Yes, we finally got it together and we are getting married. In Romania. In Vatra Dornei.

As the idea of a wedding started to materialize, it became apparent that not so many people knew where Vatra Dornei was (and, from the other side of the world, it wasn’t so easy to spot on a map either) …

This is your travel guide to our wedding: we hope to give you at least the basics about what to expect, how to get there and why a trip to Vatra Dornei is worth it, aside from seeing us 🙂

Feel free to post comments that will help others with their planning.

The religious ceremony will take place at the ‘Holy Trinity’ Orthodox Cathedral in Vatra Dornei at 3:00 p.m. The service will be in both English and Romanian and will last approximately an hour.

© Iuki Maximus

Learn more about the Romanian Orthodox Church & Romanian Wedding Ceremonies
(Note: The first link may require a subscription)

Cocktails and dinner will follow at 6:00 p.m. at Poiana Izvoarelor Hotel. In the spirit of Romanian weddings, we expect it to be a long night (the wedding cake will only emerge at midnight, we are told.)

© Pensiunea Poiana Izvoarelor

When to arrive & leave Vatra Dornei

Plan on getting there any time between September 22^nd and September 26^th (we’ll be there starting on the 21^st). Remember that you ‘lose’ a day in transit (e.g., if you leave the US on the 22^nd, you will only get to Romania the next day; depending on where you choose to arrive, it may take you an additional day to get to Vatra Dornei). Arriving a few days earlier will allow you to get over the inevitable jetlag, explore Vatra Dornei, and get ready for the weekend festivities.

Colin and I will be leaving on Monday, September 29^th. Feel free to stay longer if you wish.

Transportation on September 27th

The Cathedral is located right in the center of town (within walking distance from any hotel in Vatra Dornei). From anywhere else, you will need a cab.

Poiana Izvoarelor is a 10-minute taxi ride away from Vatra Dornei (the hotel front desk will be able to book one for you; otherwise, you can always spot them in front of the train station).

What to Wear

We wanted to strike a balance between the formal and the comfortable – think somewhere between semi-formal and cocktail attire. No tuxes required, the length of your dress is up to you.

We encourage you to go for comfortable shoes: seating will be limited during the religious service and dancing, while not required, will be part of the reception.

Bear in mind that the weather may be on the chilly side, especially in the evening (going well below 50s). Ladies may consider a long-sleeve jacket or a shawl.