerning life of the bride or common interests of the bride and groom, so that they check the how well the groom knows his bride. Afterwards, a decorated wagon with a horse for the young and the machine for the guests arrived and took everyone to the castle on the hill. A woman dressed in a medieval costume met the newcomers on the parking lot. On the broad staircase leading to the castle, the guests and the couple were greeted by the Earl and the Countess who led them to the Knights’ Hall where the official wedding ceremony took place. While accepting compliments from guests, they went to the terrace of the castle, where Earl and the groom opened bottles of champagne in the old-fashioned way - by using a sword. The guests were delighted! After that they went to the old printing house, where the newlyweds printed their marriage certificate, and at the end to the wine cellar of the castle where they were allowed to fill and seal a bottle. When the official part of the wedding was over, the company had a photo shoot near the Bled Lake, played badminton, danced, sang, had fun, walked and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Afterwards they took a boat to the island that is situated on the lake. They enjoyed the vistas of the surrounding mountains, the castle and the town of Bled. Another test awaited the groom on the island. To prove his love, he had to carry Dinara up the 99 steps. And he did it! Not all the guests were convinced he could do it, but he proved himself to everyone! When the groom successfully passed the test, they went to the old church which is set on the island. Yulia told them about the ancient legend of the church and the significance of the bell. They made a wish, pulled the rope and the bell began to ring. After the newlyweds, the guests did the same. On their way back to the mainland, everyone was in a good mood and fatigue did not keep them from singing and entertaining their boatman. In the evening they arrived to the Labod restaurant where the wedding dinner was organized. When they ate the wedding cake and the couple danced their first dance Dinara threw the bouquet. The evening came to an end, but they did not want to disperse. Dinara and Sasha’s wedding day was long and beautiful, and according to them, it was the best day of their lives!

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Bride and groom´s advice “I think you need to find a good organizer and know how to express all your wishes about the wedding ceremony and the organization of other elements needed for the big day. We were very lucky with Yulia. She is a true professional in her field, as well as all the other members of her team. In Moscow, there are many agencies that offer planning weddings abroad, but for me it was important to communicate directly with the person who would help me organize my wedding.” Cost: “The wedding was not cheap, but we’re not the least bit sorry that we took part in this fabulous ceremony held at Lake Bled. It was absolutely worth it! I can say that we would have spent much more if we had gotten married in Moscow.”

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Dolenjska cesta 138a Ljubljana 041 424 655 karizma@siol.net

M A N' S fas h i o n

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A Fairy Tale Wedding Photographer: Dejan Bulut TEXT: Tina Zupancic

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WHO The bride – Selina Metez, 30 years, Insurance Broker The groom – Christopher Zyderveld, 30 years, Communications Electrician Calgary, Alberta, Canada

WHEN September 24, 2012

WHERE Otočec Castle Hotel (Grad Otočec), Slovenia

THE STORY Chris and Selina met in the summer of 2006 through mutual friends while Selina was in transition of moving back to Canada from the Bahamas. They officially started dating on September 24th and this special day became the date they chose for their wedding.

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The Proposal When they came home from a Christmas party on December 24, 2009, Chris insisted on giving Selina an early Christmas gift. She tried to convince him to wait until the Christmas Day but he refused to wait. While reading the beautiful card that Chris wrote, the tears came to her eyes as she was touched by his words. The next thing she knew, Chris was on bended knee uttering, “Selina Metez, will you marry me?” She excitedly replied out loud “Yes!” and then cried and hugged him for several minutes. “I just didn’t want to let go of him,” remembers Selina. Chris then placed the most beautiful engagement ring on her finger. They were thrilled and ecstatic. At that moment nothing and no one else mattered but the two of them. Everything about the proposal was perfect.

