It’s an addiction, I just can’t put the bloody camera down. Not sure if it’s because time seems to fly by these days and I enjoy looking at it through a lens only to reflect afterwards, I’m not sure. But I filmed bits too. The recording is nothing special, I was sat in a restaurant in the old town of Kotor listening to the ambient sound of the workers and the guitarist. Listening to this takes me back and I really do wish I was still there. The hustle and bustle of people, the heat, the culture. Three things I’ve deeply missed.

So, I’m fresh off a plane from Montenegro and what quite possibly and quite surprisingly was one of the best holidays I’ve ever been on. This place is a bit of me. My only wish is it had been longer, but you know what it’s like, childcare, work commitments and real life call. One day I’m sure we’ll manage more than 3 days away together.

I’d had my eye on Montenegro for a while, Rich typically hates the heat and so I have to be mindful of this when approaching the topic of holidays. So we thought heading to the mountains would be a little cooler. We couldn’t have been more wrong on that one. It was a scorching 24 degrees upon waking most mornings at 5am. A temperature I can absolute live in. Rich not so much but plenty of walking, bike rides and nice breeze helped.

Montenegro is the country next to Croatia, 3 hours south of Dubrovnik. I knew from the start I wanted a good hotel and lots of things to do, I always book package holidays these days thanks to several cock ups with easyJet and air B&B, and always use Jet2.com indulgent escapes. We paid £1400 for three nights bed and breakfast, flights and transfers. Yes I like to spend money on the right things and holidays for me is one of them. I chose the Hyatt regency Kotor bay. A brand new 5* hotel about 4 miles walk from the old town of Kotor. I chose this place for its location and quiet position and it looked insane.

We had one rain storm, at 6am one morning but it was so welcome, I walked down to the beach and just watched in absolute silence. It was beautiful. The hotel was incredible, it was super quiet too, and barely any other British tourists. The food was amazing and the rooms spacious and comfy. We opted for a deluxe room. The hotel straddles the main road through the bay. I call it a main road, it’s more of a single track in places. So it’s super quiet. However it does mean that the buses are never on time.

So, why am I writing this? Well to be perfectly honest, the next stage of my business is to market for more destinations weddings but not the usual ones. I want countries that really appeal to me and aren’t the go to popular ones,Lake como, Lake Garda, Paris, Marrakesh, they are all lovely but it’s just not for me. I want to use my job to see the world and there are some absolute gems out there. I’ve been lucky enough to capture weddings in Greece, Iceland, Amsterdam, France, Spain and Italy but there’s so many more on my bucket list.

Mountainous regions off the popular radar are where my love lies and they are so much quieter and way less expensive. Exploring this country in three days has really given me the taste for it and has really made me want to pursue work here.

It’s so so flexible for elopements and micro weddings. The larger weddings wouldn’t probably be of interest to me as it’s the adventurous possibilities that this country offers that makes me think it’s a perfect option for a wedding. For me, being stuck in a venue all day is a bit restricting when you’re surrounded by such beauty and opportunity. Incorporating a hike or boat ride into your wedding day really does make it so much more memorable for you and your guests. Kotor has numerous forts, lots of water and even a cable car ride. Just think of the photos. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to go up the cable car but I’m hoping it won’t be the last time we get to visit, so maybe one day. It’s relatively new too. This is evident in the airport facilities and it seems that most tourists come in via cruise ship.

I fell in love with the architecture, the buildings, the colours, the history and most of all the lack of tat shops selling shite everywhere. I said to Rich, it’s a tiny slice of the world that welcomes tourism but hasn't yet been butchered by the crap side of it. It felt somewhat protected.

The food was actually incredible. Fact.

I just love capturing the little details that remind me of these beautiful places.

As I mentioned before, we’d hoped for cooler weather - we got full on 30 degree scorching sun for 4 days. Not that I’m complaining, it was a much needed rest bite from the miserable rain back home. Another reason for those of you who can’t possibly cope with the thought of a rainy Uk wedding- MARRY ABROAD. Seriously, if wedding weather worry is living rent free in your brain whenever you think about wedding planning then fuck it all off and come abroad. Because quite frankly, I’m sick of the uk weather too, it makes my job a whole lot harder (not if you’re eloping of course, my elopement couples are often easy breezy and up for getting piss wet through)

There are plenty of things to do in Kotor, we went for a walk, climbed the ladder of Kotor and did a 26 miles bike ride loop around the bay, catching the car ferry back to our hotel. It was a really special day. We went on a boat tour to see the submarine tunnels and I even found my next hotel stay for when I come back - half joking, half serious (maybe for my 50th birthday in ten years eh) check this out - Mamula Island - WTAF!! and yes, they do weddings!!!.

