A WEDDING IN ROTTERDAM WHERE DIFFERENT CULTURES, PERSONAL TRADITIONS AND A MODERN URBAN ATMOSPHERE CAME TOGETHER. FOR LUCY AND STEEF, THEIR WEDDING DAY BEGAN WITH AN INTIMATE ASIAN TEA CEREMONY AT HOME, FOLLOWED BY A WEDDING CEREMONY AT CAFÉ ROTTERDAM, OVERLOOKING THE ERASMUS BRIDGE.
FROM SPONTANEOUS WEDDING PHOTOS IN THE CITY AND CINEMATIC FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY AFTER SUNSET TO A FESTIVE SILENT DISCO ON THE MAAS. A VERSATILE WEDDING PHOTO REPORT FILLED WITH PERSONAL MOMENTS, STRIKING CONTRASTS AND THE ENERGY OF ROTTERDAM.
A WEDDING WITH A TRADITIONAL TEA CEREMONY
When you’re a wedding photographer yourself, you know better than anyone how many possibilities there are when it comes to planning your own wedding. Lucy and Steef are both wedding photographers and, more than anything, wanted to create a day that genuinely felt like them.
Not an entirely traditional wedding, but a mix of different worlds. Family traditions were given an important place alongside a modern ceremony, wedding photos in the city, dinner overlooking the Maas and, eventually, a silent disco. All of it right in the middle of Rotterdam, the city they call home.
GETTING MARRIED IN THE HEART OF ROTTERDAM
After the tea ceremony, Lucy and Steef headed to their hotel in the centre of Rotterdam. Their traditional clothing made way for a white wedding dress and suit, followed by another first look.
From there, we briefly headed into the city for some wedding portraits. Rotterdam’s architecture, streets and slightly raw, urban character naturally became our backdrop.
No long photoshoot. Just the two of them exploring their own city for a little while before the next part of their wedding day began.
Geen uitgebreide fotosessie, maar een ontspannen moment samen voordat het volgende deel van hun trouwdag begon.
WEDDING AT CAFÉ ROTTERDAM NEAR THE ERASMUS BRIDGE
For their ceremony, Lucy and Steef chose Café Rotterdam on the river Maas, overlooking the water and Rotterdam’s iconic Erasmus Bridge.
The industrial architecture, large windows and views of the Rotterdam skyline already give the venue plenty of character. Combined with their flowers and styling, it became a modern setting that perfectly complemented the rest of their day.
Their ceremony was led by a Rotterdam wedding officiant who told their story with plenty of humour. Afterwards, everyone headed outside for a toast and a few group photos along the waterfront. It was the contrast between the family traditions in the morning and modern Rotterdam later in the day that made this wedding feel so uniquely theirs.
A NEW LOOK AND ROTTERDAM BY NIGHT
And Lucy had one more surprise. Before dinner, she decided to completely change her look. Her long hair was cut into a short hairstyle with bangs.
A pretty bold transformation to make right in the middle of your wedding day. After dinner and the speeches, Lucy and Steef wanted to head outside one more time. Maybe partly because, as wedding photographers themselves, they know exactly how many creative possibilities appear once the sun goes down.
With flash, the illuminated Rotterdam skyline, Erasmus Bridge and the water behind them, we created a completely different series of wedding photographs from everything we had made earlier that day. Rotterdam by night.
“Wow, this is so cool, Angela. You did such an amazing job, thank you.
We’re so happy you were there and that you delivered the photos so quickly. And there are SO many of them. We’re definitely going to enjoy reliving this day for a long time.”
– Lucy & Steef
A ROTTERDAM WEDDING, YOUR WAY
The evening started with their first dance outside by the water. Afterwards, everyone headed inside for a silent disco and the party really began.
A traditional tea ceremony in the morning. Getting married overlooking Erasmus Bridge. A completely new hairstyle before dinner. Wedding photos surrounded by the lights of the Rotterdam skyline. And eventually, everyone on the dance floor wearing headphones. Lucy and Steef’s wedding shows that including traditions does not mean you have to plan a traditional wedding.
You can choose the elements that genuinely mean something to you and build a wedding day around them that feels completely your own.
Curated Gallery
Editorial Credits
Photographer /@angelabloemsaat,
Location / Dudok aan de Maas / Foodhallen Rotterdam, Make-up & hair / Lily Ong, Flowers /Edenique Floral Design, Styling / Best day ever events, Videographer / Azzurro Films, Wedding Dress / Wild at heart, Designer / Rime Arodaky
