The Wedding of Patrícia Pinto Lopes and Gregory Versailles in Portugal
Following her unforgettably fabulous bachelorette party in Paris, Patrícia Pinto Lopes has gone on to the next life-changing milestone: a beautiful, meaningful wedding to the love of her life!
The Portuguese model officially said her long-awaited “I do” to Gregory Versailles on the 5th of October 2024 in Porto, Portugal. Despite the rainy weather, the couple still enjoyed the best day of their lives surrounded by their nearest and dearest.
In an exclusive conversation, Wedded Wonderland got all the details on the dreamy nuptials from Patricia herself. Read on below!
The Welcome Dinner
On the 4th of October, the day before the big wedding, Patricia and Gregory hosted a welcome dinner for their guests at The Yeatman Hotel, a luxurious wine centre with breathtaking panoramic views of the stunning city of Porto, which boasts magnificent beaches as it sits on the Atlantic coast. Patricia loved the black and white “Chanel-inspired” décor of the hotel, and had also picked the venue for its aforementioned views.
“This luxury hotel has some of the most incredible views of Porto from the other side of the river. We wanted to offer our guests the best of what the city has to offer, and this location was the perfect choice.”
Planned by Marisa Rodrigues, a destination event planner, the dinner was a romantic candlelit affair where the couple got to spend quality time with selected guests before the biggest day of their lives thus far.
On the same day, Patricia and Gregory posed for a chic 1950s-inspired photoshoot with an off-white Morgan car. Gregory wore a dapper black suit, while Patricia wore an off-shoulder Joana Castro dress with a sheer skirt, strapless neckline, and a sash detail worn around the neck.
The Venue
“Our venue was the Palácio do Freixo in Porto, Portugal, a stunning 18th-century baroque palace overlooking the Douro River,” Patricia shared.
“We were immediately captivated by its opulence, historical charm, and breathtaking views. It was the perfect blend of grandeur and intimacy—exactly what we had envisioned for our celebration. The palace’s elegance perfectly complemented our Parisian-inspired décor, and its expansive grounds offered the ideal setting for the weekend-long event.”
The Wedding
When asked to describe what she and Gregory were like as a couple, Patricia had only the sweetest things to say.
“We are a couple of contrasts that complement each other perfectly. Our relationship is built on deep respect, love, and admiration. Greg’s calm, steady nature balances my livelier and more spontaneous personality,” she said.
“Despite our differences in age (I’m 27, he’s 49), nationality (he’s American, and I’m Portuguese), and race, we connect on a profound level. He guides and protects me, always finding solutions, while I give him my love, affection, and a sense of belonging. Our love story is a true testament to our belief in destiny and perseverance.”
Bringing Families Together
As a couple with a multicultural background, Patricia and Gregory wanted both of their heritages represented in the ceremony. They also wanted to honor their families, so all of these played a part in how the celebration of their love turned out.
“Our vision for the wedding was to create a refined and heartfelt celebration that represented both our cultures and personalities. We wanted every moment to feel luxurious and elegant while maintaining a sense of intimacy, staying true to who we are as a couple,” she said.
“We imagined a weekend-long event that allowed our guests to experience not just a wedding, but a journey—filled with unique moments shared with loved ones, exceptional cuisine, and memories they would cherish forever.”
“Since we’re both passionate about music, live performances were at the heart of the celebration. A string quartet and vocalists performed during the ceremony, a saxophonist played at the cocktail hour, a harpist accompanied dinner, and we even had a special performance by the renowned singer Nelson Freitas at the after-party,” she shared.
“Additionally, we wanted both families to participate in the ceremony and offer prayers for us as we knelt, making it a deeply personal moment. We also created a unique experience with a live wedding cake show, where our cake designer assembled the cake in front of our guests, and we invited everyone to help fill it with fresh raspberries. Furthermore, we arranged the seating to mix our families and friends, allowing everyone to get to know each other. The joy and appreciation from our guests for these thoughtful details made me incredibly proud and happy.”
The overall theme of the wedding was inspired by the Palace of Versailles, which was also a reference to Gregory’s surname. Everything from the venue choice to the incorporation of a classic white, black, and gold color scheme nodded to a sense of historical grandeur.
However, the wedding day didn’t entirely pan out as planned, Patricia noted. “Our plan to have the ceremony overlooking the river was thwarted by the rain, which made me really sad at first but also highlighted the importance of having a great wedding planner and dedicated vendors who would do anything to help us realize our dream wedding,” she said.
“Five hours before the ceremony, all of our vendors—the wedding planner, event team, florists, rentals, and the palace staff—were running against the clock to dismantle the setup outside due to heavy winds and rain and move everything into a tent. As a bride, I was devastated, and I cried a lot. However, when I walked down the aisle, I felt an overwhelming sense of calm and grace, realizing that despite our high expectations, we were truly blessed to be surrounded by loved ones, starting the most beautiful chapter in the book of our lives in a magnificent palace.”
Even if wasn’t the couple’s Plan A, the tent setup looked resplendent nonetheless. Patricia and Greg were absolutely glowing with joy, proving that literally nothing could rain on their parade!
The Dresses
These days, it’s pretty rare for brides to just stick to one wedding dress—there are too many talented designers out there to not turn your wedding into a personal fashion showcase!
That said, Patricia had a total of three dresses prepared for her blissful wedding weekend!
“My wedding dress was designed by a renowned Barcelona-based brand. As a plus-size model and fashion lover, I wanted to wear a special dress for each event that matched the theme. I tried on more than 30 dresses, but because of my body type, it was challenging to find the perfect one. The industry is still not fully accommodating different body types, so I decided to visit Joana Castro Atelier, the top bridal designer in Portugal, for two custom-made dresses—for the welcome dinner and the after-party,” she shared.”
“Choosing a Portuguese designer was important to me because it allowed me to honor my roots and showcase the incredible talent we have in our country. Each dress reflected a different aspect of my personality—elegant, bold, playful, and romantic. The moment I saw them, I knew they were perfect for our celebration and the statement I wanted to make.”
We wish you a lifetime of happiness, Mr. & Mrs. Versailles!
Vendor List
Photo @vanessa @gqweddings
Video @queiroz
Venue @pestanapalaciodofreixo
Catering @cheftonysalgado
Makeup @sevrebeauty
Hair @anaiscabeleireiros
Planner and Event Design @marisa_eventplanner_weddings
Live Music @musica.emarte
Wedding cake @claudia_vilaca_cakedesigner
Groom Tuxedo @alfaiatarialusa
Stationery @whitedesigncreativestudio
Bridal Gown @laura.giurgiu
@houseofstpatrick
After Party dress @joanacastroatelier
Rentals @estilos_de_aluguer @grupospirit
@rdatelier_events
Illustrator @anaoliveira_ilustracao
Special thanks to @iamnelsonfreitas
