Wedding | Pablo & Gwen

43 minutes ago
6 min read

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We met in June 2021. Gwen had been living in New York and moved back to Amsterdam because of the pandemic. When the terraces reopened, she was sitting with mutual friends and jokingly asked, ‘Don’t you have a nice friend for me?’ They immediately said Pablo, not knowing that our friend would call him a moment later, and that he would actually take the chance and show up on the terrace just fifteen minutes later. Since then, we’ve been inseparable. A month later we became official, and from the very beginning it felt like coming home to each other. We are best friends and understand each other deeply, especially because we both work in creative fields, just in different ways: Pablo as a contemporary artist and Gwen as a model.

That shared creativity, together with trust, compassion, and the freedom to be truly ourselves, has always been a strong foundation of our relationship.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

After getting engaged in Palm Springs, we started thinking about how we wanted to plan our wedding. The whole process felt a bit overwhelming, especially when deciding between different venues, as none of them gave us that clear feeling of, ‘this is it.’ We both felt that if we were going to get married somewhere, it should be a place where we already had memories or a deeper emotional connection.

So we shifted our perspective and decided to first plan a civil wedding. Very quickly, we both agreed that if we were going to do it anywhere, it had to be in Amsterdam. We were drawn to the idea of a venue that combined modern and creative influences with a sense of history and heritage, which felt very aligned with us, so we chose Hotel de L’Europe.

As we began planning, we also noticed that the guest list naturally kept growing more friends, more loved ones. In the end, having everyone together in Amsterdam made the day feel so special and meaningful that we genuinely asked ourselves what the added value would be of hosting another wedding elsewhere. It already felt complete. But who knows, maybe one day we’ll celebrate an anniversary somewhere abroad.

How many guests did you have?

We chose to keep our ceremony very private, with only our parents, siblings, and our closest friends as witnesses. We held it on a boat, sailing through the canals of Amsterdam where we have made so many memories, which made it feel incredibly intimate and personal. Because of that setting, we truly had the time to say something meaningful to everyone and express our gratitude, which made the moment even more special.

After the ceremony, our guests joined us for the cocktail hour, dinner, and the party, bringing the total to around 40 guests. It felt like the perfect balance, deeply intimate at the start, and then warm and celebratory, surrounded by the people we love.

What was your budget?

We didn’t set a strict budget that we wanted to adhere to. For us, it was more important to create a day that truly reflected everything we envisioned. We simply wanted to do things in a way that felt completely true to us, without compromising on the experience, which allowed the day to feel deeply personal and intentional.

Tell us about your outfits.

Pablo wore a hand-painted suit, which was incredibly unique and beautiful. As a contemporary artist, it felt very personal to him and truly reflective of who he is.

I knew that Pablo isn’t drawn to overly over-the-top gowns, and I naturally gravitate towards minimal, timeless pieces, where the fit and silhouette speak for themselves, and this dress reflected that perfectly. At the same time, I loved that the veil added a soft sense of drama. I especially loved the Miu Miu shoes I wore underneath my dress, as they felt playful yet elegant.

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

We planned the wedding quite quickly. We got engaged at the end of May and were already getting married in early September. It was only in July that we truly decided, ‘Okay, we’re going to have a civil wedding in September.’ The sudden passing of Gwen’s grandfather in February also shifted our perspective — it reminded us how short life can be and how important it is to celebrate the moments that truly matter.

We worked with people who were a joy to collaborate with. They understood our vision, were flexible, and brought such positive energy, which was incredibly important to us, especially since we planned everything ourselves. It truly made the entire process feel smooth and aligned.

Another very special detail was our stationery. Pablo comes from a family of artists — he is the seventh generation — and his father, who is also an artist, hand-painted our invitation in acrylic. Pablo and his father created it together, which made it incredibly meaningful and unique.

Pablo also designed the table runners, featuring custom artwork that incorporated different themes symbolizing love. The overarching theme of the wedding was ‘Forever Yours,’ which was also engraved in our rings, and this concept subtly returned in the art Pablo created for the table setting and overall styling.

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

There were many meaningful elements that were important to us, including subtle nods to my Surinamese heritage. I have always been very close to my grandparents, and since they could no longer be there, we wanted to honor them in personal ways throughout the day. I kept a photo of my grandparents in the suite where I was getting ready, which felt very comforting and significant to me. While preparing for hair and makeup, I wore my other grandmother’s pearl necklace. Pablo wore a brooch featuring a Surinamese symbol as a subtle nod to my Surinamese heritage.

We also incorporated daisies into the floral arrangements, as they were my grandmother’s favorite flowers, and I carried them in my bridal bouquet as well. On the morning of the wedding, I was gifted earrings by my sister and my best friend, who were also my witnesses, which made the moment feel even more intimate and personal.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Our biggest tip would be to truly do what feels right for you as a couple. Plan the wedding in a way that reflects who you are and focus on celebrating it with the people you love most. It is such a personal experience, and that is exactly what makes it so special.

It can feel overwhelming at times, especially with all the details and expectations, but try not to get too caught up in the small things. Allow yourself to let go a little and genuinely enjoy the moment.

For us, one of the most beautiful parts was seeing everyone come together. Not everyone knew each other at the beginning, but at some point you see everyone dancing, laughing, and connecting, and those moments become some of the most valuable and memorable of the entire day.

It all goes by so quickly, so be present, take it all in, and truly allow yourself to experience it fully.

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

Working with Corinna Keiser was a wonderful experience. She guided us beautifully throughout the entire process, especially when it came to selecting vendors. She had a curated list of trusted creatives in Amsterdam, which made the planning feel much more aligned and effortless.

She also had a clear vision of how the day could unfold. Since we didn’t initially have much experience with elements like a first look or the overall flow of the day, it was incredibly reassuring to have someone who could gently guide us and think along with us.

We were also very happy that we could host everything at Hotel de L’Europe, as their team was incredibly supportive and accommodating. They truly helped make the entire experience feel smooth, calm, and seamless.

Photographer: Corinna Keiser @corinnakeiser | Ceremony Location: Classic Boat Dinners @classicboat

Wouters & Hendrix @woutershendrix