Some love stories travel far before finding their perfect place. For Emily Oliveira and Marcello Iliescu, Portugal became the meeting point between two Brazilian lives and the country where their story truly began.
On 21 September 2024, the couple celebrated their wedding surrounded by nature, history and meaningful personal details at Quinta de S. Gens, a romantic estate located near the historic town of Ourém in central Portugal. Their wedding celebration brought together family and friends from different places to share a day filled with emotion, laughter and unforgettable moments.
Between elegant details, cultural traditions and a joyful surprise during the reception, Emily and Marcello’s wedding day perfectly reflects how modern weddings can be both deeply personal and beautifully authentic.
How did you meet?
“We are a Luso-Brazilian couple: Brazil lives in our hearts, but Portugal holds the roots of our story. It was here that our life together began.
Emily was born in São Paulo and moved to Lisbon in 2019 with the dream of completing a master’s degree. Marcello was born in Rio de Janeiro and moved with his family to Guimarães in 2008.
Although we had both been living in Portugal for several years, we only met in 2021 in Setúbal. From that moment, everything developed naturally and we quickly realised we were building something truly special together.”
How was your first contact with Quinta de S. Gens?
“Our first contact with Quinta de S. Gens happened through the Zankyou platform. Even before visiting, we were impressed by the photos and the description of the wedding venue.
But when we visited the quinta in person, the impact was even greater. We honestly don’t even remember the other venues we had seen before. It truly felt like love at first sight.
Beyond the spectacular beauty of the space, we were welcomed with such warmth and professionalism that we immediately knew this was the perfect place to celebrate our wedding.”
A historic wedding venue surrounded by vineyards and forest
Located near the historic town of Ourém in central Portugal, Quinta de S. Gens is a wedding venue in Portugal where history, nature and elegance come together to create a truly enchanting atmosphere.
The estate is surrounded by vineyards and extensive forest landscapes that offer a peaceful countryside setting, ideal for couples dreaming of a romantic wedding in Portugal. One of its most distinctive features is the manor house dating back to the eighteenth century, complemented by architectural elements from the seventeenth century that give the property its unique historic charm.
Guests can access the gardens through a charming tunnel that leads to a fountain and a small lake surrounded by centuries old cork trees. These natural surroundings create a beautiful setting for outdoor wedding ceremonies, cocktail receptions and wedding photography.
Another aspect that makes Quinta de S. Gens particularly special is the exclusive use of the estate for each event, allowing couples to celebrate their wedding day privately while enjoying the entire property with their guests.
Its location near Fátima, and between the cities of Leiria and Tomar, also makes it easily accessible for guests travelling from different regions of Portugal.
What type of service did you choose?
“We reserved the quinta for both the event and the civil ceremony, which allowed the entire wedding day to take place in the same location.
This made everything much more relaxed for us and for our guests, who could fully enjoy the wedding celebrations, surrounded by nature and the beauty of the estate.”
Tell us about your wedding day
For Emily and Marcello, the natural beauty of the wedding venue was enhanced by the floral arrangements created by Filipe Pereira from Antese Floral, which added elegance and softness to the celebration.
Emily wore a timeless and sophisticated wedding dress by Rosa Clará, complemented with accessories from the same brand together with meaningful heirloom pieces belonging to the groom’s mother. Marcello chose a refined and elegant suit by Massimo Dutti that perfectly matched the atmosphere of the day.
The wedding rings were chosen at Ourivesaria Antero, adding another meaningful detail to the celebration.
The wedding was beautifully captured by photographer Leandro Pereira, while filmmaker Ivo Louro documented the emotions and joyful atmosphere of the day. Emily’s bridal beauty look was created by makeup artist Filipa Sequeira.
Guests also praised the wedding stationery created by Etigui and the original wedding favours from Meia Dúzia, which added a distinctive Portuguese touch to the celebration.
The culinary experience was another highlight of the wedding reception. Many guests commented on the quality of the food and the beauty of the surroundings, making the wedding celebration even more memorable.
Is there any interesting story about the couple that you would like to share?
“Two months before the wedding Marcello accepted a job opportunity in Belgium. As you can imagine everything suddenly became very hectic because there were still many things to organise for the big day.
Because of that our first dance became the most complicated part of the planning. We simply did not have time to rehearse anything.
So we decided to improvise something symbolic for us, a dance known as Hava Nagila.
It surprised many of our guests. And since we know we are not particularly talented dancers it ended up being the perfect solution.
In the end it became one of the most joyful and meaningful moments of the wedding day, both culturally and emotionally, shared with our family and closest friends.”
A celebration filled with emotion and authenticity
Emily and Marcello’s wedding at Quinta de S. Gens beautifully reflects how love stories can grow across countries and cultures. Surrounded by vineyards, forest landscapes and centuries-old architecture, their wedding celebration in Portugal brought together family traditions, meaningful personal details and joyful moments shared with friends who travelled from different places to be part of their special day.
From the emotional family photographs included in the decoration to the spontaneous Hava Nagila dance that surprised their guests, every detail reflected the couple’s personalities and their journey together. It was a romantic wedding in Portugal that perfectly balanced elegance, authenticity and joy, proving that the most unforgettable weddings are those that truly tell a couple’s story.
Wedding Suppliers
Espaço/Catering: Quinta de St Gens
Vestido: Rosa Clará
Acessórios: Rosa Clará e acervo pessoal da mãe do noivo
Fato do Noivo: Massimo Dutti
Aliança: Ourivesaria Antero de Leiria
Flores: Filipe Pereira (Antese Floral)
Fotógrafo: Leandro Pereira
Vídeo: Ivo Louro
Maquilhagem: Filipa Sequeira
Impressos: Etigui
Lembrancinhas: Meia Duzia
Decoração: Acervo pessoal fotos de casamentos antigos da nossa família
FAQs
- Where is Quinta de S. Gens located? Quinta de S. Gens is located near the historic town of Ourém in central Portugal, close to Fátima and between Leiria and Tomar. Its countryside setting surrounded by vineyards and forest landscapes, makes it a beautiful destination for romantic weddings.
- What makes Quinta de S. Gens a unique wedding venue? The estate combines historic architecture with nature. With buildings dating from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, beautiful gardens, a fountain and a lake surrounded by cork trees, the venue offers a timeless and elegant atmosphere.
- Can couples celebrate both the ceremony and reception at Quinta de S. Gens?
Yes. Couples can organise both the ceremony and the reception in the same location, allowing the entire wedding day to take place in one venue and creating a relaxed experience for guests. - What type of weddings is Quinta de S. Gens suitable for? The venue is ideal for romantic countryside weddings, destination weddings in Portugal and celebrations that combine nature, history and exclusivity.
- How can couples personalise their wedding decoration? Adding meaningful details such as family photographs, heirlooms or cultural traditions can make the celebration more personal and emotional, just as Emily and Marcello did during their wedding.
- What moments often become the most memorable at a wedding?
Often, the most memorable moments are spontaneous ones. For Emily and Marcello, their improvised Hava Nagila dance became one of the highlights of the evening, bringing joy and cultural meaning to their celebration.
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