Getting married in the USA vs the Netherlands & a BIG life update! - American in the Netherlands

In this video, I wanted to share some differences I've noticed when it comes to getting married in the Netherlands vs the United States. In addition, I have a big life update that I want to share with you all, which makes clear how I've come across some of these cultural and legal differences.
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I like to share my experiences of an American expat in the Netherlands. I describe both the unique and everyday aspects of Dutch culture, and life in Holland while enjoying every bit of it!
Blog website: www.dutchamericano.com
Instagram: DutchAmericano
Get in touch: [e-mail]
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[@BlueStarDragon]

Congratulations. So glad for you that you have found your true partner. Also so cute to hear you say "she accepts all my flaws and I think she is great" . She problably feels the same about you. Great news

[@DutchAmericano]

That's nice of you to say, thank you!

[@eddys.3524]

Congrats, Ava !!! 💋 Let love rule !!

[@MeesdeFilmliefhebber]

Van harte gefeliciteerd met je toekomstige vrouw, Ava! Hopelijk vangen we in de toekomst een glimp van haar op, op je kanaal! Ben erg nieuwsgierig geworden naar degene die je al zo lang gelukkig maakt!😊

[@p.i.vanblerk3043]

I have the feeling that when I was younger engagement meant more in the Netherlands than it does now. Maybe because back then sex before marriage was still more of a taboo, and being engaged was a phase in which it was sort of accepted that people did it anyway. Just my ten cents, no data lol. Oh and congrats on the marriage!

[@maestrakarlalauraruizdevel5934]

Hallo! I got married in the Netherlands last february. I am originally from Mexico Stad, I just arrived last tuesday to be few months with my husband, from Gelderland :) Due to work, we haven't started the MVV process yet. Groetjes, kusjes een Gefeeliciterd!

[@Emphyrio7]

One might mention that in the Netherlands the only legal wedding is the one performed by the state. Usually at the Municipal House by a special functionary. Couples who want a church wedding will need to do two ceremonies, one after the other.

[@Paul-iq6pw]

Congrats to the both of you! So lovely to hear.

[@mathesondeese5212]

Congratulations!!! So glad to hear this!

[@ed_ms]

Congrats!! All the best for the both of you!!

[@Brera011]

Gefeliciteerd Ava, all the best wishes for the both of you!

[@awijntje14]

Congratulations, such great news and we wish you all the best!!

[@jjakjjak5231]

Congratulations! All the best to both of you!

[@belgiansurealism5865]

Congratulations Ava!!

[@JasperJanssen]

Congratulations Ava! I’m happy for you that everything is going so well.

[@the_shiny_wartortle_8913]

Hi Ava congratulations on your engagement. And was a fun and educational video.

[@penwithoutasword9459]

Congratulations to you both, Ava!

[@yamuis]

Great news! 😍😍😍 Congrats to both of you, Ava. 🍾🍾🍾

[@matthijsbouma3393]

Congrats to you both! ❤

[@marianne_1980]

Gefeliciteerd! I always love the way you point out the differences between Netherlands & USA. You're so spot on!

[@NuclearSeagull]

Congratulations, Ava! I'm so happy for the both of you!

[@jannybaijens5771]

Van harte gefeliciteerd Ava! Heel veel geluk en plezier samen💖

[@josnuijten2761]

Congratulations Ava, very happy for you and your bride!

[@NaomiClareNL]

Van harte gefeliciteerd Ava en toekomstige echtgenote!

[@damouze]

Ava, first of all: congratulations to you and your girlfriend! I wish you a long, healthy and happy life together. I have always felt that the "geregistreed partnerschap" is "marriage, without the fuss". It is also something that is advised to people for instance when they wish to buy a house together. You have more or less the same rights as a married couple, but without all the traditional baggage.

[@johannobel1691]

Not "more or less the same rights", it is actually the same rights. At least in the Netherlands. As a heterosexual registered partner, I know. And yes, it makes a lot of things easier, not only buying a house, also when you're having kids: as the father you're automatically recognized as such (erkenning), instead that you have to apply for it and the mother has to officially recognize you as the father (which was the reason my partner and I registered). Only thing that's hard is deciding what to call each other in conversations: is my partner my partner or my wife? Registered a tad over 3 years ago, and I still find calling her "my wife" a bit weird. Less then 3 years ago, but still, got some ways to go there. And Ava, congrats on the "verloving". I wish you and your soon to be wife a very happy continuation of your lives together.

[@Grimlock1979]

Van harte gefeliciteerd! I hope you 2 have many happy years together.

[@TerrenceWeijnschenk]

Gefeliciteerd en heel veel geluk samen! x

[@boeng1]

Woho!!! Congratulations! Van harte gefeliciteerd!!

[@smenor]

Gefeliciteerd, Ava !

