A Sun-Drenched Love Story: Alex & Rich's Elegant Portuguese Wedding at Rio do Prado

Love Story

Join us as we explore the enchanting wedding celebration of Alex and Rich,where London sophistication met New York charm against the stunning backdrop of Portugal's Rio do Prado. Their story proves that sometimes, the most magical beginnings start with a Halloween party and end with a surprise proposal over the perfect burger.

"We have been together for nearly 8 years," Alex shares with a warm smile. Their journey began at a Halloween party in London,where a mutual friend – who would later officiate their wedding – played matchmaker. "We ended up spending the whole night together," Alex recalls, "and we've been together since."

The proposal story breaks with tradition in the most delightful way. "Alex proposed to Rich," the couple tells us. What was planned as a carefully orchestrated moment transformed into something beautifully spontaneous. "We had just gone to the theatre and decided to try and get a table at a famous restaurant nearby that is very hard to get a table at," Richard recounts. "As luck would have it they sat us at the bar and we shared the best burger we've ever had."

Alex couldn't contain her excitement. "Alex spilled the beans that she was planning the propose on this trip with an old watch of her dad's," Richard recalls. Though the watch wasn't present for the impromptu moment, the restaurant celebrated with champagne and cake, and an engagement ring was found the very next day.

Alex and Rich’s wedding took place on May 26, 2024, at the stunning Rio do Prado in Portugal, a venue nestled in nature’s beauty and perfect for the intimate, laid-back atmosphere they envisioned. “We wanted the style to be very laid back and focused on all the different people in our life being able to relax, get to know each other, and have fun,” they explained.

With 80 guests traveling from both sides of the Atlantic, the couple took a year to plan every detail. “Our vision was the wedding we had. Surrounded by friends and family in a beautiful place with the sun shining and delicious food and wine.”

The venue itself played a key role in their inspiration. “We visited Portugal and the venue many times during the preparation which was the most inspiring thing. Carolina at Rio Do Prado was fantastic and has so many great ideas from weddings she had helped plan in the past so we took a lot of inspiration from her,” Alex shared.

The couple also drew inspiration from the weddings of friends and family, incorporating elements that resonated with them over the years. “We basically wanted to combine all the things we loved from our friends and families weddings before us.”

Morning details

The morning preparations revealed a beautiful tapestry of personal touches and meaningful details that set the tone for their celebration. Rich, whose creative background as a graphic designer proved invaluable, crafted all the wedding stationery with loving attention. "So lucky we had one already on the payroll!" Alex jokes affectionately about her talented partner.

Their choice of rings reflected their distinct personalities while harmonizing perfectly with their celebration's theme. "Alex went to Scottish jewlery designer Ellis MHairi Cameron who makes beautiful rings also inspired by nature and imperfect beauty which I guess was a big theme of our wedding," Richard shares. Rich's selection spoke to his classic tastes – a vintage gold ring discovered in the historic depths of London's Hatton Garden.

The jewelry chosen for their celebration carried stories of both past and present love. "For the first night of the BBQ Alex wore a vintage gold necklace that her dad had given to her mom forty years ago," Alex reveals, her voice softening at the memory. On the wedding day itself, she adorned herself with simple gold earrings and a vintage gold Piaget watch – a romantic gift from Rich, purchased in Paris alongside her engagement ring. Rich complemented his attire with his own piece of history: a 1960s Universal Geneve watch that served as his engagement gift.

Every piece of stationery – from save-the-dates to table numbers – bore Rich's artistic touch, creating a cohesive visual story that ran through their celebration. These weren't merely paper goods but rather love letters to their guests, each designed with the same care that characterized their entire celebration.

Bride getting ready

Alex's journey to find her perfect wedding dress became a beautiful testament to staying true to oneself. "I had originally gone to a few bespoke bridal designers and tried on several different styles of wedding dresses but none of them felt very me," she shares, reflecting on the early stages of her search. The perfect dress, as fate would have it, wasn't waiting in a bridal boutique but rather in the elegant confines of the Saint Laurent store in Paris.

"They don't have bridal wear so it was just one of their gowns," Alex recalls with a smile, "and there was only one left in Europe as it was from an earlier season." The serendipitous discovery of the white slip dress proved to be meant to be. "I went with a friend to try it on and thankfully it fit perfectly."

Her bridal style embodied elegant minimalism, letting the exquisite craftsmanship of the dress take center stage. "No veil," she notes, "very simple pared back look to let the dress shine." She completed her ensemble with Saint Laurent shoes, creating a harmonious blend of sophistication and grace.

The bridal bouquet brought a touch of local Portuguese magic to her look. Working with an amazing local florist recommended by Carolina at Rio Do Prado, Alex chose seasonal wildflowers in violet and white, perfectly complementing the natural beauty of their venue.

