Mandi and Sam’s Riviera wedding unfolded like a full Mediterranean day, church bells in the village, salt air on skin, a boat cutting through the water, and a long table waiting at the end of it all. It all moved like a slow European summer film, softened into boat rides, hand-painted ceramics, and dinners that stretched long into the night with the help of Something Blue.
Location: Jelsa, Hvar Island, Croatia
Style: Classic, Eclectic , Vintage
Time of planning: 11 months
Number of guests: 90
Setting: Church and Garden
Season: Fall
Sam and Mandi met at work, but their story hit pause when Covid took over. When things finally started to feel normal again, it all clicked at a work dinner. Sam had saved her a seat right next to him and had already made it very clear to his coworkers that he was into her. From there, everything moved quickly. Two months later, they were living together, and not long after that, their dog Ralph joined the picture, their very proud “human son.”
When it came time to propose, Sam kept it personal and family-focused, bringing both families together at the Sunshine Coast, a place deeply connected to Mandi’s late brother. During an early morning beach walk, he got down on one knee, followed by a long family lunch in Noosa and a few quiet days away together, made even better by an extra three days off he had secretly arranged with her work.
Pre-wedding Aperitivo
The wedding weekend officially started with a pre-wedding aperitivo at Mandi’s cousin’s pizzeria. Think endless plates of prosciutto and cheese, traditional Croatian bites, and an open bar.
A local band from a nearby village set the tone, and everything unfolded by the riva, where guests mixed their own drinks, and eased straight into island life. It felt more like a regular golden-hour evening for people who actually live here.
That same effortless energy carried into their coastal rockscape portraits by SAZU Weddings. Just raw stone, open sea, and late-summer light. Mandi wore a soft, fluid blue dress, paired with tomato-red heels and a gold clutch. Sam kept it equally unfussy in light trousers and a rust-toned knit polo. Together, they looked very chic, slipping into the Adriatic shores.
Bride's Morning & Fashion
Mandi skipped the usual robes and matching pajamas and went for something way more her. For the morning by the pool, she wore a barely-there, nude-illusion dress with a soft glow. It felt like a smart swap for getting ready, light, effortless, and perfect for the heat.
Makeup by Katarina Ramic stayed natural, hair worn exactly how she always wears it and how Sam loves it most, nothing overdone. Champagne with her girls by the pool, sunlight everywhere, that calm, happy energy before the day really kicks in.
For the ceremony, Mandi opted for a custom gown by Marianna Hardwick, classic at heart with a modern twist. Long sleeves, delicate lace, a dramatic veil, but a clean silhouette that worked just as well for the church as it did for an island setting. Diamond earrings, a touch of Chanel perfume, and flowers made from traditional island blooms, rustic and natural, created by Fior Weddings.
Being surrounded by family and close friends in a village so deeply tied to her story made the whole morning feel grounding and emotional. Mandi later shared that she felt incredibly blessed, knowing her older brother was right there with her, making the day feel even more meaningful from the very start.
Groom’s Fashion
Sam kept it classic and didn’t try to reinvent the concept of the groom’s look. He wore a black tuxedo with a wide lapel, custom-tailored by YSG Tailors in Melbourne. Clean, sharp, and exactly right for the setting.
The idea was simple: something traditional that fits the weight of the day and won’t feel dated years from now. No trends and experiments, just a timeless silhouette.
First Look
The couple’s first look happened right there on the rocks, by the water. They read their vows out loud. And then the vibe flipped. Vows were done, emotions were settled, and the lovebirds went straight onto the boat.
“We made our entrance to the riva by boat, generously lent to us by Mandi’s cousin, which was a total surprise for our guests and such a fun moment to kick off the festivities,” shared the couple.
Ceremony
Jelsa isn’t just a pretty location for Mandi, it’s family history. This tiny village on Hvar is where her family has been for generations, and the church itself is over 400 years old. Her grandparents and great-grandparents were married here, so choosing this place wasn’t a decision, it was a given. So the idea was to make the day about family, faith, connection, and love. Everything else was secondary.
Before the ceremony even started, the vibe was already unreal. Everyone walked to the church together, led by a traditional Croatian band. Singing, dancing, laughing, switching between languages so literally everyone could join in. At some point, even people from the village who weren’t guests jumped in. It turned into this spontaneous, joyful street moment where nobody cared who you were or where you came from.
