A Romantic Destination Wedding in Portugal Inspired by Presence, Warmth, and Intentionality
Vanessa Hui and Will Chow’s love story began during the most unexpected of times: the global pandemic. Amidst the chaos, the couple had a unique opportunity to fall in love without the usual rush and distractions of everyday life.
“Toronto was one of the most locked-down cities in the world,” Vanessa explains, “so we didn’t even go out for dinner until a year and a half into our relationship! Instead, we found joy in the simplest of things. On one of our early dates, Will set up a paint night on his patio, and we made pizzas from scratch on the BBQ until 2 a.m. Eight-hour dates, whether spent cooking at home or exploring Toronto’s outdoors during a time when everything else was shut down, became our norm. Looking back, it was such a special way to truly get to know each other.”
Engaged in the Rain
The proposal took place on June 21, 2023. While things didn’t go exactly as Will had planned, the moment turned out to be “perfect in its imperfection.”
“We found joy in the simplest of things.”
“Will had envisioned proposing at sunset on the Toronto Islands, where we had our first date,” Vanessa shares, “combining two of my favourite things – sunsets and water. However, after a series of (unintentionally!) foiled attempts and comical twists, Will proposed in the rain at the Toronto Beaches. The rain meant we had a typically crowded beach entirely to ourselves, and I was completely caught off guard. The stillness of the moment beautifully reflected how our love story began – just the two of us.”
A Romantic Destination Wedding in Portugal
When Fall arrived, Vanessa and Will set out on their wedding planning journey with a commitment to enjoy the process as much as the celebration itself. Thanks to their incredible wedding planner, Doris Costa and the Doma team, the couple is happy to say they accomplished that goal. Surrounded by a bevy of spreadsheets and wedding details, the couple and their team succeeded in planning a three-day wedding celebration with ease and joy, setting the perfect tone for their big day.
“We chose to host a destination wedding in Portugal to give our guests a chance to step away from the demands of daily life and simply be present with us,” says Vanessa. “We have always been captivated by Portugal’s warmth and the genuine kindness and grounded nature of its people, not to mention the exquisite food and wine! Over 120 guests flew from around the world to come celebrate with us.”
“In one of our early conversations with our photographer, Barb Simkova,” she adds, “Barb asked us to describe our vision for the wedding. While we didn’t yet have a mood board or colour palette, we knew exactly how we wanted both ourselves and our guests to feel. The words we shared with Barb were ‘Presence, Warmth, and Intentionality,’ and these became the guiding principles behind every decision we made.”
The Wedding Itinerary
Vanessa and Will intentionally organized two days of welcome events before the wedding day itself, so their guests would have an opportunity to relax and get to know each other beforehand. On the first night of their wedding itinerary, guests were invited on a sunset cruise along the Tagus River.
“We wanted them to experience Lisbon from the unique vantage point of being on the water,” Vanessa states. “During our welcome speech, we asked everyone to join us in setting intentions for the days ahead, including: ‘To bathe in the magic of being in Portugal; to be grateful for all the things that have allowed each of us to be here, including our health and opportunity to travel; and to embrace all the new experiences, new memories, and new friendships to come.’”
A pool party and lunch were hosted at Camelia Gardens in Sintra the next day. Everyone loved exploring the enchanting property, from which they could spot two of Sintra’s iconic landmarks – Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. Having been struck by Sintra’s magic and tranquility every time they visited, the couple was thrilled to share that same experience with their guests.
The wedding ceremony and reception took place at the majestic Queluz Palace, which offered an ambiance that was both grand and intimate.
“For our reception dinner,” the bride recalls, “we were spoiled by the Mad Kitchen team, who flawlessly executed a gorgeous family-style dinner over one long 120-person banquet table. We wanted all our guests to feel the intimacy of ‘breaking bread’ together and to be able to enjoy a wide array of dishes. The evening flowed seamlessly from heartfelt speeches to a high-energy dance party under the night sky until almost 3 a.m.”
Keeping with their themes of presence, warmth, and intentionality, the bride and groom also incorporated several “intentional moments of pause.” This included a ring blessing, during which their parents held their hands over the couple’s rings to bless them. The couple also surprised their guests with personal notes written to each individual.
“Our time in Portugal was a beautiful blur,” Vanessa reflects, “yet we treasure the moments that felt suspended in time. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the grand events that stood out, but the smaller, deeply personal moments of connection. For me, one of my most memorable moments was standing in a circle with my mom, sister, bridesmaids, and my dress designers Ines and Veronica Di Santo, holding hands just before leaving for my first look with Will. For Will, it was that very first look, where he found himself unexpectedly overwhelmed with emotion. A shared favourite memory for both of us was being lifted on our friends’ shoulders on the dance floor as the crowd jumped up and down to what became our unofficial wedding theme song of the week: Kygo’s ‘For Life.’”
The Wedding Aftermath
After an incredible week of celebrations, the newlyweds followed up their romantic destination wedding in Portugal with five days unwinding in São Miguel, Azores. The awe-inspiring beauty of São Miguel left the couple speechless and provided the perfect setting for them to reflect on and savor the love and joy from their wedding experience.
“As we look back on our journey, from planning to the wedding itself,” says Vanessa, “we are filled with profound gratitude for the people who supported us along the way. We truly had the best team by our side, from our supportive families, our friends, and to the incredible team who brought our vision to life. Many times, it felt as if the universe was co-creating this dream experience with us. Above all, we are proud that we intentionally wove moments of stillness into our celebration, allowing us to be fully present and savour the fleeting moments. These memories and feelings are etched in our hearts, and we will carry them with us for the rest of our lives.”
WEDDING TALENT
Location: Queluz Palace, Queluz, Portugal; Planner & Event Design: DOMA Weddings, Lisbon, Portugal; Floral Design: Green Pic’k Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; Caterer: The MAD Kitchen, Lisbon Portugal; Rentals: BC Planning & Rentals, Lisbon, Portugal; Dress: Ines Di Santo; Groom’s Attire: Harry Rosen; Hair: Entretranças Hairstyling; Lisbon, Portugal; Makeup: Laura Luca Makeup, Lisbon, Portugal; Calligraphy: In Love, Lisbon, Portugal; Entertainment: Your Jukebox, Miraflores, Portugal; Cinematography: Non Fiction Love, Lisbon, Portugal; Photography: Simkova Studios - Barb Simkova and Nix Hernandez, Toronto, ON