Estelle + Bastiaan by Donatella Corriero

The place was absolutely magical, and from the very beginning, we envisioned a minimalist décor.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

We live together in Brussels, a city we love for its rhythm, its walkability, and its quiet energy. It feels grounded yet open, much like us. Bastiaan is a data and tech lawyer, Estelle an employment law lawyer, and we work at the same firm—our days often overlapping in conversations that move seamlessly from legal questions to travel plans.

Travel is a constant source of inspiration for us, and the proximity of Paris means we often escape there spontaneously for a weekend of food, exhibitions, and long walks through the city. We share a deep appreciation for architecture, fashion, and places that tell a story—whether through buildings, clothing, or the way a city unfolds.

At home, we are each other’s best friends. We try to do as much as possible together: working out, walking endlessly through Brussels from one end of the city to the other. Weekends are often spent on foot, discovering familiar streets anew. Occasionally, Estelle convinces Bastiaan to join her at the cinema for a horror film—her favourite genre—just as she has slowly introduced him to spicy food, now firmly part of his repertoire.

It’s a life built on curiosity, shared rituals, and the simple joy of doing things together.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We met in 2016 while working at the same law firm. Estelle was an employment law lawyer; Bastiaan specialised in data and technology. At first, our paths crossed in a purely professional way—shared corridors, occasional conversations, a familiar presence that slowly became part of the everyday. It wasn’t until 2017 that things shifted and we started dating.

Estelle’s first impression of Bastiaan was a mix of curiosity and warmth. He came across as slightly socially awkward, undeniably a bit of a nerd, but with a genuine kindness that stood out immediately. There was something sincere and reassuring about him, a calm presence beneath the initial reserve.

For Bastiaan, meeting Estelle felt like the opening of a door. Through her, he discovered a world beyond his desk—travel, long dinners, spontaneous outings, and the pleasure of being fully present outside of work. She brought movement and colour into his life.

What began as a shared workplace gradually turned into something deeper. Over time, our differences became complementary rather than contrasting: structure and curiosity, focus and openness, thoughtfulness and ease.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

We are true architecture enthusiasts, and our style can best be described as minimalist. At the beginning of our venue search, we had considered getting married in Tuscany, but it never fully felt like us. After a trip to Puglia in 2022, we completely fell in love with the region—its architecture, its landscapes, its light.

In 2023, after coming across photos of a wedding at Masseria Moroseta on Instagram, we finally decided that Puglia was where we wanted to get married. In a spontaneous move that reflects us perfectly, we booked Moroseta at the end of 2023 without ever having visited the venue in person. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of our wedding.

The place was absolutely magical, and from the very beginning, we envisioned a minimalist décor, allowing the beauty of the venue to speak for itself, without unnecessary embellishment. The setting and the overall atmosphere were, for us, the strongest visual elements of the wedding.

If there is one thing we slightly underestimated, it was the power of flowers. To us, they were initially just a detail. We had told Santa, our wedding planner, that we wanted few—if any—flowers, and above all, candles. In the end, the floral arrangements and table décor played a much more important role than we had anticipated and contributed beautifully to the overall ambience.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

Looking back, it’s hard to pinpoint what we enjoyed most during the preparations, simply because planning a wedding abroad turned out to be more intense than we had anticipated. Between logistics, last‑minute changes and keeping an eye on the weather, we found ourselves counting down the days with equal parts excitement and anticipation.

If we had to highlight one truly unforgettable element, it would undoubtedly be our wedding planner, Santa. Her constant availability, kindness and calm presence made all the difference, and meeting her was one of the greatest gifts of this journey.

If we could share one piece of advice with future couples, it would be this: try to enjoy the preparation phase as much as possible. It goes by incredibly fast, and it’s easy to forget to savour it amidst the practical details. In the end, everything falls into place — and it truly becomes the most beautiful day of your life.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

We were incredibly fortunate, as more often than not, we were able to work with our very first choice of vendors. Each of them was exceptional, and we will never be able to thank them enough for the care and talent they brought to our day.

If we had to highlight a few in particular, the musicians would undoubtedly be among them. For the aperitivo, we chose RetroGusto Band, whom we had discovered on YouTube. They weren’t among the bands initially recommended by our wedding planner, which made us slightly apprehensive — but they turned out to be a wonderful surprise. Their interpretation of Italian classics was absolutely perfect for the moment and set a beautiful, relaxed tone for the celebration.

A very special mention also goes to our DJ, Danny Howen, who kept the dance floor alive until the very last song. No one wanted to leave the venue, and even today, guests still ask us about him and compliment the music he played.

