We first met as teenagers, Saskia at 16 and Jeroen at 18. Over the years, we became part of each other’s families, forming bonds that already felt like they were meant to last a lifetime. We grew together through all kinds of milestones: graduations, losses, long-distance, a literal pandemic, burn-outs, our first jobs, living by ourselves as well as together, and even finding faith along the way. We’ve learned that love isn’t just about feelings; it’s about choosing each other, every single day.

On May 19th 2024 in Dubrovnik, Jeroen asked me to marry him. He wanted the proposal to happen somewhere warm and special, so vacation felt like the perfect choice. Though I had suspicions before the trip, I wasn’t fully prepared for the moment. We were standing on the balcony of our accommodation, with a stunning view of the city. He pulled out a letter he had written at home and began reading it to me, pouring his heart out for ten minutes. By the time he finally got down on one knee, I was already in tears (ugly crying, to be honest). The emotions hit me like a truck, and to my surprise, Jeroen got teary-eyed too. That night, we celebrated with dinner at the top of the city, calling only our parents before sharing the news with everyone the next day. (And yes, it was all caught on camera! Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/WRogmUSa_q8?si=9wmDFzGASEvupeHC 🎥💍)

1. From the start, we bonded over our love for food—Mexican and Asian dishes are always a win: flavourful with a little bit of spice. 2. We also share custody of the most adorable hamster: Theo (who obviously runs the household). 3. Saskia is the night owl who usually gets the zoomies at night or starts demanding “night giggles” while Jeroen is already half asleep. 4. Our first overseas trip together blessed us with matching food poisoning in Mexico (true love, right?) 5. If we’re not busy wedding planning on our weekly "Wedding Wednesdays," we’re probably cooking homemade carbonara (consider yourself lucky if you're one of the few who have tried it)

When we started looking for a wedding venue, we knew we wanted something in the south of the Netherlands to maximize our chances of good weather. Castles quickly became a top choice, as they felt magical and offered the convenience of hosting the ceremony, reception and party all in one place. After visiting a few places, this one stood out for its character and charm. The interior has a romantic, Victorian feel, while the outside is modern and surrounded by lush green gardens, perfect for summer and early September. But what truly sealed the deal was the story behind the castle. It was bombarded during World War II and later bought by a German professor-architect who collected materials from his travels around the world to rebuild it. As an international couple, with a history in Mexico, Spain, Canada, and the Netherlands, we felt a deep connection to this place. It felt like the perfect symbol of our love story: a unique meeting point of different cultures and journeys. On our first visit, Jeroen had butterflies walking through the venue, and to make it even more special, we learned that the castle manager is called Saskia, and has a brother named Jeroen. It felt like destiny.