Marald started picking up the camera professionally in 2007 doing commercial work in the Netherlands.
Marald executes the perfect balancing act, keeping a sharp eye on the technical part of photography and videography while making room for limitless creativity. The “anything for the art” attitude with a dose of humor—yet pure professionalism—to set.
After spending years honing his skills in Europe, his wife wanted to return home. Living in paradise isn’t all that bad of a prospect, so in 2014, Marald and his family moved to Aruba.
With more than 10 years of happy marriage and two little boys, Marald knows what you are saying “I do” to. Although these kids are 100% the number one priority in his life, the uncompromising sense of duty makes Marald a reliable and constant part of the team.
In his free time, Marald loves to enjoy the Aruban outdoors together with his family by going to the beach, body boarding, hiking and bouldering (climbing rocks), scuba diving, and free diving.
TEAMWORK MAKES THE (DESTINATION WEDDING) DREAM WORK
TEAMWORK MAKES THE (DESTINATION WEDDING) DREAM WORK
It’s one thing to want a dream destination wedding. It’s a whole other thing to make your dream destination wedding come true. There are just so many things to consider, so many moving parts: getting all the guests to the destination, the rehearsal dinner, the preparations leading up to the wedding, the ceremony itself, and the reception, plus all the details, from the dress, hair & makeup, and flowers to the cake, food, music, and wedding party gifts. And then of course, there’s the wedding photography and videography, with lots of moving part of their own. Between planning the various shots, capturing footage through various lenses and angles, and editing, it’s certainly not a one-man job. High-quality wedding photos and videos that to justice to your dream destination wedding require a team effort, and that’s exactly what you get with the Aruba Wedding team.
The gorgeous destination wedding of Diana and Mike Rogers here in Aruba in August 2022 is the perfect illustration of how beautifully our team members work together to ensure the best possible wedding photography and videography experience for couples. Diana and Mike first met Jordy, our team leader, back in 2020 and kept in touch for two years during the peak of the Covid pandemic. In August 2022, they met in person with photographer Rafael to talk in detail about the images (both photo and video) that would be created on the day of their destination wedding on the exclusive Renaissance Island. Everything started flowing very naturally, and the couple quickly realized how seamlessly our team works together to ensure the best outcome.
Of course, Renaissance’s expert wedding planner Zulaika Dijkhoff-Boekhoudt gave the couple a lot of confidence as well. She double checked all the details with them, from the flowers and cake to every song on their playlist. Diana and Mike definitely left the meeting knowing without a doubt that they were going to enjoy their wedding day to the fullest.
But the teamwork didn’t stop there. While Rafael served as the photographer on the day of the wedding, he was joined by one of our videographers, Kanter, in order to document every special moment through video, from the preparations at Renaissance’s Marina Tower to the celebratory reception on Renaissance Island. One of our photographers, Joshua, shot the Island Tour package that the couple opted for. And finally, team member Ames did the editing for the wedding video.
Clearly, teamwork makes the destination wedding dream work! We thank Diana and Mike for the complete trust they placed in our team to help realize the destination wedding of their dreams! The result? their review speaks for itself.
Jordy Koolwijk is the founder and managing director of Aruba Wedding and its sister company Wings Global Media. His journey started over 11 years ago, in 2011. Born and raised in the Netherlands, he moved to our One Happy Island and started Wings Global Media from scratch. Aruba Wedding soon followed after just two years.
He has been passionately running both businesses from the start and built them to what they are today. Nowadays, Aruba Wedding is known for its team of professionals with different specializations and excellent reputation among its clientele.
In his free time, Jordy loves to travel, go to festivals, and spend time with his partner.
We know getting married can be overwhelming, so the last thing we want is for brides to be uncertain about anything. That’s why we encourage you to have an “investigating mindset” and fire all your questions at us. We love to help and will happily field any question you might have. Go for it, Sherlock!
There are thousands of possible questions, and no question is silly or inappropriate. We offer more than just keepsakes for life…we offer peace of mind so that you can enjoy the entire experience, not just the gorgeous photos and videos we will deliver as a final product.
