Brenda & Sjoerd
August 2, 2025
Fate has mysterious ways of bringing two souls together, and our story is proof of that.
In 2019, Brenda embarked on a new adventure, leaving Brazil at the age of 20 to live in the United States as an au pair. Her journey began in O’Fallon, Missouri, where she cared for six children. But destiny had other plans. Just four months later, she moved to Chicago, where, through a mutual friend, she met Sjoerd.
From the very first conversation, there was an undeniable connection. They exchanged phone numbers, hoping to see each other more often.
Sjoerd, who had been living in Chicago since 2018, returned to the Netherlands when the world was struck by the pandemic. The distance felt like a goodbye, yet he never stopped checking in on Brenda once in a while. Life moved on, months turned into years, and for three long years, they didn’t see each other.
Then, in 2023, out of the blue, Sjoerd sent Brenda a simple message: “How are you doing?” She hesitated to reply—especially after seeing his WhatsApp profile picture with some kids. Were they his? But to her relief, they were just his nephews and niece. With a mix of curiosity and nostalgia, she replied, and soon after, they met again.
When they finally saw each other, it was as if no time had passed. Their first date was at RPM Seafood in Chicago, and true to her clumsy nature, Brenda managed to spill her drink almost immediately. But nothing could ruin that moment. The connection between them was undeniable, and from that day forward, they were inseparable.
Five months later, on a magical night in Miami, during a romantic dinner at an Italian restaurant, Sjoerd proposed. Just ten days later, swept up in a whirlwind of love and certainty, they got married in Las Vegas—by none other than the one and only Elvis.
Three days after the wedding, they set off for a new life together in Europe.
To some, it may seem fast. But for those who had waited three years to finally be together, there was no time to waste.
Now, it's time to celebrate this journey with the people we love. Welcome to our big day!
- Brenda & Sjoerd
Schedule
Welcome Drinks
Hello Friends and family!!!
We’d love to invite all of you to join us for drinks and some food on Friday before the wedding. It’s a great chance to meet everyone, relax and spend some time together before the BIG DAY. The vibe will be casual, so just come as you are and let’s have a fun evening!
Kids are welcome!
Restobar Lure
Grote Looiersstraat 7
6211 JH Maastricht
Nederland
Dresscode:
Casual
Restobar Lure
Welcome Drinks
FridayAugust 17.00 PMWedding
SaturdayAugust 23.00 PM
RSVP
Please RSVP by July 15th
Enter your name so we can lookup your invitation.
Lanaken - Belgium / Maastricht - Netherlands
Tuur
SINT MAARTENSLAAN 31 A 6221 AW MAASTRICHT
A menu that never bores. Whether you come every now and then or every week: at TUUR you never have to eat the same thing twice (unless you want to of course!). What is on our menu today does not necessarily have to be on it tomorrow. So it may well be the case that the menu on our website is not completely up to date and that you can taste something slightly different tonight.
Café Sjiek
Sint Pieterstraat 13 6211 JM Maastricht, Netherlands
Maastricht's first licensed diner. A wine bar with taste. This isn’t a restaurant, it’s more of a living room. It's a smaller variant of the French Grand Café, with the added advantage of a huge outdoor patio in the historic city park in the summer. Café Sjiek has been around since 1982 and is an established part of Maastricht culture. This is where people meet to eat together, enjoy a good glass of wine, or for a riveting conversation. The bar is simply a bar, but one that offers an outstanding menu any restaurant would envy.
Pieke Potloed
Sporenstraat 5 6211 EB Maastricht
Bar-bistro Pieke Potloed in the centre of Maastricht is a typical Maastricht café and petit restaurant, where good hospitality is a top priority.
Rumors
Koestraat 13 6211 HR Maastricht
A NO NONSENCE MENTALITY URBAN FOODBAR
In one of the most picturesque streets of the Jekerkwartier of Maastricht, the Koestraat - a side street of the Onze Lieve Vrouweplein - this contemporary stylish Bar & Kitchen is located. A drink or a bite, going out, a quiet moment after work, a lunch while shopping or a reception, Rumors can do it all.
Cafe
Platielstraat 13-15 6211 GV Maastricht
For over thirty years a household name in Maastricht. Known for its good atmosphere, correct service, top music, coziness and dynamics! Always innovative, young and challenging. We always try to pick up on trends, to be ahead of them and sometimes even launch them. Going out in Maastricht? Cafe van Bommel!
Basilica
Vrijthof 15A, 6211 LD Maastricht
No matter how you walk through the streets of Maastricht, you will always end up at the imposing Vrijthof, the HEART of MAASTRICHT. The Servaas Basilica and the blood-red Sint Janstoren mark the west side of the square. On the other side lies the striking building of Basilica.
Shopping
Vijfharingenstraat 5, 6211 EC Maastricht
It is with good reason that Maastricht locals are famous for their great sense of style: Maastricht is the place to be for shopping! Visit the most gorgeous boutiques, large warehouses, and stroll past the fanciest squares. Welcome to Maastricht!
Selexyz Dominicanen
Dominicanerkerkstraat 1 Maastricht, 6211
Originally built over 700 years ago, the ancient church that now houses the Selexyz Dominicanen bookstore has been attracting visitors with its gothic beauty for centuries, but with its godly duties at an end, it now draws people in as a massive bookstore.
Sitting in the middle of the historic town of Maastricht in the Netherlands, the church has been a place for both pilgrimage and storage down the centuries. When it was active as a Catholic church the ornate naves and intricate stonework must have served as a glorious backdrop to masses.
St. Pietersberg Caves
Ancient limestone quarry tunnels are decorated with generations of graffiti. During WWII the tunnels were converted for use as an air raid shelter, but were never used. Fossils of a prehistoric Mosasaurus and turtle discovered here are now on display at the Maastricht Natural History Museum.
Registry
We are beyond grateful to be celebrating our wedding with you. We appreciate you coming from far, wide and close to be with us this summer. Your attendance is as good a gift as any, but for those who would like, we have thoughtfully put together our registry. It consists of savings for an RV and two charities that is close to our hearts. When giving to charity, we will do the donation after the wedding and let you know.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts
Travel
There are several traveling options from, to and within the Netherlands. The public transportation network is considered one of the best in the world! Below some options are outlined.
Flying - to Amsterdam (world)
Schiphol is the International Airport for the Netherlands and is one of the biggest hubs of Europe. There are many direct flights from a lot of places around the world, like Chicago and São Paulo. It also has a direct train connection to Maastricht, which takes around 2.45 hrs.
Flying - to Brussels (world)
Brussels Airport is a bit smaller then Schiphol, but there are still plenty of direct flights to Brussels from all over the world. Maastricht is actually closer to Brussels then Amsterdam. It takes around 2 hrs by train (1 transfer in Liege)
Flying - Eindhoven (Europe)
Eindhoven is perfect for European flights. From the airport you can take the bus to the train station and form the train station it is 1 hour direct to Maastricht train station.
Train - NS International
It is also possible to reach the Netherlands by train from several countries around Europe. There are direct sleeping trains from Barcelona or there is a direct line with London for example. You can use NS International to plan your trip.
Train - Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Nederlandse Spoorwegen is the domestic railway company. You can use this to travel around the Netherlands quite easy. Day trips to cities like Den Haag, Utrecht or even Groningen are worth it.
Car and Bike
Of course you can also travel by car and even bike. The Netherlands is extremely bicycle friendly and especially in the surroundings of Maastricht, there are gorgeous sceneries.