Sarah and Jack share a passion for travelling, and one of the first places they visited together was Croatia's Istrian peninsula. They fell in love with the region's breathtaking scenery, food and wine, and decided it was the perfect place to hold their wedding day!
David McNeil Photography
A cool Croatian wedding
"We knew that we wanted an outdoor wedding, so we started looking into whether a wedding in Croatia was a possibility," says Sarah. "After a lot of online research we realised we could get a lot more for our money in Croatia than in the UK – and all our guests would get a fabulous holiday!" The couple held their wedding at the Hotel Istra on St Andrew's Island, Rovinj. "As soon as I saw it I knew it was the perfect place for us!" says Sarah.
David McNeil Photography
A cool Croatian wedding
Sarah chose all her favourite colours to make up her colour scheme - bright coral, pale peach and gold. "I wanted a colour scheme that reflected a feminine, boho look and it was perfect for our late spring date," explains Sarah.
David McNeil Photography
A cool Croatian wedding
The couple held their ceremony outdoors in front of a Grecian-style mausoleum with views around the island. "With such a stunning location we could keep our decorations to a minimum, which saved us a bundle!" says Sarah. "The hotel provided a white carpet and white chairs for the guests, and for the decoration I asked them to scatter flower petals along the aisle. I ordered paper pom-poms from ProstotheHost on Etsy too – I knew the colours would really pop against the white background. They were meant to hang off each chair lining the aisle but they were placed on the aisle instead – I still thought they looked great though!"
David McNeil Photography
A cool Croatian wedding
Sarah wore a '50s-inspired dress from Watters Bride, which she bought in Nashville! She paired it with pink and red Vivienne Westwood Anglomania for Melissa heels, and a statement hairpiece and pearls.
David McNeil Photography
A cool Croatian wedding
Rather than going for a traditional bouquet, Sarah found a unique one made of vintage fabric from Bedouin on Etsy. The fabric base was finished off with beautiful fresh peonies for a modern but romantic look.
David McNeil Photography
A cool Croatian wedding
The fun, relaxed theme of the day was carried through to the couple's cool stationery. It was designed to have a retro music festival feel, and was designed for the pair by a talented friend!
David McNeil Photography
A cool Croatian wedding
Rather than a formal sit-down meal, guests enjoyed a delicious buffet served al fresco in the Croatian sunshine! "Our best idea was turning our wedding into a week-long celebration," says Sarah. "We went out a week early and hired a villa for the wedding party and friends who were able to come so we all got a mini-vacation before the wedding!"
David McNeil Photography
A cool Croatian wedding
Instead of traditional flavours, the couple's guests had pots of jam with pretty fabric lids and personalised labels.