So without further adieu, we decided to get the ball rolling with some of the most common questions that brides have asked over the years. Our hope is that you won’t hesitate to ask other questions as well. Trust us…we have the answers!
WHAT FORMAT DO YOU DELIVER THE PHOTOS IN?
We deliver high-quality JPG’s that can be used for almost all printing options, even bigger sizes. We only deliver digital photos; however, we also offer very exclusive printing options as possible add-ons, such as canvas prints, metal prints, and albums.
WHAT DELIVERY METHOD DO YOU USE?
We deliver all photos via a Dropbox link. Dropbox is stable, reliable, and secure. With the personalized link, you can download the photos onto your computer and share with your friends and family without having to put them in public on social media. The Dropbox link is also the platform for possible corrections. By indicating the photo file names/numbers, you can let us know any feedback, concerns, or corrections you might have.
DO THE VIDEO PACKAGES ALSO COME WITH ALL RAW FOOTAGE?
We never give out the actual raw footage; however, we have a solution that will have the same end result, making sure you have all the video footage we have shot. This is called a press-edit, which would come in addition to the video (highlight reel) you already received. A press-edit is basically all usable footage in a very long playable file, meaning you will receive all footage shot, including the shots that are not really good/usable or simply didn’t made the edited video. Preparing this press-edit will come at an additional cost, however, since it is significantly more work. Please note that this press-edit is only a collection of short shots pasted in a sequence for you to archive; it has no edited storytelling. All shots are short, dynamic, and artistic, since we don’t shoot as reporters but more as filmmakers.
HOW BIG IS THE PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY CREW DURING MY WEDDING?
This varies based on the package you book. All photography is two crew members (one photographer + one assistant), unless you book a second photographer, making the total count three. In the case of videography, the crew is two (videographer #1 and videographer #2). So at a maximum, the crew during your wedding could run up to seven persons total (considering the fact that we have two different video crews that can capture two different wedding videos/styles); however, a regular combo package (photo and video) will give you four crew members covering your big day!
IS ONE PHOTOGRAPHER ENOUGH?
In order to capture all the essentials, one photographer is enough; however, one photographer can only be in one place at a time. For example, while the photographer is taking photos of the two of you during sunset, we miss shots of your guests mingling during the cocktail hour. The same applies during the first dance: if the photographer is taking the couple’s first dance photos, we miss capturing the jaw-dropping reactions of the guests.
Therefore, we recommend hiring a second photographer, especially for the ceremony itself, for greater coverage. Our photographers work as a team, perfectly anticipating each other’s movements so as not to get in each other’s shots. Booking a second photographer will also result in extra photos delivered. You can book a second photographer for two or more consecutive hours.
WHY DO WE RECOMMEND DOING THE CAKE CUTTING RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST DANCE?
Obviously we adjust to any given situation, so for us, whenever you choose to do the cake cutting is fine; however, please find below a few reasons why we recommend doing the cake cutting right after first dance.
Everybody is already around the dance floor.
The cake is still fresh and looks sharp for the photos.
After cutting one piece of the cake for the sake of the photographs, the hotel staff will bring the cake back to the kitchen where they will slice it up for you to be served as your dessert. You really don’t want to waste your precious time cutting the cake for all your guests; focusing on cutting just that first piece is also more fun!
DO YOU REALLY NEED 1.5 (ONLY PHOTO) TO 2 HOURS (COMBO OF PHOTO AND VIDEO) TO SHOOT THE PREPARATIONS IN THE ROOMS?
This shooting time takes into account that we need to leave the bride’s room 20 minutes before the ceremony in order to set up at the ceremony site, and that we need to relocate from room to room (in between groom and bride). It feels long, but in order to guarantee quality, this amount of time also gives us wiggle room and the ability to craft our shots with precision.
HOW MANY PHOTOS WILL WE DELIVERED PER HOUR OF SHOOTING?
On average, 50-80 photos will be delivered per hour booked. So for example, three hours of shooting results in 150-240 delivered photos and five hours results in 150-400 delivered photos. This all depends on a lot of factors.
