A Contemporary Take on Garden Romance for This Vibrant Lisbon Wedding

Lisbon’s lush botanical beauty provided the backdrop for Mindy and Michael’s celebration at Vandelli, where a garden wedding took on a distinctly artistic, contemporary edge. Beneath the shade of ancient oaks, two long tables became a study in texture and abundance, layered with sculptural florals, fruits, and vegetables, while orchids and branches brought subtle references to the couple’s Vietnamese and Chinese heritage into the design. Deeper reds and bright yellows added warmth to the palette, balancing the garden’s rich greenery with an unexpected vibrancy. Planned by THE WED members from Fernanda Martinez Events, the celebration moved effortlessly between intimate moments and lively gatherings, from a ceremony among the garden steps to cocktails and a reception that gradually gave way to an espresso martini tower and a dance floor. Thoughtful, expressive, and full of personality, this was a wedding that felt less like a production and more like a vivid portrait of two people.

Our Love Story

The Day We Met

Mindy and I met in San Francisco and were introduced through mutual friends right before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mindy’s hiking trip to Peru had just been canceled at the last minute amid fears that the border might close (which it did!), so we decided to go on a hike together in the Bay Area. As we chatted and got to know each other during the hike, we were both thinking, “Wow, this person is so different from me!” Despite that, we felt at ease with each other and drawn to one another. After the hike, Mindy took me to one of her favorite Puerto Rican restaurants in the Bay Area, where we ordered lots of different kinds of plantains to try. It was the beginning of our connection over sharing great meals together. 

The Proposal

I proposed to Mindy in Turkey while we were on vacation, with the help of a couple of close friends from San Francisco. I had been planning it for a couple of months and thought it would be exciting to do it in an exotic location with a grand, romantic gesture. I wanted to surprise her, so that evening, while Mindy was still unsure of our dinner plans, I led her down to the hotel courtyard, where our friends were hiding in the bushes with cameras as I got down on one knee. We started the day watching the sunrise from a hot air balloon and ended it engaged!

The Engagement Ring

We liked the idea of a toi et moi ring, with a design that represents both of us individually and our coming together as a couple. We chose the stones—I chose the pear shape, and Mindy chose the cushion cut—to reflect our individual personalities, and we designed the ring together.

Our Wedding

The Vision

We wanted our wedding to reflect who we are as a couple and for every part of the day, including all the events, to feel unique to us and quintessentially who we are. That translated into a vibe that felt fun, carefree, and curated. We incorporated design elements that emphasized being in nature, with a beautiful garden setting, alongside sculptural elements inspired by the art and museums we enjoy. We also wanted our wedding design to incorporate elements of our Vietnamese and Chinese heritage, so we incorporated deeper reds and bright yellows into our color palette. After chatting with our florist, Maria, over brunch in Lisbon, she also developed a design incorporating orchids and branches as symbols of our shared cultural heritage.

Our Team of Vendors

In choosing our vendors, trust and personal connection were our top priorities. We wanted to work with people whose vision and expertise we believed in, who understood us and made us feel at ease. We were especially fortunate to have a team that had worked together before, and that familiarity really showed in how seamlessly they brought the day to life. Fernanda Martinez, our planner, was instrumental in balancing the overall design and vision with all the little details, while keeping us calm and confident throughout the planning process from thousands of miles away. Our photographer, Jackie Chick, captured our relationship exactly as we see and feel it, bringing an artistic, playful, and imaginative eye while making us feel completely at ease in front of the camera.

We also loved giving our other vendors the creative freedom to bring their talents to the day. Maria Flores created the modern, whimsical florals and tablescapes we had envisioned, while No Naked Design's stationery added an elegant touch that tied everything together. For hair and makeup, Maria Sasonova created the natural, timeless look I wanted, which lasted even through the Portuguese summer heat. And Pedro from YourJukebox brought the day together through music, creating a distinct vibe for each part of the celebration and seamlessly taking us from vinyl records to pop, R&B, and EDM.

The Location

Mindy and I took a summer trip to Portugal together while we were dating, and we fell in love with Lisbon, its food, and its culture. Lisbon both reminds us of home in San Francisco and introduces us to new people, food, and experiences. It was a milestone trip for us, during which we were able to celebrate Mindy's graduation from residency, so it felt fitting that we were able to celebrate another milestone there a few years later. Many of our friends and family members hadn't had the chance to visit Lisbon before, so we loved the idea of choosing a venue in the city where our guests could have time to travel and explore when they weren't attending wedding events. Vandelli ended up being the perfect garden oasis. Its lush greenery made the perfect backdrop for our day, and having the peacocks around to join in the festivities was a wonderful surprise for our guests.

