In a beautiful display of love, commitment, and family ties, Joanne and Marc exchanged vows in the Algarve, Portugal on June 9th, 2018. The picturesque setting held special significance for the couple, as both had personal connections to the region. The generosity of Marc’s mum and stepdad in allowing them to host their wedding at their newly built home added an extra layer of intimacy to the celebration.
The relaxed, bohemian vibe of the party was perfectly captured by Ana Parker Photography. A simple yet elegant colour palette, beautiful white florals, and a laid-back atmosphere came together to create a truly unforgettable day. The couple’s stylish flair shone through in their attire, with Joanne looking stunning in Jenny Packham’s ‘Nashville’ dress and Marc making a dashing impression in his blue suit and braces.
The resulting photographs are nothing short of breathtaking. Ana Parker Photography did an incredible job of capturing the romance and joy of the couple’s special day. We’re grateful to have had the opportunity to share these wonderful images with you.
The Proposal
We embarked on the adventure of a lifetime when we got engaged in the picturesque city of Reykjavik, Iceland’s snowy backdrop serving as the perfect setting. The last day of our trip was nothing short of magical – brilliant sunshine illuminated the snow-covered cityscape, and our evening was made even more unforgettable by a chance sighting of the Northern Lights on our way to celebrate.
The Planning Process
We were fortunate to collaborate with Dalia from Algarve Events to bring our wedding vision to life. Having attended numerous weddings and pouring over countless Pinterest boards and wedding blogs, we had a clear idea of what we wanted to achieve. Dalia’s expertise and dedication as our local representative in Portugal were invaluable. She went above and beyond to ensure every detail aligned with our vision. I was thrilled to find talented professionals like Ana, our photographer, and Zoe, my hair and makeup artist, who traveled from the UK for the weekend. We also sourced many finishing touches from back home and had them shipped to Portugal. Despite the planning process being quite complex, Dalia’s guidance made it a relatively relaxed experience.
The Venue
Portugal held a special place in our hearts, filled with treasured memories of family vacations and romantic getaways. It was only natural that we would choose this beautiful country as the perfect setting for our wedding celebration.Marc’s Mum and Stepdad had recently retired to Portugal, where they had maintained a holiday home for years. They kindly offered us their stunning newly-built residence in Quarteira for our reception, which we gratefully accepted. This generous gesture allowed us to save significantly on venue costs, but it also meant that we had to source everything needed for the day, from tables and chairs to loos and an electricity generator.Despite the logistical challenges, having the reception at Marc’s family home was truly special. The house looked incredible, and it felt like a dream come true to celebrate our big day in such a unique setting.Initially, we planned to hold the ceremony at the house as well, but Marc had a different vision. He wanted to break up the day and have another venue for the ceremony. Thankfully, Dalia, our wedding planner extraordinaire, found the perfect solution in St Luke’s Church at Monte Palagueira, a beautiful little church nestled in the Algarve hills.Father Rob Keans, a vicar from Chelmsford, kindly agreed to conduct our ceremony, adding an extra touch of humor and charm to the proceedings. We still chuckle about how we traveled all the way to Portugal only to be married by a vicar from back home!To accommodate our guests, we arranged for coaches to pick them up from two different locations. My Dad and I arrived at the church in style, cruising up in Marc’s stepdad’s beautifully decorated vintage TR6 convertible. After the ceremony, Marc and I drove back together to the house, feeling like royalty as we celebrated our special day.
The Readings & Music
We incorporated two readings into our ceremony, each carefully selected to reflect our unique personalities and relationship. My sister beautifully recited the poem ‘First Meeting (for Diane)’ by A.S.J. Tessimond, a piece we cherished after an extensive search for something that truly resonated with us. In contrast, Marc’s brother delivered a traditional Bible reading from Song of Solomon 2:10-13, which harmonized perfectly with our Portuguese setting and the lush vines and figs mentioned in the passage.Music played a pivotal role in our celebration, as it does in our lives. As a musician who regularly performs at weddings, Marc wanted to ensure that music was woven throughout our special day. I walked down the aisle to Elvis Presley’s timeless classic ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love,’ and we shared a romantic dance to Jackie Wilson’s upbeat ‘Higher and Higher’ as we made our way back down the aisle together.During cocktail hour, we had the pleasure of hosting an exceptional duo, Little Mess – comprised of Ines and Joao – who delighted us with their soulful vocals and guitar playing. Their rendition of Neil Young’s ‘Harvest Moon’ and Justin Timberlake’s ‘Say Something,’ which they learned especially for our occasion, was truly unforgettable.As we entered the dining area and took our seats for dinner and speeches, Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Everywhere’ provided the perfect accompaniment to our grand entrance. We then made our way down the long table, high-fiving our guests as we went.For the cake-cutting ceremony, The Lumineers’ ‘Flowers in Your Hair’ set the tone for a joyous celebration. Our first dance was a special moment, with Glen Campbell’s ‘Wichita Lineman’ serving as the perfect soundtrack to this intimate and cherished moment.To cap off an already unforgettable day, we enlisted the services of DJ Rafa and Mr Sax, an exceptional saxophonist, who joined forces to create an electric atmosphere that kept our guests dancing long into the night.