Mandi walked down the aisle to Hallelujah, played live on the violin, and it hit hard. She was walking the exact same path her grandparents and great-grandparents once did, people she never even got the chance to meet. For her dad, it was especially meaningful. His parents had fled Croatia after World War II, and he grew up in New Zealand, far from this village and his roots. Standing there that day felt like everything coming full circle, for him, for Mandi, and for their whole family.
The ceremony itself stayed true to their faith and felt deeply personal thanks to their priest, Don Ivan, who really took the time to shape it around them as a couple.Guests kept saying how different it felt from any wedding they’d been to before. In the best way.
As Mandi said, “Everything came together so effortlessly, like we had guardian angels watching over us.” They were even expecting a thunderstorm, but instead got a full week of sunshine. Pure luck or something more, who knows.
Moments Together
After the ceremony, everyone spilled out of the church straight into celebration mode. And then Mandi and Sam made their exit in a vintage Mercedes, casually iconic, while SAZU Weddings caught every second of it. Guests followed shortly after, hopping into vans and heading up to Pitve for the reception at Konoba Dvor Duboković, Mandi’s cousin’s traditional Croatian restaurant. Very “locals know, tourists don’t.”
The vintage Mercedes deserves its own moment. Wooden steering wheel, leather interior, chrome details. And those black-and-white frames, felt like future family material.
Reception & Decor
The reception unfolded in the most natural way, under a tree that instantly set the tone for the entire evening. No oversized wow-installations, but a leafy canopy overhead and one long table that became the heart of everything.
Bentwood chairs and a solid wooden table brought in that effortless European bistro energy and long-table culture. The escort display followed the same mindset. Mounted on wooden boards against a stone wall, it looked more like an art piece from a local studio than a traditional wedding element.
The table styling was where everything really came together. Hand-painted plates with blue accents, imperfect in the most charming way, gave the whole setup warmth and personality. Almost like a long summer dinner at your grandmother’s countryside house, just elevated and beautifully composed.
A huge part of how effortlessly this atmosphere came to life was thanks to Something Blue. They worked with what was already there, allowing the setting, textures, and natural rhythm of the evening to lead. Every detail felt intentional, which is honestly one of the hardest things to achieve.
Mandi changed into her second look. She wore a vintage Italian silk chiffon gown she found online, made the same year she was born. Strapless, light, and fluid, it was clearly chosen to move, to dance, and to actually live in. She paired it with a custom neck piece made especially for her by bridal designer Alin Le Kal, inspired by Spanish fashion, one of her favourite influences.
The couple made their entrance into dinner alongside their bridesmaids, groomsmen, brothers, and sisters, and that’s when the party really began. Dinner was a full Croatian feast: lamb, veal, octopus peka, fresh salads, wood-fired vegetables, eggplant parmigiana, cheeses, and cold meats were served generously, turning the table into a shared experience.
Cocktails flowed easily throughout the night. Margaritas, Negronis, and Aperols made the rounds, alongside Mandi’s family’s own white and red wines. Even the choice to serve drinks in cups instead of traditional glasses added to the relaxed, almost home-style feel of the evening.
The sculptural white cake took its moment too, because sometimes the dessert deserves a main-character arc. A tall white cake with hand-textured ruffles and a soft, almost baroque feel, finished with a swan topper for a subtle old-Europe touch.
Transitions of the night felt natural. With an incredible DJ and sax duo setting the soundtrack, the dance floor stayed full well into the night.
More than anything, the newlyweds wanted their guests to feel like they were on holiday, not stuck in a rigid schedule. Nothing overly formal, nothing forced. Just a day that flowed naturally, felt real, and was filled with good energy. Sam and Mandi are both laid-back people, so once the day arrived, they let go and trusted it. Looking back, they genuinely feel lucky, as nothing went wrong.
Advice from the couple:
• Follow your heart, stay true to your desires, and make sure your nearest and dearest are there to celebrate with you. Let go of external expectations and focus on what you truly want, what matters most to you and your partner.
• And yes, entertainment and food definitely need to be top priorities! At the end of the day, it’s the finer details that will be captured in photos, but what people will remember forever is how they felt on your wedding day.
PLANNER Something Blue | PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER SAZU Weddings | FLORALS & DESIGN Fior Weddings | MUAH Kate Ramic, Anja Salon | DRESS Marianna Hardwick | SUIT YSG Tailors | RENTAL CHAIRS Showroom Rental | CAKE La Feri | OLDTIMER CAR Oldtimeri Najam | DJ DJ Miro Dubrovnik | CEREMONY VIOLIN SOLO Violin Weddings Croatia
