Tell us a little about yourselves!
We met when we were 32 and neither of us saw it coming. We moved from Boston to Ireland for the same company, but independently in every sense: I was running away from my days slowly morphing into one and he was recruited to sell to the London market. Cue the global pandemic and you’ve got our strange but charming love story. We found ourselves spending increasingly more time together in the bubble we created. Think: gin rummy, tiny fires, cocktails, Taco Thursdays, a communal playlist, 6 hour sauces. We escaped the city in-between lockdowns, pretended to date other people, flawlessly executed an emergency room trip and eventually fell in love on a 35-foot sailboat in Croatia (which our skipper Luca can verify).
Cole grew up with 7 siblings in the Midwest, running so fast that he became an All American and got a free ride to college. I was raised in a small beach town in New England and unexpectedly ended up at a boarding school before ditching the cold winters for university in North Carolina.
As a couple, we’d describe ourselves as passionate, curious, playful and affectionate. We like teaching each other things, cooking like we’re on Chopped (Yes chef!), walks, coffee, going out for “a couple pints”, design, lazy Sundays, people who are open-minded, and drinks before noon on holiday. We try not to take ourselves too seriously, we love hosting and taking care of people (usually with food), we’ve always worked hard for what we have, and we value quality over quantity (time, things, people...).
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
Lisbon was a quick flight from Dublin, so we had taken a couple of spontaneous trips there with friends. We loved the seafood, the pastel de nata, the wine, the bartenders, the severs, the cobblestones, the painted tiles. The connection for us was the fun we had in this place, and how we wanted to share that with our closest friends and family. We also wanted this to feel like a vacation for folks, so having a pool onsite and the proximity to the city and beach were huge selling points.
Logistically, we were living in Dublin at the time, and our guests would be traveling from all over. Lisbon had direct flights for almost everyone and the venue was a quick drive from the airport – If we were expecting our guests to get on a plane to celebrate with us, we wanted to make it as easy as possible for them to make the most of their time. Having enough room for everyone at the hotel and the wedding onsite meant minimal logistics, so we could capitalize on our time with everyone and our guests could really get to know each other.
How many guests did you have?
80.
Tell us about your outfits.
The venue was so glamorous and ornate on its own, that we wanted our outfits to be timeless and understated.
Cole went with a classic navy and black tux with statement pinstripe socks. I ended up needing to get a new dress due to alteration issues with my first one, so I bought my dress off the rack 2 months before the wedding, ha! I loved how it was both comfortable and sexy, and instead of doing an outfit change I was able to pin the sleeves down for dancing, so it felt like two different looks in one dress.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
We wanted to throw a party for the books – and for our friends and family from all places and phases of our life to be together. The guest experience was really important for us because we wanted everyone to feel taken care of and relaxed.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
Writing our own vows was important to us, and a way to share our commitment in a way that was authentic to us with some comedic relief thrown in. We also wanted our guests to let loose on the dance floor, so we kept the bar open until 2am and brought wigs (which is a fun tradition when our friends get together).
Any tips for couples getting married?
This is your day, so stay true to what you want and don’t get distracted by the noise.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Yes!
Planner – Magdalena of All Things Beautiful curated the most magical wedding experience for us and our guests, while miraculously tracking and managing our budget. She listened and understood our vision while introducing us to unique ideas that elevated the design. Her style and organization are unmatched!
Photographer – All candids is was what we told Agata of Couplet Photography that we wanted, and so immediately understood that we wanted the opposite of traditional wedding photos. She made us feel comfortable and seen as a couple and gently guided us to accomplish stunning photos that we’re authentic, joyous and editorial.
Florist – Maria of Mary Poppies took our request for flowers that were “alien chic” and exceeded expectations. Her meadow style ceremony arrangement complimented the venue perfectly and our guests couldn’t stop remarking on the unique arrangements at the reception.
Photographer: Couplet Photography @couplet.photo | Planner: All Things Beautiful
@allthingsbeautifulweddings | Flora: Mary Poppies @marypoppies | Styling + Art Direction: All Things Beautiful @allthingsbeautifulweddings | Ceremony + Reception Location: Pestana Palace, Lisbon, Portugal @pestanapalace | Celebrant: Sam Moorhead (friend of couple) | Hire: BC Planning @bcplanning_rentals Maison Christina @maison.christina | Entertainment: imaginART @imagin_art.pt | HMUA: Olga Galkina @olga_galkina_makeup | Catering + Beverages: Pestana Palace @pestanapalace | Stationery: Notes Studio @notes.studio | Wedding Dress: Grace Loves Lace Mila Gown @grace_loves_lace | Tuxedo: Bonobos @bonobos | Engagement Ring: Exeter Jewellers | Wedding Rings: Mejuri @mejuri | Shoes: Stuart Weitzman (Bride), Common Projects loafers (Groom)