Set against the baroque grandeur of Palácio do Freixo in Porto, Ghada and Munir’s wedding was a deeply personal celebration of love, heritage, and intentional beauty. Over four unforgettable days, their closest friends and family were invited not just to witness a union, but to become part of a story — woven with tradition, modernity, and meaning at every turn. From poetic processions to shared rituals and endless dancing, the weekend radiated warmth, creativity, and connection. It was a wedding as multidimensional and vibrant as the couple themselves.
Location: Porto, Portugal
Style: Personal, soulful, elegant, whimsical
Time of planning: 1 year
Number of guests: 180
Setting: Riverside palace
Season: Summer
It all began with a destined swipe. Ghada, a Syrian-Lebanese-Texan creative force and founder of a food design studio, wasn’t holding her breath — New York’s dating scene had offered more shrugs than sparks. But something about Munir’s last name caught her eye. She had a feeling he might share her cultural roots, and soon discovered he was a Dajani — part of one of Palestine’s most prominent families. Still, her expectations were modest. Their first date, a walk through Central Park, unfolded into four hours of effortless conversation on identity, art, family, and everything in between. By the end of it, Ghada invited Munir to her holiday party that very night. They’ve been together ever since. Eleven months later, at their beloved neighborhood restaurant, Munir proposed.
Welcome Party
Under the soft golden glow of the setting sun, Ghada and Munir’s welcome party unfolded like a scene from an old European film. Held on the boat with Porto’s iconic bridges in the background, the evening exuded effortless elegance and joy. Guests gathered together, glasses in hand, as Cynthia Lahoud, the couple’s favorite DJ flown in from Beirut, set the tone with a seamless mix of Arabic hits, soul, and Kendrick Lamar.
Ghada glowed in a vintage-inspired halter dress, accessorized with delicate mesh gloves and a radiant smile. Munir, ever the romantic, stood beside her as the couple welcomed friends and family into what felt more like a celebration of art and belonging than just a pre-wedding event.
Wedding Day
Bride's Look
Inspired by the baroque heritage of Palácio do Freixo, Ghada’s wedding day ensemble was a seamless blend of historic elegance and personal meaning. She wore a custom drop-waist gown with a sculptural baroque corset — a silhouette that echoed the ornate splendor of the venue’s architecture. To ensure comfort without compromising style, she paired the gown with Gucci GG Crystal kitten heels — perfect for dancing into the night, and a graceful alternative to bridal sneakers. Heirloom diamonds, borrowed from her mother and aunt, added a layer of family legacy to the look, each piece reflecting the traditions that shaped her.
Ghada embraced her natural beauty with soft waves worn down, paired with a radiant soft glam makeup look. Both were beautifully crafted by Fresh Faced Portugal— makeup by Miguel Stapleton and hair by Eric Ribeiro — bringing warmth and polish to a look that felt authentically her. To complete the ensemble, she carried a striking bouquet of long-stem ivory calla lilies, designed by Oh Maria Flores, minimalist yet sculptural.
Groom's Fashion
Munir wore a custom-tailored black Enzo Custom suit with a single-button closure and rounded satin lapel — a sleek, refined silhouette that paid homage to classic menswear with a contemporary touch. He completed his look with black velvet Del Toro loafers and a favorite Gucci butterfly-style bow tie. But beyond the style, his ensemble carried profound meaning: a Longines Grande Classique gifted by his mother adorned his wrist, while his grandfather’s cufflinks — crafted in Palestine before the exodus and passed down by his father — honored a legacy of resilience, memory, and enduring family bonds.
First Look
The first look between Ghada and Munir was pure magic. As Munir walked down the grand stone staircase, the sun cast a soft glow over the courtyard. Ghada stood at the foot of the stairs, radiant and serene, her train cascading behind her like a sculpture in motion. Their eyes met — an instant of pure emotion suspended in time. Ghada’s smile bloomed as Munir approached, his expression full of quiet awe and joy. In that moment, the grandeur of the setting faded, leaving just the two of them in a private world of love, anticipation, and reverence for what was to come.
This moment and the entire celebration was beautifully captured by Alice Vicente, whose lens seemed to anticipate every glance, breeze, and golden burst of sunshine. The photography didn’t just document the day — it told a story. From the intimate first look to the vibrant riverside celebrations, the photographer captured the spirit of the wedding in all its richness: the cultural textures, the natural elegance of the venue, the warmth of family, and the quiet, joy-filled moments in between.
Ceremony
For Ghada — whose mind is a constantly evolving mood board of textures, visuals, and emotion — the setting was never just about aesthetics; it was about storytelling and connection. The wedding vision drew from her everyday inspirations and the couple’s shared desire to foster community. Having met during COVID, many of Ghada and Munir’s extended families and friends had never met. So rather than a series of standalone events, they imagined the weekend as a four-day narrative. Set against the romantic baroque backdrop of the palace, the venue became a living canvas for cultural richness, love, and meaningful togetherness. Bringing that vision to life took care and artistry — and Doma Portugal Weddings brought it to perfection.
Designed by Oh Maria Flores, the floral installations played with gravity and movement — towering, sculptural arrangements of deep crimson blooms rose from the fountain’s edge, while clusters of petals spilled elegantly across the stone in soft, organic trails.