Your Outfits & Accessories
With my dress sorted, I could focus on the finer details of my wedding planning. I had actually ordered my dress before even setting a date, drawn to its bohemian charm after spotting Ella Mills’ stunning Jenny Packham gown on Instagram. The ‘Nashville’ dress from Jenny Packham was love at first sight, and with my mum and sister by my side, we visited Pantiles Bride in Tunbridge Wells to bring my vision to life. Lovely Alexandra made sure I felt like the best version of myself in that dress. To complement its intricate details, I chose a beautiful pearl and daisy hair piece from Little Willow and Co on Etsy. My earrings were a thoughtful gift from my parents on our special day, and I also wore my mum’s garter, a family heirloom passed down from her own wedding to my dad. Comfort was key for me, so after initially considering going barefoot, I opted for Valentino Rockstud sandals that would keep me feeling relaxed all day long.
Beauty
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Zoe Cornwell, the talented hair and makeup artist behind ‘Knot Your Average Bride’, to create stunning looks for both myself and my sister over the weekend. Initially discovered through Instagram, Zoe understood my vision from the start – I wanted a relaxed, classic aesthetic with a touch of bohemian flair. Working with her was like having another close friend by my side; she’s truly exceptional! While my hair was styled up for most of the day, my sister opted for a down-do with a gorgeous fishtail braid. As the evening festivities commenced, I took mine down and repurposed my hairpiece into a chic headband. To complete my look, I wore timeless CND Shellac Romantique on my nails and indulged in my favorite perfume, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle.
Groomsmen
The groomsmen’s attire was a stylish affair, with the trio donning navy suit trousers from Suit Supply, paired with brown shoes and matching braces and bow ties. Even my dad got in on the action, sporting a tie featuring the same iconic Liberty floral print as the groom. Meanwhile, our page boys – two adorable nephews – rocked navy shorts and coordinating braces from Zara Kids, completed with brown boat shoes and blue and white striped bow ties courtesy of River Island. Their miniature ensembles stole the show!
Bridesmaids
As I began planning my wedding, I knew I wanted my closest family members to stand out alongside me on my special day. My sister graciously accepted the role of maid of honour, and I chose a stunning off-the-shoulder white lace dress from Self Portrait, available through Net-a-Porter. The perfect accompaniment to her elegant attire was our niece’s adorable flower girl appearance, donning the breathtaking French Vanilla dress in Ivory from Tea Princess in Australia, paired with understated yet sophisticated nude Melissa by Jason Wu ballet flats.
The Flowers
Cidalia truly outdid herself with our wedding flowers, exceeding my expectations in every way. I provided her with inspiration pictures featuring a predominantly white palette with eucalyptus and greenery, which she expertly brought to life. My bridesmaids and I were thrilled to see the sea of white peonies that greeted us during Dalia’s visit to Cidalia before the big day. The button holes, naturally, complemented my dress and hairpiece with daisies, a theme that was beautifully carried forward into our bouquets. Our bouquets, in turn, featured a stunning combination of white peonies and daisies accompanied by rustic greenery. The church pew ends were adorned with crisp white hydrangeas, which we later repurposed to decorate the chairs for dinner. A standout feature was the magnificent flower garland on our wedding car, complete with gorgeous foliage and an assortment of white flowers, including peonies, hydrangeas, and gypsophila. This matched the garland on our welcome sign and the centrepiece on our table. Cidalia also custom-ordered the silver candelabras for our long table, which added a touch of elegance to our overall aesthetic. Our flower girl looked adorable carrying a wreath of green and white flowers adorned with fairy lights, courtesy of Vikki from The White Bulb on Etsy – I hope she treasures it. We were further blessed to capture some stunning wildflowers spotted by the perceptive Ana just down the road from our villa, which served as the perfect backdrop for our photos.
Your Photographer
Collaborating with photographer Ana Parker was a truly pleasant experience. Her exceptional skills behind the lens were matched only by her warm and welcoming demeanor, making us feel at ease as if we were spending the day with an old friend.
Your Filmmaker
The Algarve Wedding Films team, led by Alex, kindly provided us with stunning video and drone footage to commemorate our special day. We received a concise trailer as well as a longer 15-minute video showcasing the entire celebration, including speeches. Throughout the process, we appreciated their professional approach, which allowed us to fully focus on the wedding itself without feeling overwhelmed. What’s more, they managed to capture our joy and love in a way that will be treasured for years to come. Initially, my husband had some reservations about having a video, but after seeing the final product, he’s now a convert and can’t imagine celebrating without it.
