Your wedding should be beautiful and memorable. Choose Prague and it's done.
1. The atmosphere
Prague has an unrivalled atmosphere of charm and beauty owing to its cultural and architectural diversity. For anyone who appreciates European history, architecture or the arts, the Golden City and its 100 spires would make an inspiring backdrop for a dream wedding – and an unforgettable memory.
2. The venues
Because of its storied past as a major centre of European culture and history, Prague has a truly astounding variety of incredible locations ideal for staging your big day. From centuries-old churches and richly gilded
palaces, to fairy-tale gardens and fi ne-dining terraces, to lavish ballrooms and intimate boat rides, there is no shortage of options for both ceremonies and receptions.
3. The photo ops
Prague is easily one of the world’s most photogenic cities – and the number of visitors flocking to its cobbled streets each year is easy testament to that. Built on seven hills, there is a beautiful photo waiting to be taken
at every turn with landmarks such as Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, St. Vitus Cathedral or a gold-tipped tower forming a perfect backdrop for your personal historical event.
4. The value
While no expense should be spared when planning your big day, most couples don’t want to break the bank before embarking on the exciting journey of marriage. Fortunately, venues and services in Prague are still
considerably less expensive than those off ered in much of Western Europe and the United States, which means you and your loved one will have fewer limitations in realising your dreams. A wedding in Prague will take your breath away – not your life’s savings.
5. The location
Prague is known as the heart of Europe more than just fi guratively – take a look at a map, and you will see it is actually right at the centre of the Continent. Bordering Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia, the Czech
Republic is within easy reach by air, rail or car from practically all of Europe, and Prague’s international airport welcomes regular flights from major destinations around the world.
6. The convenience
In addition to being located in the very heart of Europe, Prague has the benefi t of being compact and easily navigable. You and your guests will not spend frustrating hours in busy traffi c getting from one venue to another
or having to pay for expensive transfers. Prague‘s perfectly preserved historical centre, remarkable as it is for its size, is still an area that can be easily traversed on foot within an hour. Its intimate atmosphere, scenic setting
and iconic landmarks at every turn will make your guests eager to explore the city on their own. Additionally, the legal process and paperwork required for getting married in Prague is straightforward, with no residency
requirements.
7. No language barrier
As one would expect of any cosmopolitan capital, the companies, venues and restaurants in Prague are all well-versed in numerous world languages, in particular English, German and Russian, but increasingly in other
languages as well. You will be able to communicate every request and detail for planning your wedding exactly the way you want it.
8. The experience & reliability
The companies, venues and restaurants across Prague that specialise in organising and hosting weddings are skilled at more than just languages. Some providers boast more than two decades of experience in navigating
the ins and outs of wedding planning, off ering a level of professionalism on par with any other city. The providers included in this guide and its online version at www.pragueweddingguide.com have been meticulously selected for their proven excellence.
9. The variety
Whether your preferences run towards an intimate event for your nearest and dearest or a sumptuous aff air for several hundred guests, Prague is certain to have the perfect venue just for you. The variety extends also to
cuisine; there are highly skilled catering companies and restaurants that off er a wide variety of world cuisines, most notably French, Italian, Indian, Japanese, kosher, Middle Eastern, Thai and, of course, Czech.
10. The talent
Thanks in no small part to its indelible beauty, Prague continues to attract large numbers of gift ed people from near and afar; their talent, vision and energy make it the inspiring city that it is. Due to Prague’s small
size, however, it is quite easy to identify and engage the services of its very best talent – from musicians to photographers, chefs, florists and stylists. All of the wedding agencies listed in this guide work with many of the
same fine professionals who are the very best in their fi eld in Prague; this means you will not need to settle for just good-enough.
Five Prague walks in search of contemporary architecture
Even in venerable Prague there are high-quality contemporary works of architecture.
