Yes! Don't hesitate to contact Luana or Tom with questions.
If you're staying at Belvedere, you don't need to book your rooms at this time. As mentioned on the Travel page, we have rooms blocked from Thursday through Tuesday for a fixed rate of $102. When you receive your invitation, you'll fill out a form indicating when you're coming and a reservation will then be made in your name at Belvedere. You can also stay elsewhere (other hotels, AirBNB, etc.), but booking that is up to you.
Romanian weddings are generally a formal affair where guests are expected to dress in their best, most elegant clothing. The key difference between daytime and nighttime attire is primarily the color and length, rather than a strict change in formality level. If you attend the religious ceremony and the reception, you're not expected to change, but many will as there will be time to do so. Daytime Women: Opt for elegant midi or knee-length dresses in light, cheerful, or pastel colors (like blue, mauve, or coral). It is common to dress more modestly for the church ceremony. Men: A suit in a neutral color (navy blue, gray, or beige) paired with a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt is appropriate. A tie and dress shoes are recommended to complete the polished look. Nighttime Women: The evening reception calls for more formal, elegant attire. Floor-length gowns or long evening dresses in richer, moodier colors are common. Men: A dark suit or a tuxedo is the standard for formal evening events. Most importantly: Be comfortable! These are general guidelines but by no means a strict dress code. Wear what you know you'll look and feel best in.
Your phone will work when connected to Wi-Fi, but we recommend checking with your cell-phone carrier to see what international travel plans are available. For phone plans without international data, it's now possible to use e-Sim cards, meaning you won't need to switch out your physical SIM card and instead you can simply purchase an online SIM that will work in Europe for the duration of your travel. Orange, Vodafone, and Airalo all have decent travel e-sim options. Here's an example European e-sim package from Orange that previously worked well for us, with instructions on how to set it up on your phone: https://travel.orange.com/en/buy-a-sim/offers/romania
All restaurants, shops, etc. in cities like Brașov and Bucharest will accept your debit and credit cards. FYI: You’ll typically get a pop up on the card reader when you pay at a restaurant or shop: “Pay in USD or local currency?” Paying in the local currency is always better, since your bank will give a better rate than the merchant’s. It’s also not a bad idea to have a little cash on hand. Get it from your bank ahead of time or get it from an ATM in Romania. Airports typically have the worst exchange rates, but in a pinch or for small amounts it can be fine. Romania uses its own currency, the “leu” (plural- “lei”), translated as “lion/lions.” Taxi drivers and small shops will sometimes accept euros, but this is rare, so don’t count on it.
Uber will be the easiest for getting around locally, but there’s also public transit if you’re feeling adventurous. We’ll also organize transport for wedding events (e.g. the ceremony).
People in hospitality are generally fluent, and you should have no problems navigating within the wedding travel plan. You would also generally be OK ordering at a restaurant or bar in a city like Brașov. Most Romanians learned some English in school, but as you get off the beaten path you will likely encounter more language barriers.
The Romanian language evolved from Latin spoken by the Romans and colonists who moved into the region nearly 2000 years ago (after all, you can't spell Romania without "Roman"). As a result, Romanian shares many similarities with other Romance languages such as Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, including vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. But as the only Romance language spoken in Eastern Europe, there's quite a bit of Slavic influence on Romanian vocabulary. So, you'll probably see a few words that remind you of your high school Spanish class, like familie (family), animal (animal), capitală (capital), verde (green), in addition to new words you don't recognize. But regardless of etymology, there's one word you definitely need to know: "nunta"—wedding!
Romania has a temperate climate, similar to the northeastern United States, with four distinct seasons. Summer is quite warm, with extended sunny days. The hottest areas in summer are the lowlands in southern and eastern Romania where 100 F is common in July and August. But temperatures are always cooler in the mountains where we'll be. The city of Braşov, located in the Carpathian mountains, is temperate, and experiences average highs of 75-80 F in July. Some rain in the summer months is also to be expected.
Romania is famous for its rich cuisine, which is characterized by tasty stews, fresh vegetables, and a lot of meat. Fan favorites often include sarmale (cabbage leaves stuffed with minced meat), with mamaliga (polenta), mici (grilled pork meat rolls), and our favorite dessert, papanași (a doughnut with forest fruits, jam, and sour cream). Romanian cuisine is also known for its delicious pastries and sweet treats, including the popular cozonac (sweet bread, usually filled with walnuts) and Pașcă (traditional cheese cake for Easter).
For a first-time international trip, advance planning is essential. -Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months. -If applicable notify your bank of your travel dates to avoid card freezes. -Pack light with versatile clothing, keeping essentials and a universal power adapter (Europe uses different wall sockets) in your carry-on. This packing list may be helpful: https://charmedbycamille.com/international-travel-packing-list-your-guide-for-a-stress-free-trip/