My fiancé proposed to me about a year ago, and that began a whirlwind of things to do. The proposal was so romantic and thoughtful. He surprised me by hiring a photographer and proposing in the tulip and flower fields. Of course, I am super excited and looking forward to getting married this year. But honestly, I didn’t even know where to begin. Planning a wedding is already stressful. Planning a wedding as a foreigner in another country is on another level. So, as a bride and wedding content creator in the Netherlands, here are some tips.

Choose Your Flower Vendor Wisely

Flowers are quite a pricey part of the wedding costs. But flowers make everything so much more beautiful. So, choose your flower vendor wisely. I decided to order my wedding flowers from a local flower and garden center outside the city. This made them so much cheaper than buying them from a florist/flower shop. And if you want to support local shops, don’t worry. Many flower/garden centers are actually owned by individuals/families living in the area. Not all of them are Intratuin.

Organizing Accommodation

Since you’re probably going to have many people coming from abroad, where they all are going to stay may be a worry for you. I called several local hotels to ask for a discount code for my guests. Two said they don’t provide such a thing, while one gave me a 10% discount code for all of my guests. So now my guests can save money. Obviously, it would be amazing if I could host/pay for all of them, but I’m not a millionaire yet.

Prepare to Wait a Long Time

Unfortunately, most vendors I wanted to hire, including the government officiant, took quite a while to respond. So, learning to be patient is so important. Of course, follow up and don’t just wait months for a response. But understand that businesses don’t have a sense of urgency here.

Negotiate When Possible

It may not seem polite or appropriate, but when spending so much money, why not at least try to negotiate? I negotiated at the wedding dress shop and got several hundred euros off. Don’t be afraid to explain your budget, stay firm, and do not go over your budget. Some vendors may agree to give you their services/products for a lower price.

Some Things Need to Be Arranged Right Away, While Others Can Wait

I would say that choosing a date, a venue, a photographer and videographer, and an officiant should be at the top of your list. Make sure also to choose one or two witnesses for each of you, the bride and groom. In the Netherlands, the witnesses sign the document after you say, “I do.” Without witnesses, you have no official wedding. Then arrange your dress or suit because with tailoring, these can take months. 

You Might Have to Compromise on Some Things

Finding a basic layered chocolate cake for our wedding was impossible. The local bakeries make traditional Dutch-style cakes. There was a bakery in Amsterdam that made “American” style wedding cakes, but they were so expensive and didn’t deliver. I was fully prepared to give up and just order a Dutch-style cake. But thankfully, my American friend came to the rescue.

We also wanted to rent an antique car for a few hours. But the prices started at about 750 euros!! So we reached out to a family friend who has an antique car and asked to borrow it. It’s not my dream wedding car, but I can’t justify spending 750 euros on a car. I just can’t.

Ask For Help

Don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family for help. Delegate tasks if need be. It’s better to ask than be extremely stressed out. The worst they can say is no. And the best they can say is yes.

Stay True to Yourself

And most importantly, stay true to yourself. Just because you live abroad doesn’t mean you have to give up your traditions and culture. A mixed wedding is possible. Don’t let others tell you what to do or how to live your life. This is your wedding, your life, your relationship.

Let me know what else you want to know about planning a wedding in the comments. And if you want to hire a content creator for your wedding, reach out to me. I’d love to capture your special day!

The featured photo was taken by Valentina Brenters Photography.

For wedding planning content, life abroad content, freelancing content, and more, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.