The first doubt: the town hall or the beach?
Michelle & Pascal contacted me. They live in the Netherlands and wanted to get married at the town hall in Bonaire. ‘Huh?’ I thought. ‘They’re flying all the way from the Netherlands to Bonaire to get married inside the town hall and not on one of the beautiful beaches of Bonaire?’ This was one of the first questions I asked them, along with some good alternatives. Their response was: ‘We don’t necessarily need to be the center of attention, but you’ve certainly made us think again.’ I was happy to hear that!
The desire for a private wedding.
I completely understand that a couple wants to have a somewhat private wedding. After all, it’s their special day, and it makes sense that they don’t want strangers watching from a distance. Fortunately, Bonaire has many beautiful locations right by the sea that are also very private. I visited several beautiful spots and took photos and videos for them. I even visited a charming beach club, and they found it so beautiful that they wanted to include it in their considerations.
The choice for Pink Beach.
The search for their dream location was a beautiful process, where options appeared that they hadn’t initially considered. They quickly concluded that the town hall was no longer an option for them, as they discovered that Bonaire has other, more beautiful locations where they could still have a private wedding. What made the final decision was that they wanted to marry with a typical Caribbean backdrop: beach, sea, sun, and palm trees! And if there’s one beach that has it all, it’s Pink Beach! Since there was still some uncertainty about the beach club, they decided to have their dinner there instead. In the end, all their wishes were fulfilled.
Witnesses on the beach.
They wanted to get married just the two of them, but if you want to marry on the beach in Bonaire, six witnesses are required. I always try to arrange people who are somehow involved with the wedding so that the witnesses aren’t complete strangers to the couple. I also acted as a witness myself, which was a great honor.
A Caribbean touch: Ayoub’s bar and refreshments.
On the beach, Ayoub set up his wooden bamboo bar. Upon arrival, the couple and the witnesses were given a fresh coconut, which he opened on the spot. How more Caribbean can you get? The couple and the witnesses could also enjoy fresh local Awa di Lamunchi and passion fruit at Ayoub’s bar.
Toasting with Bonairian Cadushi liqueur.
After the ceremony, there was no toast with bubbles, but with delicious cocktails made with Cadushi liqueur, the liqueur from Bonaire made from cactus, which Ayoub prepared on the spot.
Romantic and private dining by the sea.
After the ceremony, the toast, and a beautiful photoshoot, it was time for a romantic ending to the day at the charming beach club where they would enjoy a lovely dinner. Even there, their wishes were fully taken into account. Further away from the restaurant, where the other guests were dining, they were given a private table on the beach, right by the sea. It couldn’t have been more romantic and intimate. It felt as though they were completely alone on the beach, while the service and other facilities were still close by and easily accessible. The many candles, torches, and ambient lights completed the picture.
Their dream came true, and I was so happy to have been able to help them create a Caribbean wedding that was a perfect fit for them.
Photography: Iris Wuijster
