[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]White, green, gold, silver, champagne.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Ryan’s mother is from the Azores, a group of beautiful Portuguese islands about 1,000 miles west from the landscape of Sintra. Brittany’s mother is also from Europe – specifically Prague in the Czech Republic – which is about the same distance north east of Sintra. Getting married on European soil paid tribute to both of the families of the bride & groom while indulging in the couple’s knack for adventure and travel.
Sintra – where we chose to get married – has a striking similarity to San Francisco, the city where Ryan and Brittany met and spent most of their relationship together. Sintra is a perfect combination of family heritage and nostalgia for the city where Britany & Ryan first fell in love.
In addition to wanting a destination wedding in Portugal, the most important element in choosing our venue and vibe was the ability to host our guests on site. Palacio Tivoli de Seteais in Sintra is a breathtaking venue and we fell in love with the palace upon our first visit. But just as important as the magical 18th century frescoes and palatial architecture was the welcoming & hospitable hotel staff & accommodations. We were able to host the majority of our wedding guests at the Seteais Palace, with other guests staying within a stone’s throw away in the cultural landscape of Sintra in nearby hotels, resorts, palaces, and quintas. This hyperlocal experience in a far away destination added to the overall experience, bringing people closer together as they explored the estate and surrounding area.
Brittany & Ryan like to party and dance the night away, so they knew they a venue that was not only regal but one that also supported an absolute ripper. The couple didn’t like the idea of getting “kicked out of their own party,” so they searched far and wide for a royal party palace that let them do what they wanted, respectfully of course. Plus, who doesn’t want to have an epic dance party until the wee hours of the morning in an all glass vintage greenhouse!
The theme throughout was “make it glam but fun,” which was also reflected in the “creative black tie” dress code. Because of the glamour of the location and venue, they wanted to continue to pull in sophisticated and classic details to keep the look consistent. All the guests loved that they felt they were attending a royal affair. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Brittany & Ryan moved from San Francisco to South Florida during the pandemic, where Brittany grew up and much of her family resided. Not knowing how long they’d be in Florida for, they rented the “COVID Compound” – a house with Brittany’s sister, brother-in-law and their 2 kids, including a newborn. They all lived together for 2 years and considered themselves the newest Brady Bunch Family!
For the engagement, with the whole world shut down, Ryan couldn’t wait any longer for travel to resume to propose. He also wanted to do something symbolic in the area Brittany grew up in and to include her family, which was now just as much his family.
What Brittany thought was a fancy dinner with her family in Palm Beach turned into a surprise engagement in front of the Worth Avenue Clock Tower with a champagne-infused picnic on the beach to follow. The coquina limestone clock tower is symbolic as a quintessential Palm Beach landmark that also set the framework that it was “time for Brittany & Ryan to take their relationship to the next level.” Brittany was so surprised in so many ways, especially when she noticed Ryan holding her dream ring – a huge shock considering every store had been closed for months during lockdown. She still has no idea how he was able to pull that off.[/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]
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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]
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[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Brittany wanted to wear a dress that she felt like herself in. The angel on one shoulder wanted a classic look, and the devil on the other wanted something mega DRAMATIC – both fashion elements that are very contradictory when it comes to wedding attire. This paradox stuck with Brittany through every decision.
There were so many dresses that she loved, but nothing satisfied the “classic drama” look and feel that she was looking for more than a faille high-low ball gown by Oscar de la Renta. Brittany kept joking that the dress had so much personality that it could get married all by itself. It was absolutely perfect and Brittany couldn’t imagine herself in any other dress. Britt’s advice is to wear a dress that makes you want to twirl and scream and say “I’M GETTING MARRIED!” (which her bridesmaids will tell you she did a lot of throughout the day).
For accessories, Brittany was fortunate to borrow a family heirloom bracelet. Ryan gifted Britt with custom matching earrings on the day of the wedding. For shoes, Britt went with the Manolo Lurums, which were a main feature of the dress given the high-low. She also went with a raw edge cut cathedral veil with a blusher for the ceremony.