DO YOU DELIVER ALL PHOTOS TAKEN?
We do a so-called photographer’s selection, which means that we edit everything that we consider usable in regards to lighting, focus, facial expression, and framing, and of course we filter out all duplicates. However, in case you feel that anything is missing or you wish to see more of a certain part of the day, we will go back to find more (and we open the kimono whenever needed, since transparency is our credo).
HOW ARE THE HOURS USED WITHIN EACH PACKAGE?
The hours within our packages need to be scheduled in a consecutive way. We always help our couples to establish the most efficient timelines possible, ensuring bang for your buck.
WHAT PACKAGE DO COUPLES USUALLY BOOK?
Our best sellers are the three-hour and five-hour packages (this applies for both photography as well as videography).
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THE PHOTOS/VIDEO TO BE DELIVERED?
The edited photos will be delivered (via a Dropbox link into your mailbox) within three weeks after the wedding date. The video will be delivered within five weeks after your wedding date via a private/unlisted YouTube link. Once the content is approved, final delivery will take place via Dropbox again for you to download everything onto your computer.
WHAT IF I LOSE MY PHOTOS/VIDEO AFTER FINAL DELIVERY?
No worries, we got you covered. We keep a copy of your files on our server. However, we are not a storage facilitator or cloud storage company, so although we do this, we cannot be held responsible. This is a nonlegal binding service we offer, so ultimately you are responsible for correct storage of your files.
HOW MANY MEETINGS DO WE GET WITH THE CREW?
As many as needed! We know that “with great power comes great responsibility.” We realize that your wedding photos are a visualization of the memories you will have of one of the most beautiful days of your life, so we understand how important our job is, and we take it very seriously. As we will be a vital part of your big day, we want to make sure we make your experience as smooth and pleasant as possible. In general, most couples, on average, have two meetings (aside from some emails back and forth). One meeting is during the intake phase in order to determine what package works best and to draft a timeline, and the last meeting is on island in person, where we go over all details one more time, one-on-one with your wedding photographer or videographer.
HOW CAN I MAKE MY PREFERENCES CLEAR AND COMMUNICATE THE STYLE I LIKE?
First we will investigate this in great detail during the intake by asking the right questions in order to get to know each other. However, for us as visual people, a picture tells not 1,000 but 10,000 words. Therefore, we always ask our brides to send us screenshots, Pinterest boards, and photos of everything they see online that inspires them. We on our end put all images in your project file, and we create a so-called moodboard that we use in order to determine the style, feel, vibe, and personality that should characterize your photo and/or video session. We also use the moodboard as a style guide during your pre-meeting on the island with the crew.
We hope this tip-of-the-iceberg Q&A overview will inspire you to do good research and to build the type of relationship with us that is going to make all the difference in guaranteeing a great experience and amazing end results.
Most girls start dreaming of their wedding dress from a young age. Your wedding dress is one of the most important pieces of clothing you will ever wear. Because of this, you want to make sure that the dress is exactly what you pictured it to be. The dress should not only be stunning, but it should also be comfortable. We already know that you will be perfect at selecting your dream dress. However, when having your wedding on a tropical island, such as Aruba, it is important to keep some things in mind. This is why we would like to provide you with some wedding dress tips!
TROPICAL BREEZE – DO’S AND DON’TS
As you might know already, Aruba is a beautiful island located in the mid-south of the Caribbean Sea. Due to this, the weather is very, very pleasant throughout the whole year. Nevertheless, having your wedding on an island also means that there is a breeze. This tropical breeze is the first point to take into consideration when purchasing your dream dress. Having a breeze going through your dress can make your dress look like it is floating. However, when it comes to wedding accessories, such as your vail, we do not want it to be in front of your face during the ceremony. Although we absolutely love a vail, it might not be the most ideal for a beach wedding. This also counts for having loose hair. We do not want your hair to cover your beautiful face. A hairstyle where your hair is pinned might be a better option.
