(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
For Croatian-American bride Victoria Radman Brown, getting married in Dubrovnik was the fulfilment of a childhood dream and a celebration of the heritage that has shaped her life.
Victoria, who was born in New York and raised with a strong connection to her Croatian roots, married American groom Matt Brown in a destination wedding that brought together family and friends from across the United States and Europe.
The couple chose Dubrovnik as the setting for their special day, combining their love story with Victoria’s deep connection to Croatia and her family’s homeland.
“My father was born in Petrčane, just outside of Zadar, before immigrating to the US as a young boy. Even after building a life abroad, his heart remained tethered to home,” Victoria told Croatia Week.
“Growing up, we returned to Petrčane every single summer, a place where my dad has since rebuilt all of our family properties following the war. I was born in New York but raised with a deep connection to our heritage. I grew up fluent in Croatian, and Petrčane remains the heart of our family’s story.”
Victoria is also a Croatian citizen and holds a Croatian passport.
Engagement in Petrčane (Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
A Croatian connection shared with her husband
Victoria and Matt met at Fordham University in New York in 2017. Although Matt is American, Victoria says he has embraced her Croatian heritage.
“Over the last six summers of visiting Petrčane, and bringing our favourite friends and family along, he has immersed himself in the culture so seamlessly,” she said.
“From learning the language and making fast friends with locals to enjoying a cold Karlovačko and proudly supporting Hajduk Split, he has made my roots his own.”
Matt had previously visited Croatia, but it was a trip to Dubrovnik in 2022 that helped confirm the city was where they wanted to celebrate their wedding.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of saying ‘I do’ in Dubrovnik. Bringing Matt here in 2022 sealed the deal, he fell completely in love with the city, too,” Victoria said.
The couple also noted that direct flights from New York helped make bringing family and friends to Croatia more accessible.
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
Wedding weekend in the historic city
The wedding celebrations included several events across Dubrovnik, beginning with a sunset cruise aboard the historic Tirena galleon, sailing alongside the city’s famous walls.
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
A white-themed welcome party followed on Friday before the main ceremony on Saturday.
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
The main ceremony took place at the historic Sponza Palace, which incorporated elements of Croatian culture, including traditional music and Croatian and American flags carried by the groomsmen.
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
Around 120 guests travelled to Croatia from across the United States and Poland, where Victoria’s mother’s family originates.
“It was incredible watching everyone turn our celebration into their own adventure, planning trips throughout Croatia and Europe both before and after the wedding,” she said.
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
“Seeing our special day turn into such a memorable holiday for the people we love made it all the more meaningful.”
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
For many guests, it was their first visit to Croatia.
“Watching everyone wander through the historic streets, enjoy the views, and experience the warmth of the local culture was incredible,” Victoria said.
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
Local expertise helped create the celebration
The couple worked with Dubrovnik Luxury Wedding and planner Paula Janović, who Victoria described as instrumental in bringing their vision to life.
“Working with a wedding planner, and specifically with Paula Janović and the team at Dubrovnik Luxury Wedding, was the single best decision we made for our big day,” she said.
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
“Planning a destination wedding can easily feel overwhelming, but Paula made the entire experience feel completely effortless, organised and genuinely enjoyable.”
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
The wedding featured an Elie Saab bridal gown, along with a range of Croatian and international vendors involved in creating the celebration.
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
The couple thanked all those who contributed, including their wedding planner, photographers, videographers, florists, musicians, caterers and venues in Dubrovnik.
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
Advice for couples considering Croatia
For couples abroad considering Croatia as a wedding destination, Victoria believes embracing local expertise is key.
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
“If you’re dreaming of getting married in Croatia from across the ocean, my biggest piece of advice is to trust the journey and let the heart of the country lead the way,” she said.
“Planning from afar can feel daunting, but when you surround yourself with the right local team, people who truly care about your vision and know every corner of these historic towns, the stress completely melts away.”
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
Looking ahead, Victoria and Matt hope to continue their connection with Croatia by passing their heritage on to the next generation.
“We can’t wait to bring our future children to Croatia, teaching them the language, swimming in the same Adriatic waters I grew up in, and watching them make their own memories in Petrčane,” she said.
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
(Photo credit: Love Food Wedding Photography)
“Passing down our heritage, our love for the coast and our family roots to the next generation is extremely important to us.”