The morning of the wedding transformed their suite at Rio Do Prado into a joyful gathering space. "I had a pretty much open door policy," Alex remembers fondly, "and people were in and out as I was getting my hair and makeup done." The intimate atmosphere was filled with loved ones – her mother's steady presence, her father's touching visit, their officiant's encouraging words, and the warmth of close friends.

Adding an extra layer of romance to the morning preparations, one of Alex's friends captured these precious moments on Super 8 film, creating a wedding gift that would preserve the day's vintage-inspired charm.

Groom getting ready

Rich chose timeless elegance with an Edward Sexton suit from London's renowned Savile Row. He prepared for the day surrounded by his three best men – "a friend from college, one from my first job, and one of Alex's friend's husbands," representing different chapters of their journey together.

Ceremony

As the Portuguese sun cast its golden light across Rio do Prado's grounds, the scene was set for a ceremony that would blend tradition with delightful surprises. The anticipation in the air was palpable as the first notes of Camille Yarbrough's soulful "Take Yo Praise" began to play, signaling the start of a moment years in the making.

In a touching departure from tradition, Alex chose to be accompanied by both her mother and father down the aisle. "It was a beautiful moment," she recalls, her voice softening at the memory. "There was a lot of anticipation and the outdoor ceremony was beautiful."

The wedding party included Rich's youngest family members, adding an extra layer of sweetness to the proceedings. His niece Olivia and nephew George took on their flower girl and boy duties with charm, while his eldest nephew James carried the rings with pride, binding three generations in this celebration of love.

Their dear friend Bash, who had witnessed their love story from that very first Halloween night, served as officiant. "Bash who officiated did a brilliant job taking everyone through our relationship and our love and made everyone laugh and cry throughout," the couple shares, their eyes bright with the memory. The ceremony struck that perfect balance of emotional depth and joy that characterized Alex and Rich's relationship.

But perhaps the most unexpected and enchanting moment came just after they sealed their vows with a kiss. As if orchestrated by Cupid himself, the members of Original Bandalheira emerged from their hiding place in the surrounding bushes, their music filling the air with celebration. "They surprised everyone," Rich recalls with delight.

Photoshoot after the ceremony

“Joao our amazing photographer just took us around the property and made it natural. The venue had a pear orchid which was gorgeous and then we did a few around the pool and got the golden hour late reflection,” the couple recalls.

Wedding Venue & Decor

The wedding took place at the breathtaking Rio do Prado in Portugal, a venue surrounded by natural beauty that perfectly reflected Alex and Rich’s vision. “We knew we wanted to get married somewhere that was easy for everyone to get to,” they explained. “We had been to Portugal early on in our relationship so it had a special place in our hearts.”

Finding Rio do Prado was a serendipitous moment. “We actually found a website from our photographer that had photos from all the amazing venues he had shot at in the area around Lisbon so we planned a trip to visit a few of them and fell in love at Rio Do Prado.”

The couple embraced the venue’s natural surroundings, keeping the color palette simple and organic. “Most of the wedding was outside so we kept the color pallette simple and in line with out surroundings. Lots of green, white and lilac,” Alex shared.

Reception

The reception was a perfect reflection of Alex and Rich’s love for good food, drinks, and meaningful moments with loved ones. They opened the evening with their first dance to “Road to Nowhere” by The Talking Heads—a fun and fitting choice for a couple whose adventures together are just beginning.

“Food and drink are very important to us so this was a huge part of the wedding,” they shared. The celebrations started with a welcome BBQ on the first day,where guests mingled outdoors, soaking up the Portuguese sunshine. “We had spicy margaritas, Campari sodas, Negronis --- all things from our travels and what we serve at our house for dinner plus huge amounts of wine and beer! Amazing bites were passed around.”

On the wedding night, dinner was a four-course feast showcasing the best flavors of Portugal. “It was delicious. We got local wine to pair with the dinner and then cocktails continuing into the night.” Instead of a traditional wedding cake, the couple chose a pastel de nata tower from a local bakery.

One of the most cherished moments came after the meal, during the speeches. “Sitting after the meal, with a drink in hand, listening to the wonderful speeches from our friends and Alex's dad” was the key moment they’ll always remember.

Reflecting on their vendors, the couple had nothing but praise. “We absolutely loved everyone we worked with. Carolina at Rio Do Prado was fantastic from beginning to end and we could not have been happier with how everything went on the day. She helped us choose quite a lot of the aesthetic and connected us with amazing local vendors for anything the venue didn't do. Joao our photographer was also phenomenol and reccomended the band who were the hit of the party.”