A Warm, Timeless Wedding in Lisbon’s Oldest Botanical Garden

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Kevin is a seasoned host and entertainer from Brooklyn who emcees events across New York City, a personal trainer by week, and a father first. Micaela is a Vice President at Mizuho Americas and serves on the Junior Board of Part of the Solution in her hometown of the Bronx. Though they share the same event world and plenty of mutual friends, they never crossed paths until a last-minute RSVP to a friend’s wedding in Guatemala brought them together, with a first date at a café there. Back in New York, the Bronx and Brooklyn finally came together, and on June 27, 2024, just days after their second anniversary, Kevin proposed along the South Street Seaport with their families secretly nearby.

Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Style: Whimsical, Romantic, Enchanting
Number of guests: 115
Time of planning: 2 years
Setting: Vandelli Botanical Garden
Season: Late Spring

Micaela didn’t spend years envisioning her wedding day. She had no predefined plans or detailed vision, and the inspiration came unexpectedly from a single Pinterest photo of another Black couple on their wedding day. It immediately sparked a picture of their diverse friends and family surrounded by rich browns, mochas, creams, and subtle rust hues.

Once they chose their venue, the vision started to take shape. With the help of planner Phaedra Liakou, the vast garden became the setting for soft nude, brown, and peach accents and delicate, neutral florals. Together, these elements created a warm, timeless atmosphere that brought Micaela’s inspiration to life.

Fashion

Micaela wore a Berta gown with custom tube sleeves, finished with a Spanish-style veil. Her shoes were a Badgley Mischka Caroline embellished sandal, and she wore a white sapphire tennis necklace her dad had given her for Christmas.

Micaela’s curly hair was too important to trust to just anyone on her wedding day, so she turned to London-based international hair stylist Deborah Lola to transform it, and the result delivered. Her close friend, New York-based makeup artist Vicki Bell, took care of hair and makeup for her best friends, while Micaela, her sister, and her mom worked with celebrity makeup artist Franky Raw. She felt stunning, and trying a new hairstyle that day was a risk. She let go, trusted the process, and ended up completely satisfied.

Kevin bought his dark brown wedding suit from the Suit Store. American track star Noah Lyles recently got married, and dark brown looked good on him, so Kevin thought, “Why not?” The first time he tried the suit on at home, he hated it. “My exact words were ‘this is boring,'” he says. His son told him, “Dad, it’s classic.” He wasn’t wrong, but Kevin isn’t a classic man. “I like to sparkle and stand out.” After showing him several bedazzlement options, his cousin Samantha took the suit and turned it into the final product.

Florist Froso added the boutonniere, one of the bridesmaids bought him the sunglasses, and Micaela gave him the watch. He picked up his butterfly bow tie and shiny dress shoes from Imperial Design in Brooklyn.

Ceremony

The ceremony took place in Lisbon’s oldest botanical garden, Vandelli Botanical Garden, a hidden garden with symmetrical paths, manicured greenery, and panoramic views of the Tagus River. Beautiful on its own, it was enhanced with florals, including an asymmetrical floral arch overlooking the top of the staircase. Guests were completely floored when they entered the space. They thought it was magical and fell in love with Portugal all over again. Some said it felt like a fairy tale, and Micaela’s dear friend Camille’s daughter said Micaela looked like a Disney princess.

Micaela and Kevin had planned to do a first look. Micaela had to be persuaded, but they both agreed that taking photos before a tearful day would be best. Unfortunately, the bus meant to pick up the groom and groomsmen never arrived, putting the couple behind schedule. By the time they left the hotel for the venue, guests were already leaving to do the same. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Once “This Time” by John Legend started playing and Micaela walked down the aisle and saw Kevin for the first time, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Kevin, who swore he wouldn’t cry, was filled with emotion seeing his future wife for the first time that day. It was a moment neither of them would ever forget, and the ceremony as a whole was deeply touching.

Moments In Between

After the ceremony, guests walked up a flight of stairs into the garden for the cocktail hour, where peacocks roamed freely, posed for photos with guests, and became a highlight for everyone. Guests enjoyed bite-sized hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, and signature cocktails. As the party continued, photographer Marcos Sanchez captured portraits of the couple.

Planning & Details

The wedding took place at the historic Vandelli Botanical Garden, with florals by Froso, who owns Felicia Floral Designer in Greece. The palette stayed in shades of nude, with tulips, roses, and a variety of other blooms, including Micaela’s favorite flower, ranunculus. Signature drinks carried personal touches too. The Thompson Standard was a twist on Kevin’s favorite drink, an Old Fashioned, and the Wall Street Lifestyle was an espresso martini, its name coming from a story between Micaela and her dad. Only the inner circle will understand the hidden joke.

The whole wedding was planned by Phaedra Liakou, and the couple’s words about her say it best. “The page isn’t long enough to adequately share our immense adoration for our incredible wedding planner-turned-family, Phaedra. She wears many hats for those fortunate enough to have her as a planner. She became a confidante, therapist, and mediator, offering wisdom, compassion, and insight at every turn. Planning a wedding with her felt like a true partnership. The time difference was not an issue, as she made herself available and accessible when needed. She made it her job to understand our vision and tweak suggestions and ideas to ensure we got exactly what we wanted.”

Planning with a bride and groom who both work in the events industry could have seemed challenging, with too many cooks in the kitchen. “In this scenario, it was the perfect mix. We all spoke the same language, and it felt like Phaedra was equally as invested in making sure our day was perfect. We will be forever grateful to Phaedra and all her help making this day one of the best days of our lives.”

Reception

Guests arrived at the reception area, a floor-to-ceiling glass greenhouse with a wrapped dance floor, a photo booth, and handwritten calligraphy on Portuguese postcards as a small takeaway. Everyone danced the night away to reggae and soca, music that reflects Micaela and Kevin’s Guyanese and Jamaican roots.

Ironically, the most memorable moment was the part many people find drawn out: the speeches. Some were deeply touching, from Micaela’s father and sister and from Kevin’s mother. But the breakout star of the night was Kevin’s 13-year-old son, Karter, who brought the house down with a hilarious speech, written by his dad and delivered with true comedic timing. It left the whole crowd in tears of laughter, the unexpected surprise of the evening, and guests are still quoting the lines to this day.

Advice from the couple:

• Take your time to do it the way you want. Many people feel you need to get married exactly a year after you get engaged. We opted to take time to think about what we wanted and save so that we weren’t rushing to get it all done.

• One of the best pieces of advice received was from the bride’s sister, Chardia Christophe-Garcia. She said she read somewhere to remember that we are not the hosts but rather the guests of honor, so move accordingly