Wedding planner Maria Oronoz has a piece of advice that runs against the instinct of most couples-to-be: „For an unforgettable wedding, I recommend prioritizing quality over quantity - fewer things, better chosen.“ For the Balkans, where weddings are often measured by the number of guests and the weight of the table, this sounds almost rebellious.

Her advice starts with order, not chaos. First you define two foundations - the venue for the celebration and the venue for the ceremony. Everything else comes after that, in a logical sequence, not all at once. The budget is broken down into realistic ranges so there are no surprises - advice anyone who's been to a wedding with an inflated bill would sign immediately.

When choosing the location, Oronoz stresses several things: an aesthetically pleasant setting, a solid backup plan for bad weather, a space without restrictions on music, and logistics flexible enough for larger setups. It sounds like common sense, but it's exactly these details that most often get neglected until it's too late.

Among the trends for 2026, she singles out organic floral arrangements that flow naturally through the space, textured layered decorations and carefully chosen color palettes. She also recommends unexpected moments - for example, a cocktail bar during the transition between parts - and reminds that music is what changes everything: the right choice for the ceremony and a DJ who reads the guests' energy. Her point is simple: a wedding is remembered by the feeling, not the invoice.