We love the Croatian islands! This sounds like a perfect start to this article. And we love photographing and shooting island weddings and elopements. These have that special kind of vibe you hardly describe but feel very vividly. Did you know that Croatia has 1244 islands of which 48 are inhabited? Just imagine the diversity and amount of options you have if you are planning an island wedding in Croatia.
In this article, we are going to write about Korčula island and everything you need to know if you are thinking about organizing a Korčula wedding, starting from the best Korčula wedding venues, different types of weddings in Korčula, things to do after your special day and much more.
Just like any other island in Croatia, Korčula has its own peculiarities, traditions, and way of life. And the island way of life is something we adore. It almost feels that time has stopped there in a different, more romantic past. It’s easy to get dragged into this way of living and maybe that’s the reason why so many people fall in love with the Croatian island.
Are you ready to fall in love with Korčula?
Related: Top reasons why choose videographer for your wedding in Croatia
Pioneers of outdoor elopements in Croatia
Love and Ventures are Andrea and Mario, a wedding and elopement photographer and videographer, based in Croatia. With years of experience shooting elopements and intimate weddings in all kinds of landscapes, we decided to create this guide to serve you as a good starting point for planning your elopement or wedding in Korčula.
Let the adventure begin!
About Korčula island
Korčula is one of the southern Croatian islands and it’s widely believed to be the birthplace of the world’s famous explorer Marco Polo. The whole island is beautiful although its eastern part is much more popular and visited. Korčula town is one of these places and we always like to think about it as a small Dubrovnik. More and more people come to Korčula each year to roam the narrow stone streets and discover the secrets of this famous historical town.
Korčula island is surrounded by other stunning islands in the Croatian south – Hvar, Lastovo, Vis, and Mljet. Every single one of them is within your reach if you are visiting Korčula and these are the perfect locations to visit during your stay on the island. Pelješac peninsula is yet another stunning piece of landscape and history and the closest part of the land to Korčula island.
Apart from its rich history, Korčula is famous for many other things too, beautiful nature and crystal clear Adriatic sea being one of them. You will never see the sea clearer and more transparent than on the islands in Croatia.
Why Korčula might be just the perfect wedding destination for you?
Time to move on to the main topic of this article – wedding in Korčula. As you might already know, Croatia is one of the most famous places for weddings and elopements in Europe. If you have ever visited Croatia, you’ll know why is that so. Apart from some places such as Dubrovnik city, many of these weddings are organized on the Croatian islands. Among these – Hvar, Vis, and Korčula are among the most famous ones.
If you are planning to elope in Croatia, here is our comprehensive guide made for you
If you were always dreaming about getting married by the sea or having a wedding reception in a restaurant hidden in a secluded bay, then the island wedding is a way to go for you. And it can be really magical. We have done numerous island weddings so far and they are among our favorites. Reasons? Well, maybe versatility. You might think that being on the island reduces your options but it’s quite opposite. You can really make your wedding stand out.
The boat ride is just one example of it. People love boat rides and your guest will love them too. We had a few weddings and elopements which included a boat ride to the ceremony location and it’s always a great experience for everyone. And it’s romantic too, especially if you are on an old wooden boat. Think about it if you are planning a wedding in Korčula. Apart from the boat rides, islands are usually full of stunning locations which give you the opportunity to spend some great time apart from your wedding or elopement.
What type of weddings Korčula is perfect for?
Korčula really shines when it comes to smaller weddings and elopements. All the islands are perfect for these intimate ceremonies and weddings. By smaller weddings, we mean all the weddings that include a maximum of 20 persons. For this kind of wedding, most of the places in Korčula are available for the wedding ceremonies and dinner. These smaller weddings are also much easier to plan and organize so that’s another big plus of smaller weddings.
When it comes to Korčula elopement, only the sky is the limit. Endless possibilities and only you and your partner are ready to immerse in them. If you haven’t heard about elopements already, read our article about elopements and things will be much clearer. It’s one of the most popular wedding types lately and it usually involves only the couple getting married, sometimes accompanied by a few of the best friends. Korčula is an elopement paradise.
You could organize a large wedding in Korčula too but the larger the wedding fewer options you have. Islands simply don’t have the huge infrastructure required for a large wedding and it would be more complicated to organize such a wedding on the island than on the mainland.
How to get to Korčula island?
There are many ways you can come to Korčula. The most common ways are either by ferry or catamaran from Split or by ferry line that connects Korčula with Orebić on the Pelješac peninsula. Which of these to choose, it’s really up to you. If you don’t want to drive, the best option is a ferry from Split. Split is the second largest city in Croatia and one of the busiest airports during the season so it’s easy to find a flight from your place to Split.