Two prominent architects, who live and work in Beijing's recently complained to me over a cup of coffee that they like it here, but that it is a dead town, stuck in the past. “As a stranger arriving for the first time you’re thrilled by Hradčany, Charles Bridge, the Lesser Quarter. But you don’t come back again. You don’t know what else to do here.” they say, casting aspersions at the ‘centi-spired mother of all cities’. Prague, according to them, is lacking in more contemporary architecture, such as would leave the imprint of our times on the face of the city. “When this era ends, it will leave nothing behind. As if it never existed,” said the architects, sadly. Maybe there is some truth in what they say. And yet, even in venerable Prague there are high-quality contemporary works of architecture. You only have to look a bit harder. Your efforts will be more than rewarded. We won’t entice you to the ‘dancing building’, which we all know from the tourist guides. We will take you to see buildings not quite so full of themselves. We’ve put together for you five tips for walks in search of current architecture.
One building, liked as much by Prague locals as by architects, is the building of the National Technical Library in Prague's Dejvice. The Glass NTL building by Studio Projektil stands in the outline of a round-cornered square in the midst of the campus of technically oriented universities, frequented by various future engineers, physicists, construction designers. The building is so jolly and pleasant, that many freelancers go there to work in the study room, who would otherwise be seen sipping expensive latte in some fashionable Café. The Atrium of the library is decorated with doodles from the Romanian artist Dan Perjovschi on – what else but – technological themes. If you are looking for a place in Prague where to stash yourself for a while, browsing the Internet and maybe even needing to get some work done, then NTL is certainly a good option for you. Its simplicity, functionality and quality of materials has a lot of hidden appeal.
Our second recommendation takes you to Prague Castle, but you shan't be meeting thronging tourists on this route. The Castle will be jutting up majestically high above you, and you will look up to it through the lofty old trees of the castle moat. The walkway through the Deer moat, revived by the architectural Studio DA3 and the adjoining pedestrian underpass by Josef Pleskot is such an understated and discreet construction that you’d scarcely describe it as fascinating architecture. And yet, its creators have, through their use of simple metal footbridges, walkways and railings proffered the ambling visitor the experience of walking through the sombre secrecy of a deep, hitherto inaccessible ravine. The walkway through the Deer moat, which begins at the Metro station Malostranská, is not open in winter.
Our third tip may well, though not necessarily, be combined with a lunch or dinner. The vicinity of the Baroque Bastion XXXI – “U Božích muk” (Calvary memorial) is a great example of a contemporary architectural creation in its historic context. As is evident from the name, this is a medieval defensive structure, which was part of the fortification of the New Town of Prague, founded in 1348 by Emperor Charles IV. The Baroque bastion is located in a hidden away corner of the somewhat mysterious neighbourhoods of Albertov and Karlov. Here you will find excellent vistas, benches, staircases, and a tranquil Genius Loci. The authors of the project are Studio MCA. The only regret might be that the bastion restaurant is relatively steep, price-wise.
The “Zlatý Anděl” (Golden Angel) by the French architect Jean Nouvel is no longer the most ‘now’ of buildings (it was completed in 2000), but it is very significant, and well worth a visit. What it has done is to raise the hitherto shabby Smíchov district up to the millieu of the Centre, and turned Metro station Anděl into one of the most frequented places in Prague. The Golden Angel isa corner-building of glass, bedecked with verses, but the project extends to the surrounding housing blocks. You'll have everything at your fingertips from the top of the Sacré-Coeur hilltop viewpoint, accessible via a walkway from the Nový Smíchov mall.
The last tip is for those who don’t have much time to spare, except to hurry through the Centre of the city. Start at the “Euro” palace, at the very bottom end of Wenceslas Square. You’ll know it by its glass mantle, and the adjacent Baťa store. Then go up the square and turn right into Vodičkova street. You will find the revitalized Langhans palace, whose redevelopment was designed by the architect Ladislav Lábus. Another restored palace worthy of your attention is in Jindřišská street, just a few steps away. The palace is the “Edison”, a functionalist electrical substation from the nineteen thirties. The former substation has undergone a thorough reconstruction, filled with desirable office space.
Prague Art and Music 1.0
Music and art are omnipresent in Prague. Here's a quick rundown of the essentials.
