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His proposal came quit unexpected to her. They were on a sweet and adventurous holiday in Hawai, on Maui to be specific, to celebrate their one year anniversary, my lovely Americain bridal couple from Kentucky.
A wonderful vacation it was, with so many highlights. They just remembered all the sweet things from the past year, how happy they both were, how excited about their future plans.
There, in the garden of their hotel, right in front of the little chapel with the stained glass windows, he went on one knee, pulled her in close, gave her a big squeeze and pulled out the ring, while asking her THE QUESTION. And of course she said Yes!
A sweet and intimate weddingday would be their next step into an even so sweet and promising future. Not a Big Fat American Wedding, but just a small intimate celebration of their love, in the presence of a few family members and friends.
But within their innercircle, there were other ideas. And they didn’t like that.
That’s why they just eloped…. to the Netherlands, to their beloved Amsterdam. Making their love official in a way that they choose to do so! During an elopement. A wedding ceremony in which a couple secrectly elopes to get married, during a intimate and personal celebration of LOVE! The focus is on the emotional connection between bride and groom. It can take place at any desired location, both domestically and internationally.
The Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Amsterdam was their choice and they requested me, as the Dutch marriage officiant, to perform their ceremony. And I took that challenge and felt more than honored. It really was intimate, only the two of them and me were present. And a photographer to capture it all. It all started with ‘the first look’. He was already in the room – the historical Maurer Room of the Astoria – when she entered and in her fairytale appearance, she totally blew him away. No words needed. Tears of happiness. Standing opposite of each other, me behind it and they before a beautifull glass table, I started to tell them their own ‘lovestory’. Like in a fairytail. A true fairytale romance novel. About them. A novel based purely on “love facts,” which they had informed me about beforehand in the answers to the fact-checking questionnaires I’d sent them. A sweet romance novel, which I shared with them, divided into eight chapters. Each chapter dealt with a specific aspect of their love life. A sweet silence reigned in that historic room, only the sweet sound of my voice and the wiping of tears with a “happy wedding” handkerchief.
Their “Yes, I do” during the official part of the ceremony sounded clear and came straight from their hearts. At the end, the photographer and I briefly left the room so the bride and groom could have their “first dance.” Then they toasted their love, now officially declared. Cutting the wedding cake and sharing the traditional first bite as bride and groom was a moment to cherish. Afterwards, there was a shared toast with the four of us, to their happiness for a wonderful future.
It really was a fairytail ceremony. The bride and groom were more than grateful that I had given them such an unforgettable wedding ceremony. Three days later, the newlyweds boarded a plane back to Kentucky to inform their friends and family about their secret wedding at the Astoria in Amsterdam upon arrival.
Wedding officiant Ria de Groot
Don’t feel like having a big wedding ceremony either? But prefer a small, intimate, fitting event? Let’s make sweet plans together.
I’d love to help you create that unforgettable memory.
Ria de Groot
‘For unforgettable memories’