Brittany also had the honor of wearing her mother’s 40-year-old wedding dress for her first dance with Ryan, and for her father-daughter dance which was an absolute highlight of the evening (more on this later). Due to the dress’s delicate nature, Brittany changed into a one-shoulder after-party gown with a structured bow from the Bronx and Banco bridal line with epic sparkly Rene Caovilla shoes.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bridesmaids all wore faille gowns in a champagne color. They were able to pick their own styles and customize them as they wished. The golden hue color palette and classic style was a perfect fit for the royal palace. [/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Ryan also went with three fully custom looks made by As You Are – a friend’s luxury menswear line that we highly recommend! For the ceremony and reception Ryan wore a cream dinner jacket with black tuxedo pants and “all gold everything” for his accessories – laser-etched cufflinks with Britany & Ryan’s wedding logo, pearl studs, albert thurston suspenders, and a gold Rolex Daytona, all to match his new 12mm gold wedding band. Ryan changed into a deep green tuxedo velvet jacket for the after party. Picking custom looks gave Ryan the opportunity to have just as much fun as Brittany did to express himself for the different events across the Rehearsal High Tea, Welcome Dinner, Ceremony, and After Party.[/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Party”]
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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]
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[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]
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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]Being foodies, Brittany and Ryan searched for a catering company that could provide an experience for dinner. The geniuses behind the Mad Kitchen couldn’t have prepared a more fantastic food and drinks presentation for our guests. The meal was 7 courses with a wine pairing and included a pallet cleanser that was made of a gin and tonic ball that exploded in your mouth. Every course held a surprise![/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]For the wedding ceremony, the Bride and the Groom wanted elegant and classic details that tied in well with the heritage feel of Palacio Seteais, so they went for whites, greens, golds.
For the reception in the vintage glass greenhouse, the couple opted for mega opulent table settings with gold details. They also had touches of green velvet, custom made mirror bars, and the band was decked out in head to toe Swarovski crystal including every last detail of their instruments.
During the rehearsal Queens’s High Tea, the florals matched the 18th century fresco walls and the china was original to the palace. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]We went with a crystal flute champagne tower instead of a wedding cake which we accidentally knocked down while pouring the champagne! This really exaggerated the moment! Britt and Ryan ended up “clinking” their magnum champagne bottles and sipped from their bottles instead. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Brittany & Ryan both spent a ton of time working with their officiant, Brittany’s uncle, to curate a perfect ceremony that included meaningful songs to the bride & groom played by a string quartet for every moment.
To start, Ryan set the tone by walking down the aisle with his parents to the Game of Thrones theme song. As this was played by a string quartet, the ceremony was kicked off with Ryan’s dramatic entrance (plus Ryan got to geek out, holding back a grin during his procession). The bridal party walked out to “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles, and finally, Brittany walked down the aisle across the main lawn of the Palace to “Rain Song” by Led Zeppelin. The kiss and walkout song was “Faith” by George Michaels.
Instead of doing traditional readings, Brittany & Ryan both took the time to recite thank you’s to their parents & families during the ceremony for being such an instrumental part of their lives. They also wrote and recited their own vows to each other. Additionally, Brittany & Ryan invited their guests to participate in agreeing to support them in our commitment by saying “We Do” as vows were exchanged. This involvement brought everyone together in the moment and helped the bride & groom be present, supported by the friends & family around them. Since their ceremony was interactive with their guests, it truly felt as if they were supporting the couple in this lifelong commitment to each other. Being surrounded by loved ones, thanking everyone for being a part of their lives, sharing appreciation with family, and committing to one another in front of everyone is a feeling that Brittany & Ryan will never ever forget. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Given how much Brittany & Ryan love to dance, they knew they wanted their first dance to be a main feature of their wedding, especially since dancing is what brought them together on their first date. Brittany & Ryan spent over 40 hours learning a routine together to show off to family and friends during the reception…and Brittany got to perform their Dancing with the Stars-style routine wearing her mother’s wedding gown, made from prayer shawls and flowing silks.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Where to begin! It was all so epic. First of all, Brittany & Ryan’s wedding was a 5-day long adventure in Ryan’s home country, Portugal, which was a dream in itself. Spending quality time over the week with the couple’s nearest and dearest was nothing short of amazing. Everyday held a surprise that outdid the next, but the ceremony was and always will be, without a doubt, the highlight of Brittany & Ryan’s lives. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]In addition to wanting a destination wedding in Portugal, the most important element in choosing our venue was the ability to host our guests on site. Palacio Tivoli de Seteais in Sintra is a breathtaking venue and we fell in love with the palace upon our first visit. But just as important as the magical 18th century frescoes and palatial architecture was the welcoming & hospitable hotel staff & accommodations. We were able to host the majority of our wedding guests at the Seteais Palace, with other guests staying within a stone’s throw away in the cultural landscape of Sintra in nearby hotels, resorts, palaces, and quintas. This hyperlocal experience in a far away destination added to the overall experience, bringing people closer together as they explored the estate and surrounding area.[/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]
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[board_carousel title=”Reception”]
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[board_carousel title=”Wedding Weekend Events”]
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Photography: love is my favorite color | Cinematography: Vanessa & Ivo | Event Planning: Sofia Nascimento Studios | Floral Design: Sofia Nascimento Studios | Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Ceremony Venue: Tivoli Palacio De Seteais | Reception Venue: Quinta da Bella Vista | Catering: Mad Kitchen | DJ: DJ Zecka | Band: The Sparkle Band | Rentals: The Rental Factory