Ultimate Zadar Wedding Guide for 2024

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Zadar was always one of our favorite Croatian cities. Somehow everything about it is just right – size, surroundings, possibilities… After we have written wedding guides for almost every popular wedding location or region in Croatia, the time has come to write an article about the Zadar wedding that will serve as a starting point for everyone interested in getting married in this historical city.

We’ve been wedding photographer and videographer for almost 10 years now and through our communication with the couples whose weddings we were documenting, we learned a lot about things they wished they knew before embarking on a destination wedding planning adventure.

So here’s to everyone interested in a wedding in Zadar. Hope to see you there and make you memories for a lifetime.

Welcome to Zadar

Zadar is located in the northern part of a region called Dalmatia. It’s one of the most popular and most visited regions of Croatia and every part of it is equally beautiful. The northern part, where the city of Zadar is located, is a place where Dalmatia meets a mountainous region known as Lika. The most fabulous mountain Velebit and all of its wonders is located not far away from Zadar.

Zadar is another famous historical city in Croatia and it was once a bastion of the ancient Byzantine empire. Today, Zadar is a modern city intertwined with historical architecture. Roman influence can be found in many of the old monuments which are still preserved and act as a testament to the rich history of this city.

Apart from history and culture, there are some interesting and innovative art installations you won’t find anywhere else in Croatia. Greeting to the Sun is one of them and it’s located on the main promenade, at a place where you can observe some of the best sunsets you’ll ever see. Greeting to the Sun is the light installation on which you can walk and get almost to the meditative state as the colors and shapes are dancing below you. Sea Organ is another interesting installation, located just by the Greeting to the Sun and it presents an organ that produces sounds as the sea hits its tubes.

Zadar is a diverse place and its diversity gives a special charm to it. Having all this in mind, we’re sure you’ll start exploring further about Zadar and its surroundings. From the wedding point of view, Zadar offers a lot, from captivating sunsets and historical backdrops to magnificent natural surroundings that are located so close to Zadar.

Zadar wedding photographer and videographer

We are Andrea and Mario and we’ve been in the elopement and wedding photography and videography business for years now. We document weddings all across Croatia and Europe and our style is natural with a focus on documenting real moments and emotions as they happen on your wedding day.

Through the past few years, we have been writing a lot of articles about destination weddings in Croatia on our website. Explore our blog and we’re sure you’ll find more relevant resources that will help you turn your daydreams about wedding in Croatia into reality.

Finally, if you like our photography and videography style and want us to document your wedding in Zadar, just reach out and share your wedding vision with us and we’ll send you our packages and prices for weddings in Zadar region. Looking forward to meeting you there!

Related: Our Ultimate Croatia Wedding Guide

zadar wedding

Reasons to choose Zadar for your wedding in Croatia

Historical Venues

The history of Zadar goes back to ancient times and many of the venues are preserved in very good condition and are being used until this day. Zadar offers many historical venues that are a unique blend of romance and timelessness. Each of these venues adds to the atmosphere of your Zadar wedding.

Breathtaking Sunsets

Zadar is known for its sunsets which were described by famous Alfred Hitchcock as some of the most beautiful in the world. We’ve been to Zadar many times and we can’t but agree with this statement since all the sunsets we’ve witnessed from Zadar shores were amazing. Greeting to the Sun is the single most popular spot to dip your mind into the sunset colors. Oh and yes, sunsets are great when it comes to wedding photography and videography.

Related: Destination Wedding on Šolta Island

Culinary Delights

Croatia is famous for its culinary delights and Zadar is no exception. Zadar cuisine is as rich as its past and culture. Being in the middle of 2 regions and on the coastline, this area is a blend of different culinary experiences. Having your wedding in Zadar will allow you and your guests to embark on a culinary experience you’ll talk about for a long time.

Intimate Beaches

Beach weddings are a thing and many couples decide to have their wedding ceremony on the beach or near the beach. Zadar area is full of different kinds of beaches – rocky, sandy, and pebbly. We’re sure you’ll be able to find a perfect beach spot for you if you are into beach weddings. There’s something special about getting married right by the sea.

Related: Brown Beach House Hotel Seaside Wedding

Accessibility

Zadar is the only place in Croatia that has 2 connections with the nearby motorway that can lead you anywhere else in Croatia and even Europe. That fact alone tells a lot about the accessibility of Zadar. There’s also an international airport nearby with many flights connecting it with other European destinations, especially during the summer months. Choosing an easily accessible location for your destination wedding in Croatia is one less thing to stress about.

