P h o t o s b y S p e a k i n g T h r o u g h S i l e n c e
I absolutely adore the wedding I’m about to share with you. As you may or may not know, one of my favorite specifics of wedding photography is the couple portraits – and this wedding is full of them. It’s also jam-packed with pretty little details like kissing wands, rice and confetti, and gorgeous florals. And also being a North American married to a Belgian, I totally appreciate and love that this couple combined several cultural traditions on their special day.
Wendy and Ben got married on October 11 of this year. Although they live in Canada, they decided to celebrate their wedding in Brussels, Belgium, where Ben is from. Having visited Belgium myself, I can say and agree that Belgium does have a lot to offer. Belgium is famous for their fries, beer, chocolate and wonderful architecture as well. And Ben and Wendy chose some beautiful locations for their wedding day. Their photographs were captured by the talented Dieter of Speaking Through Silence Photography.
Their wedding ceremony was held at a town hall in Brussels, the same area that the groom grew up in. The ring bearer came down the aisle with both a Canadian and Belgian flag to celebrate the couples’ native countries before they exchanged vows. After a confetti and rice exit, the reception was held at L’Abbaye de Nizelles, a 14th century abbey, also located in Brussels. The couple chose the venue for its romantic feel as it is surrounded by forest, a pond, and a beautiful courtyard.
Reception kicked off with a Chinese tea ceremony, a typical Chinese wedding tradition to honor the couples’ parents and unite the families together. Cocktails were then served in the old abbey hallway followed by dinner, and dancing that took place in the abbey’s “orangerie” - a glass room that overlooked the gardens. The room was filled with beautiful florals and some DIY decor. The bride made kissing wands for the guests to wave during dinner to make the couple kiss!
This is definitely a wedding that I would want to attend, as it truly does seep romanticism from it’s photographs. Thank you to Dieter, the photographer, for sharing these wonderful images and being so communicative. And congratulations to Wendy and Ben – wishing you all the best for your future!
Photography: Speaking Through Silence Photography | Venue: L’Abbaye de Nizelles | Florist: Helianthus Brussels | Caterer: Paulus | Bridal Shop: Felichia Bridal | Dress: Jacinda by Watters | Shoes: Manola Blahnik | Groom’s Suit: Strellson | Cake & Pastries: Julian Courtoy| Wedding Graphics: Benjamin Gehlen | Makeup: Bride DIY | Kissing Wands & Chair Decor: Bride DIY
