Ten Years, Seventy Guests, and the Adriatic as a Backdrop: Irina & Erik's Wedding at Villa Banac
- Author: Natali Grace Levine
- Wedding date: 08/20/2025
- City: Cavtat
Love Story
They met in the Business School at UW-Milwaukee — two people who kept ending up in the same classes, the same social circles, the same rooms. "Before long, we were inseparable," Irina says. "We truly have always enjoyed each other's company, whether that is traveling and exploring, or simply hanging out at home and cooking dinner." Ten years later, that ease hadn't changed. It had just deepened.
The proposal was built around the one thing Irina would never suspect: a photoshoot with her best friend Jess. Erik had coordinated everything quietly, and the day unfolded exactly as a regular shoot would — starting at the Saint Kate Hotel in downtown Milwaukee, wandering through the city and along the riverwalk. At one point, Jess asked Irina to look straight ahead. That's when Erik tapped her on the shoulder. "I remember thinking he came to surprise me for a few photos and was still unaware of what was about to happen. It wasn't until Erik got down on one knee that it finally clicked."
The surprises weren't over. Erik suggested they head to Giggly, the cocktail bar at the Saint Kate, for champagne. What Irina didn't know was that their closest family and friends — some who had traveled in from out of state — were already waiting inside. "I was so surprised." They spent the rest of the evening bar-hopping through their favorite Milwaukee spots, celebrating the beginning of something they had already, in every meaningful way, been living for years.
Irina is a social media manager with over 8 years of marketing experience. She is an unapologetic foodie — the first to know about a new restaurant opening, always already planning the reservation. Erik shares her love of travel and good company. A couple who cook dinner together and explore the world together — and chose to celebrate their ten-year anniversary with a wedding on the Adriatic coast.
About Your Wedding
The vision was specific from the start. "An intimate wedding on the coast of the Adriatic Sea — romantic, refined, and effortlessly elegant," Irina describes. "With long tables set along the water, stunning coastal scenery, incredible food, and all our favorite people gathered together." Not a grand gesture toward an imagined future. An extension of exactly who they already were.
The concept was an intimate Adriatic coastal villa aesthetic: organic, garden-inspired florals in a predominantly white and green palette, with soft touches of blush; stationery and tablescapes thoughtfully curated to reflect the setting; and a layout designed to keep guests connected rather than spread across the space. "We wanted to highlight and complement what was already there rather than compete with it." The natural beauty of Croatia shaped every decision — the coastal setting, the villa's colors, and the Adriatic views guiding the design from beginning to end.
Their stationery was created by Untamed Adriatic Collective — ivory-toned pieces throughout, including ivory linens for the welcome sign and drink menu, scalloped table numbers, and personalized place cards and menus for each guest. Wedding rings were simple and considered, exactly right. Irina wore her mother's gold diamond earrings and a pearl bracelet gifted by her parents. "It made it feel even more special."
Morning Details
"I got ready with my mom, my sister, and my best friend, Jess, which made the morning feel really special." Irina prepared at Valamar in Dubrovnik, where they were staying — a hotel whose balcony, with the Adriatic stretching behind it, provided a backdrop that required nothing else. Erik got ready at the Airbnb where his family was staying in Old Town Dubrovnik, surrounded by his dad, brother, brothers-in-law, and nephew. Two mornings, the same city, the same anticipation — and both of them, in their own way, already knowing this was the day.
Bride Getting Ready
Irina had known from the beginning that she wanted Sarah Seven. "I wanted something that felt unique and true to me — fashion-forward, yet still elegant and timeless, and a bit different from a traditional bridal look." The pearl details brought everything together. She found the dress at Strike Bridal Bar in Milwaukee — and added an overskirt by Milla Nova for the earlier part of the day, creating a dramatic, layered look with the train and impact she wanted, without the need to bustle. "I loved being able to remove it later and feel more comfortable for the rest of the night. The combination truly felt like my perfect dress, and I loved how different it was."
Her accessories told their own story: her mother's earrings, the pearl bracelet from her parents, a long veil, and white Givenchy pointed-toe heels. The bouquet was designed by FIOR Wedding — sculptural and garden-inspired, with calla lilies, lilies, and amaranthus layered with soft greenery.
Groom Getting Ready
Erik wore a classic black Calvin Klein tuxedo — effortless, simple, and timeless. He got ready in Old Town Dubrovnik, just a short walk from where the first look would take place, surrounded by the people who had been part of his story longest. There is something particular about a groom getting ready in a city like Dubrovnik — the old stone walls, the morning light, the sense of history in every direction. The morning was relaxed, unhurried, and exactly what it needed to be before the day that followed.
First Look
The first look took place at Sponza Palace in Dubrovnik — a sixteenth-century building with a beautiful courtyard and historic architecture that made the setting feel as though it had been waiting for exactly this moment. A stone that had stood for five hundred years, and two people standing in the middle of it, seeing each other for the first time on their wedding day. Sponza Palace offered the kind of backdrop that requires no embellishment — the architecture does everything, and the emotion does the rest. Ten years, and this was the moment they finally arrived.