Adventure and Leisure

Choosing a location with many options regardless of the wedding is a great thing. That’s why some of the most popular wedding venues in Europe and Croatia are the ones with many things to see and do around them. Zadar is a great wedding location when it comes to this aspect too. Let’s face it, a wedding lasts for a day and you stay in a wedding destination for a while. Both you and your guests will appreciate the possibilities of the Zadar area. There are 3 national parks not so far away from Zadar – Kornati, Krka, and Paklenica. Zadar is a great place for pre-wedding and post-wedding activities for your whole group.

Unique Attractions

Finally, Zadar is home to the unique attractions we already mentioned before and you won’t find them in any other part of Croatia. One of them is Sea Organ through which the Adriatic Sea makes music and another one is Greeting to the Sun, a vivid show of shapes and colors. Definitely a thing to see and experience when having a wedding in Zadar.

The best time of the year to get married in Zadar

Just like the rest of Croatia, Zadar is most visited during the summer months of July and August. The best time of the year for your Zadar wedding largely depends on your vision and the experience you would like to get from your wedding. Here’s what to expect out of each period popular for wedding in Zadar.

Related: Croatia Elopement Guide

Spring (Late April to June)

Like anywhere else in Croatia, Spring in the Zadar area is a season of awakening. The temperatures in this period are moderate and they get warmer as closer to the summer months it gets. Tourist season in the Zadar area usually starts at Easter and there are not so many visitors until late June. The mild weather of Spring is perfect for outdoor ceremonies and it’s the perfect option if you are seeking a balance of pleasant weather and privacy and a more intimate setting.

Early Summer (June and July)

Early summer is among the most popular periods for weddings in Zadar. The days are slowly getting hotter and hotter and sea temperatures rise too. The first half of June is still kind of preseason and the number of tourists starts to rapidly increase from the end of June through July. During these months Zadar becomes alive and there are many events being organized. Beware that July days can be very hot and outdoor weddings can be done only early in the morning or near the sunset.

Related: Velebit Mountain Wedding

Late Summer (August)

August is the peak of the season and the hottest month in Croatia. It’s also a period when the Zadar is full of visitors from all around the world. This period is a great choice for couples who love a lively environment and don’t care about the crowds. If you are organizing a larger wedding in Zadar, this might not be the best period for it.

Early Autumn (September to October)

Similar to late Spring, early Autumn is another popular period for organizing a Zadar wedding. The temperatures drop and many of the tourists go back to their homes with the start of the new school year. Adriatic sea is still warm and some of the best sunsets can be observed in this period. September and October are perfect months for couples who seek to have warm and pleasant weather and include many activities during their stay for a wedding in Zadar.

Off-Peak Seasons (November to Early April)

This period is not so popular when it comes to wedding in Zadar area but it can still offer a unique experience. The weather is not so stable so indoor wedding venues would be preferred, although there are many sunny and warm days even in this period. Choosing a venue with an outdoor and indoor option is the best advice we can give to you if you plan to have your Zadar wedding in this period. This period is also budget-friendly which means you’ll be able to find services and accommodation at a lower price than during the peak wedding season.

Related: When to get married in Croatia

Best Zadar wedding venues

Church of St. Donatus and the Roman Forum

For a wedding experience with a historical vibe, the Church of the St. Donatus and the Roman Forum that surrounds it are among the best options. This unique circular church is one of the most famous of Croatian landmarks and it dates back to the 9th century. It’s a preserved symbol of Zadar’s rich past and there is something truly magical about exchanging vows in a setting such as this.

Falkensteiner Resort Punta Skala

This Falkensteiner Resort is located on a private peninsula and it’s great if you want your Zadar wedding to have a scent of luxury and tranquility. This resort offers a great seaside experience with great views of the Adriatic Sea. It’s perfect for an outdoor wedding ceremony in the Zadar area.

The Land Gate and Fosa Harbor

This monumental entrance to the old part of the city was built in the 16th century and it provides a great backdrop for weddings. It overlooks the Fosa Harbor and it’s surrounded by the unique Renaissance architecture.

Any of the many Zadar seaside villas

Zadar is full of luxury villas of all sizes which are perfect for intimate weddings or elopements. These villas are usually located on the seaside and it’s the perfect choice if you want to have a secluded and private wedding in Zadar. There is also an option to rent a private chef to cook for you and your guests.