KEEPING IT LIGHT AND FLOATY
The second point is also connected to the weather. The weather in Aruba is quite constant, with temperatures around 86°F or 30°C. Due to this, it is advisable to choose a breathable fabric for your wedding dress. Light and floaty fabrics will not only make sure that you are not too hot during your wedding, but they will also look stunning when your dress blows in the wind. Some fabrics that are perfect for a beach wedding are chiffon and charmeuse.
WITH OR WITHOUT SHOES?
The third point to take into consideration is your shoes. We all love heels, but heels and beaches do not make the perfect combination. We do not want you to trip while walking on the beach. A simple solution for this is, barefoot! After the wedding on the beach, you can get your heels on. When you decide to put on your heels after the beach wedding, make sure that the length of your dress is altered to this. Moreover, if you want to add something extra it is also possible to wear foot jewelry, such as an ankle bracelet.
NOT LOSING IT OUT OF SIGHT
Last but not least, unless you are lucky enough to live next to the beach, a beach wedding will often require a certain amount of traveling. Due to this, your dress must be easy to pack and carry on a plane. By having your dress in your hand luggage, you will be able to make sure it gets to your wedding destination safely.
Taking all these points into consideration will make sure that you can experience your day without any worries. Because your wedding dress is not just another dress. It is the dress you will remember forever.
5 wedding decor setup for your destination beach wedding
5 wedding decor setup for your destination beach wedding
A lot of time goes into planning your wedding. Some sources refer to at least 200 hours of planning. Others go as far as 500 hours. Mind-boggling, right? This planning, of course, includes deciding on the wedding decor for your ceremony—floral arrangements, seating, the arch, etc. Luckily, we have a little bit of inspiration for you. As wedding photographers and videographers, we encounter many different wedding setups here in Aruba, from amazingly lavish to simple yet stylish. So we are pretty sure you will find these little videos more than helpful.
BUCUTI & TARA BEACH RESORT
Getting Married in Aruba most probably means a beach wedding, and frankly, the beaches here are all the decor you need—that and perhaps a lovely arch. The couple of this wedding setup said their I do’s under a minimalistic yet stylish bamboo arch wrapped in white draping, accented by a few lanterns, on a white sandy beach overlooking turquoise blue waters—the perfect wedding decor for a modest destination beach wedding.
DIVI RESORTS ARUBA
We recently shot a wedding featuring bohemian wedding decor, and we love it. That bohemian vibe has been rising in popularity and doesn’t seem to be willing to go anywhere but up. It matches perfectly with the beautiful lighting we get around golden hour, which, in all honesty, is definitely the time you would want your beach wedding ceremony to take place.
If that laid-back bohemian-chic vibe speaks to you, why not go with wedding décor that oozes this easy-breezy vibe on the beautiful beaches of Aruba?
ARUBA MARRIOTT RESORT & STELLARIS CASINO
Why do arches always have to be rectangular? They don’t! The wedding decor for this ceremony had a beautiful circular arch, colorful floral arrangements, and a lovely dining setup right there. Can’t forget to mention Aruba’s white sandy beaches and the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean. This decor only gets better during golden hour and looks stunning in your bridal portraits, wedding photos, and wedding video. What’s not to love?
RENAISSANCE WIND CREEK ARUBA RESORT
Beautiful floral arrangements, palm trees, and a dash of boho—this stylish wedding decor is guaranteed to make your destination wedding one to remember! (Like a destination wedding is easily forgotten, right? But you know what we mean here.) Your wedding photography and wedding video will make anyone jealous when they feature you and your partner radiating love and happiness under this stunning arch. And the flamingos? They come with the territory.
THE RITZ CARLTON ARUBA
With Elegant white floral arrangements, Chairs, drapings, and white sandy beaches to top things of, you set yourself up for a wedding to remember!! This wedding setup is a classic example of less is more. What more do you need than the Aruban sunset in the background !?!
Aruba has plenty going for it when it comes to destination weddings—sunny, outside of the hurricane belt, safe, absolutely stunning sunsets, beautiful turquoise blue waters, and some of the most professional and creative wedding photographers and videographers out there—wink, wink. And now you know that when it comes to wedding decor, there are plenty of offerings on our lovely island as well, especially considering that the above offerings are just some of the many available.