Photoshoot Before The Ceremony
From Sponza Palace, through the streets of Dubrovnik Old Town, and onto a boat bound for Cavtat — the pre-ceremony portraits moved through the places that had shaped the wedding weekend. "Since our venue was just outside Dubrovnik, it was important to us to capture moments in the Old Town, as it's a place that's very special to us and where we spent so much time with our guests."
And then the boat. "One of our favorite parts was taking photos on the boat as we made our way to the venue. It was such a special moment for just the two of us to slow down and take it all in." The Adriatic on all sides, Villa Banac approaching in the distance, and a few quiet minutes that belonged only to them before the celebration began.
Ceremony
The ceremony took place at Villa Banac — the same venue as the reception, the sea always present, the setting doing everything it needed to do. Irina walked down the aisle to Freeze by Kygo. "It's a song that's always felt really special to me — the lyrics and meaning are so beautiful — and I've always loved Kygo, so it felt like the perfect way to incorporate something personal into the moment."
What Irina remembers most is the feeling of presence. "I remember looking out at our guests throughout the ceremony, smiling and really taking everything in. It felt like I connected with so many of our guests just through eye contact, which made it all feel even more real." And between her and Erik: "It felt like we were just up there having fun together, which made the whole experience even more special."
Serbian traditions wove through the celebration — traditional dances and music from the former Yugoslavia that even guests unfamiliar with the language found impossible to resist. A čutura, the traditional Serbian wooden flask, was used to serve rakija, the national fruit brandy. A wedding that honored where they came from, in a place they had chosen together.
Photoshoot After The Ceremony
The ceremony behind them, the Adriatic still ahead — and the whole evening waiting. The couple stayed close to Villa Banac for their portraits, the villa's coastline and gardens providing everything the photographs needed. The light at that hour does something specific to the Croatian coast — warmer, softer, more cinematic — and York & Calaway Photography understood exactly how to work with it. Two people, newly married, with the sea behind them and the rest of the night still to come.
Wedding Venue & Decor
Villa Banac was the one Irina kept coming back to. "It had the charm and history of a villa, paired with stunning views of the sea. The venue really spoke for itself, and anything we added simply complemented what was already there." The layout was equally important — "We wanted all of our guests to feel connected in one space, and this venue allowed for a seamless flow without people being spread out."
The palette was soft whites and greens with subtle blush tones — neutral, cohesive, entirely in conversation with the villa's natural tones. Organic florals by FIOR Wedding. Ivory-toned stationery and signage by Untamed Adriatic Collective. And the details that ended up mattering most: "The smaller tablescape details ended up mattering more than we expected — everything from the linens to the plates and glassware. The cocktail tables featured a custom floral design that added a thoughtful, unexpected layer and helped bring the entire look together."
Real Wedding Couple's Advice
"Embrace the natural beauty of the Croatian coast and let the setting do the work. The scenery truly speaks for itself, so focus on thoughtful details and creating a great guest experience."
Reception
The first dance was to Forever After All by Luke Combs — one of their favorite artists, a song Irina had known would be her wedding song from the first time she heard it. A couple of weeks before the wedding, they heard him perform it live at Lollapalooza. "Which made it even more special."
The food was four courses — a mix of local and Mediterranean-inspired dishes that read like a love letter to the Adriatic. Adriatic risotto and Mediterranean sea bass on the seafood menu. Dalmatian charcuterie and olive oil-infused rump steak on the meat menu. Sushi during cocktail hour — "one of my favorite foods" — was presented on a large platter, making it a standout moment. Burgers and fries as a late-night snack. A vanilla and raspberry cake by Helena | THE CAKE, with soft textured icing and delicate floral and fruit details. An open bar throughout.
And then the music. "Our DJ and live saxophonist made the biggest impact on the overall experience. The saxophonist was a surprise to many of our guests and quickly became a standout moment." The dinner playlist had been curated by Irina and Erik themselves, refined with their DJ — "so thoughtfully put together and felt really distinct from a typical wedding playlist." Together, the DJ and saxophonist created something guests are still talking about. "We were told by most that it was the best music they've experienced at a wedding."
Behind it all was the team at SB Weddings Croatia — the planners who held the entire vision together from the first decision to the last dance. A wedding this considered, this cohesive, and this deeply personal doesn't happen without a planning team that understands not just logistics but taste. Every element — the florals by FIOR Wedding, the stationery by Untamed Adriatic Collective, the lighting, the flow of the evening — connected seamlessly, and the ease with which it all unfolded was a direct reflection of the team's precision and sensitivity to the couple's aesthetic. "They brought our vision to life in a way that went beyond what we had imagined," Irina says. "We had full trust in them, and they were incredible to work with."
"It truly felt like us."
Wedding Team
- Planner @sbweddingscroatia
- Venue @villabanac.hr
- Photographer @yorkandcalawayphoto @_jennayork @karsoncalaphoto
- Content Creator @reelmakers_dubrovnik
- Florals and design @fior.weddings
- Stationery & Signage @untamedadriatic
- Lights @rabbit_rock_light_production
- Dj @djmiro.dubrovnik
- Sax @zac_the_sax
- Boat @garitransfer
- Hair @frizerskisalonup
- Makeup @ilijanah_makeup
- Cake @helena_thecake
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