Wedding in Prague

                                   

I used to have a wedding agency, so wedding is a matter of heart to me even though I’m not married.  I was lucky when Ivan and Yesim, an awesome couple, asked me to organize their small wedding in Prague. Out of all the cities on the world, they chose Prague because they believe that it is one of the most beautiful and inexpensive places. I absolutely agree with them!  Prague is magnificent to me despite spending nearly all my life here. The historical soul combined with the modern life is just extraordinary. It’s also amazing when you can feel the spirit of the city from your wedding photos.

I bet you've already seen some wedding pictures taken from the Old Town Square, but that’s not it. There are so many (sometimes less known) other spectacular places in Prague. Let me outline some of them especially the one where Ivan and Yesim have fulfilled their dreams.

VRTBA GARDEN

Ivan and Yesim chose the Vrtba Garden for their wedding. This sweet garden is one of the most charming and best-preserved palace gardens. It is a cultural monument registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Along with three other Baroque gardens (Vratislav, Schönborn and Lobkowicz), the Vrtba Garden is situated on the slope of Petřín Hill. If you decide to have your wedding in the ceremonial premises of the Vrtba Garden, you will enjoy your wedding day in a romantic and intimate location at the middle of the busy centre of Prague.   

The interior decoration of the magnificent Sala Terrena has survived in its original design until today. This fairytale-like building along with the fabulous garden, makes for a unique wedding experience.                                                                                   

    

The Palace Gardens  - LEDEBURSKA GARDEN

The Palace Gardens is situated on the slopes of the hill below the Prague Castle. The garden enriches the architectural division of the city with their details. A uniquely peaceful place, harmonizes history, architecture and nature.

A group of five Baroque gardens – the Ledebour, Small and Large Palffy, Kolowrat and Small Fürstenberg - are hidden behind the Lesser Town palaces on Valdštejnská street. Each garden has its own specific layout and offers diverse romantic hideaways. 

The Ledebour parterre garden with murals in the Sala Terrena is used for festivities and wedding ceremonies. Part of the enclosed garden is the three-piece Sala Terrena where ceremonies take place. It has excellent acoustics, even a small chamber set does not need sound. One of the best views of the city is from the upper terraces over the rooftops and church towers. 

Acropole at VYŠEHRAD

Vyšehrad, one of the Czech nation's most distinguished sites, is a historic fort located just over 3 km southeast of the Prague Castle on the right bank of the Vltava River.

The traditions of this mysterious site are bound up with the legends. Situated within the fort is the neo-Gothic Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul where catholic ceremonies take place. Civil ceremonies take place at the lawn next to the cathedral. Beside the breathtaking cathedral, you can take pictures of stunning views of the city, and the park area holding hidden architectural treasures as the rare Romanesque Rotunda of St Martin.

                                                  Even if you don’t wish to have    

                                                  your   wedding  at  this  place, 

                                                  go  visit  and  enjoy  its  quiet 
                                                  parks and atmosphere of the
                                                  magic  and  mystery.

TRÓJA PALACE

This awesome place is in the quiet part of Prague situated on the right bank of the Vltava.

Troja Chateau is a Baroque palace within extensive gardens including a hedge labyrinth. An impressive external (horse-shoe shaped) staircase at the main entrance leads to the formal French gardens below. Ornamented by statues of the ancient Gods of Olympus triumphing over the Titans, a multitude of Baroque figures adorn both wings of the staircase, while the balustrades incorporate two of the rebellious giants in battle. Ceremonies take place in the garden, inside the fabulous Grand hall or Stable hall with baroque frescos.

For any help with wedding preparations organizing contact praguepersonalassistance.com

Housing in Prague

Moving to Prague is becoming more popular every year. It’s no wonder! Prague is a beautiful city full of historic buildings and a magic atmosphere. What’s more, it’s in the heart of Central Europe, so people can reach other European countries very easily.

You have several options of accommodation in Prague. If you are a student and looking for a cheaper option, I suggest sharing a flat with other people. You can rent a bed, which means that your room and common areas are shared. Prices are usually based on location and the amount of people living in a flat. It’s a good way to practice your Czech, if you live with Czech nationals.

If you prefer more privacy, you can rent a room in a shared flat. Rooms are rented furnished or unfurnished. Unfurnished rooms are sometimes cheaper and it might be worth buying cheap furniture and selling it when moving out.

If you don’t want to share a flat, that shouldn’t be a problem. You will have to bear in mind demand for accommodation in Prague is high, so prices will be higher. There will be a lot of competition. Landlords are usually more comfortable renting long-term to natives and people who speak Czech.

The quality of available housing can vary. Generally, the rental market in Prague is divided between low-priced, mainly aimed at Czech nationals, and more expensive, high-standard accommodation for the expat community.

Rents vary widely, depending on their quality, furnishing and location. Prices for rooms range between 7.000 CZK and 14.000 CZK a month. For a standard one-bedroom apartment you can expect to pay between 12.000 CZK and 20.000 CZK a month. Apartments in the center of Prague usually cost 20.000 CZK to 50.000 CZK.

Utilities may or may not be included. Don’t forget to check whether utilities are included in the rental price prior to signing any agreement as utilities can add a significant amount to your monthly expenses.

Where to look for an apartment? Well, for English-speaking expats it is good to use social media groups. There are several groups on Facebook where you can find some offers of accommodation. Czech-language websites usually have the most offers and sometimes they are translated into English. You can also look up some webpages in English offering accommodation for foreigners. It’s pleasant that offers are in English and the owner of the property usually speaks English, but prices are often higher.

If you choose an offer from a realtor, they usually charge the amount of one rent plus taxes. Therefore it’s definitely better to avoid realtor.

As the language might be a major obstacle while looking for an accommodation, it's great to have a Czech-speaking person on-site to help you with your search. If you don’t have anyone who can help you, our agency provides this service. 

My advice: start your research ASAP, check your agreements carefully, and live happily in your new place!

Tip for a weekend outside of Prague

Do you have a free weekend during this beautiful spring time? Don’t spend your time in the city - let’s explore other wonderful places close to Prague!

Velká Amerika (Big America, Czech Grand Canyon) is a partly flooded, abandoned limestone quarry near Mořina village, in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic (in Beroun District). It is 800 metres long, 200 metres wide and 80 to 100 metres deep with an 18-metre deep lake on the bottom. Mining of the limestone was conducted in the first half of the 20th century.

There are other quarries nearby, one of those is Malá Amerika (Small America) about 1.3 km to the west. The quarries are connected with each other by long tunnels.

The place has several times been used by Czech filmmakers. The place is sought after by professional divers and also popular spot for tourists on their trip to the Karlštejn Castle. The great castle is set over the glittery river of Berounka. Here it stands as a silent witness of all the greatest and most charming history which was ever there, in the Crown Lands of Bohemia. The castle was built by Charles IV as a royal treasury. It was the place where the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire were kept as well as later the crown of St Wenceslas. The fancy history of Karlstejn comprises of many myths and incredible but truthful stories.

Karlštejn Castle is beautiful but a very touristy place, whereas Velká Amerika is less crowded. Indeed, the visit to the castle and the walk around the quarry is a perfect combination for a nice day full of nature and history.

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