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This couple’s destination wedding in Portugal was a sensory extravaganza with its historic venues and locally inspired menus!
Wedding Planning - Sep 4, 2024
Nadezhda and Avinash’s wedding, planned by WeddingSutra Favorite – Purple Tree Event Solutions was hosted in Portugal where the team overcame hurdles to make the couple’s dream come to life. The venue was especially close to the bride Nadezhda owing to her Goan roots.
The whirlwind journey began with the Roce ceremony, a Goan Roman Catholic pre-wedding ritual hosted a day before the wedding where the couple is anointed with coconut milk and oil symbolizing the purification and blessing of the bride and groom before they begin their new journey together. After this sacred ritual, the couple hosted a quiet dinner.
Day two, was the big day! The celebrations started on an auspicious note with a smoothly coordinated visit to Portugal’s landmark of Christian pilgrimage and Catholic devotion – the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, culminating in the wedding ceremony at the renowned Fatima Church. A beautifully curated traditional Portuguese-style Almoço (a sit-down family lunch) was organised for the guests where they indulged heartily in the local delicacies.
Later in the evening, the reception was high on grandeur featuring a royal entry for the couple on a horse-drawn carriage, a first dance choreographed to a live soprano singer’s vocals, a classical violinist playing during the cocktail hour and a stunning six feet tall wedding cake fit for royalty. However, the after-party took the cake with it being hosted in the cellar, a surprise entry, lots of giveaways for guests, and a mini concert-like setup with a live band as guests partied the night away.
A destination wedding of this scale in Europe requires careful planning, and coordination with local vendors and comes with challenges aplenty. And, for Nafisa Sheikh from Purple Tree Event Solutions, this was an invigorating experience that honed her skills as a planner. She shares, “Curating this luxurious wedding event in Portugal was a remarkable experience, despite the myriad challenges we faced. We navigated unfamiliar customs and coordinated remotely with a couple in Bangalore and venues in Portugal through calls, emails and Zoom calls. Due to various reasons, the event had to be postponed from October to February, which added to the complexities. Language barriers and Portugal’s structured operational style required us to adapt quickly, ensuring clear communication and meticulous planning.
Despite these challenges, we delivered an extravagant event, featuring a world-class culinary experience, royal chariot entries, and a top-tier photography team. Even during adverse weather, we kept the itinerary on schedule, hosted an afterparty that lasted until sunrise and featured the finest soprano and band artists at the royal banquet hall. This event was a testament to our team’s adaptability and commitment to delivering an exceptional experience, no matter the obstacles.”
The planning team was also able to make the most of the European country’s rich historic heritage as they hosted a jaw-dropping wedding ceremony at one of Portugal’s most revered places of worship. Nafisa shares, “We had the privilege of seamlessly conducting a beautiful wedding ceremony at the historic Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, a rare and extraordinary achievement for a non-resident/Portuguese couple. Securing permission to hold the ceremony in the main sanctuary, performing a wedding mass in English, and celebrating an interfaith marriage was truly a rare occurrence. To accommodate relatives from across the globe, the ceremony was live-streamed, allowing everyone to be part of this special moment. The church, with its gracious and majestic ambience, was adorned with roses, sweet peas, hydrangeas, and delphiniums, adding a delicate and elegant touch to the setting.
The reception, on the other hand, was a breathtaking fusion of opulence and exhilaration. Guests were welcomed with a lavish horse-drawn carriage entry for the couple, accompanied by the soulful melodies of a Soprano and accompanying musicians, creating an atmosphere of timeless elegance. The highlight of the evening was the showstopping, custom-designed multi-tier cake by a renowned celebrity chef, an absolute feast for the eyes. The cake cutting was a grand spectacle, performed with a traditional sword, paired with the pouring of champagne, adding a regal flair to the celebration. The afterparty in the Throne Room continued the evening’s grandeur, turning it into a night of unforgettable luxury and indulgence.”
The Wedding Makers
Venues: Aqua, Penha Longa Resort (Roce); Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima (Nuptials); Restaurante Manhãs (Wedding Lunch); Queluz National Palace (Reception); Penha Longa Resort (Reception Dinner)
Wedding Planner: Purple Tree Event Solutions
Photography: Diane Sotero Photography
