AC BRIDE Annekien & Michiel

The weekend long celebration of Annekien and Michiel is sure to have you dreaming of your very own Italian Destination Wedding.

Set in Tuscany, this laid back celebration filled with joy, will leave you grinning from ear to ear.

Wedding Location | Tuscany, Italy Wedding Date| 16th August 2019

Meet Michiel & Annekien |We both grew up in the same village in Belgium, but only got to know each other in our twenties. Pretty quickly, we found out that we are nearly the same person in terms of what we like to do. We love to be out in nature, travel around and spend time with friends and family (preferably with some food and a glass of wine). In terms of character we definitely have our optimism and lust for life in common, but there are quite some differences as well. Where Michiel likes to think things through thoroughly, I tend to decide quickly. Where I have my head in a hundred different places, Michiel has an exceptional focus. I really love how he can be in awe for the small things in life and how he genuinely is a kind and grounded person.

The Love Story | We were actually set up by a common friend. We separately went out for dinner with some friends of ours and before we knew, we ended up in the same bar and started talking. The next day, my friend texted me that he asked for my number. I read the message while I was fuelling up my car, and I was so happy that I started happy-dancing. Luckily it was a quite abandoned gas station!

The Proposal | Michiel had been working on the proposal for almost a year. He built up a story, and every few months he planted little seeds in order to get me in on it. We’d be spending Easter weekend in Italy since one of his customers had bought a vineyard, renovated a house and was organising an opening party. This customer would take care of the hotel and arrange everything, we only had to book our flights and a car. Apparently this customer had booked the most beautiful room in an old wine castle, overlooking the Tuscan landscape. Our taxi to the opening party would be arriving around 19h, but when we walked down, Michiel told me to come and have a look in one of the castle’s rooms. When I opened the door, we entered a little 18th century theatre. The fireplace was burning, and there was a table for two set up in the middle of the stage. I assumed that this was the normal setup of the theatre. Candles were burning, there was a bottle of Prosecco and there even were peonies (my all time favourite flowers) lying on the table. Despite the many hints, I still was convinced we’d be leaving for the party in a little while. It was only at the moment that Michiel moved closer, explained that there never was an opening party planned, and started to say the sweetest things, that I realised what was happening. And it was pure magic.

Finding ‘The One’ | I remember seeing a photo a few years ago from an Anna Campbell dress that I absolutely loved. I never forgot the name of the brand. So little after Michiel proposed, I checked where this brand was available and found the Bloomfeld Luxury Bridal in Amsterdam. Based on the website pictures, I originally thought I’d be going for the Ruby dress. The Alyssa-dress apparently hadn’t struck my mind at that point in time. But when I wore it and entered the room, my mom’s eyes filled up with tears immediately - and so did mine. And that’s when I knew.

The Dress | I absolutely fell in love with the Alyssa dress as soon as I put it on at Bloomfeld Luxury Bridal Amsterdam. The shoulder straps, the back of the dress and every little detail matched perfectly. The only challenge was to get that bow right - but my mom had been practicing and mastered it like a pro!

My most memorable Anna Campbell experience was definitely getting ready and putting on the dress on our wedding day with my mom and best friends. You’ve been planning and organising for so long, and it was amazing to share those last few moments before it all got started with just the four of us.

Memorable Moments | Michiel had put a lot of time and effort in the proposal, and everything was planned into detail. We didn’t want to forget anything of that day, not even the smallest things. So in the months prior to the wedding, I wrote down our story and made a little book out of it as a surprise. On our wedding day, I put the book on stage of the theatre, on the exact same place he proposed 503 days earlier. His best man lured him to the theatre with an excuse. Michiels reaction was priceless. Luckily, our photographer Irmy was there to capture everything from up close. My original idea was that we wouldn’t see each other anymore before we’d have our first look, but he immediately ran up to our bridal suite to come see me after he read the story. We were laughing and crying at the same time, and feeling so intensely happy realising what was about to happen.

Everyone was in holiday mode and the atmosphere was very laid back. The entire weekend was very intimate, but it was our ceremony that felt especially personal due to the fact that one of my best friends sang the most beautiful songs and my dad was our celebrant. Having him marry us was an indescribable feeling. He also arranged everything with regard to the speeches, so we didn’t know up front who’d be saying something or at what moment. The day turned out to be full of surprises and kind words, which was really, really heartwarming.

Words of Wisdom | Sneak out for just a little while with the two of you. Take five minutes to go and sit a bit further, watch your friends and family on the dance floor, and let it sink in. It’s amazing.

Dress: Alyssa Dress from Bloomfeld Luxury Bridal in Amsterdam.

Photographer: Irmy Photography

Videographer: Screenshot Production

Venue: Castello di Meleto in Gaiole in Chianti

Michiel asked me to marry him in a beautiful wine castle in Italy. Before he even got to propose, the wedding-brochure laying on our nightstands made me dream of a Tuscan wedding already. Little did I know we would be planning our very own wedding a few days later. After the proposal, we decided to get married at the same location he’d proposed. Due to the fact that there’s a variety of beautiful places at the same venue, we were able to have our ceremony, apéro and dinner in different places.

Florist: Only Art Fiori

Catering: Class Ricevimenti