9 Guests, 2 Dogs, On A Beach In Portugal: A Joyous Wedding Film
Oh happy day, it’s another wedding film from our dearest, talented Vanessa and Ivo! The crew was spoiled with filming an intimate affair on the beach in Portugal (take us with you next time please!) of only nine lucky guests, two adorable dogs and plenty of ice cream to go around.
The whole wedding day is styled so effortlessly, matching their intimate, easy-going vibes. Bride Ana chose a sleek and minimalistic gown with a fresh colorful twist, we won’t tell you what but wait until you see the embellishments! Everything about her look seemed flawless, with glowing makeup, and hair twisting in the salty air.
We can’t decide what we love more – the light and airy photos what evoke so much of that steamy, Portugal summer heat? Or, the joyous and playful film that has us smiling ear to ear just like their golden retriever pup. Lucky for us, we don’t have to choose one way or another, they’re all here below for you to hit repeat as long as you like.
Our Love Story
We met last Christmas, I know very soon! Love is crazy.
I am American and lived in America for twenty-five years but I speak fluent Spanish and Portuguese. My parents retired early to Spain in 2015 and during that time I traveled many times during the year to see them. One of the times that I came (December of 2015) I met Lucas in our village Celanova. I was from New York, he was from Celanova. I came to Celanova every summer since I was born and I never met him. And we lived one mile away from each other during the summers.
When we met we knew there was something special, apart from being from the same village, there was something in him that made me feel so at home, being so far from my home in America. We saw each other secretly for a few days to avoid drama in the village, and one day the asked me to go to Portugal with him for the weekend. I said “Yes!”
He took me to Peniche. A small fisherman town, filled with surfing and great food. I fell in love with him there. Just him and I, no friends, no family, no one to judge us, just us. It was the most real thing I had ever felt, and I knew that if I let this man go, my life would somehow be incomplete forever.
But I had to leave, I was a teacher in America, I had an apartment, my friends and I needed my routine back. So I left that Christmas, incomplete.
One month later I began emailing schools in Galicia, I got a job and we decided that we had to give it a try. I left America after I finished the school year, I packed my entire life into eight boxes and I bought a one-way ticket. It was the most spontaneous thing I had ever done in twenty-five years. My parents were in shock but so happy for me, they love Lucas like their own child.
One year later, in December 2016, Lucas took me back to Peniche where we had first fallen in love. After having breakfast on the balcony, he proposed and I cried for twenty minutes and kept asking him “are you sure ..??” I said yes, and decided to spend the rest of my life with the person that needed to be my husband. Home ended up being right where my life first started — my roots – Spain.
Photo by Vanessa & Ivo via Bridal Musings
I now have a teaching job in Galicia, I am happy and we live together in a beautiful duplex filled with love and black and white photos. I hope this short story helped you understand how we met and how much this day means to me.
I didn’t want to do a big wedding, I want a beautiful home with my intimate family, dogs, great food, wine and the beach. We would be nine people at the wedding and two dogs
Photo by Vanessa & Ivo via Bridal Musings
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Photographer & VideographerVanessa & Ivo
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Bride’s DressJose María Peiró
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Bride’s ShoesBurberry
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VenuePrivate villa in Salema, Algarve, Portugal
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Groom’s AttireModa Galega
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Bridesmaid DressesOXY COKY
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Bridesmaid DressesMax Mara
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Invitations & StationeryAnapolitan
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CateringAlgarve Fine Dining
