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A Conscious & Vibrant Wedding Weekend in Lisbon

A Conscious & Vibrant Wedding Weekend in Lisbon

Where summer tones weave with tradition, striving to ethically plan a fest of love

Surrounded by lush greenery and breathtaking views just outside Lisbon, Raphaela and Alexis exchanged vows in a heartfelt ceremony at Quinta Da Bellavista. Raphaela was radiant in her mermaid gown with a detachable skirt, seamlessly transitioning from the ceremony to the reception, while Alexis honored family tradition in a custom-made suit. The reception was a vibrant celebration, with touches of jewel tones throughout—from the intentionally mismatched bridesmaids' dresses to the lush, seasonal florals and plants. Portuguese touches and sustainability were at the heart of the day, from locally sourced florals and catering to a registry supporting meaningful causes. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the festivities, the evening transitioned from soulful Bossa Nova melodies to lively dancing and cherished traditions. Together, the couple created an unforgettable day, embracing the beauty of nature and celebrating their love amidst the enchanting Portuguese countryside.

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

Our story began in the fall of 2007. Though we both went to the same school, our paths didn’t cross until after Alexis had graduated, just as I was starting my first year. The school hosted Friday night events, and Alexis, drawn back by tradition, returned every fall to play in the alumni soccer match against the current school team. As luck would have it, my best friend (and now one of our witnesses) had an older brother who was a good friend of Alexis. One crisp Friday evening, with a sense of adventure and curiosity, we ventured from the girls’ campus to the soccer field to catch the game—and maybe meet some of the older boys (most of whom are still great friends today). And so, our journey together began…but it took us another eight years before we started dating!

^{The Proposal}

After starting a new job abroad, I had to spend two months away from the home we share in Lisbon. On December 24, 2022, I flew back to Lisbon, landing at 8 a.m., just in time to celebrate Christmas Eve with Alexis and our Portuguese family. I could barely contain my excitement, so much so that I hadn’t slept a wink the night before. We had planned to start our day with a long hike, knowing that the rest of the weekend would be spent relaxing, eating, and enjoying the festive atmosphere.

On the drive, we debated whether to hike at my favorite spot—a cliff overlooking the Atlantic—or in the mystical forest of Sintra. I was set on the forest, thinking it would make it easier to get my steps in. But Alexis had a plan. He gently insisted we go to the beach. What I didn’t know was that Alexis had already scouted the perfect spot to propose: a secluded rock along the coast. Though tired, I was thrilled to be in my happy place, surrounded by nature and the ocean air. We snapped a photo together, but Alexis seemed quieter than usual. A few steps later, Alexis slowed down. When I teasingly asked him to hurry up, I turned around to find him down on one knee. And there, in the most beautiful corner of nature, he asked me to spend forever with him.

^{The Engagement Ring}

Alexis knew I wasn’t one for jewelry, but years ago, I had once mentioned my love for the simple elegance and timelessness of Pomellato. Growing up, I was always inspired by the hands of my best friend's mother, which reminded me of the love and dedication it takes to build a home. To this day, she wears her three Pomellato rings. As we decided to approach the wedding planning consciously, we came up with an idea for the wedding bands—research a local jeweler, ideally find some old family gold, and forge our wedding bands ourselves!

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

Approaching the entire wedding planning from a conscious angle was really important and guided us in all the decision-making with each vendor we engaged with. Being respectful to Mother Nature is something I have been concerned about for a while now. It is truly important to me to ideally leave a positive impact on this Earth, or at least ensure that the negative impact is reduced to a minimum. For a long time, the current state of human impact on the Earth felt like an insurmountable challenge, and I felt stuck in thinking we would only find one big solution that solved it all. A life-changing moment was my stay in Ghana, where I was part of an impact project that fights deforestation, educates on sustainable agricultural practices, provides clean power in a remote area to enable economic development, gives men and women a stable income, and educates all stakeholders about the challenges and solutions of the project.

Sooner or later, I understood that the way forward is to be part of and build an ecosystem of solutions and solution-finders. It’s about inspiring each other mutually through every wonderful little action that everyone can do, day by day. By connecting with creative and engaged minds, it’s such a pleasure to change and challenge what is currently seen as the norm and find sustainable opportunities. Sharing this view with our planner Kim was one of the very (very) exciting parts of the planning process, and the interaction with like-minded souls such as Cora Hilts from Rêve en Vert or Lara Espirito Santo from Sem made us feel very hopeful as we discovered the myriad of opportunities. It was therefore a natural consequence to challenge ourselves by also emphasizing the values of consciousness and traceability for our wedding celebration. And, obviously, we had to tell this story, hopefully serving as an inspiration to others.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

Looking back and reliving every moment, there is absolutely nothing we would have done differently. Each vendor and their incredible teams played an irreplaceable role in creating a truly unique and love-infused weekend. I am deeply grateful to every single person involved, whose contributions may not always be seen but are absolutely indispensable.

