A Three-Day Destination Wedding in Portugal

Jeannette and Taylor

Seven-thirty a.m.: That's the time Taylor Muckerman and Jeannette Tavares went to bed the morning after their Saturday-night wedding. "At one point I was on the dance floor, and I realized nobody was there," Taylor says. "I was wondering where everyone was." Turns out, they were refueling with the 2:30 a.m. second dinner, a spread that included Portuguese steak sandwiches and charcuterie.

But let's rewind to Friday, when the Washington, D.C.-based couple—she's a luxury-event planner; he works for an investing website—welcomed 209 close friends and family from near and far to the Six Senses Douro Valley resort for a three-day wedding weekend, beginning with a traditional barbecue and live music.

Jeannette grew up in Virginia (in Fairfax Station—coincidentally, the same town Taylor lived in as a young child), but her parents are from Portugal. Over the nine years the duo were together before tying the knot, they visited many times; the country "helped form the foundation of our love," says Jeannette. This deep affection was apparent throughout the weekend, and Jeannette was careful to incorporate it into everything, from the color palette (green honored her family's farming history) to the locally made table linens.

The celebration followed its own rhythm. After exchanging personal vows in a nonreligious ceremony led by their neighbor, the newlyweds broke into their first dance on the spot, to a live acoustic version of the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand." During cocktail hour, flamenco guitarists played while guests snacked on grilled octopus, suckling pig, and prosciutto before being surprised with an impromptu father-daughter turn. For dinner, two long, custom-made tables created a communal vibe as guests enjoyed a multicourse feast paired with Douro Valley wines.

The party really got started with a 25-minute fireworks show, and it didn't end until sunrise. "We would have stayed longer, but the hotel had to set up for brunch," Jeannette says. And after a little shut-eye, the group caravanned to her father's town of Lebução to honor family once more—with a Catholic ceremony in the same stone church where her grandmother got married.

Watch Jeannette and Taylor's Wedding Film by The Amazing Rabbit

The Destination

The wedding took place in Portugal's Douro Valley, a verdant area in the north of the country known for producing world-class wines.

The Stationery Suite

The Portugal-inspired suite by Haute Papier had envelope liners that recalled the olive trees and tiles from Lebução, where Jeannette's father grew up; the copper was a nod to the pots traditionally used to cook over fire.

The Bridal Bouquet

Jeannette's bouquet was a gorgeous mix of peonies, hellebore, viburnum, lysimachia, Italian ruscus, David Austin roses, delphinium, and dahlias.

The Bridesmaids

The bridal party—made up of Jeannette's sister, two cousins, and her best friend—wore midnight-blue Halston gowns.

Serious Booties

The bride wore these lace open-toe booties from Dolce & Gabbana for the ceremony. She changed into metallic mules by Giuseppe Zanotti Design for the reception.

The Flower Girl

Flower girl and goddaughter Lilliana wore a Foque dress and a flower crown.

What's in a Nickname

"Big Dipper" and "Little Dipper" have been the couple's nicknames for each other since traveling in Spain in 2010. "We continue to be each other's North Star," Jeannette says. The nicknames were calligraphed onto the envelopes that housed the couple's vows.

Copper swallows, which lined the dinner tables, symbolize values such as home, family, love, and loyalty. "The migratory bird returns to the same place to nest, and is said to have one partner throughout its life," she says.

You Make Now Kiss the Bride

The couple shares their first kiss as husband and wife in front of a stunning backdrop of white limonium and roses from Ecuador.

But First, Dancing

Eschewing tradition, Jeannette and Taylor surprised guests by breaking out into their first dance immediately after the ceremony.

Delicious Appetizers

Cocktail hour featured Portuguese bites like alheira, a type of local sausage—served here with an apple puree. There was also suckling pig, regional cheeses, grilled octopus, and pata negra prosciutto.

Friends from Work

Photographer Abby Jiu and her husband Jamey Sunshine. Abby was one of 10 members of the tight-knit Washington, D.C., wedding industry who attended the wedding.

Dinner Time

Guests feasted alfresco, at two long tables lined with acrylic chairs and custom couches covered in fabric by a Portuguese artist.

The Place Settings

Some 65 of the wedding guests were from Portugal, so the dinner menu was printed in both English and Portuguese. Napkin rings were on-palette in shades of green and brown.

The Favors

Among the Friday-night favors: cocktail kits with ingredients to make Moscow mules and gin and tonics, plus pouches with sewing kits, Band-Aids, and other emergency items.

For Some Beauty Sleep

Guests received custom eye masks for their pre-wedding siesta on Saturday. "After all," says Jeannette, "we had to prepare our guest to dance until dawn!"

The Wedding Cake

Rather than slices, guests received mini stacked versions of the three-flavored cake by T Bakes, which included double chocolate, lime-scented chiffon, and lemon-scented chiffon with Madagascar-vanilla cream.

A Special Treat

As dinner wrapped up, Jeannette (in her Romona Keveža reception dress) and Taylor ushered everyone onto the dance floor, where they were greeted by a 25-minute fireworks show over the Douro River.

Sources

Location and catering, Six Senses Douro Valley

Event planning and design, Jeannette Tavares of Evoke

Flowers, styling, and photo assistance, Brancoprata

Photography, Abby Jiu Photography

Videography, The Amazing Rabbit

Officiant, Larry Gamache

Stationery, Haute Papier

Calligraphy for Invitations, Envelope Liners, and Custom Designs, Written Word Calligraphy

Day-of calligraphy, Laura Hooper Calligraphy

Cake and custom cookies, T Bakes

Ceremony music, Tamin, Rui Alves, João Cabrita, and Alexandre Cabrita

DJ, Nuno Franco

Rentals, Saiotes & Etc.; Larforma

Bride's gown, Berta

Bride's reception gown, Romona Keveža from Carine's Bridal Atelier

Bride's accessories, Ascot Diamonds engagement ring and wedding band; Dolce & Gabbana ceremony shoes; Giuseppe Zanotti reception shoes

Hair, João Pereria

Makeup, Ana Pereira Atelier

Bridesmaids' dresses, Halston

Flower-girl dress, Foque

Flower-boy outfit, Artesanía Amaya

Menswear, The Black Tux

Groom's bow tie, 14th & Union

Groom's wedding band, Ascot Diamonds

Lighting and sound, Watt & Light

Transportation, Anetours

Production details, Revolution Event Design and Production

Mother of the bride's dress, Monique Lhuillier

Save-the-date envelope calligraphy, Meant to be Calligraphy