Wedding | Zoe & Thomas

Tell us a little about yourselves! 

At the time of our wedding we were living in pretty Ghent, where Thomas was completing his training as an orthopaedic surgeon while I was working at a notary’s office. Our careers keep us busy, but we’ve always made it a priority to enjoy life together. We previously lived in Antwerp as well, a city we still hold dear. What connects us most is our shared love for good food, great company, and a perfectly paired glass of wine. Whether we’re discovering new restaurants or planning our next (culinary) trip, that little bit of shared indulgence is what makes us happiest.

Why did you decide to get married where you did? 

Since Thomas is from Bruges and I’m from Geel, practically all of Flanders was an option. That’s why we started looking as close to the sea as possible, so our guests could turn our wedding into a relaxing weekend at the coast. In Belgium, you can never be completely sure of dry weather, so we wanted a venue that would be just as charming indoors as outdoors. It was important to us that, even in case of rain, the reception could take place in a spacious and inviting setting.

How many guests did you have? 

167.

What was your budget? 

+- 100 000 euro

Tell us about your outfits. 

I actually wore two different wedding dresses: one for our civil ceremony, which took place about a month earlier, and one for the religious ceremony. I simply couldn’t choose between two dresses, and I was sure Thomas would love the one I chose for the civil ceremony (it was sleek, simple, and without too many frills). But the other dress, the one I wore for the religious ceremony, felt much more "me." I had always dreamed of a dress with puff sleeves, just like the one in The Swan Princess movie. I wasn’t sure if Thomas would like the second dress, but one evening I was scrolling through Instagram when I saw the dress in a black-and-white video from the brand. Thomas was apparently watching over my shoulder and said, "Wow, what a beautiful wedding dress!" I replied, "Unfortunately, it’s from a shop in Paris, so it’s too far." And the next morning I ordered it. 

I went with Thomas to the first appointment for his suit, where we selected the fabric, the style, and all the little details. However, I didn’t attend his first fitting a few weeks later, as I still wanted to be 'surprised' on our big day. I loved the idea of seeing him in the suit for the first time when I walked down the aisle.

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

For us, the most important thing was creating a day that reflected who we are as a couple, with a focus on having fun from start to finish. The food was a big part of that (our catering was honestly the best!!!), and we wanted every meal to be as unforgettable as the rest of the day. We envisioned a day full of festivities, where our guests could be part of the celebration from the very beginning to the very end. That meant everyone was invited to both the reception and the dance party, no one was left out of any part of the celebration!

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

Since we first met at the seaside, we wanted to subtly weave coastal elements into our styling. It felt natural to bring a touch of where our story began into the look and feel of the day. One other personal detail that was important to us was the choice for yellow flowers only. Thomas almost never buys me flowers, but when he does, they’re always yellow (and not necessarily the “pretty” yellow ones!). So working with all yellow flowers was our gentle wink to his unique flower-buying habits.

Any tips for couples getting married? 

Be you, do you and enjoy every minute!!

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

First and foremost, big shout out to our caterer, Huyze De Baere. We would have hated it if our guests had not enjoyed the food that was served. Luckily this wasn’t the case! If there is one thing people are still talking about today when the wedding comes up in conversation, it’s how good the food and wine was. Special thanks to Stephanie, one of the owners, she is one of the most kind hearted and hard-working persons we’ve ever met. She has the lead over a fantastic team, which is so well organized. All is done with a great eye for detail. Just to elaborate with a simple example. The morning after she took part of the flower arrangements from the dining table and decorated our breakfast table in the guest house with them (she is also the proprietor of the wedding location).

Secondly, Music with Noa, what a voice she has. She was mesmerizing during the ceremony in church and brought a great vibe during the reception. She also went the extra mile. When we were doubting between two songs for our first dance, she made recordings of both songs and sent them to us, so we could decide which one we liked most. Unfortunately for us, she is that good of a singer she made it even harder to decide. 

We’d also like to give a special mention to our photographer, Jana Pollet, who went above and beyond. From our very first meeting, she not only made us feel completely at ease, but also offered valuable advice on how to plan the day and maximize the flow of the celebration. The photos are absolutely  stunning, capturing every moment perfectly. What really impressed us was how efficiently everything was done – we got all the beautiful shots without feeling rushed, which made the whole experience so enjoyable and stress-free. 

Last but not least, our pastor. Unless you’re from Belgium it will be impossible to have him perform your ceremony, but wow, did he put on quite the show. Most people assume that the part of the wedding day in church will be the most boring one. When pastor Pradip Smagghe is leading it, the opposite is true. Our guests still talk about how hard they had been laughing during the ceremony.

Photographer: Jana Pollet @jana.pollet | Planning & Stying: Dame Blanche @dame.blanche_ | Flora: 

Maison Julie @maisonjulieflowes | Content Creator: Digital diaries @digitaldiaries.be | Ceremony Location: Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Hemelvaartkerk @visit_damme | Reception Location:  Etienne @etienne_

since1697 | Rentals: Picobello @picobellorenting | HMUA: Ines Borgonjon @inesborgonjon | Catering & Beverages: Huyze De Baere @huyzedebaere | Entertainment: Music with Noa@musicwithnoa | Dress: 

Rime Arodaky @rimearodaky | Suit: Cafe Costume @cafecostume | Veil: Melody Nelson  @melodynelson

bridal | Engagement Ring: Laurence Vandenborre @laurencevandenborrefinejewelry | Wedding Rings: Lou Jewels @loujewels.antwerp | Shoes: Lola Cruz @lolacruzshoes | Ring Box: Vintage from Grandfathers company | Wedding Party Attire: Lauren by Ralph Lauren @ralphlauren