Montenegro is a very religious place, everywhere you look there are churches to be seen scattered all over the mountains and even in the sea. We visited the lady of the rocks church in Kotor bay by boat. You can legally marry here, but it’s best to contact a Montenegro wedding team - these guys seem to be the ones in the know -Idoindu

If you want to legally marry in the UK and pop over here for a little celebrant ceremony ontop of a rock, or on a boat, yacht, fortress, or milling through an ancient city. Then this is for you. In my opinion, much more beautiful than Italy, a fuck load cheaper. Imagine a sunny warm Swiss Alps but by the sea.

If you are genuinely interested in getting married here then check this link out. Here’s everything you need to know as a Brit marrying in Montenegro. https://www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad/y/montenegro/uk/partner_british/opposite_sex

More food shots - just because…. The squid ink risotto was absolutely delicious and seems to be local dish. Other than that, Montenegro is alllll about the meat. Vegans might wanna avoid.

You can get to Montenegro two different ways, by either flying to Dubrovnik and getting a transfer (approx 3 hours) or flying to Tivat and getting a transfer (approx 30-40 mins depending on traffic and where in Kotor bay you’re staying) the airport at Tivat is very very small and not really able to cater for the amount of flights leaving. Incase you’re not told, fight your way through check in and then go for a coffee in the cafenegro. They’ll call your plane forward when it’s time to go through passport control, security and then literally straight onto the plane. We figured this out after 35 minutes of queuing in an angry endless queue. Basically there’s not enough room on the gate side to house all the tourists so literally one plane leaves and they’ll let another plane load of folk through.

If you’re interested in registered wedding venues in the country then here are a few:

Talici Hill  rustic villas https://talicihill.com/#events

Galija Beach- Budva https://www.instagram.com/galija.beach?igsh=czF0cnBrczJ3ZWNt

Mamula Island - https://www.mamulaisland.com/en/

With every wedding venue there’s always the chance that’ll it just feel like another hotel, in an another country away from your creature comforts. I urge you to think differently though. One of my best and most happiest years doing this job was bizarrely 2020. I shot 28 weddings despite almost losing my business. All of those weddings were micro weddings under 30 people and they were incredible. Only inviting their nearest and dearest. No dramas, nothing. Every destination wedding bar one has had under 50 people. Some elopements. This way you only invite those who you know are your very special people. It’s evident in the wedding industry right now that financial worries are halting a lot of couples from having the big wedding day. You can of course combine the wedding with a honeymoon and really enjoy it all in one go. Montenegro is perfect for this because of it proximity to Italy, Croatia and Greece. Or as a wild card, Serbia and Bosnia, next on my travel bucket list I might add.

One of our lasting memories of staying in Kotor Bay was watching the massive cruise ships roll in every day and night and become completely dwarfed by the mountains. Not gonna lie, it has made me consider a cruise. The thought of waking up in a different country every day massively appeals. Interestingly, you can actually marry on a cruise.

Here’s some of us. Exploring mainly, happy childfree for 3 whole days. We talked, remembered who we were pre child and pandemic. It was nice. Montenegro will always be a special place.

The downer I’m on right now is ridiculous. Three days simply wasn’t enough time together. We go back into our busy lives, literally living like passing cruise ships in the night and hope and pray that it won’t be another 5 years before we get to holiday together again. We absolutely loved our stay in our beautiful hotel, but incase you prefer an air B&B I spotted this one on our daily walks.

As always, if you’re thinking about changing plans for your big day and eloping or going abroad, get in touch. I know a few things about the process and can help point you in the right direction.

For complete transparency I charge my usual UK rates for destination weddings, this includes the half day and hour by hour (minimum 3 hours for destination) plus two nights accommodation and return UK flights. A buffer charge of £250 covers transfers, taxis, car parking and other bits and bobs.

I will book my own accommodation and flights and check with you and your budget before proceeding.