Finding a Wedding Venue in Slovenia
Many hotels in Slovenia are either aimed at the tourist market or the business market and finding somewhere special to hold a wedding can be something of a challenge. However the ones below are all well located, have a tradition of excellence and long experience in organising special and memorable days.
As an alternative to hotels many Slovenians marry in Wedding Halls, often located in historic castles. These are an interesting option, but you will probably require local assistance if you plan to go this route.
Castle Bled, Bled
Very dramatically located high on a rocky outcrop overlooking Lake Bled, this is a popular wedding location with both locals and overseas couples. The very pretty courtyard outside the castle is a wonderful place for photographs and for drinks and entertainment.
Civil weddings can be held at the castle with either Catholic or Protestant church ceremonies often following in the church on the island in the lake, a short boat ride away. The wedding hall at the castle is very atmospheric, but decorating it, arranging catering and so on is difficult to accomplish without being on the ground and you will need to avail of local help, see link below.
Villa Bled Hotel, Bled
The former villa of President Tito, this impressive mansion has a lovely location on the banks of Lake Beld and while the facilities, service and decor are bang up to date there is still something of a 1950's ambiance about the place. The scenery in this area is spectacular, with snowy peaks in Winter and crystal clear lakes surrounded by greenery in Summer.
Weddings in the hotel are organised with the assistance of locally based wedding planner, Primivera Bled, who can organise the ceremony in a local church, perhaps the one perched on an island on the lake.
Grand Hotel Union, Ljubljana
Located in the centre of the city just a few minutes walk from the river, the Grand is in an old building but has been decorated inside in comfortable modern style. Bedrooms are large, with suites and apartments also available.
There are 8 different reception rooms available, catering for weddings of all sizes. An in-house event planning service is available to assist with making arrangements. Weddings can take place in the hotel but there are many churches nearby also.
Kenda Manor, Idrija
Probably the best hotel in Slovenia and certainly one of the most charming, Kenda Manor in Idrija, not far from Ljubljana, is a beautifully restored and furnished traditional manor house. Located at the foot of the Alps close to the Karst region, the Manor is surrounded by quiet countryside and the interior is one of comfortable elegance.
The staff are very professional but also exceptionally warm and friendly. English is spoken and they are more than happy to assist with planning weddings. Civil ceremonies take place at the hotel, either indoors or outside, with the Summer House in the garden making an especially lovely location. A Catholic ceremony can be organised in a nearby church if required. Winter or Summer, this is a truly special place to get married.
Grand Hotel Palace, Portoroz
On the Adriatic coast, right by the sea, this fine 5 star hotel has a long tradition in hosting elegant weddings and has all the expertise required to assist you in planning yours from a distance. There are rooms to cater for anything up to 400 guests and they can organise everything, down to the table decorations, for you.
The food here is particularly good and extremely keenly priced compared to similar menus in other countries - currently there are 5 course menus at well below €50 per person. The area is well located for touring following thewedding.