This Colorful Family-Centric Wedding Took Place in a 17th-Century Lisbon Palace

Truth be told, Maria Enrica Mazzi and Giuseppe Laquidara aren’t too concerned about formalities. After dating for over a dozen years, the duo seamlessly transitioned from partners to fiancés. As Maria Enrica explains, “We did not consider engagement as an important or formal step.” But when it came to planning their June 19, 2021 nuptials, the couple had a laser-focus on their big day: A simple-yet-special affair that highlighted their unique love story. “I already knew that we wanted to have just our closest friends and family members,” the bride shares. “We were looking for something classy, but top-class.”

To help turn their dream day into a reality, the couple enlisted Ivnna Jahate of The Wedding Wonderland to spearhead the planning process. In fact, it was Ivnna who recommended Palácio Marquês da Fronteira in Lisbon, Portugal for the couple’s venue. “We [loved] the fact that it’s a real 17th-century palace,” Maria Enrica gushes. “[We also liked] the white blue Portuguese tiles everywhere and [the] lush gardens.”

Hosting a destination wedding—not to mention one during the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic—is arguably no easy feat. However, the couple says their 20-person party went off without a hitch—and all thanks to their planner. “Ivnna and her team understood our vision at first glance,” the bride shares. Plus, they [were] always keen to listen to our point of view, but extremely capable of showing [what our day] could be.”

Read on to get an intimate look at the colorful nuptials, as planned by The Wedding Wonderland and photographed by Alice Vicente.

The couple leaned into their wedding’s location with a color palette of pink, blue, and white that’s a fun play on traditional Portuguese tiles. An invitation suite from In Love Weddings gave a wonderful sneak peek into the colorful wedding.

It’s no wonder why Maria Enrica says choosing the venue was the easiest part of the planning process: With lush gardens, tiled accents,and ornate details woven throughout, Palácio Marquês da Fronteira provided the perfect backdrop to say, “I do.”

The bride wowed in a colorful silk gown that she said chose her. “I wanted something with my favorite flowers, peonies and roses,” she  shares. “The surname of my mother-in-law is Rose. We lost her recently; it was kind of a symbol representing her, as she was with us in that special moment.” 

Prior to the ceremony, Maria Enrica shared a sweet moment with her daughter, who was her bridesmaid.

Meanwhile, the groom looked dapper in a custom Portuguese suit. “​​He was simply gorgeous,” the bride recalls. “Colors ranged from blue to pale green; classy but with a touch of unique style.

Local florist Decoflorália delivered a lush arch filled with pink and blue blooms. The florals perfectly complemented the palace's architecture.

As guests approached the ceremony, they could pick up party favors provided by Castelbel.

The bride was escorted down the aisle by her dad and her daughter. “Meeting my dad and his profound emotion [was so memorable],” Maria Enrica shares.

For the couple, it was important to have a ceremony that was incredibly personal. Not only did Maria Enrica and Giuseppe recite personalized vows—and their four kids even shared special words—but the wedding’s 20 guests also participated in the festivities. “We opted for a very special format for bearing the ring to the spouses,” the bride adds. “The rings were passed through the hands of every single guest, who shared their happy feelings and joy. It was really a touching, special moment.”

At the end of the ceremony, the couple sealed their lasting love with a kiss.

After the ceremony, the bride showed off her silk shawl, which was packed with sentimental meaning. “I decided to have my kids and a few iconic symbols [represented in] the silk shawl I was wearing,” the bride shares. “I decided to design it and have someone in Italy print it. I had them all with me, and this will remain my special memory of that wonderful day.”

Before dinner, photographer Alice Vicente captured some sweet portraits of the newlyweds and their family around the grounds.

“At the reception, we had a soft tone palette paired with the classic white and blue from the Portuguese tiles pattern,” Maria Enrica says. “All linens were custom made.” Dusty pink accents brought in a rosy touch to the plates, linens, and glassware.

Though the couple’s planner spearheaded the menu—”everything was superb and delicious,”  Maria Enrica notes—they enlisted Sofia Cakes and Cookies to create a dreamy cake that mimicked the venue’s blue and white tiles.

Since Maria Enrica and Giuseppe are passionate about art and music—the groom is actually a pianist—it was only fitting that their festivities ended with a mini-concert. “We had a live music performance from a renowned Portuguese artist Teresa Salgueiro,” the bride says. “[It was] something unique for us.”

Looking back on their special day, the happy couple says their wedding was exactly what they envisioned. But, for them, the key to turning their dream day into a reality was to have a great team by their side. “We were far away and we needed to be sure everything would be managed properly because we are in another country,” says Maria Enrica. “Working with the right people is essential for peace of mind.”