„The beauty of marriage is not always seen from the very beginnen – but rather as love grows and develops over time.“- Fawn Weaver, Weeding in Romania
Some weekends feel like a short vacation. And sometimes they are just that – with a little extra sparkle in the form of a white dress, tears of joy, and a touch of sea breeze in your hair. That’s exactly what happened last weekend when we were invited to the wedding of two very close friends of my husband and I – in Romania, right on the Black Sea. Or let’s say: somewhere between Bucharest, endless country roads, and a hidden beach near Constanța.
This trip had been building anticipation for weeks. A beach wedding, a new country, friends, sunshine—on paper, it sounds almost too perfect to be true. And I can now say: It wasn’t perfect. It was better.
Friday:
Arrival with an adventurous feeling
We set off early Friday morning. A flight from Vienna to Bucharest, a quick grab of luggage, a rental car – and then: road, sun, silence. The drive towards the coast was honestly long because it felt like it was a straight line. Not much going on, the sat nav was our best friend (and our Romanian carpool karaoke – even though we didn’t understand a word of it), and the closer we got to the sea, the more we vibrated with that typical „something beautiful is happening“ energy. I love those moments when you realize: something special is about to begin. That tingling feeling. That feeling of stepping away from everyday life – even if only for 72 hours.
Arrive & breathe deeply
The hotel where we stayed was called Euforia – and the name actually fit quite well. It was rather small, with a somewhat angular structure, with bright, warm colors, well-designed corners, and these retreats where you could just be alone for a while – or at least pretend to be. The atmosphere? Absolutely vacation. Sunscreen in the air, flip-flops, the clinking of ice cubes in glasses. I liked it immediately.
The rooms were stylish, but not over the top. It had a blend of Mediterranean lightness and urban minimalism. But the best thing was that you just felt at home there right away. Not a luxury temple, but with style, heart, and that understated elegance that I love most in hotels.
The beach
– beautiful, but with “ouch” potential
The beach directly in front of the hotel was huge – it felt like a 50-meter walk from the hotel to the sea, with lots of shells instead of sand. It looked dreamy, almost like a painting. But barefoot? Nope. Painfully romantic, in the truest sense of the word. Still, the sea was beautiful. Clean, calm, slightly rough – and yes, freezing cold. Of course we went in anyway. You have to. I mean, you’re not on the Black Sea just to take photos. But be careful: the buoy that indicates how far you’re allowed to swim is frighteningly close to the shore. If you ignore it, you’ll get a visit from a jet ski and its supervisor. True story.
I felt a bit like I was in Baywatch – only less dramatic and with more goosebumps.
By the way, it would have been a dream if you could have had a drink brought to you right on the beach. But I honestly can’t blame the waiters—the path through half a shell field to the water isn’t exactly restaurant-friendly.
BBQ & Bonfire-Vibes
On Friday evening, the official „hello“ finally arrived: a cozy barbecue on the hotel terrace. Everyone was relaxed, having somehow survived the journey, and a glass of wine or beer in hand. The smell of grilled food filled the air, someone was playing music through a small speaker, and the sunset was so cheesy that it was almost laughable.
Later, we went down to the beach. There was a small campfire burning, and I swear, for a moment it was like something out of a coming-of-age movie. Barefoot in the sand (briefly, then shoes back on), music from some kind of speaker, conversations, laughter, salty air. Those evenings when nothing major happens, but everything feels right. Sometimes it’s precisely these little moments that you never forget.
It was getting late, but not too late—after all, Saturday was the big day. So, off to bed. And yes, the bed was comfortable. That also needs to be said.
Saturday – Wedding Day
We woke up early, but without stress. Breakfast was relaxed—not spectacular, but good—and afterward, we simply… did nothing. Just lay there, read my favorite magazine, gaze at the sea, put on sunglasses, and feel the need for an Aperol. This slow Saturday morning was actually exactly what I needed. Breathe in, breathe out, calm down.
“No kitsch, simply beautiful ”
The reception began at 2 p.m. A small area on the hotel terrace was beautifully decorated, there were antipasti platters (very nice, very tasty), and the guests trickled in – all with a lightness rarely seen at weddings. No kitsch, no awkward games, simply beautiful. Everyone enjoyed the food and was excited about the ceremony.
The wedding
– and a little goosebump story
The wedding ceremony began at 3 p.m. It was right on the beach in front of the hotel, with a beautiful view. Everything was beautifully planned, yet minimalist in its decor. I really liked it! First, the bridesmaids arrived with the groom’s best men—yes, my husband was there too. What made it even more emotional for me was that the groom is my husband’s best friend. And he was his best man at our own wedding. Seeing him standing there, excited and overjoyed, was a very special moment. Almost like a circle coming full circle. It is always emotional to see your friends marry…
Then the bride and her father followed. In her shimmering satin dress, she looked like a water nymph who had stepped straight from the waves. The sun was perfectly shining, the wind played gently with the bride’s veil, and everyone was completely silent as the two exchanged their vows. So intimate, so simple, so honest. Afterward, there were congratulations, hugs, kisses, lots of photos—and, of course, the first glass of champagne. Or third, depending.
Let’s Party (but first… food)
The bar opened at 5:30 p.m. – cheers to that – and then dinner was served. It looked really good, lovingly prepared, stylishly plated – the taste was fine, nothing too fancy, and you could tell the food was meant to represent the diversity of Romania. There were five courses in total, so we were pretty full by the end, but all the dancing helped the food digest faster and provided a good foundation for all the alcohol. Naturally, I started with Aperol – how could it not? Afterwards, the bartender persuaded me to have a Cosmopolitan. Well, what can I say, I ended up having a few more.
The drinks? Great. The music? Even better. And once the party started, the food was forgotten anyway. There was dancing, laughing, chatting, standing barefoot on the terrace (no shells this time!), and simply celebrating. It was one of those nights when you’re constantly oscillating between two conversations, repeatedly ending up on the dance floor, then suddenly standing on the beach without knowing how you got there – and eventually just falling happily into bed. And those are the best nights for me.
Sunday
Farewell in slow motion
Sunday was quickly recounted: breakfast, last coffee with a sea view, a few wistful „How beautiful was that?“ conversations – and then the journey back. Packing the car, back to Bucharest, plane, everyday life. I hated it. And at the same time, I loved it. Because the weekend was so intense, so warm, so special. It wasn’t just an event, it was a feeling. And you take that with you – in your heart, on your camera, and in your memories.
Oh yes – my outfits? They’ll be in a separate blog post soon. I’ll just say this: light, playful, perfect for salty air and summer nights.
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