THE WEDDING IN SLOVENIA Selina’s family and upbringing: “Both sides of my family are from Slovenia. My maternal grandparents are from the Dolenjska and Notranjska regions and my paternal grandparents are from Bela Krajina. Additionally, my father, his sister and my mom’s brother were born in Slovenia. I was born in Canada and also have my Slovenian citizenship. While growing up, I was surrounded by Slovenians who were very proud of their homeland and ensured I learned about the culture. I spent a great deal of time with my maternal grandparents, Ivanka and Slavko Zupet, who had a significant, positive influence on me. Our family also regularly attended the Slovenian Canadian Association events which presented another opportunity to learn about Slovenia. I always wanted to come here to see where both sides of my family were from and my wish came true in 2000 when my mom and stepdad took me on a family heritage trip. I was fortunate that my maternal grandparents were able to travel with us as well. They showed me where they were from along with many aspects of their lives when they lived here. I couldn’t believe how beautiful this little country was and how much it had to offer. While I saw a number of spectacular places within the ever-changing landscape, there was something special about Grad Otočec the minute I saw this picturesque castle on an island surrounded by the Krka River. I still remember the magical, peaceful and comforting feeling I felt in this setting. Perhaps it was the charming castle, majestic swans, baby ducks crossing the pathway, or the beautiful, lush, green surroundings. While walking on the pathway by the boat dock I recall saying, “This place is very romantic - it would be great for a honeymoon.” A family trip to Slovenia was being planned for September 2012. It was then when Chris suggested they get married while in Europe. They considered a few wedding locations but nothing felt right until one weekend, while Selina was visiting her grandparents, her grandpa reminded her about Grad Otočec and how much she liked it when they were there in 2000. She was really excited because she immediately recalled the image and the accompanying ambience of Grad Otočec. And to think that they could be getting married just kilometres away from where her grandparents were married, made it even more special! When Selina was able to confirm that it was possible to get married at Grad Otočec in just over six months time, she realized that her dream of a fairy tale wedding was coming true. It was even more romantic, charming and elegant than she could have ever imagined!

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Planning the wedding They officially started planning their wedding on March 5, 2012. “With respect to the paperwork required to be legally married in Slovenia, I researched all the details on the internet and then my grandpa called the Novo mesto Registry Office to confirm the requirements. Regarding our wedding day, I didn’t have that clear of an idea until I spoke with the wedding planner at Grad Otočec, Ms. Vida Trenz. She patiently walked me through the steps of planning a wedding to determine what I was looking for regarding the style of the wedding and so on. After a brief phone call with her, my concerns disappeared as I started to have a sense of what I truly dreamt of and had in mind.” When it came to hiring a photographer, videographer, florist, hair/makeup professional, and DJ, Chris and Selina placed a great deal of trust in Vida, so Selina asked her for some names of professionals who had worked on some other weddings. Vida did all the on-site organizing for their wedding day and even ensured they would have a first class, elegant dinner incorporating local Dolenjska dishes. A few weeks prior to arriving in Europe, Vida and Selina spoke on the phone once more and. Other than those two phone calls and Vida’s excellent communication skills and easy-to-follow emails, they had no other contact. “She was always on top of things in order of priority and reassured me, even through the peak of the wedding season that she hadn’t forgotten about us. This made me feel very comfortable and important, as trying to plan a wedding and family trip 8,000 kilometres away doesn’t come stress-free. I am happy to say not one challenge we faced in the planning of our wedding involved Grad Otočec or Vida everything was perfect!” When they arrived in Slovenia they had a total of two short meetings with Vida at Grad Otočec. She was always there to provide a warm welcome and the sense of magic of the island was ever present. Vida organized meetings with all of the external contractors to finalize the details all of which went very smoothly. The Count and Countess, hair/makeup professional, florist, DJ, videographer, photographer, pianist and professional staff at Grad Otočec all contributed to making their special day a success and a truly memorable one adventure. Last but not least, Selina received invaluable assistance from her mom, stepdad and grandparents. She is grateful they were there at all times to support her through the journey of getting married overseas. “I could not have done it without them,” says Selina. Web pages which were helpful when organizing the wedding www.terme-krka.si/en/grad_otocec www.terme-krka.si/en/smarjeske www.slovenia.info www.slovenia.si

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Chris and Selina stayed in Slovenia for 11 nights during which they spent a couple of days completing administrative tasks for the wedding and meeting with their wedding planner. With the time remaining, they were able to see much of Slovenia - from visiting relatives in Mirna, Grosuplje and Loški Potok - their wonderful relatives did something special to commemorate their wedding at each location - to visiting beautiful and interesting destinations such as Novo mesto, Ptuj, Postojnska Jama, picnicking at Bohinj, hiking up to Slap Savica, ringing the church bell and making a wish in Bled, wine tasting in Maribor, dipping their toes in the Adriatic sea at Piran, and placing a padlock inscribed with their names and wedding date on the “bridge of love padlocks” in Ljubljana. During the time they could afford to be tourists, they were able to see much of the beautiful country and they look forward to going back again soon. After their trip to Slovenia, they spent three nights in Amsterdam and then went back home to Canada.

