Amid the rolling hills of Portugal, where sun-baked earth converges with modernist lines of concrete and glass, Gerardo and Carlos hosted a wedding that was as much an art installation as it was a celebration of their love. Guided by a vision that blurred the boundaries between nature, architecture, and avant-garde design, the celebration took place inside the striking brutalist winery of Herdade do Freixo. What began with an unusual inspiration – carnivorous plants – transformed into a living, breathing ecosystem designed with extraordinary intention. Layers of wild tropical plants, translucent structures evoking the geometry of greenhouses, and sculptural centerpieces resembling contemporary art came together to create a space that felt daring yet deeply personal. The result of experienced planning was a celebration that defied convention, part biology, part architecture, and part poetry. Every element, from the custom-built steel tables to the translucent panels that caught and refracted light, contributed to an atmosphere of immersive design – a wedding that existed at the intersection of art and emotion.
Our Love Story
The Day We Met
We first crossed paths at a Christmas dinner party at a mutual friend’s home in Cancún, Mexico. What started as a warm and easy connection quickly evolved into something more. Not long after, my best friend organized a couples’ getaway to his beach house on a secluded stretch of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere near Tulum. That trip changed everything—it’s where we truly fell for each other, and we’ve been together ever since.
The Proposal
I’ve always loved planning thoughtful, curated trips, and this one to New Zealand and Australia felt extra special from the start. A few weeks into planning, I knew I wanted to propose during the trip. I bought Carlos’ ring, unsure exactly when I’d do it, but certain it would happen during our travels. About a week into the trip, we were staying at a stunning lakefront house on New Zealand’s South Island, designed by Fearon Hay Architects. After hiking Roys Peak, we came home to rest. As we sat quietly drinking coffee, just the two of us, looking out at the lake, I asked him to marry me. It was relaxed, intimate, and exactly how I hoped it would feel.
The Engagement Rings
Carlos’ ring was designed by Los Angeles–based jeweler Nataf, whom I discovered through Dover Street Market. It features two suspended diamonds tucked beneath a sleek yellow gold band. I proposed with that ring and instantly got FOMO—so I had one made for myself too (lol).
Carlos surprised me with my ring on the day of the wedding. He designed it in collaboration with London-based jeweler Jet McQuiston, working closely to incorporate vitreous-enameled symbols that reflect our relationship. At the center, he chose an aquamarine, a stone that felt deeply personal and completely unique.
Our Wedding
The Vision
The very first thing we knew we wanted was something different. We wanted carnivorous plants. That was our starting point. We envisioned florals that felt a little wild, a little edgy—old-world tropicals with real personality. We knew they would pair beautifully with the brutalist architecture of the venue. From there, with the guidance of Marta from Tales (our amazing wedding planner) and Bosque Concepts (the brilliant team behind the florals), the concept evolved into something much deeper. We designed a celebration inspired by biology, art, and architecture—equal parts avant-garde and bold. It felt true to who we are. The floral team truly worked magic, sourcing incredible Venus flytraps, tropical pitcher plants, and trumpet pitchers all the way from the Netherlands.
Our Team of Vendors
Since we were planning the wedding from abroad, we knew we had to rely fully on the team around us—and that trust paid off in every way. Our vendors brought the vision to life with so much creativity, patience, and heart. From the floral design and bespoke stationery to the bar, ceremony, and custom steel tables, each detail was carried out with incredible artistry and care. Our photographer and videographer captured the day in a way that felt both deeply personal and cinematic. They all helped bring the avant-garde wedding of our dreams to life, and we’ll be forever grateful to each one of them.
The Location
We’d always daydreamed about getting married in Portugal. Neither of us has family there, but something about it just felt right. We had visited a few times before and fell in love with the people (so warm and creative), the landscapes, and the overall energy of the place. It just made sense. Carlos is an architect, so when we discovered Herdade do Freixo, we knew it was the one. The venue’s striking brutalist architecture, set against the softness of the surrounding winery and nature, felt like the perfect balance. From the moment we saw it, we knew we had to get married there.
