REAL WEDDINGS

BOHO SUMMER WEDDING ON PAG ISLAND: SARAH & DIETER

Chantal

BOHO SUMMER WEDDING ON PAG ISLAND: SARAH & DIETER

Those of you who have been reading this blog since its beginnings know that my favorite type of article to write is a Real Wedding feature. Today I am more than delighted to share a dreamy summer wedding that took place this year on the island of Pag. Boškinac hotel is one of the loveliest locations on the Adriatic coast, a true gastronomical oasis. The whole wedding was beautifully organized and coordinated by the talented Antonia of Something Blue Weddings. Read on for the full scoop on this boho summer wedding!

How did you two meet?

Sarah: Dieter and I met on the third of July in 2016, so our wedding date marks the fifth anniversary of our encounter actually. We were both attending an outdoor festival with our friends. The theme of the festival was ‘Marriage’. It was quite funny actually, Dieter was very drunk and we exchanged quite some looks that afternoon. By midnight the festival was over and when we were all heading towards the exit, Dieter ran up to me to kiss me goodbye on the cheek. He told me “see you soon”, but was actually too drunk to exchange contact details. After a few weeks he however sent me a Facebook request, but apparently only because a mutual friend pushed him. I accepted his request and then we started talking, from the first date, came the second and well, the story is still continuing.

Tell us about your engagement.

Sarah: We actually mutually consented that we would like to get married one day. However, in 2020 Dieter had to leave for a professional deployment of 6 months. We planned a trip to Bali just before and I learned afterwards that he planned to ask me during that trip on a mountain top. However, the Covid-19 crisis started and our trip still hasn’t taken place. Dieter left on deployment and the first weekend he came home (October 2020), he planned a small trip together to the Opal coast in the north of France. He really isn’t the type of guy that plans a lot, let alone organizes a surprise trip. I started to suspect a proposal, but really didn’t expect he was going to pop the question straight away on our first stop along the way. He proposed on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean, asking if I would forever and ever stand by his side. I told him that it was fine if the ring fitted and so it did. We had a magnificent weekend together and actually didn’t plan to get married 10 months later.

What made you choose Croatia as your wedding destination?

Sarah: I started brainstorming and speculating about our summer wedding the weeks following our engagement. People also started asking what we had in mind etc. Belgium is a very risky country when it comes to the weather, prices also skyrocket if you pop up the word “wedding”. We also didn’t have the feeling that we wanted a traditional wedding in our hometown. Our first holiday together was in Croatia, our second one as well, we even bought our dog in Croatia. So the link with the country was quickly made actually. I started browsing the internet for some information and planned a small trip by car in December to visit some locations. I contacted all the different locations myself and it was a really hectic trip!

Was Boškinac hotel on Pag island your first choice for the wedding?

Sarah: Our location was the first choice mainly because of the variety of possibilities: Michelin starred restaurant, vineyard, and hotel for the guests, perfect picture location, stunning garden, exceptional staff etc.

How did you choose your wedding planner?

Sarah: After our trip to Croatia, we realized that we were going to need some help, a lot of help! We have quite some projects running at home and planning a wedding requires some time and specific competitions and flair. After having some online meetings with a few wedding planners, we knew what we weren’t looking for, but we still hadn’t encountered Antonia. We were looking for someone who shared our mindset, was bubbling with energy and wasn’t afraid of a little challenge. Thank God we came across SBW’s website and encountered Antonia. The vibe was straight away very natural and we were on the same page. Antonia pays close attention to what the couple is looking for and tries to live up to your expectations. She keeps her feet on the ground and communicates very transparently on the possibilities and the situation. Everything is considered and you won’t have any surprises working with her. After about five online encounters, Antonia was the only one one that gave us the trust that everything was going to be fine. She took the time to listen and understand what we were looking for and what was less important for us. She didn’t push her own thoughts, but always gave perfect advice. She is an open minded spirit that will align with your ideas perfectly.

Tell us something about your summer wedding theme/ How did you choose the flowers, decorations, etc.?

Sarah: We were looking for a laid back mood with a twist of bohemian and fun, but still looking impeccable and perfect. Not an easy combination, but it was put together flawlessly by Antonia and her team!

Tell us a fun anecdote from the wedding or favorite part of the wedding day/week.

Sarah: We were a bit panicking when the DJ asked us for a cake entry song the day before the wedding. We really didn’t think about this and started asking for input from our friends. Then Antonia gave the advice that it can be a dramatic song, which gets everybody’s attention straight away. We went for the Star Trek theme song in the end, a perfect choice.

My favorite part of the wedding however was the full day. Antonia made it so easy and enjoyable that I would love to do it again anytime. We enjoyed every minute of it, didn’t worry about a thing and let the course of the day guide us. No better way to enjoy your wedding than to have it done like this. Because after all, it’s about enjoying the day together with your newlywed partner, your family and friends!