Benjamin & Cristophe: A European Love Story

Benjamin texted Cristophe in 2009 on a German gay-dating app called PlanetRomeo. “His first words were: ‘sweet cats’ as I had some photos of my cats on my profile.” With kind of a funny first message, the two persisted to text, call and video chat over the next 4 months. It was apparent that they were very interested in one another. Benjamin drove to Cristophe at his parents house to meet him for the first time in person. “Initially I planned to go with him to the cinema and to a bar in his hometown but he dragged me into his bedroom immediately.”

“Benjamin was looking at me with a big smile on his face. We were both very nervous. He was trembling because I was the first guy he met in person. He had only been in one relationship with a girl before.”

Their attraction to one another was obvious from their initial texts and phone calls. “But the feeling of being destined for each other became clear the moment I opened the door of his parents house and went upstairs where he waited for me. There, we looked at each other the very first time in person.”

“I proposed to Benjamin in Prague, Czech Republic, The Golden City. I managed to find out his finger size before, so I brought engagement rings with me. I invited him to the nicest restaurant in town, and then after walking around the river of the city, I proposed to him in a very classical way.”

Benjamin and Christophe found their dream venue at a modernized farmhouse just outside Frankfurt, Germany. Together with about 100 of their closest friends and family, they dedicated themselves to one another. “Our dog Zazu brought the rings alongside Benjamin’s goddaughter.” It was a very emotional, familial and loving atmosphere. A few of their friends gave speeches, and their nieces and nephews sang for them.

"The highlight was the ‘Free Ceremony’ around midnight.” A “Free Ceremony” is a German wedding tradition where one of the best men or maids of honor ‘kidnap’ one of the grooms to go drinking at a bar until the other groom finds them and frees their partner by paying the bill.

“The Free Ceremony was our favorite part, as was the speech of our wedding speaker. It was very personal and a perfect mixture of funny and emotional moments. In addition, our wedding singer was great.”

When asked about what advice they would give other couples planning their wedding, Benjamin and Christophe advised, “Try to write very personal vows by yourself. Start looking early for a good wedding speaker and location, and try to focus on your own wishes and less the ones of the guests. Be relaxed so you can better enjoy the moment. And hire someone to do videography because it’s very nice to see the images again after some time has passed."

For their honeymoon, Benjamin and Cristophe went on a road trip in a camper van around New Zealand. “We have never seen such an amazing nature before. It was one of the nicest adventures of our lives!” Benjamin and Cristophe now live and love together in Germany.