Throwing a big, traditional wedding wasn’t was Hella and Noah wanted, but neither was a small-scale elopement. So they decided to blend the two, throwing a party at home that was intimate, yet full unconventional touches. “We did all the basic stuff,” Hella says, “but poured some alternative sauce on there. No regrets.”

The couple married in Lommel, Belgium, in the garden of Hella’s parents’ home. With pink details tying everything together, the ceremony was set in a space that felt familiar and completely theirs. They took a hands-on approach to the decor, leaning into their family’s love for DIY. “We are a very creative family that likes to do everything by hand,” Hella continued. “Getting the decorations together was one of the best parts.”

The biggest investment was the tent, tables, chairs, and flooring because it was such a big space to fill, but they saved on almost everything else. The bride got her dress from an outlet shop and accessorised with pieces from Shein and AliExpress and most of their decor pieces weer found on there too or bought secondhand.

One of their highlights of the way was taking their vintage car for a spin and popping to the a McDonald’s drive-thru in full wedding attire. Everyone also had so much fun in their DIY photo booth.

While they embraced a less conventional format, Hella was quick to point out that even a non-traditional wedding takes time to plan. “Start planning ASAP”, she advised. “It really takes a year to have a well-organised wedding, and even then, things can go wrong. Just go with the flow,it’s not the end of the world if it’s not perfect.”