IT'S OFFICIAL!
It wasn't possible for anyone to be happier than Astrid and me on our special day last Friday, but Cora, our City Hall officiator sure came close. We still marvel at how beautifully she did the ceremony. At one point, before it started, she said to me, "I bet you wish you were in my shoes, right?" I was asking questions about the order of things (since the ceremony here in Holland is different from what I'm used to in the States) and she thought I was just worried that she wouldn't get it right. NO! I knew I was going to surprise Astrid at one point in the ceremony and I needed to make sure I knew WHEN that would be.
BTW, the beauty for me was that everything was first spoken in English and then in Dutch. But when I surprised Astrid with my holy words to her, I spoke first in Dutch, followed by English.
This is what I said just after we were told we could now kiss the bride...and I first put my finger to her lips: "Astrid Martha Alida Wijdekop. Ik hou van jou met mijn leven, mijn hart en ziel. I love you with my life, my heart and soul. Jij bent mijn Liefste; jij bent mijn Amazone. You are my Dearest; you are my Amazon Woman. Jij bent NU mijn vrouw; ik ben nu JOUW vrouw. You are NOW my wife; I am now YOUR wife. Ik ben zo trots op jou; ik ben zo trots op ons. I am so proud of you; I am so proud of us. Ik hou heel erg veel van jou. I really really love you. Met alles wat ik in me heb. With everything within me. Wij zijn getrouwd. We are married. NU kussen! NOW we can kiss!"
There were 34 of us altogether, 32 of which joined us after the ceremony at our favorite restaurant for a champagne toast and Dutch appeltaart met slagroom (apple pie with whipcream) and koffie.
It was the happiest day of our lives together thus far! If you'd like to see a bit more of it, please let me know and I'll send you our wedding album. It pretty much says it all!
For all your best wishes and congratulations, THANK YOU.
Our hearts are full of unspeakable joy!
BTW, the beauty for me was that everything was first spoken in English and then in Dutch. But when I surprised Astrid with my holy words to her, I spoke first in Dutch, followed by English.
This is what I said just after we were told we could now kiss the bride...and I first put my finger to her lips: "Astrid Martha Alida Wijdekop. Ik hou van jou met mijn leven, mijn hart en ziel. I love you with my life, my heart and soul. Jij bent mijn Liefste; jij bent mijn Amazone. You are my Dearest; you are my Amazon Woman. Jij bent NU mijn vrouw; ik ben nu JOUW vrouw. You are NOW my wife; I am now YOUR wife. Ik ben zo trots op jou; ik ben zo trots op ons. I am so proud of you; I am so proud of us. Ik hou heel erg veel van jou. I really really love you. Met alles wat ik in me heb. With everything within me. Wij zijn getrouwd. We are married. NU kussen! NOW we can kiss!"There were 34 of us altogether, 32 of which joined us after the ceremony at our favorite restaurant for a champagne toast and Dutch appeltaart met slagroom (apple pie with whipcream) and koffie.
It was the happiest day of our lives together thus far! If you'd like to see a bit more of it, please let me know and I'll send you our wedding album. It pretty much says it all!
For all your best wishes and congratulations, THANK YOU.
Our hearts are full of unspeakable joy!
TEARS dear woman, women! Your pledge to Astrid is breathtaking. I love you and am so proud.
ReplyDeleteProud proud proud.
Happy happy happy.
2010 sure looks like a pretty good year. Am very happy for the both of you.
ReplyDeleteMijn lieve schat, the moment you put your finger to my lips, I only could listen to you in great amazement, ik ben zo trots op jou, I am so proud of you, speaking in Dutch that well, but than the words are from the heart.
ReplyDeleteWe do speak Dutch more often and we will do more in future.
This day is/was the happiest day of our lives together thus far indeed, when I see the pictures of that day, I am reliving the magic of the moment.
Ja, ik hou ook van jou met mijn leven, mijn hart en ziel, jij bent mijn lieve schat.
Wij kunnen trots op elkaar en ons zijn.
Yes, I too love you with my life, my heart and soul, you are my dearest treasure.
We can be proud of each other and us.
Ik hou van jou.
JLJA.
How absolutely awesome and my congratulations.
ReplyDeleteI wish you many happy years together.
How proud of you she must have been when you spoke beautiful words in Dutch! You are amazing, Ginnie!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see the photo album! ET told me about it over tea and boy was I excited!
You made me have tears a second time! I love it, love the post and can't believe how you said those words in Dutch too. (I'm guessing quite well also...) And I can't say it more, you both are incredible and so lucky to have each other.. I can't wait to see you on your side of the pond.... ;-)
ReplyDeleteRuth: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your happiness for us means more than the world.
ReplyDeletePC: I'd say we are well on our way to the happiest year of our lives, Maria. :) Thanks.
Astrid: This is the Dutch I learned quickly and will never forget. NOOIT. Bedankt voor jouw lieve liefde!
Adam: You are such a sweetheart. Thank you.
RD: Yes, Stacey, she said she was proud...but I was also so proud of her. We both came a long way to this moment. I have asked Jen for your e-mail address. With my new laptop, it's not popping up. :(
ET: Your excitement for us has been palpable all along, Jen, for which we thank you!
What a splendid day for both of you. A day to remember forever. My heartfelt congratulations. And my best wishes for your life together. A marriage is such a huge commitment. I am so happy for you.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is "Yay!!" This is a Good Thing. :-)
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you both. I hope you have many wonderful years filled with happiness and love.
ReplyDeleteI symbolically raise a toast to you both! Congrats on your special day. And Happy Valentine's Day as well.
ReplyDeleteSham: Thank you ever so much. And HEY! How was that Opening Ceremony. I bet you popped all your buttons!
ReplyDeleteChristina: YAAAAAY, is right. YAAAAY. :)
Tammy: Ohhhhh, thank you, dear Girl. THANK YOU. That means the world to me/us.
Susan: Thank you! Toast us anytime you want. :)
Prachtige huwelijksfeest! Proficiat!
ReplyDeleteI have always been so proud of Holland's open arms and here's proof that it is the right way to be!
Thank you so much, Dutchbaby, for stopping by and commenting. You can be very proud of your country, which I have grown to love!
ReplyDeleteThere is so much sadness in the world, it does my heart good to see an event where everyone is absolutely glowing!
ReplyDeleteYour account of the ceremony is wonderful - you'll be speaking Dutch like a native before long. Can you quickly learn a phrase like, "Would you silly bureaucrats just leave us alone so we can go live our life together?" That might be useful! (Probably ill-advised as well, but it would be fun to have it in your repertoire!)
Again, congratulations!
You are both so beautiful and what an amazing ceremony to commit your love to each other!
ReplyDeleteI know your songs were so meaningful to you and I bet you were thrilled with the Opening Ceremonies! talk about serendipity!
SA: Well, you are definitely part of the glow for us and we thank you. I have to laugh at the thought of telling off the bureaucrats in Dutch. That would be the day! I'm very sure Astrid could give me a few choice words to learn. :)
ReplyDeleteMad: Don't we just love serendipity! Thank you, dear Lady, for being so supportive of us. You know how to make our day!
ReplyDeleteI feel really awful that I have missed so much by not checking in! Belated congratulations on your wedding...it looked beautiful. I love your words.....what a great day for both of you...maybe someday it will happen here as flawlessly......I never did get the wedding picture to show but I did load some other ones that did...thanks so much for checking back. you live an amazing life...I am so jealous! Many happy days for the both of you......Neva
ReplyDelete