We hope to have informed and inspired you, and can’t wait to capture wedding photographs and a wedding video of you and your soon-to-be spouse.
How to make the most out of your wedding photo shoot/video shoot
How to make the most out of your wedding photo shoot/video shoot
We understand that wedding photography and wedding videography can be a substantial investment. This is why, we absolutely love to be with you throughout the day to make sure we capture every little detail, every picture, and every perfect moment. On your special day, we try to use our time as efficiently as possible, giving you the most bang for your buck.
These are some things you should always consider before your wedding day:
The type of photo or video shoot you want;
The possibility of combining wedding photography and videography;
The duration of the shoot – the most popular packages are 3 to 5 hours;
Important highlights, such as the preparations, ceremony, or reception.
PEOPLE EATING, YES OR NO?
Keep in mind that people might be eating during the reception of your wedding. This means that we might need to direct our attention elsewhere. While eating is a must, it might not be the most important moment you want to capture.
NO LADIES FIRST THIS TIME
We always do a few preparation shots with the groom first because they don’t take as much time as their soon to be wives. While we’re taking shots of the groom, the bride still has a little extra time to do a final touch up on her make-up.
It is recommended to have everything arranged before you get into your dress! For a 5-hour booking we normally don’t use a make-up artist, but we don’t say no to some so-called ‘fake-up’ shots. In these pictures, the bride and her bridesmaids pretend to put on make-up so we can capture a photo of that.
THINK ABOUT THAT SWEET SUNSET!
When you are working on the schedule for your wedding day, make sure to keep in mind when the sun is setting! A 5-hour photography booking will usually cover this moment. On the other hand, a 3-hour booking can either start from 6pm until 8pm, covering the ceremony, portraits, and all the formal activities during the reception. Don’t worry, we can stick around until 9pm so we can catch some dance moves and guarantee some of our best work!
Below you can see a perfect example schedule for your inspiration:
Weddings are special and memorable events that should always be enjoyed, hassle-free. Of course, things might not always go as planned. This is why it’s important to make sure you are ready and prepared for whatever the day brings with it and not have to dwell on minor hick-ups.
A Wedding Emergency Kit can save you a lot of unnecessary stress! Trust us, the following tips will come in handy for sure.
WARDROBE MAID – MALFUNCTIONS CAN ALWAYS HAPPEN!
The last thing you want is a wardrobe malfunction on your wedding day. The good thing is that if you have these essentials with you, will be out and about in a jiffy:
Double-stick fashion tape;
Sewing kit (keep it compact, just a few needles and thread for the wedding dress of the bride and the maids will do);
Safety pins;
White chalk (this will cover up stains on a wedding dress in no-time);
Stain remover pen.
NURSEMAID – AVOID THOSE BLISTERS AND HEADACHES!
On a wedding day, everyone should feel comfortable. Most probably, the ladies are wearing brand new shoes for this big event, meaning that they probably haven’t had enough time to properly break them in. Additionally, forgetting to eat and hydrate can be a big but common mistake.
Make sure to bring:
Anti-blister balm;
Pain reliever;
Quick snacks (we do not want anyone to get hangry, bananas always provide the right sugar boost);
Water (like the locals say: ‘Aruba ta cayente!’ (Aruba is hot)).
MAKE-UP MAID – WHEN YOUR MAKE-UP NEEDS SOME EXTRA LOVE!
It’s natural to want to look your best on your special day. Even if you’ve gotten your makeup professionally done, there might be instances when you want to touch up, especially on our sunny One Happy Island. Don’t forget these in your kit:
Blotting papers;
Compact mirror (for last-minute make-up checks);
Same lipstick as used by the make-up artist on the bride;
Eyelash glue
If you want to be extra proactive and have more space in your kit, these can be useful bonus items that will make sure you got everything covered and are able to fully enjoy your perfect Aruba Wedding!
Bring some spare underwear, because… you know… don’t ask!