[@charlesvan9726]

Van harte gefeliciteerd !!! Happy for you both 🎉

[@dunastie]

Congratulations Ava! :D This is wonderful news, and can clearly see you're shining because of it! :D Hope the both of you will have many more amazing years together!

[@eobi-edobi4275]

so happy for you two. congrats.

[@margs4921]

CONGRATS!❤

[@STrouwborst]

I very much enjoyed this video, thank you for sharing. 🤗

[@martijnkeisers5900]

Gefeliciteerd! Veel geluk ♥️

[@jeroenvanzwam6991]

Congrats Ava!

[@peterkulpe]

Gefeliciteerd Ava! Very happy for you both.

[@hzaagman8005]

Congratulations to both of you!! I hope you'll have a long, loving and wonderful life together.

[@emilyannfrancesmay3919]

Very happy for you. Communication and confidence is one of the building blocks for trust. You and your partner have a solid foundation for the marriage.

[@dutchyjhome]

Van harte gefeliciteerd Ava en aanstaande vrouw ! Helemaal goed !

[@marresjepie1887]

Congrats kiddo. That You two may be happy for a long, long time!

[@Bosdavid]

Geweldig, van harte gefeliciteerd allebei! Ik wens jullie een heerlijke dag en een uitzinnig feest toe met daaropvolgend natuurlijk een des te meer geweldig leven tezamen!

[@francinewillemsen7214]

Gefeliciteerd Ava! Ik hoop dat jullie er een fantastisch feest van maken!

[@juloedtb1420]

Gefeliciteerd Ava met je verloving. Ik ben ontzettend blij voor jullie beiden. Eerlijk gezegd dacht, toen ik voor het eerst naar je vlog keek, dat jullie al getrouwd waren. Dankjewel voor de update. Stay healthy.

[@jackvandersluis1723]

Great news Ava! All the best and I hope for a great future! May you and your girlfriend have the best of times! 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥂🥂

[@_Gianna_R]

Congratulations!!! a real life wholesome lovestory. I wish the best for you both!

[@carlosmulders2823]

gefeliciteerd Ava en aanstaande . 😍🥰

[@donaldmeulemans6458]

Allebei hartelijk gefeliciteerd! Prachtig!

[@thomgeerts4622]

Gefeliciteerd Ava!

[@Greyhound53200]

Many Happy Congrats for the both of you !!!

[@neelz401]

Gefeliciteerd allebei !!😃

[@lieke3043]

Gefeliciteerd!!! 🎊

[@tomdehaan9640]

Congrats Ava and partner!

[@nomadgigi4051]

Congratulations Ava, have a wonderful party and wedding! My Dutch parents were engaged for over 5 years and did use the term 'verloofde', this was from 46 to 51 so a long time ago. The engagement dragged on because my dad was send of as a soldier to Indonesia for what turned out to be 3 years. He came home in 1950.

[@moldar81]

Congrats Ava! :)

[@in551125do]

Congratz...!! Lots of love from Amsterdam....!!

[@mariadebake5483]

Gefeliciteerd jullie allebei!

[@moniquevandermeer6567]

Ik heb stiekem de eerste tellen van je filmpje bekeken. De rest is voor vanavond. Gefeliciteerd!!!!

[@marcblokpoel]

I saw the titl and knew right away.... Yee happy for you both. Congrats!!!!

[@johnhendriks4085]

Congratulations for both of you!

[@HansdeHeer]

Yay! Congrats! ❤️

[@alexandergrofics1885]

Congratulations! 🎉

[@fcassmann]

Hartelijk gefeliciteerd met je geplande huwelijk. Als ras Amsterdammer volg ik je al jaren en zie met bewondering toe,hoe jij groeit. Vr.gr.F.

[@meticulousgeek]

I can't help it, just so happy for you two!

[@PotrovNivanski]

Congratulations and have a merry married life 🎊 🎉

[@lokitukker]

Hartelijk gefeliciteerd!!!!!

[@gordonwallin2368]

Congratulations, Ava! I'm so happy that you're going to be somewhere safe and friendly and warm and most of all happy. Your "popping the question" part was really funny and sweet. I think today 14th of December the Us passed a bill to protect same-sex marriage. So evertthing ought to go smoothly. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.

[@colinmackenzie4363]

Congrats to you both !