THE WEDDING DAY In keeping with the custom of the bride and groom not seeing each other until the wedding ceremony, Selina stayed at Grad Otočec and Chris at Šmarješke Toplice (4 km away). Chris’ day began with a breakfast at the hotel, followed by a hair stylist appointment with Nina at the Vitarium Spa & Clinique. Later on, his family and best man joined him in his room to get ready for the big day. The photographer, Dejan Bulut, arrived

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to take photos of the guys getting ready around lunch time. They all had a great time taking photos, visiting and having a drink to relax. Selina’s day started with waking up in a luxurious royal suite at Grad Otočec. She recalls instantly feeling like a princess when she first walked into the suite the day before. The room was more than she had ever expected or could have imagined. Selina was also instructed to contact the reception when she was ready for breakfast. When it arrived, she couldn’t believe what she saw. The presentation was so beautiful she didn’t want to touch or eat anything until she took some pictures. It looked like the meal was made and presented for a princess. Anything you could think of was on the breakfast tray. At 9 am Selina went to the Vitarium Spa & Clinique for an amazing 1.5 hour Thai massage and afterwards felt relaxed and refreshed. With the excellent assistance of the Spa staff, Chris and Selina managed not to see each other while they were both there at the same time. After the massage Selina went back to her suite and enjoyed a relaxing Jacuzzi bath followed by a rain shower. Even the bathroom was incredibly spacious, bright and beautiful. Nina arrived for her hair and makeup appointment at 1:30 pm. Selina truly felt like she was royally pampered! Her mom and maid of honour also arrived around this time to help her get ready for the wedding. They chatted, had some wine and cheese and listened to some music. The suite was the perfect place for the preparations.

The photographer arrived around 2:30 pm at which time he quickly revealed his creative side by taking beautiful and innovative photos of Selina’s wedding dress and accessories, the suite itself, and, of course, the process of getting ready for the ceremony. A very close friend, who had spent the last couple of years in Italy, also came to visit and spend time with them prior to the ceremony. She previously told Selina of an Italian gentleman who was excited to hear she had the opportunity to go to a wedding at Grad Otočec. He informed her about the history of the castle over the last 100 years and provided grand expressions of how beautiful it is to stay there. He also said that “any wedding there is forever and blessed by the gods.” While the finishing touches were being done, the Count and Countess welcomed the groom and guests at the entrance of the castle. All were invited to come to the courtyard for a glass of cviček and pogača (wine and bread native to the Dolenjska region) followed by the Countess leading everyone (except Selina’s maternal grandparents) to the park behind the castle where the ceremony was to take place. Before she knew it, there was a knock on the door - it was the Count! Selina began to feel somewhat anxious. Her life was about to change in a matter of minutes. The Count walked Selina down to the courtyard to meet her grandparents who would be “giving her away.” Together they walked to the location of the ceremony, to the beautiful, romantic music played by the pianist. The weather was very nice and somewhat cloudy, but right after the wedding ceremony the sun came out and added to their special fairy tale wedding.

After the ceremony, their guests blew bubbles instead of throwing wheat or confetti, and Chris and Selina released two beautiful doves. The Count and Countess then led everyone to the Garden Terrace for a champagne toast at which the bride and groom both opened champagne bottles with swords. This was an incredible experience and lots of fun for both of them. After the champagne ceremony, Dejan took “official” photos of bride and groom and of course the family and friends. “The photographs are spectacular! Somehow, each and every photo captures the feeling and magical moments that took place!” Dinner started at 6 pm and consisted of an exquisite fivecourse meal, expertly paired with fine wines. The DJ provided music throughout the evening. After the speeches and Chris and Selina’s first dance as a husband and wife, the wedding cake prepared by Grad Otočec was served. All of their guests had an exceptional time at their wedding. The day went by so fast and if they could have rewound the time, they would have, just to savour each moment again. Fortunately for them, the videographer produced a first class video of their special day and they can relive the magic any time they wish. The ambiance and majestic feeling of Grad Otočec, together with dressing like a princess, really made the day that much more special and memorable. There is no doubt that Grad Otočec was the perfect setting for what was definitely a magical, fairy tale wedding. The wedding was what Selina had been dreaming of and more. To this day, their guests comment on how truly elegant, classy and spectacular the entire wedding was.

