Dear Alicia and Milan,

It took some preparation, but what a beautiful day this will be. Perhaps it’s a good moment to recall some memories. Especially about Milan, as I’ve known him a bit longer, but now also about our new daughter, the one in the white dress. I’ve only got five minutes, so I’ll have to be selective.

Milan was a special child. In the early days, he was a very cheerful child. When he discovered the talking stairs in the Efteling, our whole family had a wonderful time. Heyheyhey Hohoho.

He was also very fond of play fighting and physical contact. The ‘Collision Kiss’ was one of his first inventions. He was keen on contact sports too. While some family members preferred ice skating, Milan was more into Sumo wrestling, or Tikitibono, as he called it. He trained for hours with Joni in his own way.

Later came football. In the F-team, he was a goalkeeper. But after lying down in the goal during a one-sided and, for him, boring match and falling asleep, he was given a different role. Together with Wesley, our sturdy neighbour’s boy, he took charge of defence at the local football club SCE. Opponents couldn’t get past them easily. But Milan especially impressed after a robust tackle, when he’d walk up to the floored opponent, offer a hand to help them up, and ask with utter seriousness, ‘Are you alright?’ The football mums adored him, calling him the social worker, according to them.

Milan also loved music. Listening, but also making it. So he asked for a drum kit for his birthday. And he got one. At school performances, he played like a star. His legendary ‘drums only’ version of the Super Mario tune is unforgettable. Over the years, Milan proved capable of playing any new instrument he picked up in no time. Without lessons—a quick instructional video on YouTube was enough.

Watching films together at home was a family tradition. From Disney to Ace Ventura, to Monty Python and Asterix and Obelix, and everything in between. For some, this resulted in plenty of quotes used at all sorts of moments, even in the middle of a serious conversation. Often much to the annoyance of other family members, who couldn’t remember the quotes. ‘You must devour everything down to the last bite’ was actually our translation of ‘Bon appétit’, “Do not go in there” meant I just used the toilet.

It turned out to be contagious too. Nowadays, the partners are often just as skilled in using film quotes. Alicia is no exception. Give it a try: ‘You’re all individuals!’

So, beautiful bridal couple, keep enriching each other and each other’s lives. You keep doing you!