Not everyone can afford to have their nuptials in one of the most enchanting castles in Slovakia. But being close to a place like this can give your big day that extra touch of glamour.

I don’t know if it was careful planning or just a coincidence, but this family wedding took place at the time of the annual Festival of Ghosts and Monsters at Bojnice Castle. There’s always a palpable sense of magic around the area in May, and this year the weather made the experience even more gratifying. 

Majestic Bojnice Castle

No matter what was going on behind the castle walls, the wedding my family and I attended below the castle was thoroughly enjoyable.

I’ve been given a go-ahead by the newly-wed couple to take you on a short virtual tour of their wedding party. Come and join me for a feast of colours, scents, flavours and emotions. You won’t get a whole picture though, because my photography was interrupted by eating, chatting, singing and dancing.

It started like most Slovak weddings with a marriage ceremony in church. From there we moved to a wedding site just below Bojnice Castle, where all the wedding entourage counting about 60 people sat down to a festive table. 

And here we go! The bride and groom hit the floor with the first music vibes. They are followed shortly by other spirited dancers. 

Well into the wedding night and well lubricated with vodka, slivovitza and wine, everybody’s merry and ready to take part in whatever game the lady-in-chief comes up with.

No time to lose when it’s ‘Time of My Life’ …

Just before midnight, the married couple treat their guests to one of their wedding cakes.The party goes on with more drink, games, songs, and food that both fills your stomach and quenches your thirst. Some guests are getting a bit wobbly on their feet, but everybody’s doing fine.  

Before the bride and groom change into more informal clothes, a traditional little farce is staged before the guests, in which the bride passes her bridal veil onto another young unmarried lady. Both the groom and the bride are then crowned with ceremonial hats symbolising their admission to the married club.

This is how far I made it. Sleepy and dead-tired after hours of dancing, I went to bed at one. However, I wasn’t the first or the last one to leave. Many guests carried on partying for another three hours, and the most loyal ones remained with the newly-wed couple until half past five in the morning.

No time to lose when it’s ‘Time of My Life’.

We left for home after a hearty brunch the next day, but the wedding weekend continued with small after-parties for family and friends until Sunday night. That’s just very typical of a Slovak wedding though!