The concentration of galleries per square mile (or meter) in Prague is pretty impressive, and you might be surprised at what hidden gems the local galleries are hiding. For those of you who prefer to enjoy audible art, you won’t be disappointed either. After all, music is the very soul of Prague. here we have put together a basic selection of the most interesting things you should definitely see or hear while in Prague
Classical beauty
For most visitors, their first steps take them to Prague Castle. And it's no wonder - the majestic landmark towering over the Vltava is one of the country’s main symbols. The large complex is home to the Prague Castle Picture Gallery, one of the oldest existing collections of paintings in the country. Throughout the year, the Picture Gallery exhibits works from the renowned collections of Emperor Rudolf II. Among more than a hundred pieces are paintings by Titian (Young Girl at Her Toilette), Hans von Aachen (Head of a Girl, Portrait of Emperor Matthias as Czech King), Tintoretto (Whipping) and Peter Paul Rubens (Assembly of the Gods on Mount Olympus). While you're at the Castle, don’t forget to visit the Lobkowicz Palace, where you can find the breathtaking Haymaking by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, London: The Thames on Lord Mayor’s Day by Canaletto, or a lovely portrait of The Spanish Infanta Margaret Theresa by Diego Velazquez.
Extensive and unique collections can also be found in the permanent collections of the National Gallery in the Sternberg Palace on Hradčany Square, housing the permanent exhibition of European art from antiquity to the late Baroque. In addition to works from classical antiquity, you can also see major works of Italian, Flemish, Dutch and Austrian painters, one of the most famous of which is The Feast of the Rosary by Albrecht Dürer. The Schwarzenberg Palace, probably the most beautiful Renaissance building in Prague, presents the best of Baroque art in Bohemia (works by Matthias Bernard Braun, Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff, Karel Škréta and others). Of special note is the Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia, featuring an impressive, truly world-class collection of medieval art from Bohemia and Central Europe. In Old Town Square, the Kinský Palace, features artifacts from Egypt, Mesopotamia, ancient Greece and Rome, as well as Asian art.
Modern art
The mecca of modern art in Prague is the Trade Fair Palace (Veletržní palác) in the Holešovice district. Over an area of over 13,500 sq m, you’ll find a permanent exhibition of art of the 20th and 21st centuries from the collections of the National Gallery. Among the most prestigious paintings are the abstract Fugue in Two Colours by Franti3ek Kupka, Self-Portrait by Pablo Picasso, The Dance on the Shore by Edvard Munch, In The Moulin Rouge by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and more by the likes of Braque, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Gauguin. Until December 31, 2014 you can also see the painting Lady with a Muff by the Austrian Art Nouveau master Gustav Klimt. This painting was only recently discovered, making it truly worth a look.
In the lower hall of the Trade Fair Palace, you can view the twenty monumental paintings that make up Alfons Mucha's Slav Epic - one of the most fascinating series of Czech art. You can process your fresh impressions from visiting the Trade Fair Palace over a cup of delicious coffee at the on-site (and very good!) Café One.
You can view even more art by František Kupka, the pioneer of modern abstract art, at the Kampa Museum, which holds the most complete collection of his works. We especially recommend Kupka's most impressive abstract images - the Cathedral and Warm Chromatics.
Contemporary art
The DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Holešovice is one of the most progressive art institutions in Prague. Temporary exhibitions at the Galerie Rudolfinum also offer a fresh perspective on contemporary art. The most interesting currents of contemporary alternative art can be traced at galleries such as Meetfactory, Drdova Gallery, Gallery Polansky, Trafačka or Dvorak sec contemporary.
Classical music
Prague and music are inherently inseparable. The year 2014 was even declared the Year of Czech Music, and extraordinary musical event organised because of various anniversaries of Czech composers and musical geniuses (Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Leoš Janáček and others) which fall on years ending in four. But don’t despair - 2015 will offer music lovers a number of special experiences as well.
The first stop for music experts should be virtually any concert of the Czech Philharmonic - the most important Czech symphony orchestra. Its home in the Rudolfinum, Dvořák Hall, underwent an extensive renovation this year and now offers listeners not only more comfortable seating, but also better acoustics. The Czech Philharmonic’s programme varies every year, but will always satisfy the most demanding visitors and children's audiences alike.
Another exceptional concert space is the Municipal House’s Smetana Hall, home of the Prague Symphony Orchestra and a regular venue for the most important concerts of the Prague Spring music festival.
High-quality music events are also held at the Spanish Hall of the Prague Castle, the Church of Sts. Simon and Jude, the Mirror Hall of the Rudolfinum, and the atmospheric Church of St. Anne.
