Sydney, January 2019.

We started a summer romance, having no idea that it would turn into something more profound, let alone lead to a marriage five years later. Eric had just arrived in Australia to explore the country for the year, while Alistair was preparing to move to Vancouver for his own new adventure.

 

What started with a few nice dates, quickly blossomed into something much more special. We spent the peak of that Sydney summer together, enjoying each other's company and only once being stung by a jellyfish. And after saying goodbye to each other several times, we still ended up staying in touch with daily texts and WhatsApp calls, reluctant to let go of what could be possible.

 

Finally, it came to a head during a phone conversation- “What do you want?” asked a frustrated Eric. 

 

Awkward pause… “Will you be my boyfriend?” asked Alistair, tentatively.

 

“I don’t know. I need some time to think about it.”

 

But after the longest hour of Alistair’s life, Eric called back and made him ask again. Then it was official. We were boyfriends!

 

Our long-distance relationship involved us chasing each other around the world, with Eric visiting Alistair in Vancouver for six weeks, then Alistair going to Belgium that Christmas, and both meeting up again in New Zealand for a wedding. It became clear that this was not sustainable, so Alistair decided to change course and move to Belgium to set up a more permanent life together with Eric in Antwerp.

 

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out two weeks later, making our plans uncertain. We longed to be together but were unable to do so due to travel and migration restrictions. Finally, the EU added Australia to a travel white-list, and Alistair was able to fly to the Netherlands and meet Eric there. It was a strange reunion, but we were overjoyed to be in each other's company physically once again.

 

Suddenly we were living together in Antwerp, setting up our first apartment together and taking things one step at a time, unsure of what the future would hold. Alistair's tourist visa would soon expire, and he knew that he needed to do something to stay with Eric. So on September 14th, 2020, we took a train to the Belgian medieval city of Ghent, where Alistair dropped to one knee and asked Eric to marry him on the open rooftop of the city's castle.

 

After some hasty plans and a truckload of bureaucracy, we were all set for a simple wedding celebration in November that year. But then, a week before the wedding, the entire country went back into lockdown. So we had the smallest wedding ever, with only six people in attendance, including ourselves. But we were married!

 

Our love for each other has only grown stronger since then, but we still regret not having the chance to celebrate our marriage with the people we love. So that's where you come in. We would love for you to join us this November in New Zealand, as we throw a great celebration in a beautiful place, with as many of our loved ones as possible. ​

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And for those in Belgium who are unable to make the journey to New Zealand, we are also planning a smaller-scale, but equally mythical reception here in Antwerp.