Our wonderful planner, Kim, was our rock throughout the entire planning process. Her commitment, experience, and talent made her the perfect creative and honest advisor, helping us bring all of our ideas to life. We trusted her completely to guide the wedding production, and everything unfolded even better than we had imagined. What has touched us the most is not just our own unforgettable experience, but hearing from our team of vendors how much they loved working with Kim. Her meticulous, thoughtful, and mesmerizing planning was always one step ahead, making the entire process feel seamless.

Though not officially involved in the coordination, the team at Tudo é Festa, especially Maria Martinho, was a hidden gem. Her responsiveness, ability to solve challenges on the fly, and skill in keeping the bigger picture in mind were truly impressive. The result of her work speaks for itself in the stunning decorations that perfectly captured the spirit of the day.

The teams behind the cameras were equally important. While each individual is fantastic in their own right, true magic happens when they collaborate seamlessly. Kaja and Sotiris worked together as if they had known each other forever, and for someone who doesn’t enjoy being in the spotlight, they made me feel incredibly comfortable and at ease throughout the day. In Kaja’s words, they were truly awesome.

^{The Location}

Nature holds a special place in my heart, and for Alexis, staying close to Lisbon was key, especially with so many of our guests either living in the city or traveling to join the celebration. We wanted to offer everyone a chance to experience the best of Lisbon while being surrounded by the beauty of nature.

Quinta da Bellavista, just 20 minutes from the heart of Lisbon, was the perfect choice. With breathtaking views and a lush, natural setting, it provided exactly the atmosphere we had dreamed of. Our vision was to use plants instead of cut flowers wherever possible, and with trees already a part of the venue's design, it was easy to bring that vision to life. We opted for additional rental trees over large floral installations, creating a beautiful, sustainable space that aligned perfectly with our conscious planning goals.

^{The Ceremony}

The ceremony was nothing short of a masterpiece. We chose a dear friend, who has been part of our journey from the very beginning, to officiate our wedding. He connected with key friends from both sides and beautifully wove together a moving, entertaining, and uniquely personal ceremony. This heartfelt approach allowed friends and family to share their stories during the ceremony, replacing more formal speeches later in the evening and creating an intimate experience that had guests laughing and crying together under the warm Mediterranean sun.

To keep everyone comfortable in the heat, we provided beautiful fans crafted by the Aketekete team in Ghana—a place where we spent a memorable summer early in our relationship. Alexis’s choice to spend that summer in rural Ghana instead of traveling with friends was a clear sign to everyone that this love was serious. The fans not only served as a thoughtful wedding favor but also became a delightful accessory for guests to enjoy at the beach the following day, ensuring that the memories of this beautiful celebration lingered on.

^{The Reception}

The reception was a high-energy cocktail hour, followed by an even livelier and more love-infused dinner and dancing party. The celebration continued late into the night, with the reception lasting until 4 a.m.—the only reason it came to an end was the venue's closing time! But the festivities didn’t stop there. A few hours later, the couple and their guests gathered on the beautiful beach in Caparica to soak up the sun and keep the celebrations going. It was the perfect way to embrace the joy of the day and create even more unforgettable memories together.

^{The Special Touches}

At first, came the invitation… We were very deliberate in our decisions on the paper front and worked to create a unique invitation. Each one was backed with beautiful papyrus paper that was then hand-painted with Bougainvillea by our dear friend Maria Joao Pisco, with each invite becoming a little piece of art complemented with seed paper. On the day of the wedding, we avoided single-use items, and one of my favorite pieces was the place card, which doubled as the time capsule. Guests flipped over their place card and were prompted to write a piece of advice for either our 1, 5, or 10-year anniversary.

We worked with a local floral team that only uses seasonal and local flowers from local flower farms. They also incorporated techniques and practices in their design and production that avoid single-use items and, more importantly, avoid the use of floral foam, which is incredibly toxic both to work with and because it cannot be recycled afterward. In combination with this floral team, we also rented a large number of plants from local garden centers in lieu of large floral installations. It gave the space a natural and vibrant feeling. Cut flowers were later reassembled into small jars and distributed to an elderly home—any leftovers could be composted at the venue!

