When Maxima Zorreguieta wed the then Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange on February 2, 2002, the soon-to-be Princess wore a custom Valentino creation. Their engagement had been announced by Queen Beatrix less than a year earlier on March 30, 2001.

Maxima's Valentino gown had a cow neckline and was made of ivory mikado silk. It has three quarter sleeves and a 16.4 foot lace train; the skirt featured lace designs, as well, as slightly flared out. She wore the star version of the Pearl Button Tiara. According to the Court Jeweller, "Rather than wearing the tiara with the pearl buttons, Queen Máxima chose to wear it on her wedding day with five of the diamond stars that belonged to Queen Emma. Emma had been given two sets of diamond star brooches when she married King Willem III in 1879. One set has stars with ten points; the other has stars with twelve." 

Her bouquet included white roses, greens, lily of the valley, and gardenia. She wore a pair of diamond earrings that had belonged to Queen Wilhelmina. 

They were first wed in a civil ceremony at the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam before traveling to the Nieuwe Kerk for the religious ceremony. The bridesmaids were Valeria Delger, Juliana Guillermo, Theresa Baroness von der Recke, and Inés Zorreguieta all wearing two toned red gowns. The pageboys were Jonkheer Paulo Alting von Geusau, Johann-Casper Freiherr von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen, Alexandre Friling, and Floris ter Haar, while the flower girls were Countess Leonie zu Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems and Princess Pauline zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein.

The ceremony had a bit of sadness as Maxima's parents were not in attendance. Due to controversy relating to her father's time working in the Argentinian government during its last dictatorship. He argued he knew nothing of the Dirty War that had taken place while he was a cabinet minister. The Dutch government would not allow him to attend the ceremony, so Maxima's mother stayed behind in Argentina with her husband. During the ceremony, the Argentine tango "Adios Noniño" (Adieu little papa) was played, which resulted in tears from Maxima and her siblings. 

After the ceremony, the new Princess and her Prince walked out of the church under an arch of swords being held by Officers of the Royal Netherlands Navy. They were then taken through the streets in a horse drawn carriage before making a balcony appearance at the Royal Palace where they kissed before the crowd in Dam Square.

The wedding saw 1,900 military personnel take part. 

Guests at the wedding included the Dutch Royal Family; Prince Charles; King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine of Sweden; King Harlad, Queen Sonja, Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway; King Albert, Queen Paola, Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Queen Margrethe and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark; Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein; and Queen Noor of Jordan.

Celebrations began two days before the ceremonies with 500 guests being invited to a dinner and ball at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. It was a joint celebration as it was also honoring Queen Beatrix's 64th birthday. The following day, February 1, 2002, 1600 guests were in attendance at a concert and luncheon at the Amsterdam concert hall, Concertgebouw. That evening an event was held at the Amsterdam Arena where 50,000 people attended the event organized by the National Orange Committee and the city of Amsterdam.