We’re heading off the beaten path today, away from all of Croatia’s usual suspects …. Hvar, Dubrovnik, Split and so on. Today’s couple chose to hold their wedding in Šibenik, a quaint little historic town on the Adriatic coast, about two hours north of Split by bus.
S and Z chose Ĺ ibenik partly due to its location, not far from the groom’s hometown, but mostly just because it’s a beautiful, medieval hidden gem of a city. I asked their wedding planner, Anita of Promessi Weddings & Events to set the scene for us ….
Anita: Ĺ ibenik is the oldest originally Croatian city on the Adriatic coast, first mentioned in 1066. Due to its unique position in the safest natural harbor in the Adriatic on the Krka River estuary, the town developed into one of the most important renaissance centers. Ĺ ibenik is known for its medieval town with high stone houses, winding cobbled streets, numerous staircases, archways, churches, monasteries as well as stunning St. Jacob’s Cathedral, which is a part of UNESCO list of world cultural heritage. Ĺ ibenik is surrounded by three magical fortresses. The Fortress of St. Nicholas, the most important renaissance fortification on the Eastern Adriatic coast, stands in the St. Anthony Channel, which connects Ĺ ibenik harbor with the open sea. Two national parks, reachable in 30 minutes by boat or car, add to the attractiveness of the location for a wedding or honeymoon retreat.Â
S and Z chose the magnificent St Jacob’s Cathedral as the location for their wedding ceremony. It was an easy decision, as our bride explains . . .
The Couple
Today’s couple, S and Z were both raised in Switzerland but are originally from Bosnia and Croatia.
The Wedding Destination – Šibenik, Croatia
Ĺ ibenik’s old town is one of a kind!  As it’s close to the groom’s hometown, we got engaged in a famous restaurant right next to St Jacob’s Cathedral in Ĺ ibenik. Precisely in this moment before we entered the restaurant (and of course, before the bride knew what was going to happen!), a wedding party was leaving the church. So we took this as a sign and knew right away that we would get married in this cathedral which is also a UNESCO world cultural heritage site.
It was just a perfect match – the cathedral is kind of vis-Ă -vis of the resort where the reception took place. We traveled to our reception by boat, which was one of the highlights for our guests.
Time of Year
It was the beginning of October. In Croatia, this is still kind of a late summertime. In other words, the ideal wedding weather – mild temperatures and late summer vibes.
Planning a Wedding in Ĺ ibenik
We had the best wedding planner we could imagine! Promessi Weddings did a great job. The kick-off meeting was about 14 months prior to the wedding date. There were absolutely no difficulties! Fluent communication and support was granted at any time. We needed some assistance with legal arrangements as the wedding band came from outside Croatia, but even this was handled easily by Promessi!
Our Wedding Day in Ĺ ibenik
The gathering took place in a small villa outside the groom’s hometown of Vodice, where also most of the wedding guests stayed during the wedding weekend. It was a nice and private location and ideal for this size of a wedding! The night before the wedding day, we had a traditional Croatian welcome dinner (easy-going buffet style) which all of the people enjoyed very much! We absolutely recommend some kind of gathering the night before as this ensures that the people mingle and get to know each other – it breaks the ice.  Without this dinner, the wedding day would not have passed with such a laid-back and friendly atmosphere! The ceremony was held in St Jacob’s Cathedral which is a UNESCO world cultural heritage site in Ĺ ibenik. The couple’s photoshoot took place in Ĺ ibenik’s old town and the result was absolutely amazing and romantic pictures! We headed towards the reception venue by boat, accompanied by a Croatian musician trio who rocked it!  As for the reception venue, it is located on Ĺ ibenik’s peninsula with an awesome view on the sea, the cathedral, and Ĺ ibenik by night. Everything was perfect and professional, the waiters were kind and the meal was delicious! Special thanks to the florist! She made the venue a fairytale!
Special mention: the liaison between Promessi and the florist was initiated by the bride as she had seen the florist’s work at someone else’s wedding.  This connection was built to last – they still collaborate! 🙂
Advice for Other Couples Planning a Wedding in Ĺ ibenik
Just go for St Jacob’s Cathedral, D-Resort and Promessi Weddings! It’s a perfect match!
Must-do: Take the boat! 🙂
In a nutshell, the photographer enjoyed taking pictures in Ĺ ibenik as it is a refreshing “unexplored territory”, unlike Dubrovnik, Hvar etc.
S & Z’s Šibenik Wedding Vendors
Wedding Planner: Promessi Weddings & Events
Florist: Hedera Weddings & Design
Wedding Photographer: Nina Anic
Wedding Ceremony Venue: St James Cathedral, Šibenik, Croatia (Note: Also known as St Jacob’s Cathedral)
Wedding Reception Venue: D-Resort Ĺ ibenik, Ĺ ibenik, Croatia
Wedding Videographer: Catpaw Wedding Videography
Accommodation: Hotel Villa Radin, Vodice, Croatia
Wedding Cake: Sweet Cakes and More
Further Reading
- Destination Weddings in Croatia: 8 Myths Busted
- 5 Ways to know if a destination wedding is right for you
Find Your Wedding Vendors in Croatia
1 comment
Wow, this is so timeless. That’s incredible.