An intimate elopement rooted in tradition and elegance

A Secret Ceremony and a Royal Afternoon

Michaela and Caolan envisioned a secret escape—a way to exchange the stress of a large traditional wedding in Ireland for a deeply personal journey in Portugal. While they sought intimacy, they refused to compromise on the traditions they held dear: a sacred Catholic mass and an atmosphere of pure elegance.

Their day began in a quaint, historic church in the heart of Sintra. The stone walls echoed with the ethereal, angelic voice of a live singer, creating a soul-stirring soundtrack for their private mass. As the ceremony concluded, the sacred atmosphere shifted into one of pure joy. In the center of Sintra’s old town, the couple celebrated with a lively champagne toast and cake-cutting at a magnificent Moorish fountain. Amidst the cheers of passing well-wishers, the air was filled with laughter and the spray of champagne, marking a joyful transition from the sacred to the celebratory.

The romance reached its peak as a vintage car whisked them away to the Palácio de Queluz. Against the regal backdrop of the palace, they shared an intimate reading of their vows. Afterward, the royal gardens became the stage for an extensive photoshoot. In her stunning gown, Michaela looked every bit a princess from the palace’s golden era, perfectly embodying the royal heritage of the grounds.

The evening concluded in the refined luxury of a five-star historical hotel for a celebratory dinner. Michaela and Caolan’s day serves as a perfect reminder: your wedding day is the ultimate time to treat yourselves. When you focus on what truly matters, the result is nothing short of magic.

testimonial

Words from the couple

We honestly cannot thank Ernesta enough for everything she did for us while planning our intimate, secret elopement in Estoril, Portugal. Nothing was ever too much.

From the very beginning, we really didn’t have a clue what we were doing, and Ernesta guided us through every single step with such care and expertise. The effort she put into every detail was incredible, but what stood out most was her handling of the church communication, the language barriers, and all of the important paperwork. That alone was priceless and took a huge weight off our shoulders. But Ernesta certainly does think of all the small things (which all add up to be the big things!)

Ernesta even read at our ceremony, which was a lovely touch. 

We had several video calls throughout the planning process which instantly put us at ease, and when we arrived early in Portugal, we were lucky enough to meet Ernesta a few times in person too. There’s so much flexibility in terms of style and vision, but Ernesta is brilliant at offering guidance and suggestions when you need them. She has an amazing list of trusted vendors to choose from and takes care of all the communication, which makes the whole experience feel seamless, especially for an international wedding.

On the day itself, Ernesta was absolutely amazing. Nothing was ever a problem. She allowed the day to flow so smoothly while keeping everyone calm, reassured, and exactly where they needed to be. We were able to fully enjoy the moment knowing everything was in safe hands.

Thank you so much, Ernesta. We are beyond grateful and would wholeheartedly recommend you to anyone considering a destination or intimate wedding.

Lots of love,

Caolán and Michaela (Mr & Mrs O’Neill) 🤍🥰

Photos by Fábio Santos photography

I’m Ernesta. Your planner and wedding wizard. And I am here to help you have your most memorable day in Portugal.