“It was light-hearted, fun and there were definitely a few tears during the vows we wrote for each other.”
The couple: Lakelyn Wylie & Paul Rochford
Length of engagement: 22 months | Wedding Date: 25th August 2017
Wedding venue: Os Agostos, Algarve | Wedding Photographer: Mar A Sul Visual Stories
Wedding Coordinator: Glamour Algarve Weddings
We met… we knew each other in passing in Saskatoon, but fatefully our holidays brought us together in Albufeira, Portugal. Lakelyn was backpacking around Europe and Paul was there for his friends stag do. They met up and the rest is history! That is why we decided to get married in Portugal, where we fell in love.
Our proposal… happened at home. Lakelyn came home late from work and her second love, our dog Bugsy, was wearing a hoodie asking the question “Will you marry my dad?”. It was the cutest thing ever!
My hair and makeup… my step-sister is a makeup artist and was able to do my makeup that morning. We used all SeneGence products which are waterproof and last all day. Best purchase ever was my LipSense, not having to reapply lipstick once all day was a game changer! Our local hairdresser (Hairstyling from Jar) did an above and beyond amazing job on me and the bridesmaids. We wanted braids of all styles, with a messy boho look finished with baby’s breath.
My dress… was made by a Canadian designer; the Carroll by Truvelle. It was purchased at Delica Bridal in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I felt absolutely ethereal in it!
His suit… most of his outfit was RW&Co with a few finishing touches from Etsy.
Our ceremony… was completely customised to us. As a couple, we went through different types of ceremonies – religious, non religious, humanist – and took the best bits from each to pull something together that reflected us. My bridesmaid Lindsay read “How Love is like Owning a Dog” by Taylor Mali. It was one of the highlights of the ceremony. The ceremony was done beautifully by Paul’s uncle David. It was light-hearted, fun and there were definitely a few tears during the vows we wrote for each other.
Our wedding theme/colours… we really wanted to build off of the ambiance of the venue. Os Agostos was just so beautiful as it was, so the focus was on a lot of green, whites and taupe, with a splash of blue to bring everything together. It was a very chilled out vibe with a lot of nature incorporated. Since we were at an old orange orchard, I wanted to bring in aspects of that in my bouquet and the cake.
We chose our wedding coordinator because… Glamour Algarve Weddings were the planners that just clicked. I reached out to a few and my first test was to see what they could offer me in terms of venues. I specifically did not want a package at a hotel, and Patricia brought forward so many amazing options that I knew she was really listening to me and we would work together well.
We chose our photographer because… Joao definitely suited our style. We love candid photos that capture moments and feeling. We didn’t want to waste a bunch of time on such a big day taking hours to post in the traditional wedding shots! Patricia, our wedding planner suggested him and we are so glad that he was available for us! I may be biased, but these are some of the most beautiful wedding shots I have ever seen.
We chose our venue because… Os Agostos was the most beautiful place to get married in the Algarve. It was natural and wild, but classic at the same time. Hands down, no regrets on the venue. Everyone at the wedding kept remarking at how beautiful it was! So many cute nooks and crannies for photos or a private moment, it was stunning.
Our honeymoon… we travelled around Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam for 25 days after Christmas. It was amazing and we had the time of our lives! Although we packed everything in backpacks, we definitely did not live like backpackers. Paul was in charge of picking the hotels in each location and they were all amazing! We loved reading books on the beach, scooting around, sampling all the amazing food, and enjoying the nightlife.
My favourite part of the wedding day… was definitely seeing all of our family and friends from the UK and Canada all together having fun. It was so special to be able to bring them together and see new friendships forged!
My piece of advice for other couples… make sure you stand back and take a minute to observe what is going on around you as the day goes so fast. We made sure to stick together and take the time to enjoy our wedding fully. Bridesmaids, groomsmen and family are there to take care of everything else – just sit back and enjoy it! There was no stress that day thanks to everyone who helped and that made it all the more perfect.
