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Svetvinčenat, Istriaevents
Wedding and event venue capacity at Villa Ballena & Beluga
Once or twice a season we host a wedding, a 50th-birthday weekend, or a corporate off-site that takes over both Villa Ballena and Villa Beluga together. The combined property — Complex BeBa — supports 18 sleeping guests and up to 80 day-guests for the ceremony, dinner, and reception. This guide covers capacity, what we provide, what is brought in, and the typical timeline.
Sleeping capacity
Each villa sleeps 8 + 1 (4 en-suite bedrooms × 2 villas + a baby cot in each villa). Combined, that is 16 + 2 in the eight bedrooms, with floor capacity inside for a bit more on sofa-beds for very close family. Most weddings put the couple, parents, siblings, and closest friends in the villas (16–18 people) and house wider family at hotels in Pula or Rovinj — both 25–30 minutes away.
Day-guest capacity
The combined outdoor space — two pool decks, two terraces, a shared lawn, the clay tennis court, and the parking area — comfortably hosts 60–80 seated guests for a ceremony and 80 standing for an aperitif. Long-table dinner setups for 50–60 work well across the two terraces. For seated dinners over 60 we recommend a marquee on the lawn (we work with two local rental companies).
What is included as standard
Use of both villas, both pools, the clay tennis court, all furniture and crockery in the kitchens, parking for 8 cars, free WiFi (125 Mbit/s), and full power supply for caterers. Outdoor lighting on the terraces and around the pools is permanent and ambient — additional ceremony or dance-floor lighting is brought in by the production team.
What is brought in by external suppliers
Catering, bar, ceremony arch and chairs, marquee, dance floor, sound system, photography, hair and make-up, florists. We have a working list of vetted local suppliers in Istria across all of these — most have worked at the property before. Croatian VAT (PDV) is 25 % on event services; suppliers issue their own invoices to the wedding party.
Typical timeline
Most couples book 4 nights — Friday afternoon arrival, ceremony and dinner Saturday, brunch Sunday, departure Monday. The Friday afternoon arrival gives the couple and immediate family time to settle and rehearse; the Sunday brunch lets the wider party say goodbye in a relaxed setting. Ceremonies typically begin between 17:00 and 18:30 to take advantage of the Istrian golden hour over the surrounding olive groves.
Pricing & next steps
Wedding bookings are quoted bespoke; the standard rate sheet does not apply. We share a one-page checklist after our first call so we can confirm guest count, ceremony location preference, catering style, and whether you need the marquee. Email us via the contact page or WhatsApp to start the conversation — we typically reply within a few hours.
Frequently asked questions
- How many guests can sleep at the venue?
- Up to 18 people in the eight en-suite bedrooms across both villas, plus two baby cots. For larger wedding parties, additional guests stay at hotels in Pula or Rovinj (both 25–30 minutes by car).
- How many day-guests can attend the ceremony and reception?
- 60–80 seated guests outdoors, comfortably. For seated dinners over 60 we recommend bringing in a marquee on the lawn.
- Do you provide catering?
- No — catering is brought in by an external supplier of your choice. We have a vetted list of Istrian caterers and can introduce you to two or three that match your style.
- Can we hold the ceremony on-site?
- Yes — most couples have the ceremony on the lawn between the two pools, at golden hour. Civil ceremonies require coordination with the local registrar; we can introduce you to a local wedding planner who handles this.