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!
