I have to confess… I failed my friend on her wedding day.
Wait, what?
When my friend first asked me to help, the task sounded simple: “Fabie, can you find me an Antilliaanse wedding planner in the Netherlands?”
I went on a whole research spree, asking around, Googling, diving into Facebook groups… but to my surprise, I didn’t find one. And then she dropped the big question: “Couldn’t you just do it? You always organize your kids’ birthdays so beautifully.”
I laughed. “Nooo, how do you compare a kid's birthday party to a whole ass wedding?” But she and her fiancé insisted. “Planning is planning, ook al is het een bday of een wedding. You are good at this, and it would be an honor if you guide us through this journey.”
I was nervous, but deep down I felt the challenge… and I said yes.
We started in the fall of 2023 for a wedding originally set in June 2024. Life happened, so the date moved to June 2025, and maybe that was destiny, because it gave us more time to shape their dream day.
I handled it all: the venue, the photographer and videographer, decorations, vendors, timeline, budget, even their pre-wedding photoshoot (yep, done by me!).
Not everything was smooth. Sometimes I wanted to pull my hair out when tasks weren’t done. I can do a lot, but I'm afraid I can't choose your wedding cake for you, haha. However, there were also magical moments, such as when we went wedding dress shopping. She tried on the very first dress… and we all just knew. That was THE ONE. Goosebumps.
One day, in the middle of a meeting, she casually threw in: “By the way, I want you to be my witness too.”
My brain: wait what?! If I am the one coordinating everything, how am I supposed to also sit at the table as her witness?
I checked with the venue, and bless them, they reassured me everything would be under control, so I could step into both roles. Once that was clear, my stress melted into joy. “Yes, girl, I’m honored to sign that paper and be part of your big day!”
The Big Day
That morning, I helped her get dressed. Then I coordinated the first meet-up shoot, the outside photos, ran back to the hotel for makeup, and raced to the venue.
Together with the other witness, we split tasks. I checked the ceremony space, managed vendors, spoke with the officiant, welcomed guests, and coordinated the family photoshoot after the ceremony.
But I was also still her friend. Look here at this picture of me feeding her a sandwich between shots, making sure she didn’t faint or stain her dress.
Standing as her witness while also being planner, ceremony master, and friend felt surreal. It was like superpower mode.
How I “Failed”
Here is the truth: I wasn’t the typical friend. I wasn’t the bridesmaid sipping champagne or taking endless selfies.
Instead, I “failed” by stepping up. I became her planner, coordinator, ceremony master, amateur photographer, and witness: all in one. I designed and printed their invitations, organized every detail, and made sure the day went smoothly from start to finish.
If that’s failure… sign me up to fail every time.
Seeing it all come together felt like a dream. Even now, thinking back, I get butterflies. It was a masterpiece of love, teamwork, and a touch of PinkDo planning magic.
Special shoutouts
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Venue Wet ’n Wild: special thanks to Seraja for the amazing support
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Photographer Jolande Alicia: blending in perfectly and capturing pure moments
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Officiant Ivonne from Liefbruidspaar.nl: turning love stories into poetry
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Video Apart Creators, Edmaly & Shenill: magical 1.5-minute highlight reel
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Decor Sharon from Woosh: exceeded every expectation
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Cake Enjoy Cakes: delicious and stunning
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Hair Fransje (HairbyCulturebyFC): curls done right, flawless updo for the bride. And for myself, cute knotless braids
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Makeup: Cheraiva for the bride, Des from Elevated Beauty for the bridesmaids: pure glow
Why this matters
I may not have been the “typical” bridesmaid, but I found myself stepping into my true element. Structure, planning, details, deadlines; those are my love language. And moments like this remind me exactly why I do what I do.
As my slogan says: Do, Did, Done; The PinkDo Way!
P.S.: Tell me, would you choose an Antilliaanse wedding planner, or not?
Should I say yes to wedding planning?
Leave a comment below or reach out to me through WhatsApp, let's connect!
Hi, I am Fabie
Your dedicated Netherlands-based virtual assistant and the heart behind PinkDo. I strongly believe in the Pink Power and the positive impact it can have on your business.
Since I was young, I have loved structure, planning, and helping my people. Today, I am living that purpose by supporting clients around the globe every single day. As my slogan says, 'Do Did Done,' I have you covered. That is the PinkDo way.
Wanna know more? Read more about me.
