The dress code for our wedding is formal attire. Think cocktail dresses or a suit and tie.
Transportation for guests will be provided from the Ceremony to the Reception. After the ceremony, you will be guided to the shuttle pick up point to transport guests to the reception (Vehicles are not permitted in the Main Square area). The shuttle bus pickup location is about a 6 minute walk from the Basilica. For guests who are not able to walk to the shuttle location, we have arranged smaller vehicle carts to transport guests to the shuttle buses. The Ceremony is located at St. Mary's Basilica which is adjacent to the Main Market Square in Kraków. The Basilica will be walking distance from many of the hotels we recommend in the Old Town. Transportation will also be provided from the reception to the Market Square / 2 Wielopole Street, at the Kiss & Ride point at the end of the evening. There will be three waves of shuttle buses departing from the reception back to the Main Square: Midnight, 2 am, 4am.
While we love your little ones, our wedding will be an adults-only event so that everyone can relax and enjoy the trip to Poland and the wedding day. We appreciate you making arrangements ahead of time so you can celebrate with us! We hope you understand!
Kraków in September is typically pleasant, with temperatures in the high 70s to high 80s during the day to low 50s at night. However, unseasonably cold or hot days can happen (surely you’ve heard of heatwaves passing through Europe). You can expect some rain showers and thunderstorms. However, humidity is rather low (especially compared to the East Coast), so the heat index stays low and the city actually pleasantly cools down at night.
Polish weddings differ tremendously from American weddings. They last much longer, and are filled with heaps of food, dancing, games, drinking, talking, and much more. Here we summarize practical guidelines, traditions that take place at weddings, and some historical information. Day of the wedding: Sleep in as much as you can! This is not a day to rise up early. The wedding starts with a ceremony in a Catholic Church. During the mass, please be respectful and stand/kneel when other people are standing or kneeling. The mass will be conducted in both Polish & English. Reception: The reception will start soon after the church ceremony ends and will last until the morning hours of the following day. Guests wait for the couple outside of the reception venue. There are small traditions, including blessings by the parents, that happen before anyone enters. Guests will line up to give their regards to the married couple. The reception starts with a sit-down dinner. After dinner and throughout the night, there will be three more hot sit-down meals served. There will also be open food buffets available all night. Make sure you are eating food at a similar pace to drinking alcohol. Try lots of different Polish foods! There is going to be an MC guiding you through the activities. There will be a lot of dancing, games, and surprises. Make sure to make new friends! Wedding traditions: You should expect spontaneous activities started by the guests to take place throughout the night. Hopefully you will learn some and take part! When guests start chanting “gorzko, gorzko” (bitter, bitter), the couple must kiss to sweeten the atmosphere.
Here’s a fascinating Polish wedding tradition that may surprise you. After the church ceremony concludes, the wedding couple makes their way to their venue for the party where they are welcomed by their parents with bread and salt. This bread and salt welcome has a symbolic purpose. The bread is provided in hopes that the couple will never experience hunger or be in need, whereas the salt reminds the couple that they must learn to cope with life’s struggles when they are confronted by difficulties. Traditionally, the father of the bride or groom also provides the happy couple with two shot glasses. One has Vodka, one has water. This is considered the couple’s first wedding toast. The bride gets to choose first between the two glasses without knowing which is which. According to tradition, the partner who ends up getting the Vodka is said to become the dominant partner in the relationship. Both the bride and groom have to drink from the glasses in one gulp and then throw them behind their back. If the glasses break, it is considered good luck. It signifies that they will live a long, happy life together.
PASSPORT VALIDITY: Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. Six months remaining validity strongly recommended; at least three months remaining validity beyond planned departure from the Schengen area is required. BLANK PASSPORT PAGES: Must have at least one page VACCINATIONS: None US CONSULATE U.S. Consulate General Krakow Ulica Stolarska 9 31-043 Kraków, Poland Telephone: +48 (12) 424-5100 American Citizens Services: +48 (12) 424-5129 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +48 (22) 504-2000 Fax: +(48) (12) 424-5103 Email: KrakowACS@state.gov
Poland uses its own currency, Polish Złoty (PLN or zł). We recommend bringing some cash with you and a no-fee ATM card to withdraw more as needed. American credit (except American Express) and debit cards should work almost everywhere (apart from street vendors - make sure you have coins to buy Obwarzanek!). Avoid exchanging cash in touristy areas, since the exchange ratio will definitely be disadvantageous. Some stores will let you pay in Euros, but this will always mean you are paying a higher price for the goods.
