02/07/2026
Not every wedding goes according to plan… and that made this one unforgettable. 😅💍
Gene & Belena came all the way from the US to Amsterdam for a 4-day trip with friends. What nobody knew? They’d secretly planned their wedding. Only one friend was in on it.
At Pllek on the NDSM wharf, they surprised everyone with an intimate ceremony. Vows were exchanged, rings were slipped on… and then the groom disappeared inside.
Ten minutes later, we found him in the kitchen, hand under cold water. His ring was stuck. Tight.
Heat + excitement + swollen finger = ring locked in place. Soap? Olive oil? Nothing worked. His finger only got worse.
Staff advice: call the fire brigade. 🚒
So off we went – the couple, a friend, and me in my car. The whole fire station gathered around. Cutting off a wedding ring was a first for them too. They passed.
On to the ER.
By now his finger was almost purple. Three attempts followed:
➡️ String to twist it off
➡️ A ring cutter
➡️ And finally… an angle grinder
After 1.5 hours, the ring came off. Finger saved, painkillers taken, and we went right back to celebrating. 🥂
The rest of the night? Laughter, toasts, and a dinner full of emotional speeches at Bello Gio’s at the river.
As a wedding photographer, I’ve seen a lot… but a wedding that hits the fire station AND the ER? Definitely crossing that off my bingo card. 😂
Gene & Belena – thank you for letting me be there. I’ll never forget your day. ❤️