The Greeting to the Sun

Famous Greeting to the Sun is one of the most unique wedding venues in Zadar. It’s usually full of people during the summer months (and most of the year) so it’s a good option only for elopements. But if you choose to proceed with this venue, it will most definitely give your wedding a futuristic vibe. It’s also a great place for a wedding photoshoot in Zadar.

Almayer Art & Heritage Hotel

This is a boutique hotel located in the old core of Zadar. It’s perfect for small and stylish weddings and has a lush garden which is a great option for an outdoor wedding ceremony in Zadar. The hotel’s great culinary team will present you and your guests with some of the most delicious food you’ve ever tasted.

Zadar wedding prices: An estimated cost for a wedding with 50 guests

Let’s talk budget since budget is an important aspect of every destination wedding. Please note that the prices mentioned in this section are just the guidelines and can be different than the actual ones at the time you’re reading this article. We’ll do our best to keep them updated, but still, the best thing you can do is to contact the vendors directly and ask for the prices of their services. However, these prices can give you an image of the price range you could expect when planning and organizing your Zadar wedding.

For the sake of this article, we’ll take the example of a medium-sized wedding with 50 guests attending it. For a such wedding, you can expect to spend somewhere between €15,000 to €30,000. These prices include the services we describe below in this section.

Wedding Photographer:

A wedding photographer in Zadar might cost you from €1,500 to €3,000 for a full day of coverage. This usually includes coverage of the entire event, post-processing of images, and delivery of photo material in an online gallery.

Wedding Videographer:

Similarly to a wedding photographer, a wedding videographer might cost you somewhere between €1,700 to €3,500. This would generally cover the filming of the whole wedding, from the getting ready part to the wedding dinner, as well as the production of a professionally edited video.

Related: Croatia Wedding Videographer

Hair and Makeup Stylist:

Hair and makeup for the bride and bridal party can vary greatly, depending on how many people are going to use these services, but for a group of 50, you might expect to pay around €500 to €1,000, considering not all guests will require these services.

Food and Drinks:

Food and drinks for your guests are among the significant costs of each medium and large wedding.. For a wedding in Zadar, you might spend around €5,000 to €10,000, which should cover a dinner, drinks, and wedding cake, based on a range of €100 to €200 per person.

Venue Rental Fee:

Venue rental fees in Zadar can vary widely depending on the location, exclusivity, and time of the year. Renting a picturesque venue could cost between €2,000 to €5,000, and this would include basic amenities and some decor elements.

Wedding Planner:

For full-service planning, you might expect to pay from €2,000 to €4,000. The wedding planner handles the logistics, from vendor coordination to the wedding day arrangements and logistics.

Officiant:

Hiring an officiant for the ceremony can range from €300 to €600. The price usually includes consultations, the creation of personalized vows, and the conducting of the ceremony.

Florist:

For floral decorations, bouquets, boutonnieres, and other floral arrangements, a typical range might be from €1,000 to €2,000, varying with the choice and quantity of flowers.

These prices are just guidelines and might not reflect the real prices. It’s best if you check prices with each vendor you want to include in your wedding in Zadar.

Need a Zadar wedding planner? We’ll recommend you the best ones

If you are planning a medium to large-sized wedding in Zadar, you might want to use the services of a wedding planner. Through the years of working in the wedding industry, we have worked with some of the best wedding planners in Croatia and we’re able to recommend you the ones that would fit your wedding vision. Just reach out through the contact form on this website, let us know about your wedding and we’ll recommend the best wedding planners in the area.

The wedding planners are important aspects of every wedding and a person who will be in touch with you from the early planning stages of your wedding. We know that sometimes it can be overwhelming to organize a destination wedding if you are living far away from a given destination and that’s why the help of the wedding planner is so crucial.

Apart from the wedding planner, wedding photographer, and videographer are other persons who spend most of the time with you on your wedding day. It really matters who you choose to be your photographer and videographer because these people are responsible for documenting every part of your wedding.

If you like our photography and videography style, contact us and we’ll send you our Zadar wedding packages and prices. Have a great day and good luck with planning your wedding!

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Hello there!

We are Mario & Andrea, a photo+video team, specialised in elopements and intimate weddings all across Europe. Contact us if you plan an elopement or intimate wedding with a pinch of adventure.