The Ceremony
We wanted the ceremony to feel like stepping into a living, breathing ecosystem. Inside the venue, a translucent structure was built from metal frames and plastic panels, enclosing the ceremony space like a greenhouse. Layers of tropical plants were placed between the panels, casting organic shadows and reflections.
The design was inspired by Carlos’ fondness for humid and cold environments. It created a striking contrast with the dry Alentejo landscape outside, adding a layer of industrial minimalism that felt bold and deeply personal.
The Reception
We hosted the reception in the same venue, letting the raw, brutalist architecture guide the entire design. Long metal tables and benches were custom-built to mirror the clean lines and raw structure of the space. At the center of it all, a tall metal structure held clear bags of water, each containing a carnivorous plant.
It felt more like an avant-garde art installation than traditional floral décor. Matching centerpieces on the tables echoed this concept, with more clear water bags and carnivorous plants inside, lit from below. It turned out beautifully—unexpected, sculptural, and full of artistry.
Our Favorite Moment
Seeing all our friends and family there. Everyone had traveled from so far—Mexico, Argentina, Denmark, the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, even Australia. Watching them all gathered in one place, in Portugal, felt completely surreal.
Knowing the time, effort, and love it took for each person to make the journey filled us with so much gratitude. It was overwhelming in the best possible way and, without a doubt, our favorite moment of all.
Our Style
The Grooms’ Looks
We wanted to bring a little Mexico to Portugal, so we turned to one of our favorite Mexican designers, Campillo, known for his charro-inspired pieces with a bold, modern twist. We worked closely with his team in Mexico City, traveling to his studio several times for fittings, and created custom matching looks drawn from his Fall/Winter ’24 collection.
Inspired by charrería, the centuries-old Mexican equestrian tradition, the suits featured a star-shaped bodice that required hours of precise shaping and draping. We gave it a wedding-worthy twist by having them made in ivory silk crepe, finished with sterling silver buttons inspired by volcanic stone.
Mothers of Grooms Looks
Both our mothers embraced the floral theme beautifully. My mom wore a Rachel Gilbert gown, covered in three-dimensional florals that gave the illusion of a blooming garden in motion. She paired it with Aquazzura sandals and Tabayer jewelry. Carlos’ mother echoed the venue’s bold botanical concept in a carnivorous-plant print dress from Ferragamo’s Spring/Summer ’24 collection—an unexpected, perfectly on-theme detail we adored.
Our Advice
For the Planning Process
Our first tip? “Run!” Kidding, of course. Planning a wedding abroad is actually easier than people think. In some ways, it’s even less stressful: since you’re not physically there, you’re forced to let go a little, trust the process, and go with the flow. Don’t lose sleep over the small stuff. Hire people you admire, and then let them do their thing. We put our full trust in our wedding planner, and it was the best decision we made. Everything came together so beautifully—more than we could’ve imagined.
For On The Day
Start the day with a morning run—it really helps settle the nerves. Take it slow, put your phone away, and be present with everyone. The day flies by faster than you think, so take a moment to appreciate everyone’s presence. And before the ceremony? A tequila shot goes a long way.
For Post-Wedding
Instead of doing a welcome drinks event before the wedding, we opted for a relaxed rooftop get-together the day after, in beautiful Estremoz. Best decision ever. The wedding was done, the pressure was off, and everyone was more at ease. It turned into a lovely moment to swap stories, laugh about the night before, sip wine a little more freely, and properly say goodbye to friends and family. We highly recommend it—it felt like the perfect, joyful wind-down.
Vendors
Photography: Nous Nous
Videography: TAN Weddings
Wedding Planner: Tales Weddings
Wedding Stylist: Tales Weddings & Bosque Concepts
Wedding Coordinator: Tales Weddings
Venue: Herdade do Freixo
Florist: Bosque Concepts
Stationery: Milé Paper Co. & Floragraphia Studio
Cake: Migalha Doce
Catering: Bar Factory & Back-Up Rentals
Celebrant: Cátia Sofia
Music: Diogo Campos
Style
Wedding Suits: Campillo
Shoes: Loewe (Gerardo) & Lemaire (Carlos)
Jewelry: KATKIM (Gerardo) & Rolex (Carlos)
Wedding Ring: Jet McQuisto
Engagement Rings: NATAF
