In today’s world of curated perfection, where social media often portrays weddings as flawless affairs, it’s refreshing to see couples like Daniela and René bucking the trend. The Australian-Dutch pair tied the knot in a beautiful DIY destination wedding in Belgium, surrounded by friends and family from around the globe. What sets their story apart is not only the stunning photos by Anouschka Rokebrand Photography but also their honest account of what it took to bring their dream day to life.
As Daniela and René share, weddings can be a joyous celebration, but they’re also stressful and expensive despite the challenges, this couple, along with their loved ones, created an unforgettable experience that celebrated the local culture and the talents of all who contributed. At the end of the day, it’s not just about planning the perfect wedding – it’s about investing time in creating something special with the people you love.
If you’re curious about what goes into planning a DIY wedding or simply looking for inspiration, read on to learn more about Daniela and René’s long-distance love story and their unforgettable international wedding celebration.
Wedding Day Snapshot
In today’s world of curated perfection, where social media often portrays weddings as flawless affairs, it’s refreshing to see couples like Daniela and René bucking the trend. The Australian-Dutch pair tied the knot in a beautiful DIY destination wedding in Belgium, surrounded by friends and family from around the globe. What sets their story apart is not only the stunning photos by Anouschka Rokebrand Photography but also their honest account of what it took to bring their dream day to life.
As Daniela and René share, weddings can be a joyous celebration, but they’re also stressful and expensive despite the challenges, this couple, along with their loved ones, created an unforgettable experience that celebrated the local culture and the talents of all who contributed. At the end of the day, it’s not just about planning the perfect wedding – it’s about investing time in creating something special with the people you love.
If you’re curious about what goes into planning a DIY wedding or simply looking for inspiration, read on to learn more about Daniela and René’s long-distance love story and their unforgettable international wedding celebration.
Our Love Story
It was 2005 when I, Daniela, met my future husband Rene in Los Angeles. I was on a stop-over en route to Manaus, Brazil, where I would spend Christmas with friends, while Rene had just completed a tour of US companies as part of his undergraduate studies. Despite the brief window of time we had together – just 10 hours before my connecting flight departed – we clicked instantly and spent hours chatting.
The distance between us wasn’t enough to deter us; we stayed in touch via phone and MSN messenger for seven months until I could visit Rene in Europe during my university holidays. Over the next three years, we navigated a long-distance relationship, making frequent visits to each other whenever possible. Our careers took us to Geneva, Switzerland, where we spent three years before relocating to the Netherlands to be closer to Rene’s family, where we’ve been for the past four years.
The Theme
The atmosphere at the event was refreshingly casual, with no distinct theme to tie everything together – unless, that is, you consider the warm, welcoming vibe that permeated the space as a theme in its own right. With my closest friends and family lending a hand, we managed to create an intimate setting that felt truly special. Our visual aesthetic, if you can even call it that, was defined by soft hues of nude and blush pink – understated yet endearing.
The Photography
We selected our photographer, Anouschka, after seeing her exceptional work at a friend’s wedding the previous year. Her ability to capture the emotional essence of the day, in addition to stunning images that would later evoke fond memories, greatly impressed us. Our experience working with her and Ray was thoroughly enjoyable as they skillfully navigated the challenging weather conditions to deliver outstanding outdoor photos.
One standout image is the shot Ray took of Rene dancing and laughing, capturing his playful personality and sense of humor. It’s a photo that always brings a smile to my face and reminds me of the joyous moments I missed while busy with other wedding activities. The beautiful family portrait they took of us, including our son, is another cherished memory from that special day.
The Ceremony
As I stepped into the chapel, I was deeply moved by the enchanting rendition of Ave Maria sung by my closest friends, serving as a beautiful processional for our special day. The historic chapel, built on the grounds of the château, is steeped in history and filled with character, making it an idyllic setting for our ceremony. I’m grateful that my friends were willing to lend their talents to make our wedding day even more unforgettable.
Their selfless act was a thoughtful gesture that left a lasting impression on me and René. We had the pleasure of having Peer Jochems, a dear friend and respected officiant, lead our ceremony. We wanted our special day to be personal and reflective of who we are as a couple, so we worked closely with Peer to craft a ceremony that captured the essence of our love and the unique atmosphere of the day.
Peer did an outstanding job in bringing a touch of humor to the proceedings, which is a vital part of our relationship. He expertly balanced the light-hearted moments with the more solemn aspects, creating a truly memorable experience for all involved. René and I had written our own vows, which allowed us to express our deepest feelings and gratitude to each other in front of our loved ones.
As we’ve been together for nearly ten years, we’ve shared countless moments and declarations of love, but it was special to be able to do so on this momentous occasion.
The Flowers
The wedding’s floral arrangements featured an abundance of wild flowers and peonies, with the latter being a personal favourite of mine in the Netherlands where we reside, peonies are readily available in season. Fate had other plans though – just as I was about to give up hope, the season suddenly came to an end the week before the wedding. With only a short notice, I embarked on a 45-minute drive to Maastricht, Belgium, and managed to find the last three bunches of peonies for the season.
