Lauren & Jamie | A Beautiful Destination Wedding in Portugal
Lauren & Jamie | A Beautiful Destination Wedding in Portugal
There's something so special about a destination wedding, and Lauren & Jamie's celebration in Portugal was no exception. From their love story that began on the other side of the world to the thoughtful little details that brought their wedding day together, their celebration was full of personality, beautiful styling and, most importantly, a lot of fun.
I had the pleasure of creating their bespoke wedding stationery, including personalised wedding menus finished with ribbon perfectly matched to their table styling. It's always lovely seeing how the smallest details can make such a difference to the overall look of a wedding.
Wedding photography: @visualstoriesco
A Love Story That Started in New Zealand
Lauren and Jamie's story began a little further from home, in New Zealand, where they were both spending time travelling.
They met on the very first day of Lauren's trip, during the final six weeks of Jamie's travels. With their adventures taking them in different directions, they spent five months apart before finally reuniting back in London.
Fast forward to their engagement, and Jamie had planned something rather special. He proposed at Port Lympne's Giraffe Lodge, with the sun setting and giraffes and zebras wandering in the background.
Lauren had always imagined getting engaged abroad, which made the surprise even more unexpected. It was a beautiful moment and the perfect beginning to their next chapter.
Saying 'I Do' in Portugal
When it came to choosing their wedding venue, Lauren and Jamie knew they wanted to celebrate abroad.
Portugal was their destination of choice, and with the help of their wedding planner, they visited three potential venues before finding the one.
As Lauren explained, one venue simply felt right. They could picture their wedding day unfolding there, which made the decision an easy one.
And that's often how you know you've found the perfect setting!
One of my favourite things about creating bespoke wedding stationery is being able to bring all those carefully considered details together.
For Lauren and Jamie's Portugal wedding, we focused on creating personalised wedding menus that complemented their table styling beautifully.
One particularly lovely detail was the ribbon. Lauren sent me a sample of the napkin they were using for their wedding tables, allowing me to source a ribbon that matched the colour perfectly.
It might sound like a small detail, but it's those thoughtful finishing touches that really bring a tablescape together.
Lauren shared:
"I loved that Megan let me send her our napkin to get the ribbon that matched exactly! That really elevated how our menus looked."
It's always so rewarding to hear feedback like this. Wedding stationery is about so much more than simply sharing information with your guests. It's an opportunity to introduce your personal style and create something that feels completely considered, right down to the finishing touches.
Whether it's matching ribbon to your napkins, choosing the perfect paper stock or creating a completely bespoke design, I love working with couples to make their wedding stationery feel like a natural extension of their day.
Bespoke Wedding Stationery & The Little Details
When asked about their favourite moment from the wedding, Lauren didn't hesitate. It was the party!
For Lauren and Jamie, having all their favourite people together on the dance floor was the highlight of their celebration.
They even flew out singer Fil Straughan, who kept the atmosphere going throughout the evening.
After all the months of planning, there's something wonderful about finally being able to relax, celebrate and dance the night away with the people you love most.
A Wedding Party to Remember
Having planned their own destination wedding, Lauren and Jamie had some brilliant advice for other couples.
Their biggest recommendation? Invest in a wedding planner, rather than relying solely on a venue coordinator.
Having someone dedicated to bringing everything together can make such a difference, particularly when you're planning a wedding overseas.
And their second piece of advice is one I think every couple should remember:
"Have the mentality that nothing can ruin your day once it comes."
It's easy to get caught up in making every detail perfect, but ultimately, your wedding is about celebrating with the people who matter most.
Lauren & Jamie's Advice for Couples Planning Their Wedding
Creating Your Own Bespoke Wedding Stationery
It was such a pleasure creating Lauren and Jamie's wedding menus and being a small part of their beautiful celebration in Portugal.
If you're planning your own destination wedding in Portugal, Italy or somewhere a little closer to home, I'd love to help bring your stationery ideas to life.
At Megan Alice Studio, I create bespoke, design-led wedding stationery, from invitations and details cards through to personalised menus, place cards and on-the-day finishing touches.
Every design is thoughtfully created to complement your wedding style, with those little details that make everything feel personal to you.
Explore my bespoke wedding stationery or get in touch to discuss your wedding ideas.