The Details & Décor
One of the most memorable moments from our special day was when Lauren from Scoop Algarve brought out her Ice Cream Bike, serving a variety of flavors alongside the champagne and sangria during cocktail hour. The catering team from Algarve Fine Foods impressed us with their canapés, which perfectly complemented the ice cream and drinks. For dinner, we enjoyed a three-course meal served family-style on a long wooden table, featuring dishes like Algarvian sharing tapas, fillet of beef, chicken stuffed with sundried tomato and mozzarella, seabass with artichoke risotto, and pumpkin pasta. To satisfy our late-night cravings, pizza and mini burgers were a hit, while mini pastel de natas rounded out the evening’s treats. The food was truly exceptional.Meanwhile, Algarve Fine Foods’ bar team wowed us with their creative cocktails, ensuring that everyone’s glass was always full. Their impeccable service even extended to providing cozy blankets during the speeches to keep our guests warm and comfortable.As a nod to our Portuguese heritage, we replaced traditional place settings with wooden cut-out names from Etsy, paired with favors of mini bottles of Port and locally sourced Piri Piri oil featuring custom labels also from Etsy. We were thrilled to discover that Etsy was a treasure trove of unique finds, including the wooden signs for our entrance, seating plan templates, robes for getting ready, and the wooden signs on the back of our chairs.The festoon lighting we hung from the fences, trees, and pool added a touch of whimsy to our boho-chic theme. This was further enhanced by the stunning giant J&M sign and twinkling dance floor provided by Memory Box – Tom and Jess were an absolute delight to work with, also offering our Photo Booth. The rustic wooden features we incorporated, such as the long dining table, barrels for the cocktail bar, and cocktail tables wrapped in tablecloths tied with eucalyptus, beautifully merged our theme with the modern setting of the house.
The Honeymoon
Our journey began with booking our dreamy honeymoon getaway through Trailfinders, which led us to spend an incredible two and a half weeks exploring the wonders of South Africa and the Seychelles. The most unforgettable experience was undoubtedly the three-day safari adventure at Dulini Lodge, a truly once-in-a-lifetime escapade that left us in awe.
Memorable Moments
The memories of our special day still bring a smile to our faces. One of the most unforgettable moments came when Marc and I arrived at the house, revealing it to our loved ones for the first time since its construction. The gasps of surprise and delight were priceless. Among the many highlights was my energetic two-year-old nephew’s hilarious heckling during the speeches, an all-night dance party with my closest friends and family, and the fact that we all ended up in the pool by the final song – yes, I took the plunge and jumped into the water wearing my wedding dress!
The Cake
The pièce de résistance was, undoubtedly, our scrumptious vanilla cake, smothered in rich buttercream and sweet jam. To complement this delightful treat, we arranged an assortment of sugar flowers in perfect harmony with our floral theme’s whimsical charm.
In addition to the show-stopping cake, we created a ‘sweet bar’ by setting up wooden barrels alongside the dining table, adorned with a diverse selection of sweets shipped from the UK and displayed in glass jars for all to enjoy.
Advice For Other Couples
While it’s tempting to stress about every detail, it’s crucial to maintain a relaxed attitude. After all, things can change quickly, like when we spent months preparing for an outdoor event only to have the weather unexpectedly cool down. Having a trusted planner by your side can be a game-changer. They possess local knowledge and think of everything you might need, from noise permits to unforeseen circumstances. With their expertise, you can breathe easier and truly enjoy the process. Our experience was all the more enjoyable thanks to our planner’s tireless efforts and attention to detail.
Credit Where Credit Is Due
The Algarve wedding of Joanne and Marc was truly unforgettable, set amidst the picturesque backdrop of St Lukes Church. The talented team behind this joyous celebration included Ana Parker Photography capturing the special moments, Algarve Wedding Films bringing the story to life on video, and Dalia at Algarve Events expertly coordinating every detail. The couple’s attire was a highlight, with Jenny Packham’s ‘Nashville’ dress from The Pantiles Bride stunning Joanne, while Marc looked dashing in his Suit Supply suit. Little Willow & Co crafted the perfect hairpiece to complement Joanne’s style, and French Vanilla from Tea Princess designed a beautiful flower girl dress. Papier handled the invitations and orders of service with flair, while Cidalia via Algarve Events created breathtaking flowers. Suzel via Algarve Events also contributed a delectable cake, and Little Mess provided lively entertainment as the wedding band. Sophie Victoria Joy’s thoughtful seat names added a personal touch to the celebration, which featured a photobooth, dance floor, and special memory box curated by J&M Letters. Scoop Algarve brought sweet treats with their ice cream van, while DJ Rafa kept the party going. Mr Sax also made an appearance on saxophone, and Holly Rose Prints created beautiful bridal and bridesmaid robes. Painted By Katie designed lovely wooden signs, Aarlotte Designs crafted custom favour labels, and Sundae Printables offered a helpful seating plan template.