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Bride’s advice “Aside from my bias given my Slovenian heritage, I would highly recommend Slovenia as a place to get married for many reasons. Slovenia is a small country that provides you with a surprising array of beautiful landscapes - majestic mountains, waterfalls, caves, Adriatic Sea coastline, glistening lakes, rivers, lush green hills, vineyards, castles and more – which provides you with a number of exceptional locations to choose from for your wedding. My experience is that the prices are reasonable and the service is excellent wherever you go. Slovenia is fairly easy to get to, considering I am 8,140.3 kilometres away from Ljubljana! The unique part about Slovenia is that it’s the only country in the world that has the word ‘love’ in it and it sure does show through its people, culture and beauty! Advice I would give to couples is to ensure that all the official paperwork is on track and ready for your wedding. Working closely with the Marriage Registry Office of the Administrative Unit in the region you plan to marry is highly recommended. At times, I also spoke with the Slovenian Embassy in Canada and also liaised with the Canadian Embassy in Slovenia as another way to ensure that all the requirements for a legal marriage were met. It would have been helpful if there was someone in Canada I could have hired to manage the paperwork process when marrying in another country. There is a tremendous amount of time and work that goes into planning a wedding and each detail counts. Remember to always be open and think outside the box. In all situations there are some things we can’t control; however, when having a wedding in another country and in another language, one must trust and accept what will take place. My best advice is to have a professional and experienced wedding planner, someone like Vida Trenz at Grad Otočec, for a stress-free and wonderful experience!”

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IN SHORT Bride’s wedding dress:

David’s Bridal Collection, David’s Bridal, www.davidsbridal.ca Groom’s suit or tuxedo:

Ted Baker, Derks Formals & Menswear, www.derksformals.com Bouquet: Ordered through Grad Otočec, Slovenia Cake: Grad Otočec, Slovenia Rings: Spence Diamonds, www.spencediamonds.com

Intergold, www.intergoldltd.com The Photographer: Selina asked Ms. Vida Trenz at Grad Otočec

for suggestions on photographers. She provided her with a list of photographers that had worked on some other weddings. Chris and Selina spent a great deal of time researching the choices and reviewing the on-line portfolios. One photographer stood out – Dejan Bulut. They chose him because they really liked his style of photography – all of the work he presented was spectacular. They immediately saw the creativity and the gift he had for photography and knew he wasn’t like “the rest of them.” Selina e-mailed Dejan to inquire about availability, price and to get a feel for his personality. She was impressed as he replied with all the information she requested within a few days. His English was excellent and communicating with him through e-mail was not a problem at any time (he also speaks about five other languages). Dejan was always very kind, down-to-earth, helpful and grateful to be working with them to capture all those special moments of their wedding day. He was very accommodating with respect to type of shots, props and locations and provided many suggestions. Dejan was always there to work with them based on their schedule and needs, during the planning stages and on-site in Otočec. Chris and Selina’s experience with Dejan on their wedding day was truly amazing. They had a great deal of fun with him and shared many laughs. This helped them to be themselves which resulted in absolutely phenomenal wedding pictures. Everyone at the wedding commented on how great the photographer was, whether it was regarding his personality, sense of humour or his obvious passion for photography.

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Otocec Castle

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Cakes bouquets We present to you colour coordinated wedding cakes and bouquets. Find your own colour combination.

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One story Two rings Forever

Draguljarna Malalan, Mestni trg 21, 1000 Ljubljana, telefon: +386 (0)1 421 77 40 www.malalan.eu , e-naslov: draguljarna@malalan.si

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Shoting in Venice Venice, the eternal city. The city of thousands of canals, squares and hidden places. Here we filmed the new Silhuete Bride collection for you. Experience the captured moments with us.

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Sofia SILHUETE BRIDE RETAIL PRICE 420€

Sahara SILHUETE BRIDE RETAIL PRICE 270€

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Selena SILHUETE BRIDE RETAIL PRICE 160€

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Sierra SILHUETE BRIDE RETAIL PRICE 350€

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Selma SILHUETE BRIDE RETAIL PRICE 270€

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Sienna SILHUETE BRIDE RETAIL PRICE 370€

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Suki SILHUETE BRIDE RETAIL PRICE 350€

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Sylvia SILHUETE BRIDE RETAIL PRICE 180€

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THE Disney princeSse by Alfred Angelo Dreams can come true. Even for those who found the inspiration for their wedding in the wonderful Disney cartoons. The acknowledged fashion house Alfred Angelo wanted to bring to life these iconic princesses, which were admired by each and every girl in her childhood, by creating a special collection of eight bridal gowns which carry their names: Ariel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Belle, Jasmine, Tiana and Rapunzel.

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Cinderella

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Rapunzel

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Tiana

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Ariel

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Sleeping Beauty

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Jasmine

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Alfred Angelo Piccione and his wife Edythe Piccione founded the fashion house more than 80 years ago. The fashion house is now managed by their daughter and son. They make sure that every year the Alfred Angelo brand presents wonderful bridal and evening gowns of the best quality. www.alfredangelo.com

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MAGAZINE Weddings in slovenia OFFICE: VIDI D.O.O. dolenjska cesta 148 1000 ljubljana slovenia t: +386 1 428 9999 E: info@sloveniaweddings.com www.sloveniaweddings.com