An American couple whose wedding celebration unexpectedly went viral after Croatian soccer fans joined the festivities has arrived in Croatia for a honeymoon inspired by the unforgettable encounter.
Ashton and Zach Smith exchanged vows during the World Cup while Croatian supporters gathered ahead of a match between Croatia and Ghana.
As the newlyweds left their wedding venue, hundreds of Croatian fans happened to pass through the area. They surrounded the couple with flags, songs and celebrations, turning the moment into an unexpected extension of their wedding.
Videos and photos of the encounter quickly spread across social media and attracted attention in Croatia.
Croatian Fans Turn Wedding Moment Into Viral Celebration
The newlyweds had no idea that their brief encounter with Croatian soccer fans would eventually lead them across the Atlantic.
The Croatian National Tourist Board learned about the viral moment and invited Ashton and Zach to spend their honeymoon in Croatia.
The couple accepted the invitation and, several months later, arrived in the country. They are spending the first part of their Croatian honeymoon in Split, one of the country’s most popular destinations on the Adriatic coast.
Their arrival brings the story full circle. What started as an accidental meeting with Croatian supporters during their wedding has now turned into a trip through Croatia.
American Couple Begins Croatian Honeymoon in Split
Split provides a new backdrop for the couple’s story after the celebrations that first connected them with Croatia.
The original encounter happened when Croatian fans were celebrating in the streets before their national team’s World Cup match against Ghana.
Ashton and Zach happened to emerge from their wedding venue at the same time. Instead of simply passing by, the supporters stopped to congratulate the newlyweds and celebrate with them.
The spontaneous scenes later reached audiences far beyond the people who witnessed them in person.
Now, months after the viral wedding moment, Ashton and Zach are experiencing Croatia themselves. Their honeymoon begins in Split, transforming an unexpected World Cup memory into a trip they are unlikely to forget.
