Lili + Robin by Dora Fazekas

Our venue had such beautiful natural surroundings.

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

We’re Lili and Robin, a Hungarian and French/Luxembourgish couple living in Amsterdam, where we met 7 years ago. We are both very active and social, often travelling the world and hanging out with friends. We both love sports and sharing experiences together. We never sit still and always try new things or start new projects.

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

We met at a party in the student residence where we both lived. We were instantly drawn to each other and ended up talking the whole night. It felt natural, effortless, and a bit like magic from the very first moment. We have a lot in common, yet we both find something exotic in the other.

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).

Our venue had such beautiful natural surroundings: a lush garden with a natural swimming pool located on the shore of Lake Balaton, so we didn’t need heavy decoration. We wanted to bring in memories of our Amalfi engagement, though, so we used lots of lemons and aromatic plants. My bouquet was also a unique artistic piece rather than a traditional arrangement.

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

We loved brainstorming ways to make the wedding fun and memorable for guests travelling from far away. We organised an aufguss sauna session, rented e-foils to surf on the lake, created a bingo game with a fortune wheel, and planned pre-parties. Designing the ceremony was also meaningful, especially the ribbon ritual involving our loved ones and writing our vows. Our tip: embrace creativity and think about experiences that reflect who you are as a couple. Own your ceremony, make it enjoyable and interactive for you and your guests.

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

All our vendors were amazing and truly went the extra mile. The venue, Zen Garden Resort, was flexible and adaptable to our needs. They helped a lot during the planning period and on the day itself. They arranged excellent catering, and the staff provided exceptional service during the entire weekend. Our photographer, Dóra, captured the essence of our special day with style and professionalism. Her fluency in Hungarian, English and French made it easy to work with us and our guests. She delivered pictures very fast and created a storyline that perfectly reflects the emotions felt during the day.

The decorator – whiteweddingdecor – was also super cooperative, followed the guidelines and adapted to our requests, resulting in a beautiful effect. A key person during our wedding was the officiant, Mussó Zsófia. We needed someone who could speak Hungarian, French, and English to officiate our ceremony and guide our guests throughout the day. She kept the program and made sure everything ran smoothly on the day.

Working with our providers was smooth and professional. Everything was perfect on the day.

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

I found my main dress in a Budapest boutique, a French designer two-piece that I can reuse. For the welcome, I wanted something more comfortable and timeless, so I designed my own dress, sourced the materials, and had it tailor-made in Budapest. Robin knew immediately he wanted an off-white suit so that we could both wear white; he had it tailored at Suit Supply in Amsterdam.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

My engagement ring comes from Deloison Paris. Robin even staged a “business trip” in Paris to buy the ring. Our wedding bands are from my friend’s jewellery brand in Hungary, Narya, and were custom-designed. Involving someone close to us makes it even more special.

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?).

We prioritised the venue, catering, music, and our outfits. Investing in photography and videography was also important to us because memories last forever.

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

One cherished moment was spending quiet time together before welcoming guests. Just the two of us practising our opening dance in an empty house in the garden. Another was the ribbon ceremony, where friends and family wrapped ribbons symbolising virtues like love, health, and happiness around us.

Our most cherished moment during the wedding was the ceremony, which was filled with emotions. We both said our vows in front of all of our loved ones, showing our love and commitment to each other. Also had our family and friends participate in the ceremony by wrapping colourful ribbons around us, each symbolising a virtue (love, health, trust, happiness…). A wedding is the occasion to express our feelings, and our family members made speeches during the day, which were very moving.

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

For us, marriage means having a partner you can rely on unconditionally. We nurture our bond with regular date nights, cooking together, staying active, and finding fun in everyday life. It also means making projects together.