Inside: Kate Bieszke's Black-Tie Portugal Wedding

From crossing paths 14 years ago, to a dream destination wedding in Portugal, Kate Bieszke and Chris share the details that made their wedding day so special.

The Story So Far

We first met fourteen years ago in Chelford, Cheshire, and kept crossing paths. Kate used to be a model, and we’d often bump into each other on nights out in Manchester. It always seemed like one of us was with someone else, so I honestly didn’t think Kate would be interested in me. Kate used to work in a restaurant, and I promoted the nightclub underneath, so I would see her coming in often.

Our relationship started purely as a friendship until one night in Manchester, I saw Kate on a date. When her date slipped off to the toilet, I went over and asked if she was on a date and suggested we go on one instead. That’s how it all began. We started seeing each other in November 2019, but then the lockdown hit, and we couldn’t see each other for a while. Eventually, Kate moved in with me and my Dad. Both of us were furloughed, which turned out to be amazing and really accelerated our relationship.

I had been thinking about getting engaged, and after my Dad passed away, I wanted to do it even more. To find the perfect ring, I asked Kate’s maid of honour what design she thought I should go for. She sent me a design from an Australian designer, Michael Arthur – a pear-shaped platinum ring with a secret halo under the diamond. It was a high import, so I took the design to Hatton Garden, to Beverley Hills Jewellers, and worked with a girl named Kate, it was like it was meant to be! We made a few adjustments to make the diamond sit more flush.

The engagement was probably the worst kept secret because I was so excited. I wanted to propose somewhere really romantic, not cliché like in a restaurant. I settled on Santorini and got in touch with a wedding planner there. I rented a chapel, arranged for a private chef, and booked a private transfer. The day didn’t go entirely as planned – we were running late, and Kate was stressed because they had put oil in her hair during a massage.

When we got picked up from the hotel, there were two guys in the taxi, and I told Kate they were doing a photoshoot of us around Santorini. Kate wasn’t impressed when we got to a photo spot overlooking the blue domes. As we drove to the venue, I made her close her eyes. We pulled up, and I had the ring hidden in the glovebox. Guiding her down the stairs, “Amazing” by George Michael, her favourite song, was playing. Kate started crying. There was a path of candles and rose petals, and a table set for two with all her favourite dishes for a four-course meal. We watched the sunset, had a dance, and they set off fireworks. When we got back to the hotel they decorated our room with candles and rose petals, making the evening even more special.

The Venue

We always envisioned a destination wedding. We wanted to go away with all of our friends and family and loved the idea of guaranteed good weather. Initially, we looked at venues in Santorini but couldn’t find one that matched our vision. Nothing felt like “us.” So, we expanded our search to Lake Como, the South of France, and Mallorca. We were set on Mallorca for quite a while, but eventually, we started looking back in the UK, hoping to involve our dogs, but nothing felt quite right.

We sent countless enquiries to venues abroad, but most didn’t fit our budget or vision. Many places only covered the cost of the building, requiring everything else to be arranged from scratch. It was frustrating. Then, we stumbled upon Solar da Levad a and instantly knew it was perfect. When Kate found their page on Instagram, the pictures were unreal, better than anything we had imagined. Kate set up a meeting with Natalie from Veil and Véu, and we had a call. Natalie and Tania had both got married in Veil and Véu venues and hearing their stories made us trust them immediately. We started the call at 7pm and by 8pm, we knew we wanted to book. It felt like we had known Natalie for years; she felt like a friend.

The venue was everything we dreamed of and more—classic, classy, with a touch of drama. It featured 400 meters of fountains, glass rooms, water running down the ceiling, and natural daylight in the ceremony room. The interior was minimalistic, monochrome, a mix of rustic and modern, with old-school glamour that was cool and timeless. The old chapel was stunning. Our guests experienced different parts of the venue throughout the day: the ceremony, the courtyard for food and drinks, the surprise dining room, and the party on the lake. We even arranged platforms on the water with a DJ in the middle, so we could party on the lake at sunset. A saxophonist added to the magic. The cake cutting with a fire curtain was spectacular. We moved inside for the first dance and then continued the party.