For Ghada and Munir, the ceremony was more than a formality, it was a declaration of love entirely their own. With the legal and religious unions already behind them, they approached this moment as a personal celebration, free from templates or convention. Munir made a powerful entrance, led by the rhythmic chants of a traditional Syrian Arada, a spoken-word procession, that symbolizes his passage into married life. The energy was poetic, ancestral, and grounding.
Ghada followed in a moment that felt straight from a dream. As Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pas de Deux’ from ‘The Nutcracker’ played — an homage to her lifelong tradition of attending the ballet each December. The ceremony was officiated by Munir’s mother, who read a poignant excerpt from a love poem written by Munir’s grandfather to his grandmother decades earlier. It was a tender tribute to enduring love and family legacy that brought many to tears.
Every element was intentional, weaving together history, tradition, and personal meaning. Guests later described the ceremony as profoundly elegant and deeply authentic — an unforgettable celebration of love on the couple’s own terms.
Cocktail Hour
Following the emotional ceremony, guests were welcomed into a sun-kissed cocktail hour on the grand terrace. With sweeping views of the Douro River, the atmosphere was both elegant and joyful. Waiters served signature cocktails in delicate glassware with flair and a smile, while guests mingled beside artfully scattered crimson carnations and the historic stone fountains.
Decor & Setting
For the reception, every detail was infused with meaning, artistry, and warmth. The planning team exceeded expectations, transforming the indoor space into an elegant, immersive reflection of Ghada and Munir’s vision. White drapery swept across the ceiling of the glass marquee, softening the space and creating a romantic, luminous atmosphere as the sun dipped below the Douro. Seating charts were nestled among cascading sculptural floral installations in rich crimson and dusty rose hues, continuing the bold, modern aesthetic of the ceremony.
Inside, the tables were dressed in layered textures — black napkins against ivory linen, soft candlelight dancing between arrangements of seasonal fruits and flowers. But the heart of the reception decor lay in its deep cultural symbolism. Ghada and Munir incorporated their heritage through the food design of the tablescapes: draping figs, olives, pomegranates, and grapes took center stage among the glowing candles. The result was abundant and intimate, a living tableau of Arab hospitality that invited guests not just to dine, but to feel welcomed and cared for.
Reception
The couple surprised guests with an incredible Palestinian Zaffe, Al Awde Zafa, flown in from London, electrifying the dance floor. Keffiyehs were passed around, wrapping the crowd in symbolism, celebration, and rhythm. It was the kind of joy that pulsed through the body, alive, rooted, unforgettable.
But what took everyone by surprise were the speeches. “Unexpectedly,” Ghada later reflected, “the speeches were the most memorable and moving part of the wedding day. They filled the room with stories of nostalgia, heritage, memories, and good ol’ roasts of Ghada and Munir.” From Munir’s sisters’ wit to Ghada’s brother’s poignant words, to the steady love in her father’s voice — each toast left its mark.
For the after-party, Ghada changed into a custom two-piece set made in India, paired with a delicate neck scarf, diamond drop earrings, and a stunning tennis necklace gifted by Munir that morning. Munir also embraced the shift in mood, swapping his classic bow tie for a hand-embroidered piece adorned with burgundy Palestine poppies, a heartfelt gift from Ghada by designer Salim Azzam. Their first dance, a joyful foxtrot to ‘Cheek to Cheek,’ was brought to life by a live performance from Munir’s close friend, making the moment feel entirely their own.
The cake, a dreamy pavlova from Miss Pavlova, was more than dessert, it was a tribute to the early days of their love, when Munir surprised Ghada with one from a bakery in New York. That small gesture had become a ritual, now immortalized in the sweetest way. As the night unfolded, the celebration gave way to endless dancing. The room pulsed with energy, every detail flawlessly executed to reflect the vibrancy of Ghada and Munir’s story. It was more than a wedding day, it was a living expression of who they are and the world they’ve built together.
"Most importantly, Doma Portugal Weddings brought us calm and completely took over these challenging segments so that we could enjoy the process. What has stuck with us more than anything is how they made us feel; with them, our wedding really was a joy to plan."
Advice from the couple:
• Do what is most authentic to you as a couple, not what is expected from you as a “bride”. By prioritizing community, joy, and quality time — we allowed those themes to drive everything from our investments to flow. The most memorable moments are feelings that cannot be purchased or planned.
PLANNER & STYLING Doma Portugal Weddings | PHOTOGRAPHER Alice Vicente | VIDEOGRAPHER Sonya Akulshina | VENUE & CATERING Pestana Palácio do Freixo | FLORALS Oh Maria Flores | MUAH Fresh Faced | SHOES Gucci | CEREMONY SUIT Enzo Custom | RECEPTION SUIT Salim Azzam | SHOES Del Toro | BOWTIE Gucci | WATCH Longines | CAKE & DESSERTS Miss Pavlova | SIGNATURE BAR La Última Y Nos Vamos | STATIONERY In Love Weddings | RENTALS BC Planning & Rentals | DRAPERY Griffin Events | AUDIO & VISUAL Rituais Eventos | DABKA BAND Al Awde Zafa | DJ Cynthia Lahoud
