This stunning Portugal wedding takes place in a magical blue-tiled palace

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Photo by Jesus Caballero via Bridal Musings

Magical. That’s the word that bride Lauren describes her wedding. And truly, what other word could you use to illustrate a day that takes place in a Portuguese palace as beautiful as this?

Lauren and Michael chose Portugal for their destination wedding as it provided the perfect wedding venue: a historical, blue-tiled palace equipped for a dreamy European affair. Every one of Jesus Caballero‘s photos of the couple at Palacio dos Marqueses da Fronteira is stunning: the courtyard ceremony, the portraits wandering the historic grounds, the blue tiles & opulent statues that filled the reception area.

We could go on and on about every beautiful detail of this destination wedding day, but you’ll certainly see it all in the photos. Beyond the beauty, we appreciate some of bride Lauren’s sage advice for wedding budgeting. “Ask a friend who’s planned a wedding before” she says, and this is such a good point! If you have a recently married friend they’ll be able to dish about all the surprising costs that added up in their planning and all the ways they may have saved.

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Our Love Story

Lauren and Michael met in 2010 playing on the same softball team but were just friends. Two years later, they reunited at a Toronto Raptors basketball game and Michael asked Lauren out on a date. They’ve been inseparable ever since.

Michael and Lauren took a trip in May 2017, which included Myanmar and Lauren thought he was going to propose on a hot air balloon. Timing, however, didn’t let that happen. A month later, Michael proposed in Lauren’s parent’s house recreating a hot air balloon ride at the top of the stairs. Lauren had to answer five questions in order to get to “the gate” and once it opened, revealed a ring in a wicker basket held up by a lot of balloons. Of course, Lauren said yes!

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Photo by Jesus Caballero via Bridal Musings

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The Photography

Choosing the right photographer was so important to capture our day. After browsing multiple portfolios online and Instagram hashtags, I came across one of Jesus’s photos that just blew me away. The way he captured the lighting and feeling in that one picture made me know he was our photographer.

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The Destination & Venue

When people ask about our wedding, we always describe it in one word: magical. Lauren always wanted something different and Portugal offered the perfect venue of a historical European palace. The private palace, blue tiles and gardens provided the perfect wedding backdrop.

It was such a beautiful day, sunny and a perfect 28 degrees. There was this area beside the palace where the ceremony took place with traditional cobblestone and a beautiful flower structure while the bride’s brother officiated the wedding. We chose gold decor to complement the rich blues and gardens in the venue. The flowers were variations pinks since it’s Lauren’s favourite colour.

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Favorite Moments

Our wedding was ‘so us’ because it was so easygoing and fun, which describes both of our personalities. Our favourite moments were the first look in the palace library, exploring the palace grounds, and spending time with our family and close friends.

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The Vendors & Reception

We chose Lisbon Wedding Planner because they offered a variety of venues and had the best vendors. But the best option they provided was having Portuguese egg tarts instead of a traditional cake.

After the ceremony, appetizers and drinks were served, notably, the sangria was a hit. There was a four-course meal for dinner, which was amazing. Drinks and dancing followed, with everyone having a great time!

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Advice to Other Couples

We used Wedding Wire and it helped so much with checklists and the guest list. It kept us on track and made us think of things that we wouldn’t have known. We would highly recommend Etsy as well. They have so many unique options and it’s a great way to support local vendors! Also, always let the bride have the final say!

Budget tips: talk to a friend who has already planned a wedding! It’s so helpful when they can tell you what to expect pricing wise and what they could have done without. Nothing ever goes according to budget and things come up so include some extra spending just in case!

Day of advice: just enjoy the process and try not to stress! No one knows if something doesn’t go according to plan so just go with it!