Last summer, three weddings took place at Maaspoort. After months of preparations, emails and phone calls, the big day had finally arrived for all three couples: their wedding day!
And what a variety of days they were. No matter how well you prepare for a wedding day, there are simply some things you can’t control. We certainly noticed that this summer! Pim & Lincy got married on one of the hottest days of the year. In the days leading up to it, we kept in close contact and eventually decided to hold the ceremony a little later, so that the worst of the heat had passed.
A few weeks later, with Joop & Ilse, it was the rain that threw a spanner in the works. After weeks of sunshine, rain was forecast to fall precisely during the outdoor ceremony and dinner. So it was time for a plan B. We moved the ceremony to the canopy on the roof terrace and prepared the Willy Caron Foyer for the dinner, with a view over the River Maas. In the end, we created two atmospheric settings which may have been different from what we’d originally envisaged, but were certainly no less beautiful. The ceremony under the canopy, in particular, was truly picture-perfect!
What I perhaps enjoy most about organising weddings is that every couple brings their own ideas to the table. One time there’s a Limburg flan ready for the cake-cutting moment; another time, nine cakes specially made by a friend of the bride. One evening, DJ Senn is behind the turntables, and a few weeks later a nine-piece live band is playing, complete with a groom who, as a surprise, suddenly takes his place behind the drum kit himself.
Meanwhile, the view over the River Maas has provided the backdrop for a dinner, ceremony or party on several occasions. That’s what I love about it: I know the venues at Maaspoort like the back of my hand by now, but during a wedding they look different every single time. Gradually, you see everything you’ve spent months discussing together become a reality. And it’s precisely the personal choices – big and small – that ensure a wedding day truly reflects the couple’s personalities.
When I look back on this summer, it’s those moments in particular that stick in my mind. Working together when the weather suddenly has other ideas, the excitement just before a ceremony, a venue that’s completely ready before the first guests arrive, and of course the party when everyone can finally let their hair down.
None of the three weddings were the same, and that’s exactly what I love about them. A wedding at Maaspoort doesn’t have to fit a set mould. Ultimately, it’s all about everything coming together to create a day that truly suits the bride and groom.
