In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about planning or attending a destination wedding in Croatia.
Weddings in Croatia: What You Need To Know
Croatia is quickly becoming one of the most popular wedding destinations in Europe.
And it’s no wonder why!
This Mediterranean country boasts beautiful scenery, stunning historical architecture, and a relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for a destination wedding.
From the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea to the rolling hills of the countryside, Croatia offers a wealth of beautiful backdrops for your wedding day.
Croatia also offers a wide range of wedding venues, from intimate cliff-side chapels to grandiose medieval castles.
And with its convenient location, getting to Croatia for your wedding is easy and affordable.
Whether you are looking for a romantic setting for your nuptials or an unforgettable adventure for your guests, a destination wedding in Croatia is sure to be a hit.
But first: you need to know where in the world Croatia is…
Where is Croatia?
Croatia is a country in the northwest corner of the Balkan Peninsula, and is at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Italy to the west and southwest.
Area: 21,851 sq mi (56,594 sq km), population in 2022: 3,888.529.
Croatia Facts To Know:
- Language: Croatian
- Currency: Croatian kuna (HRK)
- Airports: Zagreb Airport (ZAG), Split Airport (SPU), Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)
- Official Tourism Website: https://croatia.hr/en-gb
- Driving side: Right
Below you will find some more useful information about visiting Croatia for your special day:
4 Tips for Planning a Destination Wedding in Croatia
Planning a wedding can be stressful. Planning a destination wedding can be even more stressful!
But it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips and things you need to know for planning a destination wedding in Croatia:
1. Choose a date that works for both you and your guests
Choosing a wedding date can be a daunting task, whether you are planning on getting married in Croatia or closer to home.
You want to make sure that you pick a date that works for both you and your guests.
Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect wedding date:
- How To Pick A Date For A Wedding?
- When To Send Out Save The Date For Wedding?
- How To Write Date On Wedding Invitation?
2. Decide on a budget
When it comes to having a Croatia wedding, there are a lot of different factors that come into play – from the guest list to the venue.
But one of the most important decisions you’ll make is how much you’re willing to spend.
Here are some tips on how to decide on a budget for your wedding:
- How To Plan A Wedding On A Budget?
- What Is A Good Wedding Budget?
- How To Decorate A Wedding Reception Hall On A Budget?
3. Find a venue that fits your vision and budget
No one ever said wedding planning was easy. In fact, it can often feel downright daunting.
Here’s some useful resources for finding a wedding venue in Croatia:
4. Hire a wedding planner to take care of the details
A wedding planner can take care of everything for you, from booking vendors to creating a timeline for the day.
Here are some tips on how to find and hire the right planner for your big day in Croatia
Croatia Weddings: Key Information
Getting married abroad is a big decision. There’s a lot of things you need to be aware of if you want your big day to run smoothly.
To help, we have put together some useful information about getting married in Croatia:
- What is the average cost of a wedding in Croatia?
- What are the marriage requirements for Croatia?
- What is the weather like in Croatia?
- What should you pack for a trip to Croatia?
- What things are there to do in Croatia?
- What are the best Croatia wedding venues?
Read on to find out more:
How Much Does a Wedding in Croatia Cost?
The cost of getting married in Croatia is $42.25 (US Dollars) plus the potential travel fee of the registrar.
In order to get officially married in Croatia, you are required to make three payments, which are as follows:
- Marriage registration fee – $9.25
- Conclusion of civil marriage – $33
- Travel fee if the wedding will take place outside of the registrar’s office
The travel fee will vary depending on the day of the week, the hours of the day, and the distance from the office of the registrar, and it can go up to $1,300.
Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Croatia
Marriage in Croatia is open to all foreign nationals, regardless of whether or not they are permanent residents of the country.
If you plan on getting married in Croatia, you must inform the local registrar at least 30 to 45 days in advance.
Both parties, as well as a court interpreter, must go to the registrar’s office three days before the wedding. Any marriage involving a person who is not a Croatian citizen must have a translator present, and it is to make sure you fully understand everything.
The registrar will print your marriage intention, and you will be asked to sign the intention if all the information is correct.
