After six months of planning our destination wedding in Lake Bled, August 19, 2026 had finally arrived.
We had spent months organizing everything, from the venues and vendors to the smallest details of our wedding-day schedule.
But no amount of planning could prepare us for some of the moments we would experience that day.
And looking back, those were some of our favourites.
Waking Up to Blue Skies Over Lake Bled
The first thing I did when I woke up on our wedding morning was check the weather app.
Yes, even on our wedding day!
After spending weeks monitoring the forecast, I couldn’t help checking one last time for sunny skies and the probability of precipitation.
Fortunately, we didn’t have to look far for reassurance.
Outside our balcony, Lake Bled was greeting us with bright blue skies and beautiful views of the castle.
It was exactly the kind of morning we had hoped for.
Duygu and I headed downstairs for an early breakfast before our suite became the getting-ready headquarters for the morning.
Soon, Katerina and Anastasia would arrive for hair and makeup, along with our guests who were getting ready with Duygu.
Morning views of the Bled from our balcony on our wedding day. (Photo by Ana Gregorič)
After months of planning, everything was finally happening.
A First Look I’ll Never Forget
Our first look took place before the ceremony, on the steps of Vila Bled.
It was a private moment, just the two of us.
I knew Duygu would be walking down the steps behind me, but I wasn’t prepared for how emotional it would feel.
As soon as she reached me, she tapped my shoulder and said, “Hello,” with a big smile.
And that was it.
The tears came naturally.
I hadn’t expected to cry during our first look, but seeing Duygu standing there made everything feel real.
The anticipation of our first look on the steps of Vila Bled. (Photo by Ana Gregorič)
Afterward, we headed out onto Lake Bled for a photoshoot on a wooden rowboat.
It was a beautiful opportunity to capture a few moments together on the lake before joining everyone for the ceremony.
For a moment on Lake Bled, it’s just the two of us. (Photo by Ana Gregorič)
When the Ceremony Music Started
We had carefully planned our outdoor ceremony in the park behind Vila Bled.
The setting, the flowers, the music, and the entrance songs were all part of the experience we had imagined.
For my entrance, we chose “Marry Me” by Train, followed by “One Life” by Ed Sheeran for Duygu’s entrance.
As soon as those songs started playing, the emotions came naturally.
Everything we had planned seemed to fall into place, and suddenly we were experiencing the moment rather than thinking about the schedule.
Looking over Bled Island from our ceremony at the private park behind Vila Bled. (Photo by Ana Gregorič)
It was one of those moments when all the months of preparation finally felt worth it.
Bringing Everyone Together Across Lake Bled
One of our biggest planning decisions was to celebrate across multiple locations rather than stay at a single venue.
We had our ceremony and cocktail reception at Vila Bled, followed by a Pletna boat ride across the lake to Grand Hotel Toplice for dinner and the evening celebrations.
On paper, moving our guests between locations looked like something that would require careful coordination.
In reality, it went much more smoothly than we expected.
Petra and Urša helped coordinate the group, allowing us to enjoy the experience without worrying about getting everyone to the next location.
All aboard the Pletna boats with our wedding guests. Na zdravje! (Photo by Ana Gregorič)
That was one of the biggest advantages of having people we trusted managing the details behind the scenes.
Instead of constantly watching the clock, we could focus on being present.
Dinner, Speeches, and a Very Special Speech Book
Our wedding dinner took place outdoors on the Julijana Terrace at Grand Hotel Toplice.
One of our favourite parts of the evening was listening to the speeches from our friends and family.
One of Duygu’s bridesmaids had prepared a special bilingual speech book, which made the speeches even more personal.
Watching our loved ones read from something made specifically for our wedding was a lovely touch.
Our bilingual wedding speech book in English & in Turkish. Designed by Duygu. (Photo by Ana Gregorič)
With guests joining us from different countries, it was another reminder of how special it was to have everyone together in Lake Bled.
Our First Dance With a Deadline
Of all the things we prepared for our wedding, our first dance was probably one of the more ambitious.
We had practiced our choreography at home and in our gym’s studio, but we never had a proper dress rehearsal at the venue.
And the music?
I had put together a special remix during a plane ride.
DJ Lexy Dee had everything ready to play it exactly as planned.
There was also one important detail in our wedding-day schedule: the surprise fireworks needed to happen before 10 PM.
That meant squeezing our first dance between the main course and dessert, rather than waiting until dinner was completely finished.
Our first dance at the Panorama Terrace of Grand Hotel Toplice. (Photo by Ana Gregorič)
Once the music started, we were both nervous.
Our choreography was a little choppy at times, but once we got moving, we found our rhythm.
Throw in a surprise dance remix.
And then came the fireworks…in…the…sky!
They went off at exactly the right moment in our remix.
Surprise dance remix leading up to fireworks…in…the…sky! (Photo by Ana Gregorič)
Celebrating after we pulled off our first dance, our surprise remix, and the perfect fireworks cue thanks to Petra Čuk! (Photo by Ana Gregorič)
After practicing in our gym studio and putting the music together on a plane, seeing it all come together on the Panorama Terrace was something we’ll never forget.
Even if our dancing wasn’t quite as polished as we’d imagined!
From Parent Dances to an Professional Tango
After dinner, the celebrations continued with our parent dances.
Duygu shared a dance with her dad, while I danced with my mom.
We also had a surprise performance from Duygu’s maid of honour, who treated everyone to a special tango.
It was another wonderful moment that added something unexpected to the evening.
And then it was time for the after-party.
Ending the Night at Panorama Hall
For our after-party, we moved indoors to Panorama Hall at Grand Hotel Toplice.
We had prepared a playlist for DJ Lexy Dee, filled with music we wanted everyone to enjoy.
One of my favourite memories was simply seeing everyone dancing together in a circle, enjoying the music and each other’s company.
After months of organizing a destination wedding and bringing friends and family together from around the world, it was wonderful to see everyone celebrating in the same room.
There wasn’t anything complicated about that moment.
Just good music, dancing, and the people we wanted to share our wedding with.
Did Our Wedding Day Go as Planned?
In many ways, it went even better.
We had carefully organized the venues, the transportation, the music, and the timing of the evening.
But what we remember most aren’t the details of the schedule.
It’s Duygu tapping my shoulder and saying “Hello” during our first look.
It’s the speeches from our friends and family, our slightly nervous first dance, the fireworks going off at the perfect moment, and everyone dancing together at the end of the night.
Looking back, we’re glad we put so much thought into how the day would flow. Having a well-coordinated schedule and a team we trusted gave us the freedom to enjoy those moments as they happened.
And that’s what made our Lake Bled wedding even better than we imagined.
Keep Reading
Using Pletna Boats for Our Lake Bled Wedding: Was It Worth It? →
How we turned the journey between venues into part of the celebration.
Our Lake Bled Wedding Vendors: Who We Chose and Why →
The people who helped bring our wedding day to life.
