Under the golden glow of the Portuguese sun, Siri and Anders' wedding was the perfect blend of romance, history and timeless elegance. Portugal, a place close to their hearts, became the dreamy backdrop for their love story, with the ceremony taking place in Lisbon's enchanting, pink St George's Church. The bride, a vision of grace, floated between two exquisite vintage gowns, her look completed by a bespoke lace veil with delicate floral applications. The magic continued in a romantic historic villa perched high above the sea, with breathtaking views that seemed to stretch endlessly to the horizon. Reception tables draped in crisp white linen were crowned with lush purple and pink floral centrepieces, while a vintage-inspired cake adorned with delicate bows added the sweetest touch to the celebration. Ready for the ultimate in event styling inspiration?
Our Love Story
The Proposal
We’ve been together for 15 years, lived together for 13 of those years, and have two children, aged nine and eleven. When Anders proposed, I had given up hope and accepted that there would be no wedding. But then, in October 2022, I broke my foot, and Anders surprised me by getting down on one knee at my bedside on my birthday. He managed to surprise me when I least expected it.
Ideally, we might have done this earlier, maybe before having kids, but giving each other our 'yes' after having children feels even more meaningful now. It’s a sense of security I needed to feel, something only he could give me. It’s amazing that the kids have witnessed both the proposal and the ceremony. They’re also at an age where they’ll hopefully remember this! It’s such a beautiful thing to think about.
The Engagement Ring
Two days before the wedding, we discovered the most charming little shop in Cascais, where we found the perfect custom-made wedding rings by Andrea Rösser. My ring features a stunning blue aquamarine stone. It wasn’t something we prioritized at first, but we got so lucky finding them last-minute!
Our Wedding
Our Team of Vendors
The magic behind the flowers and styling was created by talented Omer Gilony, a florist and stylist based in Lisbon. We were absolutely over the moon with how everything turned out! The menus were designed by Vanessa Nguyen of Byv Studio. Our wedding planner, Marina Paixão, ensured everything went seamlessly.
The Location
Portugal was the obvious choice for our wedding, as it holds such a special place in my heart. It’s my second home. My mother and her siblings grew up there, and my grandparents lived there from the ages of 19 and 20. I even attended kindergarten in Cascais! It was so meaningful to celebrate our love in a place that holds so many cherished and nostalgic memories.
The Ceremony
The ceremony took place in Lisbon at the beautiful, pink St. George’s Church. We had an amazing priest who married us, and it turned out he was also very funny. I was 30 minutes late, and the musicians had to improvise since they played my entrance song when the bridesmaids walked down the aisle.
The choir artists played Lady Gaga’s "Alejandro," "River Flows in You," "Canon D" (instrumental), and sang "Trevo" by Ana Vitoria and "Velha Infância" by Tribalistas.
The Cocktail Hour
During the cocktail hour, we had Lucas Pina, who played fun songs on the guitar on the terrace while guests enjoyed finger food and drinks. It was a warm day, and I think everyone had a great time.
The Reception
The reception and dinner were held at Forte Da Cruz, a fort in Estoril. I have an old photo of my grandparents in front of this fort—it was so meaningful to us. After dinner, I switched into my second dress, the Catherine Rayner gown, and changed up my hair accessories. We danced to "La Vie en Rose" by Lady Gaga and cut the cake as the sun was setting. Later, traditional Portuguese dancers helped get the dance floor started.
The Special Touches
Instead of flower bouquets, three of the bridesmaids carried large fabric hearts as they walked into the church, inspired by one of the bridesmaids' drawing from kindergarden.
Our Favorite Moment
Dancing to "La Vie en Rose" and cutting the cake as the sun set—an unforgettable moment!
Our Style
The Bridal Looks
I wore two vintage dresses. A stunning Christian Dior gown in golden silk with an oversized bow adorned with delicate roses. It had been tucked away in a friend’s attic for years before resurfacing just weeks before the wedding.
Our Bridesmaids’ & Groomsmen’ Looks
My sweet bridesmaids, who were all kids, wore a collection of five different vintage dresses. My daughter’s dress was found at Fretex, and I added a collar, while Malin sewed detachable sleeves with light blue bows. Each girl wore heart-shaped scrunchies or roses in their hair. My son and his cousin wore suits with light pink bows.
Our Advice
For The Planning Process
Although it feels like there are many loose ends close to the wedding, most things will fall into place in the weeks and days before the big day. Breathe, delegate tasks, and always trust your gut! If you love buying vintage, I’m sure the perfect dress will appear. Not everyone has Dior dresses in their attic, but thrift shops, Etsy, and eBay have so many beautiful pieces!
For On The Day
Someone once told me, ‘If things don’t go according to plan, only you and the groom know what the plan was.’ In my case, the groom didn’t know much, haha! So I’d recommend sharing your plan with at least one more person: a wedding planner, a friend, a family member, or your future husband, to help bring your vision to life.
For Post-Wedding
I got an ear infection, a fever, and a big cold sore after the wedding—my body just gave up from exhaustion! Make sure to take some downtime afterward. We spent a week at Quinta de São Thiago in Sintra, Portugal, a beautiful place filled with charm. We took our whole family with us, though I was sick in bed while Anders explored with our parents and kids. Not the ideal honeymoon—we might need a redo!
Vendors
Analog Photography: Pernille Haugen
Digital Photography: Dida Photography
Wedding Planner: Marina Paixao
Wedding Stylist: Omer Gilony, To The Table
Florals: Omer Gilony, East Atelier
Stationery: Byv Studio
Cake: Os Bolos da Fuca
Catering: Penha Longa Catering
Music: Your Jukebox, Lucas Pina Oficial
Hair: Cabeleireiro Ana Salgueiro
Makeup: Sara Fonseca
Transportation Company: Made By Measure
Style
Bridal Dresses: Dior, Catherine Rayner, Fretex, Join the Faebrik
Lace Tights: H&M
Hair Accessories: Stitchy Hearts
Shoes: Flattered, Vagabond
Bridal Jewelry: Vivienne Westwood
Bridal Veils: Mali Molds
Wedding Ring: Andrea Rösser
Engagement Ring: Briljant Oslo
Groom: Hugo Boss