We spent a lot of time on the topic of catering and, during the process, engaged with Lara Espirito Santo of restaurant Sem—a zero-waste cuisine—to pick her brain on how to tackle the menu design from a sustainable angle. There are so many tricks to reducing waste in catering, and it’s so worth the research and exchange with professionals.

We ultimately teamed up with Maria Fernandes Thomaz from iCook and curated a menu that used only ingredients that were in season. Her team selected produce from some of the local regenerative farms they work with. As it turns out, one of our favorite hiking spots is right next to one of the regenerative farms, and we were able to see firsthand how the produce is grown. iCook also helped us reduce food waste through a collaboration with Souma and ReFood, donating leftovers to families in need.

Finally, the registry… With an international group of friends, we knew that a zero-impact wedding was not possible, but another creative way to offset this was to select organizations very close to our hearts for the guests to contribute to instead of wedding gifts. One was an organization that works to reforest Portugal, and the other was a donation to a local dog shelter where we adopted our two pups.

We think that the biggest impact the choices and storytelling of these decisions will have is simply in the act of sharing how we did it, to inspire our guests to apply some of these ideas in their own lives. For example, it is so easy (as long as you are willing to be flexible) to work with flowers and plants that grow locally and are in season at the time of your wedding. These principles extend beyond weddings; whether buying flowers for a friend or your home, consider their origin, the faces involved in the process, and opt for locally grown options. Choosing potted plants over cut flowers or supporting floral vendors who prioritize local sourcing can make a meaningful difference. You would be surprised how much there is to learn by talking to your local vendors and sharing experiences!

^{Our Favorite Moment}

The whole damn thing! Two particular highlights for me were the dancing, the music, and the meaningful traditions that carried us through the weekend. It all began on Friday evening in the enchanting setting of the Principe Real garden, under the majestic crowns of century-old trees and the purple blooms of jacaranda trees. The evening was made even more magical by the music of Mariana Mug and Ticiano, who brought a soulful mix of Rita Lee and Amy Winehouse. With that insanely beautiful voice, the perfect tone was set for the weekend ahead.

On Saturday, I grooved down the aisle with my father to “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone (did you know they were the first Native American band to reach the top five of the Billboard Hot 100?), and that was just the beginning. As the day unfolded, we swayed to the irresistible rhythms of Bossa Nova and Samba, thanks to the incredible Viva o Samba band, who kept the music going until the sun set over the Lisboète horizon. Dancing to good music is something that brings me pure joy, so sharing those moments with my father, Alexis, my mother, and later with all our friends was an absolute highlight.

The first tradition we incorporated was tied to our delicious seasonal fig mille-feuille, lovingly prepared by the exceptional Juliana Penteado. Made with only the finest ingredients, infused with essential oils, and filled with such positive energy, the wedding cake was truly a masterpiece…and there was an added twist!

Our dear friends from Bulgaria had introduced us to a fun tradition: the couple who receives the first piece of the wedding cake will be the next to get married. Naturally, we had to pass on the good fortune, and our best friend Sarah was the lucky one—teasingly put on the spot in front of everyone!

As the evening carried on, the sounds of Gallivanter took over, perfectly matching the energy and excitement on the dance floor. His entrance was nothing short of epic! I had requested a homage to my Montenegrin roots, so I danced with my mother and godmother to the legendary Goran Bregović. And before I knew it, I was arm-in-arm with our Greek friends, dancing to “Zorba the Greek” while smashing plates in a whirlwind of euphoria! Then Gallivanter kicked off his electrifying set, complete with bagpipe tunes—what an unforgettable way to start the night!

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

I had a sense of the neckline and skirt style I liked, but when it came to my wedding dress, I didn’t have a clear vision. I tried two designers—one from Germany and one from Spain. The Spanish designer had many beautiful styles, and after trying all the options I had pre-selected, I decided to try on a random dress that just happened to be in the store for an event that day. It was completely different from anything I had envisioned—a sparkling, beaded, mermaid-style gown, which had always been a ‘No’ for me. But as soon as I wore it, I had a “Pretty Woman” moment. I had never felt so beautiful in my life. When I invited my parents for a trial, they confirmed they had never seen me so radiant.

That’s how I ended up with my stunning gown from Rosa Clará, featuring a full skirt for the ceremony, which I later removed for the reception and dancing. The transformation was simply magical, perfect for transitioning from the formal ceremony to a night of celebration. The beauty of my bridal looks was underlined throughout the wedding weekend, thanks to my amazing HMU team, giving me natural glam!