On the other hand, the way we would choose if we are coming by plane to Split is driving along the coast and through the Pelješac peninsula just to take a short ferry ride from Orebić to Korčula. This ride takes only 20 minutes compared to 2 hours ferry ride from Split. But there is always a fast catamaran option from Split too. Southern Croatia is driving heaven and we strongly suggest that you rent a car and just drive through it.
Car is also perfect for exploring Korčula island and all of its beautiful locations.
Can foreigners get legally married in Croatia?
Luckily, yes. You can get married by an officiant and your marriage will be valid worldwide. But before you can get legally married in Croatia you need to take care of a bit of paperwork. It’s nothing to be afraid of even though it might sound complicated. The amount of paperwork and correct procedure largely depends on the country you are coming from so it’s best to check with Registrar’s Office. If you have any questions about this or you’re in any kind of doubt, we’re here to help.
If the paperwork idea seems too much for you and you want to avoid it at any cost, you always have the option of a symbolic ceremony. In this case, your marriage won’t be legally binding, but you can always do this part at home. And let us just say that more and more couples are deciding on having a symbolic wedding in Croatia. Read further and we’ll explain the main differences between a legal ceremony and a symbolic one.
Also, you can read all about getting married in Croatia in our ultimate Croatia wedding guide.
Your Korčula wedding: legal ceremony vs. symbolic ceremony
Each of these 2 types of wedding ceremonies has its own advantages and you won’t make a mistake if you choose any for your Korčula wedding. Honestly, we prefer the symbolic ceremonies because these are much more customizable and you can really make anything out of them. On the other hand, legal ceremonies always have the same structure and can be somewhat rigid compared to symbolic ones. And that’s the main difference between these two apart from the fact that legal ceremonies result in legally binding marriage while symbolic ones do not.
There are different types of symbolic ceremonies too. You can hire a symbolic officiant to lead your ceremony during the Korčula wedding and this kind of ceremony can be shaped according to your wishes. Officiant usually makes a custom text just for you and you can incorporate some local traditions into the ceremony too.
In another type of symbolic ceremony, one of your close friends can be the officiant and these are usually very relaxed and emotional types of ceremonies with many couples choosing to do it this way. This kind of ceremony is usually organized at smaller weddings which include up to 10 persons.
Last but not the least, there are types of ceremonies where there’s no officiant at all. These are usually present at elopements when only the couple getting married is present. These are also the most intimate ones and almost always include the reading of the vows couples write for each other.
Best time of the year for a wedding in Korčula
When it comes to the best time to organize a Korčula wedding, we would say that preseason and postseason periods are the best. Months like April, May, June, and September are perfect for weddings in Korčula. Many people choose to have their wedding in the middle of the summer in Croatia and while it could be organized to avoid the heat, we still believe that periods outside the main season are much better. Heat and weddings are just a bad combination.
If you really insist on having your wedding or elopement during the hottest months, that’s fine. Just make sure you avoid the hottest hours since they can really ruin a lot of things. Trust us, it’s not very comfortable to be in formal wear when it’s +40 °C outside.
The months of June and September are still very warm and it’s still possible to swim in the sea during these months. The main significant difference between these months and July and August is that there are way fewer people around which makes the whole experience of Croatia much better.
Weather might be a bit less unpredictable than during the middle of the summer, but still, the islands in Croatia are the most sunlit parts of Croatia so there is a high chance that you’ll have clear skies during your Korčula wedding in preseason or postseason.
Korčula wedding venues: Our top locations for a breathtaking ceremony
What a ship is to the sea, that’s the ceremony location for the ceremony. It makes a difference. Big difference. Don’t have a ceremony on the balcony of your accommodations. There are many great places for your Korčula wedding and we are going to show you our favorite ones. Apart from these, there are many more different spots available on Korčula island so let us know if you haven’t found your perfect location on our little list. We’ll gladly help you to find it.
Badija island
Badija is a small island near the island of Korčula and Korčula town. It has an old Franciscan monastery on it and it’s one of the largest islands in the Korčula archipelago. Badija ceremony would include a boat rides and we already mentioned how cool the wedding boat rides are. Another reason for choosing Badija as the Korčula wedding location – there are deers roaming the island.
Vrnik island
Vrnik is another small island in the Korčula archipelago and a common place for intimate weddings in Korčula. It’s also the only one of the smaller islands that are inhabited. One of the most popular wedding ceremony locations on Vrnik island is in front of the 19th-century church. Apart from the church, there are some other places available for weddings on this small island.
Ražnjić horn
Ražnjić is a horn near Lumbarda on the Korčula island. It has a small lighthouse and an open sea view dominates wherever you look. There is a path to this beautiful location which is perfect for elopements on Korčula island.
