Slovenian Customs (for our UK guests)

In Slovenia, people greet each other with a handshake, especially when meeting for the first time. It’s a simple, friendly gesture and very much the norm.

Toasts are an important part of celebrations. When someone says “Na zdravje!”, glasses are raised and clinked, and making eye contact is considered polite.

Slovenian hospitality is generous and heartfelt. Much of the culture is centred around home-cooked food and invitations into people’s homes, rather than eating out as often. Expect plenty of food and drink throughout the day and evening, and it’s not unusual to be offered a small shot of something as a traditional sign of welcome. Slovenians also love going out for coffee - often spending hours chatting together rather than rushing on.

Slovenian weddings often last well into the night and tend to unfold gradually over the course of the day. It’s common to have two ceremonies - a religious ceremony followed by a civil ceremony for legal purposes. Along the way, you may also encounter traditional wedding moments such as a šranga, where friends or family playfully “block the way” and set small challenges before the celebrations continue. These customs are all part of the fun and contribute to a long, lively, and memorable wedding day.

Music sits at the heart of Slovenian weddings, and Lucija’s family in particular loves traditional Slovenian music - they truly embrace it. Expect lively accordion-inspired melodies, dancing in couples, circle dances, and even a few traditional games, including an old broom dance that has already caught Nick out more than once. We will have a mix of traditional Slovenian favourites and well-known international and UK classics, so there should be something for everyone. Dancing is wonderfully inclusive, often in big circles or conga-style lines, and we hope you’ll throw yourselves into it and join the fun on the dance floor.

Monetary gifts given in an envelope are traditional in Slovenia. If you would prefer to give us something personal, that would of course be very welcome. Above all, sharing the day with us and travelling to Slovenia to celebrate together is what means the most to us.