Finally, we are deeply grateful to our photographer, Donatella, and the team from Cap 71043, who captured the atmosphere of the day with incredible sensitivity. The photos received countless compliments and were often compared to fashion editorials — something that means so much to us and that we will treasure forever.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

Estelle: The months leading up to the wedding were particularly intense for me, as I was deeply involved in a major professional case. This meant that I had limited time to devote to the preparations — and as a result, finding my wedding dress needed to be a focused and efficient experience.

I had always known, however, that I wanted to choose my dress in Paris. It’s a city we return to often and one that holds a very special place in our story. Seven months before the wedding, I travelled there with my sister and my mother for what turned out to be a memorable day.

Our first stop was Pronovias, where I had already shortlisted a few designs online. While the sales assistant was preparing my selection, she invited me to browse the boutique. That’s when I noticed a very simple, long‑sleeved dress. It wasn’t love at first sight, but she suggested I try it on first.

The moment I stepped out of the fitting room, everything became clear. To everyone present, it was immediately obvious: this was the dress. It felt as though it had been made for me. It may well have been the fastest wedding‑dress decision in history — and I couldn’t have been happier with my choice.

My second look was unexpectedly simple. Years ago, I bought a Massimo Dutti Studio dress that I never wore because it felt too bridal for everyday life. I kept it just in case I would ever get married. Wearing it later in the evening felt natural and personal, and it was met with so many kind compliments.

Bastiaan: I kept things simple. I bought everything—suit, shirt and shoes—from Hugo Boss, which felt true to who I am. I chose a beige suit to reflect the lightness and ease of an Italian summer. It was understated, effortless, and exactly what I wanted for the day.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Given our legal background and our respective personal histories, we had spoken openly about marriage for a long time—and had even booked our wedding venue before officially getting engaged. It was a decision we made together, consciously and thoughtfully.

We got engaged in New York, at Bemelmans Bar, a place that felt timeless to us. Although the engagement itself was not unexpected, it remains one of the most special and emotional moments of our lives precisely because it was planned and chosen together.

Because marriage was a mutual decision, we were both involved in choosing the engagement ring and our wedding bands. Living in Belgium, we naturally turned to Antwerp for the engagement ring and chose a classic 1.5 carat solitaire—timeless and elegant. For our wedding bands, we opted for the iconic Love rings in white gold from Cartier, with a diamond for Estelle.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

Interestingly, we booked our wedding venue and decided to get married without having any real idea of all the costs associated with a wedding (sound, flowers, lights, rentals, candles, etc.). We discovered the budgetary impact of certain choices gradually along the way. That being said, we have absolutely no regrets, and we truly believe that the two areas where it mattered most to invest were the venue and the food.

Décor/styling is important, of course, but at the end of the day, what guests will remember most is how they felt. For us, the elements that contribute most to lasting memories are the setting itself, the comfort of the venue, and the quality of the food and drinks. These aspects shape the overall experience and atmosphere of the day, and they are areas where we firmly believe it is worth spending a little more.

One final non‑negotiable expense for us—perhaps a little out of date – was a photobooth. Beyond being great fun on the day itself, it created spontaneous moments, genuine laughter, and tangible memories that guests could take home.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

Without hesitation, the most powerful moment was the first look, as Estelle walked down the aisle. Everyone was standing, turned towards her, and Bastiaan simply couldn’t hold back his tears. Estelle walked towards Bastiaan openly crying—proper, uncontrollable tears, which are clearly visible in the photos—and Bastiaan, who is usually very rational, was crying too. It was an incredibly intense and emotional moment.

That instant will undoubtedly remain the strongest and most beautiful of the day for us. But beyond any single moment, what will stay with us forever is the atmosphere of that day. The joy we felt never faded; it was as if we were floating on a cloud from morning until night.

Throughout the day, guests kept coming up to us to tell us how beautiful and magical the wedding was, how deeply they had felt the emotions during the ceremony, and how genuine and profound our love felt. Many told us they had been truly moved—and that is something we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.

What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?

Within our relationship itself, marriage did not change very much—our love remained the same. However, it was an important milestone for us, a way of cementing our bond. Suddenly, you feel more grown up when you can say “my wife” or “my husband” instead of “girlfriend” or “boyfriend”.

We have many rituals that help strengthen our connection. We firmly believe that these rituals are essential to ensuring that, despite the daily stress we face, our relationship remains healthy and fulfilling. We are each other’s best friends and try to share as many moments and activities together as possible—Saturday morning brunches, Sunday morning workouts, our regular weekends away in Paris, and even our daily lunches at the office.