A September day by the sea, around a hundred guests, and a beach tucked under the red cliffs near Sveti Stefan. That was one of the warmest weddings of the season, held at Galija Beach club, where the tables sit almost at the water’s edge.
Scroll through this day: the morning getting ready, the first tears, a ceremony beside the open sea, a dancing entrance to the guests, and a cake lit with sparkling fountains.
Beach Wedding in Montenegro: A Day at Galija Beach by the Sea
This was a big wedding, around a hundred guests, right by the sea, on a beach beneath the red cliffs near Sveti Stefan. Galija Beach club sits right at the water, with an open view of the sea, and it is hard to picture a better spot for a warm September wedding. Let me walk you through this day, from the first morning prep to dancing that ran almost to midnight.
The Groom’s Morning at Maestral Hotel
The groom got ready at Maestral Hotel. He dressed unhurriedly with his friends, everyone met at the bar and clinked their first glasses of champagne. He had prepared gift sets for the guys, each one with a knife, a glass and a couple more things. We shot a few relaxed group frames with the guys, light and lively, while the mood was only just getting going.
The Bride Getting Ready and the First Tears of the Day
Then we went over to the bride. We started with her: a portrait on the terrace, with a view of the sea and of Budva. Then she put on her dress. Her first look with her father was deeply moving, the first tears of the day. Later came the first look with her bridesmaids, just as emotional: some cried, some laughed, and the champagne was opened. That kind of light, slightly nervous getting ready before the ceremony is exactly what I love to catch.
The Ceremony on Galija Beach
The ceremony took place on Galija Beach, between the red cliffs, with an open view of the sea. Right by the water there is a bar with a pier, where the decor and the chairs for the guests were set up, with the reception area next to it. We arrived a little before the guests and shot the decor and everyone arriving, calm reportage frames and real faces. A friend of the couple led the ceremony, cracking jokes and lifting everyone’s spirits, so there was as much laughter that day as there were tears. The couple read their own vows and could not hold back their tears, and that was one of the strongest moments of the day. Then came the ring exchange, the kiss and a whole sea of confetti. That wrapped up the formal part.
What I hold onto most from this day is the moment the couple read their vows and could not hold back their tears. Those honest minutes are the ones I want to keep for years, and they are exactly why I photograph.Maria
The Dancing Entrance to the Guests and Dinner
The evening started in an unusual way. Instead of the usual walk in, the couple made a dancing entrance to the guests. First the bridesmaids danced, which was very funny, then the groom’s friends did their own routine, just as silly, and then the couple joined in too. There was one especially funny bit where they tried to spell out letters with their bodies to a song. After that came the speeches, and then dinner, the calmest part of the evening, when everyone simply eats, drinks and enjoys the sea and each other’s company.
Cake with Fountains and Dancing Until Midnight
The cake was cut under cold fountains, with sparks, which always adds a little emotion and surprises the guests a bit. As tradition goes, the couple cut the cake and fed each other. And then the real party and the dancing began, which, honestly, is what I love shooting most of all. We finished up around midnight.
Pulling together a day like this by the sea, from getting ready at the hotel to the ceremony on the beach and the evening dancing, is much easier with a good wedding planner, and that is someone we would happily recommend through us. And if you are planning a beach wedding in Montenegro and looking for someone to photograph your whole day, get in touch: I am Maria, a wedding photographer in Montenegro.