Marriage in Croatia, however, might need a great deal of paperwork. The paperwork requirements for each nationality vary, depending on the agreements in place with your home country.
The documentation required for a prospective bride and groom may be different depending on their countries of origin.
You need to get in touch with the registrar in the Croatian jurisdiction where you want to be married if you want to find out what kind of documentation is necessary for your nationality.
You must provide these documents in order for your marriage to be recognized as legally binding and legitimate once you return to your home country.
Not only do the requirements for the documents change depending on the nationality of the applicant, but the particular Croatian jurisdiction also has its own requirements. Everyone’s situation is unique.
If your country doesn’t have an existing treaty with Croatia, then you will need to go through a full legalization process after being married in Croatia.
Registrar’s office in Croatian is called ‘matični ured’, and the registrar is ‘matičar’. You can find the list of the registrars’ offices here. Begin by selecting the appropriate county and then proceed to find the city.
The following documents are required from all couples getting married in Croatia, in addition to the nationality-specific paperwork (all documents have to be translated into Croatian and apostilled/legalized):
- Certificate of free marital status
- Certificate of no impediment
- Birth certificates
- Certificate or Absolute Decree for widows/divorcees
- Copy of passports (it is not necessary to have it translated into Croatian or apostilled/legalized, but UK citizens must have the copy verified by a public employee or a solicitor)
- Identification document
All names must be identical on all legal documents unless you have a government proof of the name change which has to be translated to Croatian and apostilled/legalized.
All documents should not be older than 3 months from the wedding date.
What Is The Weather Like in Croatia?
July and August are the months that are ideal for vacations at the coast. It’s important to keep in mind that thunderstorms and rainy days, even in the height of summer, are not unheard of in the northernmost part of the coast (Istria, Rijeka), but are much more uncommon along the coast of Dalmatia.
Typically, the first signs of autumn’s rains (which may be particularly strong on the coast) start around the middle of the month of September. The fall season is characterized by the prevalence of the wet, southerly winds.
May through September is the best time to travel across the rest of Croatia, which includes the inland regions and the capital. Even though it usually is sunny, there is always a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon (on average one every 3 or 4 days).
It may become hot in July and August, particularly in the plains and inland valleys, so people who don’t like the heat should visit in May, June or September.
What should you pack for your trip?
If visiting in the summer, pack light clothing like T-shirts and shorts for the hot summer days, but also long trousers, a light jacket, and a sweater for the evenings and colder days, particularly if you plan on visiting the inland areas or the region of Istria.
When traveling during the winter, even if visiting the coast (because of the occasional strong winds), it is advisable to pack warm clothing – a hat, a down jacket, a scarf, gloves, and a raincoat or umbrella.
Croatia Weather By Month
Below you will find some useful information and handy tables of weather information to help you pick the best month to visit Croatia:
Average Temperatures in Croatia
The table below shows the average temperatures in Croatia each month:
| Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
| January | 5.9 | 10.7 | 8.3 | 43 | 51 | 46.9 |
| February | 5.9 | 11.4 | 8.6 | 43 | 53 | 47.6 |
| March | 8.4 | 14.4 | 11.4 | 47 | 58 | 52.6 |
| April | 11.7 | 18.3 | 15 | 53 | 65 | 59 |
| May | 16.2 | 23.6 | 19.9 | 61 | 74 | 67.8 |
| June | 20.2 | 28 | 24.1 | 68 | 82 | 75.4 |
| July | 22.8 | 31 | 26.9 | 73 | 88 | 80.4 |
| August | 22.8 | 30.9 | 26.9 | 73 | 88 | 80.3 |
