A courthouse ceremony in the morning, a private beach ceremony on Surfside Beach by sunset — and the nervous almost-missed first date that started it all.
There's a version of this story where Lina never shows up. Not out of doubt — out of nerves. Ronald had asked her out after they kept crossing paths at Dushi Delicious, his family's café in downtown Oranjestad, and their first date was set for the beach. She almost didn't go. She tells that story now, on the very same beach, years later — this time in a wedding dress. That's Lina and Ronald in one moment: a love story that started over coffee downtown and is still going, on Surfside Beach, under a rooftop full of family, with their three-year- old son Lyon watching his parents get married.
How They Met
Ronald was working the counter at Dushi Delicious — his family's café in downtown Oranjestad — the day Lina walked in. They hit it off immediately, and it didn't take long before he asked her on a first date: sushi, on the beach. What Ronald didn't know at the time was how close he came to eating alone. Lina almost stood him up, nerves getting the better of her at the last minute. She went anyway. Years, a son, and a wedding day later, both of them will tell you they're grateful she did. The café is pictured below.
A few days after the wedding, we brought Lina and Ronald back to Dushi Delicious for their first date all over again — this time as husband and wife. Look closely at the painting behind them in the photo above: Lina made it herself, early in their relationship, and signed her name at the bottom. It still hangs in the café today.
Getting Ready — At Home, Surrounded by Family
Lina and Ronald are both Aruba locals, and it showed in the most special way: their wedding morning began at home, surrounded by the family and neighbors who watched them grow up. No hotel suite, no unfamiliar backdrop — just the place that's always been theirs, filled with the people who matter most. A vintage car, decked out in flowers for the day, arrived to bring Ronald to Lina. We rode in the backseat to document the moment he saw her for the first time that day — an intimate first look, framed by flowers and the inside of a car that's carried a lot of Aruba couples before them.
The Courthouse Ceremony — Oranjestad, Aruba
Lina and Ronald said their vows at the civil courthouse in Oranjestad, surrounded by roughly 60 of their closest family and friends. A courthouse wedding in Aruba doesn't get the spotlight destination weddings usually do — but for two people who grew up on this island, saying "I do" in the heart of their own capital, in front of the people who've known them the longest, was exactly the point.
The Beach Ceremony — Sunset at Surfside
After the courthouse, Lina changed into a second gown for a private beach ceremony near Surfside Beach, just steps from Pincho's on the water. About 80 guests joined this time — a steel pan player set the tone, a lemonade stand kept everyone cool, and the sunset did exactly what Aruba sunsets do. It's the kind of golden light every videographer chases, and this one didn't disappoint.
Reception — Rooftop Speeches That Said It All
The celebration moved to a nearby rooftop, where five to eight speeches carried the night. Lina's father spoke in Spanish, their native language. Ronald's mother didn't give a speech at all — she read a poem. Between the two of them, and everyone else who stood up to share something, there wasn't a dry eye left on that rooftop.
The Adventure Session — Back Where It Started
A few weeks after the wedding, we took Lina and Ronald back to Oranjestad — this time to the harbor, walking the same streets and boats near where they had their first date. Same city, same version of themselves that fell for each other in the first place — except now they were walking it as a married couple. It's one of my favorite things to do with a couple after the wedding, and it gave this film a full-circle ending it wouldn't have had otherwise. We did something similar with Gianna and Daniel after their Holiday Inn wedding.
Watch Lina & Ronald's Wedding Film
Lina and Ronald walked away with more than a highlight film. Curious what coverage like this costs? See our full Aruba wedding videographer pricing breakdown.
Alongside their ~9-10 minute wedding film — with vows and speeches woven throughout — they received a full 30-minute video of every speech from the night, and a separate full 30-minute video of their entire ceremony, both as raw, watch-anytime deliverables. Their highlight film is below.
In Their Words
★★★★★
"We are forever grateful to Aruba Wedding Films by Mira for capturing our wedding day so beautifully. From the very beginning, the entire team was incredibly professional, kind, cooperative, and easy to work with... Watching our wedding film feels like reliving our wedding day all over again. What we love most is that it doesn't feel like just a wedding video — it feels like our story."
— GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
"We couldn't have asked for a better wedding videography team! From the moment they arrived, they brought such a calming presence... Because of them, I felt completely at peace throughout the entire day. Best of all, they didn't simply create a beautiful wedding video, they captured our personalities, emotions, and the meaning behind every moment."
— GOOGLE REVIEW
Vendor Dream Team
VIDEOGRAPHY | @WeddingFilmsByMira
https://www.weddingfilmsbymira.com/
PHOTOGRAPHY | @loveliestmemories
https://www.loveliestmemories.com/weddings
FLORIST / DECOR | @weareislasi
https://isla-si.com/
HAIR & MAKEUP | @angelesmakeupp
https://www.instagram.com/angelesmakeupp/
ENTERTAINMENT / STEEL PAN | @touchofsteelaruba
https://www.facebook.com/touchofsteelaruba/
CEREMONY LOCATION | Civil Courthouse, Oranjestad & Surfside Beach
https://www.gobierno.aw/en/civil-registry-office-dbsb-0
