A breathtaking wedding at Swan Lake - Aimee and Christy

V&V: What made you decide on a destination wedding, and why Portugal? 

Aimee: I got engaged on Christmas Day 2019 and agreed that I would wait a “few” months before I started looking. I had always dreamt of a Greek destination wedding, envisioning a holiday celebration with our family and friends, beyond a single day. Then I stumbled across Swan Lake on instagram which instantly shifted my choice to Portugal - the venue seemed almost AI generated, it looked too good to be true! By the 5th January I was deep into discussion with Tania and Natalie about making my dream day a reality. 

V&V: How did you find the venue and why was it the perfect venue for you? 

Aimee: As I browsed destination venues on Instagram, Veil & Veu messaged me and asked if I had ever considered Portugal. Initially, it seemed too good to be true, and I was somewhat skeptical about the proposal and reality of this place. However, the uniqueness of their offer stood out, and at that moment, I couldn’t find anything else that could compare—it surpassed all my expectations. I agreed to meet Veil & Veu at the Wedding show at the Birmingham NEC and from there, I knew it was the venue for us.  

V&V: Did you see the venue before booking?

Aimee: Unfortunately, like the whole world, things hit a snag with COVID, making it tricky for us to go out to Portugal to visit the venue. By August 2020, after binge-watching other wedding videos and scrolling through photos non-stop, we went ahead and booked our wedding for August 2022.

V&V: Veil & Véu put together an inclusive package, did you like this? Did the package include everything you wanted?

Aimee: Once more, the package seemed almost too good to be true—attention to detail, a ton of inclusions, and knowledge that was top-notch. It blew away all the other proposals I'd looked at for different destination weddings. Our guests still rave about how fantastic everything was, especially the personal touches from Tania and Natalie being there every step of the way. I've even got pics of Natalie lending a hand with Christy's buttonhole – because, you know, 9 groomsmen couldn’t do it, so Nat stepped in!

V&V: What did you think about the hair and makeup artists in Portugal?

Aimee: Absolutely lovely, so accommodating - nothing was ever a problem. Great communication / translation too! 

V&V: How did you find the planning process? A lot of brides find planning stressful, do you believe a destination wedding is different?

Aimee: Honestly, I enjoy planning things, and I'll admit I'm a bit of a control freak, so the whole process was right up my street. Veil and Veu provide a genuinely unique service, especially since Tania and Natalie both married at two of the venues they work with. Their knowledge and experience were super helpful in guiding me through everything. They helped me prioritise and also helped me achieve the specific personal things I’d hoped for. 

Of course getting married abroad isn’t always the easiest for guests dependent on airports etc but this didn’t feel too stressful from my perspective. I just gave clear information on flights, transport links etc via a wedding website that I’d created and everyone seemed to be fine. 

V&V: What was different about your wedding from weddings in the UK?

Aimee: My wedding day is filled with the best memories. The venue, something I'd never find in the UK, had prestigious decor and attention to detail. Drinks and food kept flowing all day—endless surprises had everyone in awe. The videos and photos captured incredible moments; our photographer stayed until around 1am, which would be very rare in the UK. Not forgetting the party continued until 4am! 

Beyond organising the day, Tania and Natalie went above and beyond, helping with everything. From guiding us on accommodation and pre-wedding celebrations to arranging a fantastic post-wedding BBQ and pool party for all our guests at the hotel. The experience for all, even the kids who got to see the "princess tower" and go in the cool indoor pool and jacuzzi, was unforgettable. All made possible by Tania and Natalie's connections and working relationships.

V&V: What were the stand out moments from your wedding day?

Aimee: The cake-cutting moment was, without a doubt, the highlight for me. I can't put into words how I felt when I first saw it; I just knew it was perfect. Though I felt a bit nervous leading up to it, on the day, I absolutely loved every minute of the experience. The photos we captured during that moment are incredibly special.

V&V: Did you find it beneficial to have a wedding planner?

 Aimee: Yes, having a wedding planner was incredibly beneficial. Tania and Natalie's expertise made the entire process smoother and more enjoyable.

V&V: Did you find that your wedding provided good value for money?

Aimee: As for value for money, our wedding provided exceptional value – the experiences, attention to detail, and memories created were priceless.

Ready to begin planning your dream Portugal wedding? Let’s chat!