As Wedding Photographers / Videographers based in Aruba, We love to capture anything related to love, whether that is a wedding, maternity shoot or engagement session. It is all about telling stories. There are many creative ways to add some personality and flair to this special moment when it comes to proposal sessions. There is nothing like the look of surprise on your bae’s face when you ask them to spend forever with you. Check out these fantastic ideas on how to make your proposal a memorable moment that your significant other will remember for the rest of their life.
PRIVATE DINNER
Imagine enjoying a private romantic dinner on the beach with your other half. The scenery is gorgeous, sunsets at the beach make for the perfect setting to say the words: “Will you marry me?”. Be inspired by this romantic beach engagement session that we shot a while back.
ISLAND TOUR PROPOSAL
An island tour proposal package offers an out-of-the-box opportunity to pop the question at a unique location that no tourist would ever find on their own. As local photographers and videographers, we know the best spots on and stories about our island. You and your partner will be driven around the island by us on a guided tour, which will end with your surprise proposal. They will never suspect anything!
Watch how Matt booked such a tour to propose to Alexa.
A LOVELY PICNIC
Take a walk on the beach…all of a sudden your beloved sees a lovely little set-up, a few pillows, a nice display of food, wine, champagne and a note…What’s that on the note? Is that you and your fiancé’s name? Wait, what? And as your fiancé looks at you, all surprised…..BAM! There you sit on your knee.
GET PERSONAL
Your beloved will appreciate your attention to details if you do this: While on a romantic walk on the beach, your fiancé-to-be spots their “favorite book or bottle of wine with a note on it, maybe even a special someone or their pet with a sign. Whatever it is, make it personal and show them that you are paying attention!
OUTDOORSY DECISION
You go on a hike through the wilderness or maybe do a little stroll through the city center and all of a sudden, your fiancé-to-be spots a personal message for them, written on a rock or wall. They turn around to look at you, only to find you on one knee. With the help of some drawing chalk (you know, the ones you used to play with as kids), we can already make miracles happen. Plus, it’s easy to wash off, since we always act in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
LET’S TURN THE TABLES
For the ladies: sometimes traditions can be broken. Love is universal and so is expressing it. There’s no need to hesitate if you feel like going against the traditions and just popping the question. See how Leticia did it here.
At Aruba Wedding, we love to help you set up and capture the look in your fiancé’s eyes when you pop the question. Let’s do this! If need be, we also have the best contacts on Aruba to make sure we find someone that can help you with the details that will sweep your beloved off their feet. Contact us today at contact@aruba-wedding.com to learn how we can help.
Weddings are a once-in-a-lifetime event (well, hopefully). A lot of planning goes into your special day. It’s filled with countless moments that you would like to have captured forever, and as wedding photographers and videographers, we truly understand how important these snapshots are. This is why we go to great lengths to keep your photos and videos safe.
FROM SHUTTER BUTTON TO DELIVERY AND BEYOND!
To protect all the invaluable moments we capture, we make sure that there are always two copies of every file from the time we press the shutter or hit the record button until the moment we deliver the files to you. When we get back to our office, we make a backup of the two memory cards and store them in a secure location. To provide additional security, we make an extra off-site backup from the server we normally work from. The process works as follows:
BACK IN ROTATION!
Within one week, your files are moved to an off-site backup. After that, the memory cards that were used for your wedding photo or video shootare used again to capture someone else’s big day. We do one final check to make sure that the files are stored correctly and none of them are corrupt. From this moment on, we have two different (off-site) copies in different locations. In case the server’s storage capacity is exceeded, we create an off-line backup which we can access from our office.
A PHOTOGRAPH IS LIKE A PAUSE BUTTON ON LIFE!
We never delete any of your files. Theoretically, we keep your memories safe until the end of days. However, please keep in mind that we are not superheroes. We are not invincible to technical errors! We do everything within our power to make this chance as small as possible. Our way of data management is fairly unique in our industry and we are very proud of that!
A photograph is like a pause button on life. We want you to be able to continue replaying your favorite memories over and over again!