For an extra personal touch, we collaborated with a local embroidery team to add custom details throughout the wedding. My veil was embroidered with the words "Sempre Juntos" (Always Together), adding a Portuguese touch to my look. These personal touches extended to my welcome dinner dress and even the groom's shirt for the recovery beach day.

One of the standout elements of our wedding was the bougainvillea, a vibrant local flower found throughout Portugal. On Friday night, I chose a breathtaking fuchsia gown for the welcome dinner, inspired by the essence of bougainvillea. The dress featured a flowing train with the words "Amoureuse de Daninos" (In Love with Daninos) embroidered on it by the very talented Andreia from Isabel Lara.

For the welcome evening, I wore Jennifer Behr golden earrings in the shape of butterflies—an homage to the early days of our relationship when Alexis called me "Papillon." To complete my look, I carried a fuchsia and teal basket bag, a thoughtful gift from Kim. This beautiful piece was crafted in collaboration with Ghanaian women, who also made the stunning fans gifted to our guests on the wedding day. The bag not only added a unique touch to my outfit but also symbolized meaningful connections and craftsmanship.

^{The Groom Looks}

For the beach day, we personalized elements important to Alexis and transformed them into delicate illustrations, which were embroidered in a tone-on-tone design on his linen shirt—perfect for the relaxed beach vibe and a beautiful nod to our journey together.

Alexis had his suit custom-made at Rosa e Teixeira in Lisbon, the very place where his grandfather had his suits tailored. From the start, we knew we wanted a summer suit dress code, and when we visited Rosa e Teixeira with my mother-in-law, the decision was made within minutes. The craftsmanship was impeccable, and I particularly loved his tie.

^{Our Bridesmaid’s and Groomsmen’s Looks}

In an effort to avoid wasting resources on gowns that my bridesmaids might never wear again—or, worse, not feel fabulous in—I asked them to wear something monotone and, most importantly, something they felt incredible in. I trusted them completely, and they understood the assignment perfectly. Each of their gowns reflected their unique personalities, and together, the look was absolutely stunning. Our wedding featured accents of color scattered throughout, but there was no rigid color palette we felt the need to control. It was all about allowing everyone to feel their best and letting the natural beauty of the day shine through.

One special touch we added was that Alexis and each of our groomsmen wore a vintage golden sun brooch. Every sun was unique, and they beautifully matched the personalities of our groomsmen, creating a stunning and personal detail that tied everything together.

Our Advice

^{For The Planning Process}

Stay true to yourselves and trust your gut—every couple’s wedding journey is unique. With endless options, opinions, and trends in the wedding world, it’s easy to be swept away by what’s popular. While many ideas may seem appealing, take the time to capture every detail of your inspirations and, step by step, distill them with the help of your trusted advisors until you’ve found a style that truly reflects your love.

Don’t be afraid to go the extra mile for the details that matter to you, but remember to enjoy and trust the process! For us, one of the keys to staying organized was our “Design Deck”—a huge document that became both our creative guide and planning tool.

One tradition that was especially close to my heart was the plate smashing, inspired by the German Polterabend. Though we couldn’t find the right plates in Portugal, we were lucky that some of our guests traveled from Greece. One dear friend went out of his way to bring the plates in his suitcase just for the occasion! It was a small but meaningful touch.

^{For On The Day}

As the big day approaches, I encourage all couples to take a moment to wind down. Once your loved ones—guests, friends, and family—arrive, truly take it all in! Having Kim, our wedding planner, by our side was a complete game changer. She helped us focus on tuning into the joy of the moment before our "Feast of Love." One of Kim's best pieces of advice was to be mindful of spending enough time together and reflecting on the beauty of the day as it unfolds. Interestingly, this came very naturally for us. Two moments that stood out were after the ceremony when we stepped outside as newlyweds, and right before our entrance to the dinner party. Seeing the joy and love in the faces of our family and friends during those moments was absolutely magical.

^{For Post-Wedding}

Don't miss out on the (mini) honeymoon! While we’ve decided to take our honeymoon nearly a year later, we truly believe in the magic of savoring the unforgettable memories created together. Whether it’s a romantic getaway, a fun trip with family, or time spent with close friends, take a moment to celebrate life’s special moments. Once our pictures and videos were ready, we invited family and friends for a viewing cocktail, which helped us cherish these once-in-a-lifetime memories again!