ASAP! No later than mid-August, please. This will give us plenty of time to plan for and organize group events, catering, accommodations, and other tedious things that come with a wedding.
Just your kind, glamorous self is enough, but if you DO want to bring a gift, a cash donation is appreciated. It will go to Patrick's orthodontist (*might also be used towards renovating the new apartment, or a well-deserved vacation)
Ramya is South Indian, and Bas is Dutch. Please wear any wedding-appropriate attire. In South Indian weddings, the women often dress in vibrant colours, so feel free to bring out the bright blues, reds, greens, or golds! To our guests visiting from India, we would recommend bringing a light shawl/jacket, and an umbrella in case of chilly weather or rains.
The currency used is Euro. Credit cards such as Visa Master Card can be a hit or miss (depending on their payment system) at grocery stores, shops, restaurants etc., and American Express is rarely accepted, Visa can be tricky as well. It's best to carry some cash and / or a debit card just in case. ATMs can be found in abundance. English is widely spoken, so you will not face many problems in communication. The Dutch like their communication to be honest and direct, so it's ok to be candid about your wishes. In restaurants, gratuity is common (about 10% will do), but not 'mandatory' like it is in the US. In some restaurants they will charge you for water-- always ask for tap water (which they might not serve). Bigger malls and department stores will have public restrooms, but they often charge 50 eurocents, so be sure to bring some cash. Driving is on the right side of the road. Rentals will usually be stick shift, but it is possible to rent an automatic.
Why would you want to know?? Rotterdam is awesome! Ok, ok: please take the Intercity direct for an express train (~40 mins.) to get from Rotterdam Centraal to Amsterdam Centraal or vice versa. Schiphol Airport is on that same train line. Beware: the Dutch travel card system can feel a little complicated, so if you can, ask at an info desk. To go from Rotterdam to Amsterdam, take the "Ïntercity Direct" (travel time is about 30 minutes, and requires purchase of an extra supplement) instead of the 'regular' Intercity (which is about twice as long but needs no supplement). For more information, visit https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/special-routes/intercity-direct.html
Yes, we will be organizing this for certain guests, so stay tuned for more information.
For September 7-9, we highly recommend the Marriott Rotterdam (Weena 686, 3012 CN Rotterdam), and will directly provide you with further information. There are plenty of hotels, hostels and Airbnbs on travel booking sites if you wish you extend your stay and explore other parts of the Netherlands.
As good as you want it to be! There's always the familiar chains like McDonalds, Burger King and Subways but please try out the vast number of restaurants in cities like Rotterdam: Mediterranean, African, Argentinian, Indian, Turkish, French-- you name it. Most restaurants and grocery stores also accommodate dietary restrictions (e.g., vegan, gluten free) but this cannot be guaranteed.