A wedding photo shoot in Philadelphia took an unexpected turn when hundreds of Croatian soccer fans, celebrating the FIFA World Cup, photobombed the event. This serendipitous encounter has now led the US newlyweds, Ashton and Zachary Smith from Philadelphia, on an extended trip across Croatia.
The couple had just exited Philadelphia City Hall after their June wedding ceremony and were preparing for photos when the crowd, clad in red-and-white chequered jerseys, joined them. Videos and images of the celebration, which showed the couple kissing amidst the cheering fans, quickly gained traction on social media. This spontaneous interaction forged a connection that ultimately resulted in an invitation from the Croatian National Tourist Board and the Mi Hrvati fan group for the Smiths to visit Croatia.
"It was so crazy, we just finished our ceremony, we went outside to take some pictures in front of City Hall,” Ashton Smith recalled. “We were warned that the road was taken over but we’re like, oh, let’s just try it anyway.” Despite the initial shock, she described the experience as "the best decision that we ever could have made."
Upon arriving in Croatia, the Smiths were welcomed in the coastal city of Split. Ashton shared her enthusiasm, stating, “I feel amazing. We learned a lot of history about Croatia and now the vibes are immaculate.” They participated in a fan march along the city’s waterfront before Croatia's UEFA Nations League match against Spain, joining a band and fans in song. The couple also attended the match itself.
Daniel Pedisic of the Mi Hrvati association commented that the fans' immediate embrace of the couple in Philadelphia demonstrated "the kind of people we are, warm, hospitable people." He added, "We were with them that day and now we brought them to Croatia.” The fan group is known for following the national team globally and for carrying a large Croatian flag.
The Smiths' itinerary has included visits to the coastal town of Sibenik, a sailing excursion, and a tour of Krka National Park. Their trip is scheduled to conclude with visits to the medieval walled city of Dubrovnik and the capital, Zagreb.
"Technically, this is our second honeymoon because we had a pre-planned one before the wedding," Ashton explained. "The first one was laid back and relaxing, and this one is kind of go, go, go, and we absolutely love it.” Zachary Smith expressed his surprise and delight at visiting Croatia, a country he had known about but never expected to visit.