| September | 18.3 | 25.3 | 21.8 | 65 | 78 | 71.2 |
| October | 14.7 | 20.4 | 17.6 | 58 | 69 | 63.6 |
| November | 10.7 | 15.5 | 13.1 | 51 | 60 | 55.6 |
| December | 11 | 11.7 | 9.4 | 45 | 53 | 48.8 |
| Year | 13.8 | 20.2 | 16.95 | 56.8 | 68.3 | 62.5 |
Average Rainfall in Croatia
The table below shows the average rainfall in Croatia each month:
| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
| January | 70 | 2.8 | 8 |
| February | 70 | 2.8 | 8 |
| March | 60 | 2.4 | 7 |
| April | 65 | 2.6 | 8 |
| May | 55 | 2.2 | 6 |
| June | 50 | 2 | 5 |
| July | 25 | 1 | 3 |
| August | 35 | 1.4 | 3 |
| September | 80 | 3.1 | 6 |
| October | 80 | 3.1 | 7 |
| November | 125 | 4.9 | 10 |
| December | 90 | 3.5 | 9 |
| Year | 800 | 31.5 | 80 |
Sunshine Hours in Croatia
The table below shows the average sunshine hours in Croatia each month:
| Month | Average | Total |
| January | 4.5 | 135 |
| February | 5.5 | 150 |
| March | 6 | 190 |
| April | 7.5 | 220 |
| May | 9 | 280 |
| June | 10.5 | 320 |
| July | 11.5 | 360 |
| August | 11 | 335 |
| September | 8 | 245 |
| October | 6.5 | 195 |
| November | 4.5 | 130 |
| December | 4 | 125 |
| Year | 7.4 | 2690 |
Sea Temperatures in Croatia
The table below shows the average sea temperatures in Croatia each month:
| Month | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
| January | 14 | 58 |
| February | 14 | 57 |
| March | 14 | 57 |
| April | 15 | 59 |
| May | 18 | 64 |
| June | 22 | 71 |
| July | 25 | 76 |
| August | 25 | 78 |
| September | 23 | 74 |
| October | 20 | 68 |
| November | 17 | 63 |
| December | 16 | 60 |
| Year | 18.6 | 65.4 |
What To Wear in Croatia? (Packing Tips)
It can be difficult to know what to pack for your vacation. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind when preparing for your trip.
We’ve put together some tips on what to wear in Croatia so that you can make the most of your time there.
- A comfortable pair of walking/hiking shoes: You will likely want to explore the historic cities and beautiful coastline, and you may even decide to do some hiking.
- A hat or sunglasses: The sun is strong in Croatia. Be sure to pack a hat or sunglasses to protect your eyes.
- Sunscreen: Don’t forget sunscreen! The Mediterranean climate can be quite sunny and warm.
- Beachwear: Croatia has a beautiful coastline sitting on the Adriatic sea. Pack your swimsuit, beach towel, and any other beach gear you need.
- Camera: Croatia is incredibly photogenic. Be sure to bring along a camera to capture all the memories.
- Basic first-aid supplies: It is always a good idea to pack some basic first-aid supplies in case of any emergencies.
- Cash or traveler’s checks: Be sure to bring along some cash or traveler’s checks, as not all businesses in Croatia accept credit cards.
- Chargers: Be sure to bring along any chargers and travel power adapters you’ll need for your electronic devices.
- Passport and travel insurance documents: Last, but not least – don’t forget to pack your passport and travel insurance documents!
Things to Do in Croatia
There are many different things to do in Croatia, no matter what time of year you visit.
Here is a list of some of the top activities to enjoy during your stay:
- Walls of Dubrovnik
- Diocletian’s Palace in Split
- Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Tkalčićeva street in Zagreb
- Sea Organ in Zadar
- Amphitheatre in Pula
- Trakošćan castle
- Old Town of Korčula
- Upper Town in Zagreb
- Paklenica National Park
- Mljet National Park
- Poreč Old Town
- Krka National Park
- Pakleni Islands
Best Croatia Wedding Venues & Hotels
With so many stunning locations to choose from, how do you know which is the best wedding venue in Croatia?
Here are our picks for the top spots to tie the knot, as well as hotels to stay in:
Wedding Venues in Croatia
- Villa Dalmacija in Split
- Trogir Town Hall
- Villa Sheherezade in Dubrovnik
- Lokrum Benedictine Monastery
- Fort George on island Vis
- Trsteno Arboretum in Dubrovnik
- Gallery Meštrović in Split
- Kairos Vineyard in Trogir
- Totos on island Hvar
Hotels in Croatia
- Sheraton Zagreb Hotel
- Rixos Premium Dubrovnik
- Marvie Hotel & Health (Split)
- Livris Hotel (Zagreb)
- Family Hotel Amarin (Rovinj)