[@marielvanhees9531]

Hartelijk Gefeliciteerd Ava!! My husband and I lived in Philly PA when we got our marriage license and if I recall correctly it was valid for a month. As Pennsylvania is a Quaker State we used self-uniting marriage papers. Not all States offer this. We just had to fill out the dates ourselves sign at the bottom and have two witnesses sign as well (my MiL and my sister) and then hand it in at City Hall. We had a lovely small ceremony with flowers and a dinner for 8 people at my parents house. We partied regularly with our friends anyways so we celebrated with them the next time we saw them. We saved money this way so we could buy a house. And also got married right before the end of the year so that it would help with taxes!! The way you described the simple marriage decision of "hey let's do this? Ok!" is exactly what my parents did in the Netherlands. In the 70s it was registered marriage before you were allowed to marry in the church. My parents skipped the religious path. I think my Catholic grandmother wasn't too happy about that. Then they basically had a small wedding day like my husband and I did, but for my American mother no one from her side of the family was there. My mother didn't speak much Dutch yet so my father nudged her to indicate when she needs to respond with "Ja." They celebrated later in the summer when my moms side flew over for a visit. We have yet to register our marriage in the Netherlands. Life got busy to sit down and get it done. When you are officially married in the Netherlands will you be allowed Dutch Citizenship? My mother did and was able to keep her US citizenship. Hope you'll be able to look into that. I have heard the NL is keen on making people choose one citizenship and lose the other. I have to renew mine very so many years or it's lost. And a name change in the NL is only allowed once in your life compared to in the US you're allowed up to about 10 and then after that it'll cost a bunch of money.

[@EJannings]

Congratulations Ava. The proposal story was so Dutch. Talking about it for ages, and then execute it romantically but without all the fuzz. The idea of a proposal letter is a very lovely solution. To my parents the "verloving" still was a big deal (but that was in the early 1960s). A big engagement party. Rings and stuff. And a nice photo album. It lasted almost two years before they got married. But nowadays it has become rather uncommon. Best wishes!

[@JasperJanssen]

When my parents got married in the early 70s, there was still a legal thing called “ondertrouw”, where you had to register the fact that you were going to get married at least a month in advance. I assume that was a remnant of official affiancing. Edit: I just got to the part of the video where apparently that’s still a thing, huh!

[@pjotrh]

Gefeliciteerd Ava en Ava’s vriendin!

[@transient_]

Congratulations to you both. ❤

[@theoradestra7060]

Gefeliciteerd!!!

[@moshemordechaivanzuiden]

Congrats!! 🥰

[@violiendamast]

Gefeliciteerd 🥳 🎉!

[@johnkochen7264]

No matter how the dynamic between you dictated who would “pop the question”, CONGRATULATIONS AND JUBILATIONS! I wish you both every happiness.

[@JohnMulhall1]

Congratulations to the two of you. Hope ye continue to have a great life together.🍾🥂

[@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536]

I feel so happy for you both. Awesome

[@jessyramakers5257]

Congratulations to the both of you 🎉🎊🥳, I wish you both a long, healthy, happy, fortunate and prosperous life together, may you both feel loved always 💖

[@kreefko]

Wat leuk. Gefeliciteerd!

[@Nynke_K]

Wooo! Congratulations to you and your girlfriend! I hope you have a wonderful wedding day and the paperwork goes smoothly! I hope you give us another update when it's all done because you've made me curious. Also curious about your outfits (2, 1 or zero white dresses?). And as someone who's technically been engaged since 2015, I hope my partner and I manage to follow in your footsteps in the next few years. We may need to hire a wedding planner to actually make it happen 😅

[@Bighell01]

Congrats Ava!!! What a giant leap you and your gf are going to make forward. I know this is ur vlog but maybe we can get a glimpse of her looks at the wedding. If not: fine as well. On the other hand: weddings are a private thing. Just make it and share it the way you are comfortable with. Again: congrats to the both of u. ❤️😘 Grtz. Arjen

[@rgjw]

Congratulations!!

[@spiritofmatter1881]

Hartelijk Geveliciteerd!

[@ronaldvanderstam8662]

First of all CONGRATS..... and the way you get engaged is whatever you together decide... as long as you are happy together... that's the goal and very personal.... not peer pressure..... Love you're vids, keep them comming.... Best of luck in you're combined relationship with you' significant other.... maybe she will participate in future vids.... lots of good wishes...

[@sirens4562]

I’m so happy for you. Always love your videos.

[@DutchAmericano]

Thank you!

[@snarfdwarf]

Congratulations! I'm happy for you.

[@erikhanhart1965]

Gefeliciteerd en heel veel geluk samen.

[@margreetanceaux3906]

Gefeliciteerd, dames! Leuk en goed nieuws! And inevitable, once you mastered the art of kamperen.

[@mavadelo]

Congratulations Ava.

[@--Ezra--]

Congrats guys, it's awsome.

[@cristakampert8740]

CONGRATS!!!!!!

[@TheBartvdpost]

Congratulations!!💓🥂

[@henkkoopmans3240]

Wow, great news, congrats!!!

[@frank40m999]

Van harte gefeliciteerd!!!

[@RonvanRutten]

Congrats on the wedding!

[@buytenwegh1]

celebrate love ! good for you guys, hope youll be happy forever!

[@maesygwartha]

Gefeliciteerd Ava - Congratulations :-)

[@Suteruni]

Woot, congrats ❣️

[@huugken4390]

Many happy years together!

[@richardvanderlaak826]

OMG YES! CONGRATULATIONS!