Some tips on how to make the most of your trip to Poland and Central Europe. Prices: - $1 USD is roughly 4 PLN złoty - Coffee at a Cafe 8-15 PLN ($2 - $4) - Lunch at a Restaurant 15-30 PLN ($4 - $8) - Meal at a Mid-Range Restaurant 30-50 PLN ($8 - $12) - Meal at a High-Range Restaurant 80-150 PLN ($25 - $45) - Local Beer at the Restaurant 8-12 PLN ($3 - $4) - Local Beer from a Shop 3-8 PLN ($1 - $3) - Water (small bottle) 2-3 PLN ($1) - Loaf of Fresh Bread 3-5 PLN ($1 - $2) - Chocolate Bar 1-3 PLN ($0,3 - $1) Travel: - Uber is widely available - Trains and regional flight services are cheap options to travel within Europe - Poland shares borders with Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and the Baltic Sea
While you will have no problem getting around using English, learning how to say “dzień dobry” (good morning), “dziękuję” (thank you) "prosze" (please) and “do widzenia” (goodbye) may be a nice gesture. Joanna can teach you the pronunciation, or you can visit youtube. On the wedding day, you will hear guests singing "Sto lat" (one hundred years) which is a traditional Polish song that is sung to express good wishes, good health and a long life to the couple.
One thing can be said about Polish food and that is that every dish is a delicious, heart-warming belly filler! Whether you eat out at a local joint or are lucky enough to be eating home-cooked meals with a family, you can be sure that you are in for a treat. With so many amazing dishes to try, we’ve narrowed down our top few choices that you can’t miss: Pierogi: A list of Poland’s must-eats wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the crazy good Polish dumplings that are Pierogi. Packed full of flavor with cheese and potato, you can have your pick of dumplings which are filled with all kinds of delights. Whether you like a hearty meat dish or a savory treat with creamy cabbage and mushroom, you will not be disappointed with this staple food. Zapiekanka: A halved baguette topped with mushrooms, tomatoes, and cheese, and baked until it oozes melted goodness. Garnished with chives or fried onions, this simple yet delicious creation is perfect for a fresh and filling breakfast. Bigos: If a warm belly is what you’re after then look no further than this national dish. Bigos is a mouth-watering stew full of country flavors and packed to the brim with red cabbage and sauerkraut, cured ham and pork shoulder, bacon bits and bay leaves, juniper berries and onions, and typically served with a vodka shot or two. Need we say more? Potato Pancakes: Authentic Polish potato pancakes are a traditional comfort food eaten all over the country. Everyone has their own family recipe but the base is always potatoes, grated onions, eggs and flour, flattened and fried into savory pancakes. You can have them with mushroom sauce or sour cream. Paczki: These Polish doughnuts are dusted with sugar or bits of dried orange zest and filled with a sweet filling similar to a jelly or jam. Kielbasa: The best smoked sausage ever!!
There are several bars, restaurants, and clubs in and around the pedestrian streets off of the main square; feel free to explore on your own or try one of these options: Szara Gęś - classic, sophisticated, modern Copernicus, Szara, and Wesele - upscale polish restaurants, each with a modern twist Goscina Chata & Morskie Oko- cozy restaurants with traditional polish dishes Wierzynek - the oldest restaurat in Kraków and one of the oldest in Europe Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa – shot bar - perfect for a casual, quick stop before going out Charlotte, Miedzymiastowa, Dym, and Loch Camelot - all charming restaurants for brunch Boskaiola & Boccanera - if you are craving Italian food while in Poland Babcia Malina - Get a taste of the polish countryside. Casual options with self service Mercy Brown – speakeasy bar in Cracow. Burlesque shows. Reservations recommended.