A Charming Family Wedding

 

A Charming Family Wedding

Alexandria and Josh chose a wedding theme of love and family. Their European history was beautifully woven together with a West Coast backyard venue. This celebration was a family affair, and the care that went into every detail made this Portuguese affair glorious. There were lush flowers, a wonderfully lit reception tent, vintage gold candle holders, and perfectly set long tables.

Alexandria is excited to share how it all came together. “Our wedding theme was “home” and the roots that led us there. We held our wedding at the property I grew up in, 5 acres of farmland in Saanich. As a little girl, my dream was to get married in front of the pond and willow trees my dad planted when I was a baby. They were tiny then and grew up with me!

Originally home to my parents and father-in-law is the Azores, Portugal, so we incorporated Portuguese elements from traditional azulejos tiles for the guest gifts and served my dad’s homemade Portuguese wine. My mother-in-law’s antique door was used to collect cards in the envelope slot, and we used my mom’s sewing machine and quilting blocks to make our guest-signed quilt.

Hydrangeas grow wild throughout the islands of our heritage, so we used them in our florals, including the ceremony arch, the sweetheart table, and cedar and hydrangea garlands down the reception tables. I went traditional with the bouquets, making a teardrop shape for myself and smaller ones for the bridesmaids. The groomsmen and ushers wore traditional socks with Azulejos designs and carried flasks with the same design.

For the ceremony, we walked down the rustic paver pathway “aisle” to the tune of traditional Portuguese guitar players playing Fado. The ceremony area was adorned with hydrangea petals, symbolizing the flower carpets in Portugal. We exchanged our vows and planted a fig tree mixed with the soils of our parents’ and our homes, symbolizing the joining of our families.

We held the reception in a beautiful, clear outdoor tent in full view of my parent’s backyard—all hard word of my Dad! There was a collection of European artisanal cheeses, followed by trays and trays of buffet-style delicious Portuguese food, seafood trays, and delicious desserts. Our wedding cake was a naked-tiered passionfruit (traditional Portuguese flavor) adorned with figs and grapes. We celebrated the night away by drinking from the open bar, smoking cigars, laughing, and dancing the night away. It was truly the best day of our lives!”

We love that everyone had an important part in this charming family wedding, also a West Coast fusion inspiration! Congratulations, Alexandria and Josh!