Inside a fashion designer’s Portugal wedding

“We met a few years back in Saint-Tropez during a big lunch with friends at Le Club 55,” says Ana Teixeira de Sousa, the fashion designer behind the label Sophia Kah, of meeting her future husband, Philippe Schmitz. “Some months later, a mutual friend of ours organised a New Year’s trip to St. Moritz in Switzerland and that’s where all the magic happened.” Philippe proposed to Ana during a holiday in Thailand. “It was very special. Every October we travel to a sunny place and one of our favourite places is Yao Noi in Thailand. We went to a private island, where an amazing beach barbecue was being organised under the stars. It was magical.”

Ana describes her wedding theme as “a magical garden.” She adds: “I’d also say effortless garden chic with colonial touches. We wanted our guests to enter on a journey from the moment they stepped inside the Mateus Palace. All details were thought through from the music and colours to the surprises.”

Ana used a wedding planner but says she was “one hundred per cent” involved with the styling of the wedding. “I had a great wedding planner, who dreamt up, with me, every single detail with energy and enthusiasm. Most of the styling was done by me.”

Scroll through to see more from this stylish wedding.

The pair wed in Douro Valley in Portugal, a world heritage-listed wine region. “I started the morning with a bit of stress because there was some last-minute seating to organise,” says Ana. “Then I went for a relaxing massage around 1pm, and at 2pm I started getting ready with all my bridesmaids.”

Ana wore a spectacular cape and French veil with her dress, which she designed herself. “My dress took months to produce,” she says. “I started the design process with a single idea: I wanted my dress to be effortless, glamorous and sumptuous. Then I took a lot of inspiration from Greek goddesses – that’s where the beautiful cape came from.”

Outside the 18th-century Baroque palace, Casa de Mateus.

A vintage pink Pontiac matches the bridesmaids’ dresses.

Peonies woven with greenery adorn the church. “We used roses, peonies and a lot of greenery,” Ana adds.

Blushing bridesmaids in Sophia Kah Signature. “I had seven bridesmaids and three flower girls. All my bridesmaids wore my Signature Sophia Kah dresses.”

The couple kneel before the altar inside the palace’s private church.

The bride’s sister, Ines Teixeira de Sousa, with a flower girl.

Rose petals rain down on the newlyweds.

Friends and family from around the globe arrive at the palace.

The silk georgette gown is delicately embroidered with jasmine thread.

“I wanted my make-up to look very natural with a focus on my eyes. I tried a few different make-up artists and picked the one that brought out the best in me in a natural way. For my hair, I wanted something simple and cool and decided on a deconstructed braid.”

“We built an impressive magical garden with a massive wishing tree in the middle,” says Ana.

A mystical light installation captures the mood of the celebration.

The tablescapes were decadent and used colourful florals to ground them.

Flickering candles hang above tables overhung with lush foliage.

Ana’s emerald and diamond earrings were a gift from her grandmother. “My accessories were very simple. I wore a twin-set of a diamond and emerald bracelet and earrings produced by a jeweller friend in Portugal. For shoes I went for Jimmy Choo.”

The 260 guests dine and party into the night within the enchanted forest.

Ana in her second dress of the night.

Dancing the night away.Click Here: cheap Wallpape