Destination Wedding in Netherlands – Yukari and Simon

Photographer: Mette Brandt
Hair and Makeup: Giolina Braun/Beautiful Bride Company
Venue: Het Ruiterhuys

In July this summer, I had the pleasure to be booked to do Yukari and Simons wedding in their home country the Netherlands. It was no coincidence that I was booked to their wedding as I had already done a maternity shoot with them when they were on holiday here at Gran Canaria and we got such a good contact with each other. So when they asked (Geir and) me to come to Netherlands to do their wedding, I did a quickly search in my calendar and saw that it was possible to go away for some days and I was so happy to be able to say yes. It was so nice to see Yukari and Simon again, AND their now 1 year old son, Kai. 

We met them the day before their wedding in a incredible charming place called Zaanse Schans. There you will find typical cute small houses and a lots of windmills which is so typical for the Netherlands. We did a pre-wedding shoot/family shoot there, and I will post some photos from that shoot later here on my web site. 

It was actually my first time in Netherlands, so we had to try to take some time to explore around a little bit. We managed to stay some hours in Amsterdam and took a canal cruise. We loved that, Amsterdam is really beautiful with it´s many old charming houses you can see so very well from the canal. After our stay in Amsterdam, we went up to Castricum, a 30-40 minutes trip with car, where we had booked a really nice house at Airbnb.

It was just near the Het Ruiterhuys, where the wedding was going to be. Het Ruiterhuys is a very charming place out in the forrest. It is a restaurant built in a barn and there is lots of animals there, a small hotel and a restaurant. It was so nice decorated to this wedding and they even have little island to have the wedding ceremonies at. This place is so perfect for weddings. 

On the wedding day, the preparation of the bride started very early in the couples home in Oostzaan. Simon picked up Yukari there and he also brought the wedding bouquet for Yukari, which I was told is a typical Dutch wedding traditional. From there we went up to Castricum and Het Ruiterhuys for the ceremony and the party. We took the individual photos at Het Ruiterhuys and nearby in the forrest before the dinner, then after the dinner, the ceremony took place on the island at HetRuiterhuys. After a very beautiful ceremony, the party started and traditionally, the cake was cut and the first dance was danced before the real party started with a lots of guests.

A really highlight of evening, was a big surprise for all the 130 guests late in the evening. Can you imagine if your biggest idol ever suddenly danced into your wedding party and began to sing your favorite songs? That was just what happened in Yukari and Simons wedding. Danny de Munk, who is a big star and entertainer in Netherland, jumped into the party and held a spectacular show for the guests in the wedding. Danny de Munk has been Simons idol from his childhood.
Everyone sang and danced together with Danny, it was so fun to be a part of this wedding. Danny de Munk is a really great singer with a big, big voice. And such a likeable and charming artist.

I really want to send a lots of BIG thanks to Yukari and Simon for letting Geir and I do this wedding, we really, really appreciate to be able to be a part of your wonderful wedding day. The memories will be saved for ever in our hearts. Thank you!

Enjoy!