A Modern Summer Wedding at a Royal Palace in Portugal

Mary and Oye, a Nigerian couple living in the United Kingdom, chose the Palácio Nacional de Queluz in Portugal as the venue for their wedding. With its stunning architecture and rich history, the palace was the perfect setting for a sophisticated and elegant celebration. The planning process took a year and involved visits to Portugal as well as remote meetings. Despite the distance, the connection with local vendors was crucial to creating a unique and personalized event. Mary and Oye wanted a celebration that was both intimate and grand, blending Portuguese culture with their Nigerian heritage. The couple wanted to keep the feeling of the wedding timeless, adjusting to Palácio de Queluz as the backdrop but making it a bit more interesting and contemporary. The bride chose modern yet classy flower arrangements. Fresh fruit sculptures for the dinner table decor added a contemporary twist to the regal setting.

Unfortunately, they did not want to share the story of the proposal. Their celebration in Portugal came after their traditional Nigerian wedding celebration that they had had before. The couple is from the UK. They have exquisite taste and are both very interested in modern art, which was felt throughout the ceremony. The wedding was a fusion of Nigerian and Portuguese elements, with music, cuisine, and cultural details carefully chosen to represent the couple’s roots while seamlessly integrating with the historic surroundings of the Palácio de Queluz

For the ceremony, Mary chose a timeless and elegant high-neck lace gown by Emma Beaumont atelier. The high neckline exuded a regal feel, while the long sleeves contributed to the classic aesthetic. The dress, flawlessly conturing the bride's silhouette, combined vintage-inspired details with contemporary refinement. For the party, Mary wore her second dress: a minimal and sensual Plunging Back Cowl Dress by Mirror Palais in a buttery-ivory hue. This design embodies Mirror Palais's signature blend of vintage inspiration and contemporary sophistication which perfectly reflected the overall concept of the wedding.

Brides were wearing mismatched dresses from various designers, each in its unique style, in pastel and vibrant colors.

For the food, the couple chose local catering but Italian food. Besides, they had Nigerian food for the after-party, which was enjoyed by all the guests.

For the ceremony, Oh Maria Flores's team put together a walking garden, an installation that felt it belonged to the place, framing the couple with big, lush blooms in ice cream tones. For the tablescape, sculptural centre pieces were a must, with the greens and whites as the color base, but adding the fruits as a fun element and a small detail of blush pink florals. Between the centerpieces, to add a touch of creativity, Oh Maria Flores built really fun fruit sculptures, playing with different sizes, shapes, and shades of green fruit. Dinner was set outdoors, with one long dinner table for all 150 guests and the couple, with chandeliers standing along the table.

Instead of one big wedding cake, the couple went for a more original and unique option of donuts.

They had live music for the ceremony and cocktail hour. Quoting the bride, "Bernardo Redol" came with the guitar, loop pedal, the sax, and sensational vocals.