Wedding | Maegan & Connor

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We met six years ago in Phoenix, Arizona while Maegan was job hunting after finishing her Master’s. She ended up accepting a job in Washington, D.C., so we dated long-distance for a while. Not long after, Connor got an offer in Amsterdam and what started as a joke (“Wouldn’t it be wild if you came too?”) turned into him picking Maegan up from Schiphol airport six months after he moved. It was a big leap, but it’s been perfect.

On July 8, 2023, Connor chartered a private boat through the Amsterdam canals. As we passed under the Seven Bridges on Reguliersgracht, he proposed. The rest of the boat ride was a blur, and we spent the next two years planning our dream wedding.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

Amsterdam means a lot to us - it’s where we started building our life together. We wanted our wedding to reflect that. From getting married at the city’s oldest operating hotel to having the engagement ring made by the iconic local jeweller Bonebakker, we wanted to celebrate the city and the role it played in our story.

How many guests did you have?

We had about 30 guests, which was perfect. We never imagined a huge wedding; we wanted something intimate where we could actually spend time with everyone. With so many people coming from the U.S., it meant a lot to really connect with them during the week.

What was your budget? 

We had a rough budget going in, but we definitely went a bit over. We prioritized the things that mattered most to us, like amazing food and incredible venues, and didn’t compromise. It was 100% worth it, and we wouldn’t change a thing.

Tell us about your outfits.

Maegan spent over a year hunting for the right dress, visiting boutiques in London and Paris. Nothing quite hit the mark of sexy, fun, modern, but still grounded in something classic. She always loved her mom’s wedding dress from 1991, so together they decided to reinvent it. The team at Tailors of Amsterdam did an amazing job transforming it into something totally Maegan.

For the post-wedding party, Maegan wore a silk Roberto Cavalli dress in black-and-white cheetah print - she couldn’t imagine a big event without Cavalli or animal print!

Connor also had a hard time picking an outfit. While in Paris, a sudden downpour of rain forced us to hide in a café near the Champs-Élysées. When the sun came out, we made a run for Jacquemus - and found the very last suit of this style in stock, which fit like a glove. They even had the matching shorts, which made it to the after party look. Right after, we found the perfect loafers at Marni across the street. The employee who helped us was also getting married soon and gave us a discount. Total serendipity.

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

Staying true to ourselves. We didn’t want to follow traditions or expectations just for the sake of it. We wanted the whole experience to reflect who we are. We spent time finding the right vendors, people who really understood us and our vision. That made all the difference and took so much pressure off the process.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

Absolutely - this wasn’t just about us. We wanted our family and friends to feel the love and gratitude we have for them. That’s why we didn’t cut corners on food, drinks, or ambiance. A lot of people were meeting for the first time, and we wanted to make it easy and fun for everyone to connect.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Do what you want. Find vendors you trust. Have fun. You (hopefully) only do this once, so make it count and don’t let the stress steal your joy. We found peace in knowing that anything that happened, good or bad, would just become part of the story. Even the biggest hiccup will be a funny memory someday. We were determined to enjoy the day no matter what, and we did.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

Bar Bario hosted our joint bachelorette party. We love this bar and its owner, and we were so happy to have them be part of the celebration.

Stacks Diner went above and beyond for our rehearsal dinner. Meral and the team were thoughtful, generous, and completely nailed our vibe - American classics in a Euro setting.

Harlow Muse designed the florals and altar. Her work was stunning and beautiful, it completely captured our style. She also shared our value in minimizing waste, and creatively repurposed arrangements throughout the day.

Maike Schwarz, our photographer, left us speechless. She didn’t just capture images, she captured the energy and emotion of the day. Always present but never intrusive. She was incredible.

Amanda Bom-Fritz did Maegan’s hair, as well as both moms and sisters. She even did an impromptu trim for Connor’s sister. She stuck around all day to make sure every hair stayed perfect for every moment.

Odin Lutz (NIDO) DJ’d our post-wedding party. He used our playlists from the weekend as inspiration and completely nailed the vibe. Everyone was on the dance floor from start to finish, literally until the venue shut down.

De Evas helped coordinate the day-of details, from altar to timeline to music cues to which staff was needed where and when. If anything went wrong, we didn’t notice. Everything felt seamless.

Hotel De L’Europe, our wedding venue, was exceptional. We used three different spaces in the hotel, and spent the wedding night there; all gorgeous. From planning with Charlotte to interacting with every hotel and event staff member, the service was truly world-class.

Photographer: Weddings By Maike @weddingsbymaike @maikeschwarzphotography | Planning: De Evas @de.evas | Styling: De Evas  @de.evas & Harlow Muse @harlow.muse | Flora: Harlow Concepts @harlow.muse | Ceremony & Reception | Location: Hotel de L’Europe | Celebrant & Makeup Artist: friend of the couple, Chloena | Hair Stylist: Amanda Bom-Fritz @amandas.blondes | Catering & Beverages: Sokol Vodka @sokolvodka | Cake: Smother @smother.cake | Stationery: by the couple | Entertainment: Odin Lutz (NIDO) @nido.nl | Nails: Glazed @glazedsalon @_ninajuls | Dress & Veil: Bride’s mother’s from 1991 @tailorsofamsterdam | Suit: Jacquemus @jacquemus | Engagement Rings: (Bride) Bonebakker @bonebakker_official & (Groom) Cleopatra’s Bling @cleopatrasbling | Shoes: (Bride) Versace @versace & (Groom) Marni @marni | Necklace & Earrings: Wocus Pocus @wocuspocus | Party Attire: Roberto Cavalli @robert_cavalli