10-Hour Wedding

Rotterdam

What a terrific day. We spent 10 hours enjoying wedding events for two friends, one we have known for decades the other more recently. They have stayed with us in the US and we could not miss the opportunity to help them celebrate their wedding.

They live on a small island in Rotterdam, most recently in the news because of the historic access bridge to the island that was about to be temporarily dismantled to allow for the largest yacht in the world to pass through (Jeff Bezos just had the yacht built nearby). Rotterdam is a very modern city (it was completely destroyed in WWII) with a young population (70% of city center residents are between 20-40 years old, and unmarried).

First came lunch in a cafe (owned by friends), then a water taxi ride (fast and exciting) to the wedding venue (historic building), then drinks/music (overlooking the water), then the wedding (much different ceremony than in US), then live music (the groom plays in a band), then dinner (all vegetarian), then music and dancing (almost all US rock songs from the 70's), then a water taxi ride back to out hotel (upper floor room overlooking the city). Nice.