Once secured, the rest of the floral elements seemed to fall into place effortlessly. In addition to the formal arrangements, I had also envisioned a whimsical wild posy to bring this vision to life, my bridesmaids and I spent the day before the wedding scouring the countryside for vibrant wild flowers. The experience was nothing short of surreal – four women jumping out of a car, racing to gather the perfect blooms, climbing up embankments in search of those elusive blue bells.
Amidst the chaos, we managed to laugh and joke our way through the process. As a final thought, don’t underestimate the power of last-minute DIY moments Despite your best efforts at planning and organization, they will inevitably arise but with a positive attitude and a willingness to roll with the punches, you’ll be just fine.
The Refreshments
As we opted for a self-serve BBQ with an accompanying salad table, the experience turned out to be quite enjoyable. The wait for food was manageable, allowing guests to mingle and strike up conversations with one another. It was a great way to facilitate socializing among attendees. The wedding cake, which was a collaborative effort between my mother and me, was a scrumptious three-tiered lemon and lavender delight.
Although we had initially planned to bake it together, time constraints ultimately led my mother to take on the task solo. Holly Marder of Avenue Lifestyle brought her expertise to style the cake, adding the perfect finishing touch. Our dessert table featured an array of mouthwatering treats, all lovingly prepared by a few talented friends, including my mother and myself. We felt truly humbled by the numerous individuals who went above and beyond to make our special day so unforgettable.
The DIY Decor & Details
The venue was transformed into a charming space through a combination of DIY efforts and thoughtful touches. The absence of elaborate decorations allowed the natural beauty of the surroundings to shine, with only a few carefully placed café lights and linen bunting adding warmth and texture. A close friend’s skillful seamstressing skills were showcased in the creation of the linen bunting, which complemented the relaxed atmosphere perfectly.
The tables themselves were styled with a mix of simplicity and elegance; brown beer bottles, their labels removed, served as unique centerpieces adorned with wild flowers that carried through the floral theme. I personally took on the task of hand-sewing runners and napkins to add a personal touch to the table décor. To complete the look, we opted for palm leaf plates sourced from a supplier in the Netherlands and splurged on bone and silver cutlery from a UK vendor.
The result was tables that exuded understated sophistication. As for wedding favors, my mum, myself, and dear friend Kristina, who had traveled all the way from Australia to join us, worked together to create small jars of homemade jams and preserves. We had a blast making them and selecting fabrics to adorn their lids; during our search for the perfect fabric, I discovered that DIY can easily become an all-consuming passion when you’re as enthusiocm about it as we were.
The Venue
As we embarked on our search for the perfect wedding venue, I initially had my heart set on a quaint old farm in the UK, where I even took a family holiday to Suffolk and Norfolk to scope out potential options. The criteria were clear: I wanted a space that could accommodate up to 50 guests, as many of our loved ones would be traveling from Australia and Canada for the celebration.
Ideally, we sought a venue that could host us for an entire week, allowing us to create a truly unforgettable experience. However, as much as I was enamored with this idea, my partner Rene wisely cautioned me about the practicalities. With a toddler in tow, it wasn’t feasible to make multiple trips or coordinate local vendors over a weekend. Rene’s persistence ultimately led him to discover our dream venue – an enchanting Belgian chateau that exceeded even my lofty expectations.
While I initially needed some convincing, it was love at first sight when we arrived on the day of the wedding. The stunning atmosphere and setting proved to be exactly what we had envisioned, making our special day truly unforgettable.
The Budget (And Realities of DIY Wedding Planning!)
Our budget grew significantly beyond expectations, largely due to two primary factors: Firstly, we booked the venue for an entire week to accommodate family and friends traveling from Australia and Canada. This substantial expenditure accounted for more than half of our overall budget. While I wouldn’t rule out hiring the venue again in the future, I’m not sure I’d make the same decision.
To make matters more challenging, both René and I fell ill with stomach flu, courtesy of our three-year-old son, just as the week was getting underway. We were bedridden until the Wednesday before the Saturday wedding – a situation that’s almost comical in hindsight. The cherry on top of this chaotic bride-to-be experience was my unwitting (and only a month into) pregnancy, rendering me an emotional wreck. Decision-making while pregnant and hormonal is not exactly the most rational approach.
We’re thrilled to be welcoming our new addition early next year, but if I had to do it all over again, I’d likely advise against making too many life-altering decisions at once. Secondly, we decided to simply accept that our wedding would cost what we consider a fortune and focus on enjoying the experience. We both invested in expensive shoes to complete our outfits for the day, which added up to half the cost of our attire.
Despite the expense, we felt like millionaires on the day – and that’s exactly how it felt.
The Music
As Rene and I have navigated numerous periods of separation over the years, it seemed only natural that our first dance song reflects the essence of our relationship. The choice was further influenced by Rene’s habit of sharing songs with me, a tradition that dates back to our early days together. In fact, it was through this shared love of music that I began learning Dutch all those years ago.
Our chosen song, ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane,’ as beautifully performed by Chantal Kreviazuk, holds a special significance, as Rene introduced it to me during the initial stages of our relationship.