Agro tourism gems
Now, this is not a specific location like some others is, but it doesn’t matter. Korčula island is full of small family-run restaurants which serve homemade food delicacies. Many of these are perfect for organizing Korčula wedding at their premises. You can have both the ceremony and the reception at these places. Even if you are not into a wedding ceremony in these stone oases, we recommend visiting at least one of them for lunch or dinner.
Vela Špilja cave
Vela Špilja is located on the western part of Korčula island and it’s not the regular cave you might imagine in your head. Vela Špilja is a peculiar-looking cave with 2 large holes on the roof which were made when the ceiling collapsed and fell into the cave. Archeological findings suggest that this cave was inhabited from prehistoric times and many artifacts are still being discovered in this interesting location. Definitely the most unique place for your Korčula wedding or elopement.
Exploring the area after your wedding in Korčula: things to see and do
As always, we always suggest having some fun and adventures in the location of your wedding before and after your ceremony. That’s why Croatia is such a popular wedding destination in Europe, there are simply so many things you can do and see that it feels like a wedding and honeymoon in one. It’s the same with Korčula. Whether it’s only you and your partner eloping on Korčula island or you are having a larger Korčula wedding, you have many options for some great experiences that both you and your guests will adore.
One of the things that everybody loves is a panoramic boat ride. Whether it’s a part of your wedding or you book it separately, everybody’s gonna love it. If you are into more adventurous activities, you might want to book a buggy ride through Korčula island. A great adventure and an outstanding experience. If you like water activities, we suggest sea kayaking tours as the best activity to discover secluded beaches and escape from the crowds.
Apart from the activities on Korčula island, there are many options for day tours. Korčula is close to many other famous destinations in Croatia. If you have a car, there are no boundaries for you. Pelješac peninsula is the closest location worth exploring. It’s famous for its wines so make sure you visit at least one winery and indulge yourself with some of the best wines in Croatia.
Furthermore, the famous city of Dubrovnik is also relatively close to Korčula and you can reach it either by car or by catamaran. Either way, we suggest you save one day for a visit to Dubrovnik city. Then there are Neretva valley called Croatian California and a perfect place for adventures in nature. Some other islands like Hvar and Vis are also within reach and great places to discover and explore.
Korčula wedding packages cost
Finally, we come to one of the most wanted answers about every wedding in Croatia – how much your Korčula wedding might cost you? As always, it widely depends on the type of wedding you are having, number of the guests that are present, and the vendors you want to hire.
For example, elopement in Korčula with 2 people present might cost somewhere between 2000 Euros to 4000 Euros. The lower end of this range might be enough for a photographer, wedding flowers, a symbolic officiant, and a dinner for you and your partner. The higher end will usually be enough for hair and makeup, wedding photography and videography, symbolic officiant, wedding flowers, a boat or adventure tour, and dinner for the two of you.
Larger Korčula weddings are a bit more expensive because these usually include more people so generally, your wedding might cost you somewhere in the range of 4000 Euros to 10000 Euros or more. The lower end of the range equals weddings with up to 10 persons and it might include hair and makeup, a wedding photographer, flowers and floral decorations, a symbolic officiant, a boat tour, and dinner for you and your guests. The higher end of the range is for weddings with approximately 40 persons and it might include hair and makeup, wedding photographer and videographer, flowers and floral decorations, wedding planner services, venue fee, symbolic officiant, band or DJ, boat tour, and dinner for you and your guests.
Korčula elopement: a perfect alternative to traditional wedding
Elopements have become one of the most popular ways of getting married in the past few years. If you are not sure what elopement is, check our other blog posts and things will be much clearer to you. Shortly, elopements are stress-free weddings, usually abroad and with only a couple getting married being present. The main advantage of these kinds of weddings is the absolute absence of stress, the number of locations available, and the lower costs of organizing it.
More and more couples are choosing to elope in Croatia and we have numerous posts which will help you plan and organize your elopement. Like most of the Croatian islands, Korčula is perfect for elopements. Whether you want to elope near the sea, on a secluded beach, or on the top of a mountain, you have it all on this island. Some of the locations we mentioned in this article are much more suitable for elopements than traditional weddings.
Korčula wedding photographer and videographer
Korčula is a location we always gladly return to, whether it’s for weddings and elopements or just exploring and adventures. Every wedding photographer’s main goal is to capture the essence of your wedding and tell its unique story through photography and videography. Apart from being just Korčula wedding photographer and videographer, we also help you plan and organize your Korčula wedding. If you want to elope in Korčula, we suggest possible locations and connect you with local wedding vendors.
If you have any additional questions not answered in this article or you want to book us for your Korčula wedding, connect with us through the form below and we’ll answer you shortly 🙂
LET’S CONNECT IN 3 EASY STEPS!