WEDDING BLOG

Bailee and Alex wanted a destination wedding in a place where their close family and friends could explore with them.  They chose Amsterdam–and it was stunning! After accidentally stumbling on The College Hotel while touring multiple venues they didn’t love, they knew it was the perfect place to host their dream day. With the help of expert planner In Style Wedding Management, they pulled off a classic affair complete with avant-garde touches, chic white and gold decor, and a wedding cake–from Lindenhoff Cheeses–made entirely of Dutch cheeses.

If you’re dreaming of a European wedding, keep scrolling to see the gorgeous details that Nicole Aston Photography beautifully captured–from the moody first look to a photoshoot on the canal to a sparkler exit featuring an epic outfit change.

The Couple:

Bailee and Alex

The Wedding:

The College Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Why The College Hotel

We found our venue on accident! We were set on the idea of not getting married at a hotel and stumbled into The College Hotel for an afternoon drink after viewing ten venues we didn’t love. The moment we walked into The College, we knew. Take our advice and don’t rule anything out and don’t discount something straight away—try it once because it might surprise you!

Destination Wedding Vibes

The vibe of our wedding was, in essence, worlds colliding. A major theme in our lives has been bringing our individual groups of friends and family together to form one large support system, and we wanted this to be a feeling and emotion that carried us through the weekend. Additionally, I’m from Ohio, Alex is from Massachusetts, we live in Texas, and chose to get married in The Netherlands–it was quite literally worlds colliding. The style/design of the wedding was meant to complement and not overshadow the beauty of The College Hotel–a historic hotel in the Museumplein district of Amsterdam.

A Musical Surprise

One of the most unique and memorable moments of our ceremony was when Alex actually performed for—and with—our guests right before I walked down the aisle with my bridesmaids. Alex is a very talented musician and chose to sing “Crazy Love” (while also playing the piano!) with his Uncle Ben and my father, Pat. The song ended in a sing-along with all the wedding guests.

A Non-Traditional Wedding Cake

We offered three meal options, meat, fish, and vegetarian. Each option was unique–an appetizer and entree that was unique to each selection. The food was unbelievable. The guests even shared they didn’t realize wedding food could be that good! We also didn’t do a traditional cake but instead did a cake made of Dutch cheeses for the reception and a table of assorted sweets and desserts for after dinner!

Congratulations again to Bailee and Alex on their modern classic destination wedding at The College Hotel! We’re so glad that Nicole Aston Photography was there to capture the details of the day. If you’re planning your own destination wedding, and you’re feeling a little lost, check out our six destination wedding tips you need to know!