The wedding was all about utilising the space at the venue. From day one of planning, we envisioned a pre-celebration with all our friends and family under fairy lights at sunset. It was a chance for everyone to get to know each other and break the ice. The vision came to life when we booked a hotel exclusively for three days without even seeing it—we fell in love with the pictures. The night before the wedding, we had dinner in a vineyard with a table for 100 people set under fairy lights, enjoying a three-course meal with all our guests. Everyone was amazed by how beautiful it was.

The day after the wedding, we had a relaxed BBQ and pool party with DJs from the wedding, continuing into the sunset. Originally, we planned for everyone to dress up, but everyone was hungover and preferred to stay around the pool area. We adapted, making it a more relaxed day. All three days were amazing in different ways. We were on cloud nine, with the perfect vibe and a rave in the vineyard until the music stopped. The sunset, house music, and the entire experience were even better than we could have ever imagined.

The Fashion

My first dress was a Ricca Sposa dress from Victoria Lou Bridal in Northampton. It was a a fitted strapless dress with a structured cupped corset, flower lace and matching long sleeves. The bodice had a low back with exposed boning, the skirt was full and had a long train.

I had a second dress by Rosie Etienne, a mini lace corset dress with a voluminous skirt bottom, 3D hand-placed appliqué flowers and embellished beading.

My shoes, from Lipsy, weren’t the top priority but complemented the outfit well.

For our “something blue,” one of Chris’s groomsmen’s parents gifted me a beautiful blue evil eye pin to attach to my bouquet and a Hamsa hand for good luck, making it even more special and meaningful.

The Jewellery

Chris gifted me a Christian Dior necklace, and my bridesmaids gave me beautiful matching earrings.

The Bridal Party

Our bridesmaids’ dresses were Pretty Lavish – one-shouldered satin gowns in a stunning bronze colour. All the bridesmaids are tall, and this brand makes long dresses that can be easily altered. From the beginning, I knew these dresses were perfect. They fit so well and were amazing quality.

As for the groomsmen, they all got their own suits and matched with blue Misses Bow Ties. For their gifts, we gave each of them a personalised cigar holder with a cigar cutter and a cigar. The bridesmaids were given necklaces with their star signs on.

Transportation

For our wedding car, we chose a convertible Rolls Royce Corniche with luxurious red leather seats and a sleek silver exterior.

The Tablescape

From day one we knew we wanted our tablescapes to be classic white roses with babies breath and ivory candles.

Food & Drinks

We had personalised cocktails for the guests, Kate’s was a spicy margarita and Chris’ was ‘Slightly Older Fashioned’.

Entertainment

We wanted music to play a huge part in our wedding day. We had a violinist for the ceremony, and I walked down the aisle to “I’m Kissing You.” For our first dance, we chose “My Destiny” by Lionel Ritchie. During sunset hour, we had DJs and a saxophonist to set the perfect mood. The vibe was like an Ibiza party with electronic house music that was groovy and cool, featuring different versions of old-school classics with a modern twist.

Beauty Regime & Wellness

We brought my amazing hair dresser and MUA from Cheshire, and they created exactly what I wanted.

Favourite Wedding Gifts

We didn’t have a traditional gift list because we knew our guests were already spending a lot to come to the wedding. Instead, we included a honeymoon pot on our wedding registry. One of our favourite gifts was a Fortnum and Mason hamper full of wine. However, Kate’s absolute favourite gift was the necklace from Chris.

The Honeymoon

Our honeymoon plans are still to be confirmed, but we’re definitely thinking of a hot, relaxing beach holiday. We’re considering destinations like Bali, the Caribbean, or the Maldives. Right after the wedding, we had a mini-moon in Portugal, which was so relaxing.

Advice

Find a great wedding planner: We loved the venues, obviously that was the main thing, but if you’re planning a destination wedding, hiring a wedding planner like Veil and Véu is a must. When we met Natalie and Tania, we clicked and got on straight away, it felt like we’d known them for years! They’ve both been through the same wedding process in Portugal, which filled us with confidence we could have the most amazing three days. No ask was too much, they made everything we requested happen. We loved the whole process and want to do it all again.

Trust your gut: Follow your instincts throughout the planning process. If something doesn’t feel right, take your time and don’t settle. It’s important to be confident and happy with every decision you make, so don’t rush into anything if you’re unsure.

Don’t be afraid to take the plunge: Be bold and go for what you really want. We loved every aspect of our wedding because we had the courage to ask for exactly what we visioned. Embrace the process and make the most of every moment—you won’t regret it!