The Ceremony

We held our ceremony in the lower garden, on the steps in front of the statue. We decided to enter the ceremony from the stairs above rather than make a traditional entrance down an aisle, and we loved seeing our guests walk through the gardens as they made their way into the ceremony space. We chose our close friend Albert as our celebrant because he had known both of us through multiple phases of our lives and could speak to how each of us had grown, both individually and together as a couple.

His speech was an unfiltered retelling of our story, alternating between a roast and a heartfelt expression of love and friendship. Mindy and I wrote our own vows and exchanged them during the ceremony. Standing up there and hearing the commitments we were making to one another was one of our favorite moments of the day. We really felt time and our surroundings melt away, allowing us to be fully present with one another and our closest friends and family.

The Cocktail Hour

Right after the ceremony, our guests walked through the ceremony space and up the stairs to join us for cocktail hour, overlooking the gardens and the Ponte 25 de Abril Bridge, which we love because it reminds us of our own Golden Gate Bridge back home. We incorporated more fun and lively elements to get the conversations flowing. We had our DJ spinning vinyl records, food stations featuring our favorite Portuguese conservas, and signature cocktails for our friends and family to enjoy. It was a wonderful opportunity to mingle and appreciate the botanical gardens.

The Reception

Mindy and I connected over sharing food, drinks, and experiences with our closest friends and family, and we wanted the reception and dinner to reflect that. Sitting at the center of the table with everyone made us feel like we could share in the experience and take in the energy and excitement of our guests. The reception was set up around two long tables under a large, shady oak tree. The tablescape, with fruits, vegetables, and florals draped throughout, felt bountiful, vibrant, and sculptural. We also had our siblings and fathers give speeches during dinner, and we treasure the way they spoke about us and the love they have for us.

The Special Touches

We handwrote individual thank-you cards for each of our guests and included them in their welcome bags. In each card, we thanked them for coming, shared what we admired about them, and expressed why they were so important to us. We knew it wasn't easy for many of our guests to travel all the way to Portugal, and we both felt so much gratitude for each person who came to celebrate with us and had supported us in so many ways throughout our day-to-day lives. We also loved the idea of kicking the party into high gear after the reception with an espresso martini tower to build energy and excitement.

Our Favorite Moments

We each had two favorite moments from our wedding day. Listening to our celebrant tell our story and hearing him reflect on where our relationship began and how excited we both are about where it's headed. Hearing our families' speeches during the reception. They managed to bring up both our embarrassing stories and our most heartfelt shared memories. Mindy and I spent the entire time shedding tears and laughing hysterically.

Our Style

The Bridal Looks

It was important to me to wear something comfortable that felt like me throughout the day. June in Lisbon is hot, so I knew I wanted something soft and lightweight while still feeling elegant and classic. I fell in love with the romantic draping and vintage-inspired dresses at Alexandra Grecco. When I first tried on my dress, I was surprised because I had never imagined myself wearing something like it. With its bateau neckline and low, scooped back, I felt six feet tall despite being only 5'2". It was the perfect dress for a summer day in a historic botanical garden. For the after-party, I changed into a vintage silk gown that I found online, with a pleated halter neckline and a flowy chiffon skirt, so I could dance the night away and headbang to my favorite emo songs.

The Groom's Look

I wore a custom cream tuxedo from Suitsupply. I loved the contrast between the cream and black and finished the outfit with a pair of black tassel loafers from Velasca. My favorite piece of the outfit was a Grand Seiko Omiwatari watch that Mindy gave me as a wedding gift.

The Bridesmaids' & Groomsmen's Looks

My younger sister, who was my maid of honor, wore a turquoise silk dress from De La Vali with a rosette and chiffon cape. Mindy's older brother, Jon, served as her best man and wore a black tuxedo from Todd Snyder.

Our Advice

For the Planning Process

Approach the planning process with good faith and the benefit of the doubt. You're both working toward the same goal and purpose, and you both want the best for your event and for each other. That mindset really helped us be constructive throughout the planning process and focus on the most important parts of our wedding day. Before getting started, take time to reflect on and write down what you want out of the day and what feels right for you. There are so many options and possibilities, and it can get overwhelming trying to decide what to do. When things start to feel overwhelming, come back to what you wrote down as mattering most and let those ideas guide your choices and vision.

For On The Day

Let go, be present, and relax. Trust your vendors to make sure everything runs smoothly and that your vision comes to life. Your focus should be on bringing positive, joyful energy to the day and making an effort to slow down rather than rush through it. Savor each moment and enjoy the ride!

For Post-Wedding

Mindy and I are both introverts, so while our wedding day was the perfect celebration with our friends and family, we loved taking some time afterward to decompress and revisit all the little moments that made it special. Go through your memories of the day and share your favorite moments with your partner. It's wonderful to see the day through your partner's eyes, too, and hear about any moments you might have missed.