I’ve never had the opportunity to visit Portugal, but I am fairly certain it’s my new favorite country. Yep, all it took was one look at this stunning Amares affair and I was SOLD. The lush citrus-filled landscape, the historical setting, the breathtaking views, the couldn’t be happier bride and groom… I could get lost in this pretty for hours. And with the oh-so-talented Brancoprata behind the impeccable styling, gorgeous florals, fab paper goods AND brilliant photography, I can’t think of a more perfect way to spend the day than wrapped up in all of this lovely. Wouldn’t you agree? Click here for more.
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From the Bride… When Rogerio and I decided to get married, Pousada de Santa Maria do Bouro was a natural choice for the venue (actually, since I was a teenager I had been dreaming of tying the knot here). This historic luxury hotel is just beautiful and the surrounding landscape is breathtaking… It is located in the north of Portugal, between the city of Braga and the Gerês mountain range, and results from the restoration of a former Cistercian Monastery of the XII century, in a remarkable work of the 2011 Pritzker Prize winner Eduardo Souto Moura. Since many guests were coming from other parts of the country and abroad (US, UK, Italy and Netherlands), we booked the whole hotel for them to stay overnight. Another easier choice was Brancoprata. I had been following this team’s work for quite some time, and knew they provided the services we wanted with the best desired quality: invitations and paper goods, flowers and styling, photography and babysitting were services we booked all at once, which made the whole wedding planning a lot easier.
One of the most creative parts for us was planning the ceremony. Both Rogerio and I had never attended a non-religious ceremony in Portugal… However, with some guidance from the (most amazing) officiant, we came up with an idyllic ceremony. We can’t even describe how it feels to have your most loved friends singing in choir accompanied by a piano…
Since it is always a treat to eat in this historic hotel, choosing the menu was probably the hardest task in the whole wedding planning! Dinner was served in the cloisters, as well as the wedding cake, which just felt magical… In the old kitchen wing, surrounded by giant hearths under a soaring ceiling, guests enjoyed dancing, drinks and a photo booth with several props that kept everyone entertained all night. As wedding favors for our guests, we offered plants and local honey, a traditional product from Gerês mountains. Overall, our wedding day was like we were dreaming of: relaxed, fun and memorable.
Wedding Photography: André Teixeira of Brancoprata / Bride’s Headpiece: Miira / Bride’s Shoes: The Seller / Bride’s Bouquet: Bloom Flores / Wedding Dress: ModelNovias / Stationery, Paper Goods + Event Styling: Sofia Ferreira of Brancoprata / Floral Design: Brancoprata / Venue + Catering: Pousada de Santa Maria do Bouro / Music: DJ Motinha