Having known each other for over 13 years, Simeona tells us the pair met when Mirko crashed a party at her house (ahh house parties, those were the days)… However, it wasn’t until another three years passed that the pair met again. “It took us almost forever, but once we actually got together, we were engaged and married within 12 months!” There to capture all the details of this incredible destination wedding was one of our favourite Melbourne-based photographers, Eric Ronald. Bride’s have flown him all around the world- scroll down and you’ll see why…
THE VENUE “I went to Montenegro for the first time about 10 years ago with my dad and fell in love with Kotor. I told dad back then that I would be married there one day and lucky for me, Mirko went along with it.”
FAVOURITE DETAIL “The wedding cake! We had an amazing local cake for dessert that doesn’t really work as a big wedding cake, so we decided to have a cake made of cheese wheels. Everyone was served dessert and then the cake was cut up and turned into cheese plates for the tables… Plus, it looked really beautiful.”
THE DRESS “Helen Rodrigues was the first and last boutique I went to. I tried on about 10 dresses in all different styles and after asking Helen if I could try on something with sleeves (even though I knew I was getting married in the heat of the European summer), she handed me a dress I hadn’t seen on the rack, and that was it. I came back two weeks later to order it during the trunk show and a few months later it arrived ready for the wedding. I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a less stressful experience.”
MEMORABLE MOMENT “The procession to the church with all the guests (led by the brass band) walking into the square where the sound of the church bells took over with my father- and being led into the church where Mirko stood was incredibly magical and surreal.”
TALK ABOUT TRADITION… “Some really special moments for us included the floral crowns which were made for us by the local priest in Kotor, who decorated the crowns with small crosses that he’d made from olive twigs. And the cloth with which our hands were tied together is a piece of antique silk woven in the Metohija region of Serbia over a hundred years ago. Its unhemmed ends symbolise the thread of life, the passing from generation to generation and the fabric is later fashioned into a baptismal garment for the first born child.”
This wedding was originally published in our 2018 Real Weddings Special. If you’d like to check out more from this issue, limited copies are available via our online store.
And if you want even more real wedding inspiration from one of our favourite photographers, Eric Ronald, click here. He’s one talented human.
CONTRIBUTING VENDORS Photographer Eric Ronald Cinematographer Nadtochiy Family & Wedding Photography Ceremony Church of St. Nicholas, Kotor Reception, Catering & Hire Items Cattaro Hotel Entertainment Balkan Express Wedding Bands Natalie Marie Jewellery Transport Air Serbia BRIDE Bridal Gown Inbal Dror Haute Couture & Veil Jenny Packham via Bridal Boutique Helen Rodrigues Engagement Ring Starco Shoes Giuseppe Zanotti Earrings YCL Jewels Makeup Laza Beauty GROOM Suit, Shirt, Bow Tie, Shoes & Cufflinks Calibre
