Beautiful Belgium Wedding – Part 2 – Day Trippin’ – Ghent and a rehersal dinner location to die for!

Day 2 of our fun filled wedding extravaganza started off with meeting up with a few more friends and family members who traveled in from various parts of the globe.

After the excitement of reuniting, we were again treated to a local guide for a tour of the groom’s home town of Ghent.

Our first stop was St. Baaf’s Cathedral. Although the interior of the cathedral as stunning, we were mesmerized by the LAMB that was inside the church. We asked our guide why it was there. She had no idea and went to inquire about it. She found out that the lamb was going to be a gift to the 1,000,000th tourist that visited the cathedral.

Since there was no actual record of exactly how many visitors have come through the cathedral, she tried her best to have Marija and Nico named as the 1,000,000th visitor.

Is it me, or do they look less than excited about the possibility of being gifted with a lamb?

“Luckily” for them, the lamb was gifted to another visitor.

After the hub-bub of the millionth visitor was finished, we were finally able to focus 100% on the beautiful Cathedral.

  

Although Marija and Nico didn’t get the lucky lamb, the organist came out and honored them with a song.

After the Cathedral tour, we headed over to one of the riverbanks where we were treated to a boat tour of Ghent.

Everything about this town was beautiful…

Even the fruits and vegetables!

If fresh fruits and veggies aren’t your thing – you should try the fries (just don’t call them French)

  The back side of the Gravensteen Castle serves as a stunning back drop for a quick photo opp of Nico and his father.  After our river tour we were able to stroll around a bit before getting ready for the rehearsal dinner later that evening.

These two love birds are Nico’s parents, and you can see why they are proud of their home town.

It’s really fun to run into more of your wedding guests while casually strolling the streets of a foreign country.

 

After rehearsing for their wedding, we met over at the ” ‘T Paradijs Van Wenemaar” restaurant for dinner.  Remember yesterday, when I told you about everything being planned to perfection?

Holy smokes – look at the ‘backdrop’ for the rehearsal dinner!!!

  It’s impossible for these two, NOT to be absolutely adorable.

Ready for a double dose of awesome-sauce? This stunning couple below are Victoria and Yoric. This is a double hitter of awesomeness because not only have I had the honor of photographing their engagement session a couple of years back… but Yoric, is Nico’s cousin!

Nico, his best man – Whim, and his cousin – Yoric, re-living some memories.

Not to be out done – Marija has her own great group of gal pals with her, that I’m sure, have their fair share of great memories as well.

During the rehearsal dinner, Dr. Harvey Karp, author of Happiest Baby on the Block (as well as Marija’s employer), gave a beautiful toast and wished them a beautiful wedding and marriage.

 

After dinner, Nico asked that I follow them over to the bridge. They made a wish and placed their own “Love Lock”  on the bridge then tossed the key into the river.

I’m not sure what Marija wished for, but I have a feeling that one of her dreams is about to come true!

I do know that a long time ago, she wished for her own Prince Charming, and I also know that Nico loves to surprise her with wonderful things.  She found her Prince Charming, and tonight, he surprised her with a wedding gift.
A pair of stunning diamond bracelets he knew she would adore, almost as much as he adores her.

He pretty much hit it out of the park!

Marija’s mom admiring her daughter’s new gift.

Thanks for reading… Tomorrow is the big day – stay tuned!