Jazz, pop, rock and more
Prague is also a popular venue for international pop stars, many of whom have shot music videos here (for example, Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, Jason Mraz, Rihanna, and more.) The largest concerts are usually hosted in the spacious O2 Arena or the Prague Congress Centre. The new multi-functional Forum Karlin with the latest technology and crystal-clear acoustics has also very quickly established itself on the cultural map of the city.
In terms of music clubs, there's a wide range of options. Jazz lovers should head to Smíchov’s Jazz Dock, which will enchant with the magnificent atmosphere of its jazz evenings. For those who love a few good guitar riffs , head to the legendary Lucerna Music Bar or the Akropolis in Prague's charismatic Žižkov district. For those who want to dance until dawn, we recommend the Roxy – a mecca for all lovers of quality electronic music, or the industrial-themed Cross Club in Prague 7 if you enjoy your bass good and loud. Some of the edgiest Prague events are held at the Meet Factory, owned by artist David Černý.
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Fashion & Style "Made in Prague"
While visiting the city, smart shoppers always find time to purchase stylish designer fashions which carry the imaginary "bought in Prague" label.
This list of tips will help you find just the right thing! The "Fashion" section as well as "Accessories" and "Jewelery" mainly contain destinations for women. But there are a few ideal places for men as well...
Impressive clothing for all ages can be found at the E.Daniely boutique, established in 1991 directly behind the National Theatre (Na Struze 1). Two award-winning fashion designers have created this reputable brand which features truly unique styles. Tatiana Salon (designer Táňa Kovaříková) offers universal designs as well as elegant evening wear and is located near the Old Town Square on Dušní Street. This street has become a true fashion and design centre, where you can find the original designer Hana Havelková, as well as Radka Koubková who designs mainly unique leather and fur accessories. Just around the corner, on Dlouhá Street, the famous logo of Klára Nademlýnská can be found. She is well-known for her luxurious prêt-à-porter fashion, as well as her own line of jewellery.
Fashion Brings Freedom
The work of almost 20 Czech and Slovak designers can be found under one roof on Eliška Krásnohorská Street, near the prestigious Pařížská třída. Gallery Novesta is an interesting multi-brand space for designers without their own shops. The selection is season dependent and the designers represented often change. The popular Navarila brand from the Czech designer Martina Nevařilová can also be found here. Her work includes knitwear, eco- and ethno-inspired items as well as elements of architecture. She has gained popularity thanks to her casual collections.
If simple style is not your cup of tea, visit the La femme MiMi store near Wenceslas Square (Štěpánská 51). This designer from Saigon offers brightly coloured fashion in addition to hand-made textile applications. She designs her own embroidery. The Hard-de-Core boutique on Senovážné náměstí 10 has been offering fashion made by independent designers (including Josefína Bakošová) for the past 10 years. It also carries fine Czech and international applied art. Their unique art design attracts many tourists. The last floor of the house at Jungmannovo náměstí 17 is where you will find designer Natálie Steklová and her Shop&Café. She specializes in silk clothing, drawings and prints.
Casual and Extravagant
A couple of good tips for where to find clothes for both ladies and gentlemen. The Iška Fišárková Design Studio offers top-notch clothing with both feminine and masculine elements. This talented designer's shop is located on a small street near the Prague Castle (Nad Panenskou 4). The Yaxi Taxi boutique with inspiring and casual style can be found on Masarykovo nábřeží No. 8. Designer Zuzana Labudová's clothing for men and women never lacks extravagant elements.
Jewellery Guarantees Beauty
Museum shops offer replicas of vintage jewellery, scarves or t-shirts with original prints. These can be found in the Municipal House (Obecní dům) on náměstí Republiky or in the National Gallery buildings. KusKovu Gallery (Biskupský dvůr 6) sells interesting metal works from Czech artists and jewellers. Clothing and accessories can also be found in the The Item store on Michalská Street 18. The Milli Vávrová Art Deco Gallery is located nearby. Her elegant applied art pieces focus on the 1920s including purses, umbrellas, gloves and retro vintage clothing.
The Designblok Prague Design and Fashion Week takes place on October 7-10 in various parts of Prague. Exhibited items include jewellery, clothing and applied design.
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