We Love the Playful Romance in this Holland Elopement: The Elopement of Catherine and Reuben Koeman

Stars crossed when Catherine met Reuben during her senior year of college. Even though he was a freshman, she knew they were a perfect match! After Catherine moved from Minnesota to Michigan to be with Reuben, the pair went grocery shopping to stock up her new home. On the way home, Reuben took a detour and dropped to one knee in a park gazebo.

 Catherine wanted to find a dress that would keep her warm despite the cool lake breeze. Instead of going to a bridal salon, she found her dress via Facebook Marketplace! “Once I saw the 'floofy' ballgown skirt and the beautiful lace sleeves and backing, I could see myself in it and I instantly desired a more formal occasion,” she says. “Reuben was on board too.”

The pair had planned a summer wedding, but their plans had to change due to COVID-19. When the couple was rescheduling their ceremony date, Catherine had the idea of eloping. From there, the pair quietly gathered an officiant and witnesses and set out to say ‘I do’ on the beach.

What we love

“Reuben and I wrote our vows in the same space but kept them secret from each other until we got married. Once we decided to elope, we made them longer and included a story and an inside joke and made it more personal,” Catherine explains. We love it when couples can add their own special twist to traditional vows!

Advice from the couple

Catherine urges couples to do their research on vendors--and don’t be afraid to score some goodies! She says, “Planning a wedding means you have the opportunity to get a lot of free stuff, so go find those things and just enjoy it!”

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