Kelly and Stijn's waterfront wedding

These stunning newlyweds planned this delightful waterfront wedding, at a scenic beach club for their big day.

Kelly and Stijn first met 14 years ago in a dance cafe nightclub in Bilzen. "Afterward, we decided to meet for a drink at Café Chaplin (next to the cinema in Lanaken) and officially started our relationship on May 2, 2009." says Kelly.

A proposal in Ibiza

Stijn surprised Kelly with a dreamy proposal during their trip to Ibiza, just one day before their 10th anniversary. "He proposed on May 1, 2019, during sunset at one of the most beautiful places in Ibiza, Punta de Sa Galeria." She says. "After watching the sunset, he knelt behind me and asked me to turn around. There he was, on one knee with a beautiful and fitting ring."

"While I had hoped for it, the moment still came as a surprise."

Discovering Heidi Hudson

Kelly visited wed2b Geleen in Limburg by a recommendation from a friend who had brought their dress from wed2b. Kelly visited with her two bridesmaids, her mum and her brother. "After browsing the website and social media, I found many dresses that appealed to me."

"Affordability and beauty were important to me." says Kelly.

"The store was beautiful with friendly staff. There was a good selection, not overwhelming, which made it easier for me. I tried on various dresses/styles and was able to express my opinions, which the saleswoman welcomed." says Kelly.

Kelly chose our bohemian Bohdi dress, a modest sheath with a contemporary low keyhole back. This was the last dress Kelly tried on. "It was very different from what I had in mind, but I had a good feeling when I put it on." Kelly says.

"It fit perfectly in terms of size and length, complementing my figure. The open low back, buttons, and lace were beautiful and subtly sexy. I bought the dress well in advance and never regretted it. I was very sure of my choice, and on the day itself, it became clear why. The dress was made for me, matching my style and personality." says Kelly.

Kelly wore her Heidi Hudson modern gown with the simply elegant Willa veil as well as a wunderskirt to complement the sheath wedding dress shape.

The big day

The couple married at Degreez beach club in Panheel on 13th May 2023. Described as the Ibiza of the Netherlands, the spacious beach club with a waterfront provided the ideal setting for their bohemian, Ibiza-style wedding. "It's a spacious beach club with a beach and waterfront. There's a covered pier with a gazebo for ceremonies. Various indoor and outdoor spaces were available, providing flexibility for different weather conditions." says Kelly

"This is what we were looking for: bohemian, Ibiza style, lounge."

"We wanted to create a relaxed atmosphere where everyone would feel at home. Having been to Ibiza several times and getting engaged there, we wanted to capture that vibe." Kelly continued.

"I found it by searching for beach clubs on Google and then exploring their site. It was love at first sight during our first visit. This was everything we were looking for, and when we realized the price was reasonable, we were sold."

"I woke up with my future husband and our two children in our house in Lanaken." Kelly says. The weather, which had been rainy all week, cleared up to reveal a sunny day with a temperature of 21 degrees.

"We first had a civil ceremony at Waterburcht in Lanaken, followed by another ceremony at the location where I walked down the aisle with my dad. My husband walked down with the two boys. During the ceremony, we exchanged vows, and the witness of my husband and my bridesmaid read a beautifully homemade text. We had music at the beginning and end of the ceremony. The ceremony was officiated by a friend, Roy." Kelly continues.

A waterfront wedding reception

"After our civil ceremony at Waterburcht in Lanaken at 11 am, we took photos with family and friends." says Kelly.

"Later, our family members had a sandwich lunch at our home. After that, they all went to the Beachclub, where the second ceremony took place. After the ceremony, there was a reception with snacks, a barbecue, and a dessert buffet."

"Our first dance was 'All of Me' by John Legend."

"When I first heard 'All of Me,' I already said it would be our first dance song, and years later, my opinion hadn't changed." says Kelly.

Planning a boho wedding

Kelly and Stijn infused their wedding with personal touches, including a red VW oldtimer bus that transported them to the civil ceremony.

"Beachclub Degreez already had a lot of decoration in our style, and we added a few accents. For the ceremony, we chose two large dried flower circles attached to a gazebo that was already there, covered with a white cloth. I also brought dried flowers/vases from home as decoration. The colours we used were in the rose shade." Says Kelly.

The best bits…

"The whole day was memorable, filled with so much love and happiness. It felt like a fairy tale."

And for other Heidi brides…

"Don't pressure yourselves; you don't have to get married immediately after the engagement. It took us 4 years, and looking back, I needed that time to create our fairytale wedding." says Kelly.

"Start planning early, occasionally take breaks, and then revisit the plans. You'll see things from a different perspective. Time brings wisdom. It's your wedding, your day, so do it how you want, and don't worry about what others think. The most important thing is that you feel good about it."

"We personally opted for a more intimate wedding (around 60 people) and invited only those with whom we had a close bond. The day was truly shared with the people we wanted there. With a smaller group, we could really enjoy the guests and each other."

"You can save costs by doing certain things yourself (favours, guestbook, decorations, wedding planning, etc.)."

"Ask for help. We had a ceremony speaker/master who read our ceremony and helped organize things for a few hours. I found this to be a valuable addition. Enjoy every moment of the day; you can't control it, so let it go and savour it."

If you’ve loved reading about Kelly's waterfront wedding as much as us, then please share your big day pictures too. We just love finding out how you’ve worn and styled your Heidi design. Click here to share your story and photos with us and we’ll be in touch. You can see more free-spirited Heidi weddings here, too!

With love and laughter,

The Heidi Team

Kelly and Stijn's Dream Team

Photographer: Luana Mooibroek of Studio Visible

Civil ceremony location: Waterburcht Lanaken

Reception: Beachclub Degreez Panheel

Makeup: Schoonheidssalon Kim

Hair: Hair By Roxy

Wedding rings: Esterella Lanaken

Dried Flowers: Atelier Ulalie

Catering at home: Boontjes the Max

Music: DJ Koen Broux