The Wedding of Ashley and Diederik

After my week in Spain, I made it up to ye olde Netherlands! It was great to be back! I love that country. I got to bike around, see old friends and generally revel in the culture that produces the world's best waffles (along with Belgium!). As soon as I got there, I got to work with my bridesmaid duties- starting with Ashley and Died's wedding shoot and ending with reception clean up the night of the wedding. It was busy and wonderful and I'm so happy that I got to be a part of Ashley's magical day!

Day 1: preparing for the photoshoot. I thought it was so funny that with all the prep Ashley was getting on makeup and hair and getting into the dress, Dieds just had the photographer buttoning his cufflinks 

Looking good, right? Photogenic couple in a photogenic place. 

These pictures were taken in Delft which is just gorgeous.
Funny story though? There was a problem with the rental car company that Ash and Dieds had reserved with for driving around for their photoshoot. So we ended up with a huge moving van and me and Ash and Dieds crammed into the front and the photographer, Ronan, tumbling around in the empty back portion. He was hilarious. 

I just took this because I want a bag like that for my bike...one day

Showing off the chucks 

Only in Holland!
An add in the tram station

Part of the photoshoot involved pictures at McDonalds, on the tram and just generally around the Hague
I was the official bouquet holder so this is me in the tram

The next few days I spent a lot of time just cycling around The Hague

I love Dutch houses

Cycled to the beach and got a bit lost but the views were #worthit

Dinner date with Ashley on the boardwalk

I was surprised to find that it was SO HOT the week I was there

I took the train to Utrecht to help set up for the reception and when I asked for directions at the train station the worker gave me this little cake with the train logo on it. Apparently there was some promotion going on? I was like 'cool' and immediately ate the cake

I think this is Haarlem?

One of my bucket list items that never ended up happening last year was going to see The Hiding Place in Haarlem- the actual house-turned-museum where Corrie Ten Boom and her family hid jews during WW2

Here is the hidden entrance to the hiding place

It had this pully system. And then like 8 people hid out in this tiny room

After the Hiding Place and walking around town a bit, I treated myself to an AMAZING crepe

Final picture in the original Haarlem- the irony since now I go to church in the gansta Harlem 

After that, I met up with an old colleague from OPCW. I got to meet her husband and son and they treated me to dinner at the harbor which was so nice. 

The next day (I think?) I did one final bike tour de haag which of course included dipping my toe in the North Sea before having to return my bike

I went past my old apartment and felt nostalgic for about 3 seconds before moving on cause these guys were watching me (welcome back!)

DELICIOUS poffitjes (approximate spelling)

I tried on these shoes that I really wanted but somehow I resisted. Took this picture though to remind myself if I ever decide to buy them :)

Bachelorette spa outing the night before the wedding

Followed by family dinner with Ashley's peeps 

And then the big day came! I don't have a lot of pictures -figured other people had that covered- but I have a few. They had their civil ceremony at this amazing old manor house and it was absolutely GORGEOUS

The grounds- and the beautiful bouquet I got

Cute Megan and Arvid up in front

Immediately after we went to the Hague temple for the sealing

And then we partied it up back at the church! 

Arvid, Megan, me and another of Ashely's friends who visited from the UK.

And after the wedding I helped clean up, got about 2 hours of sleep and then walked from our Airbnb to the train station at about 3 am to start my long journey back to my new home in New York. I would say Operation Ash and Dieds Wedding = Success :)