Anika and Jayven, Sintra, Portugal

Anika and Jayven’s nuptials in Portugal seamlessly united traditional Indian elements and contemporary aesthetics to create an unforgettable celebration. Planned by WeddingSutra Favorite – Amore London, this wedding took place in a wonderful historic setting and bride Anika takes us through the festivities which were captured beautifully in motion by another WeddingSutra Favorite – Shaadi Videography below.

How We Met
We actually met during our first year at university back in 2010. Hailing from Rickmansworth & Birmingham respectively, the thought of starting life in a new city was an exciting prospect. After a few university socials and nights out with our friends, Jayven eventually plucked up the courage to ask me out on a date.

The Proposal
The proposal occurred in March 2017. Jayven had organised a luxury weekend break for us at The Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard, London. Following an amazing evening full of food, drink and laughter, upon our return to our hotel room, he got down on one knee and I said yes!

Wedding Venue
As is often the case when organising a wedding, picking a location was one of the most difficult tasks that we would face. We came to Amore knowing we wanted a European destination with both warm weather and beautiful surroundings but were unsure where. They presented options to us across Italy and Portugal and we decided to visit Portugal.

The Amore team were extremely efficient at scouting the best locations and we knew from our very first meeting that Portugal would be the perfect destination. Sintra provided the perfect blend of culture, luxury and that balance of feeling far away from home, yet only a short flight away.

Wedding Planning
Prior to starting the wedding preparations, we were in two minds as to whether to enlist the help of a Wedding Planner. From our very first meeting with The Amore Collection, we knew that not only would we be dealing with an extremely professional team, but that the service that they could offer would be invaluable in trying to ensure the wedding went as smoothly as possible.

The Amore team were fantastic from start to finish. From the pre-con meetings held in London prior to the wedding all the way through to the final meeting the day after it had all finished, the team were always available to answer any questions, fix any issues and ensure that every part of the journey was as seamless as possible. Without their help, it would not have been possible to organise the wedding to the high standard that it was.

Wedding Functions: A note from Amore London

Sangeet
Anika loved the idea of peacock colours for the sangeet. Something fun and vibrant to go with the mood of the event. The earthy tones of the Forte provided the perfect backdrop for this colour palette to stand out. When designing an event, we always work to ensure the theme and colour scheme compliment the interiors of the venue. Forte da Cruz has a marquee with sea views and so we decided to combine the traditional Indian ambience of a sangeet with the more western feel of the location. We hung brightly coloured parasols from the ceiling transported from London, added raw silk cushions sourced from India for a pop of colour against white, contemporary lounge furniture and had peacock themed centerpieces rather than more ethnic accessories and lanterns.

Wedding
Anika also loves nature and neutral tones along with greenery. The mandap ceremony took place at the Nuncio Garden at Penha Longa, which is an ancient garden dating back to the 16th century. The garden is set low amidst lush greenery and so worked perfectly for an enchanted woodland themed mandap. The garden has a pond in the centre and guests were seated on either side. The reflection of the mandap in the pond, with our bride and groom sitting beneath is just picture perfect, and definitely one of our favourite shots.

Reception
For the reception we brought Gatsby glamour to the Ballroom at Penha Longa. Geometric black and gold art déco patterns were combined with beautiful ivory flowers, feathers and pearls to give the evening a soft, romantic touch. Our wedding took place at the same time as the Football World Cup. Us British love our football and it just so happened that our wedding reception clashed with England’s semi-final match against Croatia. There was a real concern that guests would arrive late to the reception or be sneakily watching the match on their phones. Amore had a last minute rush to arrange screens and change the schedule of the event around the all important match. To the guests’ surprise and delight, our entire Drinks Reception was centered around the football. It was definitely the most memorable and unique cocktail hour Amore have organizedand I must say, it was a surreal feeling to be surrounded by our nearest and dearest all cheering for England during a world cup semifinal on the day of our wedding reception whilst dressed in black tie.

Advice For Couples from Amore London
Allow yourself enough time to plan a destination wedding and be patient. Suppliers in Europe can be relaxed in their approach but also are not as familiar with Indian weddings. It is also important to understand costs associated with a destination wedding in Europe and be realistic with the budget. Hiring a Wedding Planner that understands both the Indian culture as well as the wedding industry in Europe would help you considerably. We are proud to be accredited by the Portuguese Embassy and the Official Portuguese Tourism Board and so can definitely help any couple looking to plan a wedding in Portugal.

The Wedding Makers
Venues: Forte da Cruz (Sangeet), Penha Longa Resort, A Ritz Carlton Hotel (Wedding & Reception)
Wedding Planning & Design: Amore London – The Amore Collection
Photography: Osman Ghani for The Amore Collection
Videography: Shaadi Videography for The Amore Collection

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