The Croatian coast is incredible; it’s no wonder Sarah and Gehrig decided to host their week-long wedding there. In another great choice, Sarah’s tiered, scalloped custom Winnie Couture wedding gown was perfect against the backdrop of the ocean and rocks. Such romantic sophistication — this European destination wedding will have you swooning.
Sarah + Gehrig | June 23, 2014 | Dubrovnik, Croatia | Dress Listing: Winnie Couture, Custom
The Ceremony
Our intimate ceremony was on the cliffs of the Hotel Palace Dubrovnik overlooking the Adriatic Sea and Dalmation Islands. When Gehrig and I got engaged, my parents gave us a budget and told us we could use it however we wanted. As a current 4th year medical student, my first instinct was to pocket the cash for a down payment on a house and elope just the two of us.
However, the more we discussed things, the more we wanted to be able to share this exciting time with our friends and family. Last year, my brother was diagnosed with metastatic thyroid cancer for the second time in two years, While the idea of planning a big wedding seemed overwhelming, the thought of planning a weeklong vacation somewhere beautiful for the people we love the most sounded a lot more fun.
Gehrig and I are both avid travellers and visited several countries over the past few years. However, I had been to Croatia a few years before we met and had been dying to return. Between the Dalmation Islands sprinkled along the coastline, wild peacocks, stunning turquoise water and seamless blend of Old World architecture with modern night life, to me, Croatia was nothing short of magical. After discussing our thoughts with friends and family, we decided that spending a week sailing the islands, celebrating our wedding, several birthdays and a 40-year anniversary, was the perfect way to kickstart our life together.
The Reception
The week was filled with more love, laughter, tender moments and heartfelt stories than we could have hoped for. Upon seeing our photos, a friend who wasn’t able to attend the wedding remarked, “Sarah and Gehrig – it was like Christmas in July this morning finally getting to see all these gorgeous photos capturing your incredible wedding! My favorite part wasn’t the epic setting, the pictorial-esque composition of each frame, or the dramatic beauty of either the bride or the Croatian coastline…it was that I could see how insanely HAPPY both of you were on this day, surrounded by everyone you love. Such joy, such love!”
Sarah’s Dress Search
This dress was the first one I tried on. Originally, I was going for a completely different style and silhouette but as soon as I put it on, I fell in love with the delicate detail and cascading skirt. I thought it would add the perfect amount of contrast to the jagged rocks of the ceremony’s backdrop.
How Sarah Felt in Her Wedding Dress
Stunning, comfortable, romantic 
Why Sarah Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
I think beautiful things are meant to be worn and appreciated. Since I don’t think I’ll be wearing the dress again, I want someone else to be able to enjoy all the time and craftsmanship that went into making this gown in the first place.
