Meu Amor Weddings by Ernesta

Ernesta, what was your journey like from Lithuania to deciding to open your wedding planning business in Portugal?

Living abroad was never something intimidating to me — I lived in Sweden and Colombia before settling in Portugal, so international environments and cultural transitions have always been part of my life.
When I moved to Lisbon in 2005, I fell deeply in love with the country’s charm, rhythm, and contrasts. My first priority was integration, and learning the language felt essential to truly belong. Naturally, I began working as an interpreter for international wedding ceremonies in Portugal, which gave me a close understanding of the emotional and structural core of a wedding.
At the same time, I was already organizing and hosting cultural events in Lisbon, so working with people, timing, atmosphere, and logistics was very familiar to me. Over time, I also became a trilingual celebrant and MC, which allowed me to experience weddings from the inside — not only linguistically, but emotionally and structurally.

From there, stepping fully into wedding planning felt organic and almost inevitable. I value having a holistic vision of the event and taking responsibility for every detail.
My background in journalism, combined with formal studies in art, shaped the way I work: with a strong sense of storytelling, precision, and a highly visual, creative approach to every wedding.

What were the biggest challenges of establishing your brand in a country different from your own, and how did you overcome them?

When I founded Meu Amor Weddings & Events six years ago, Portugal already felt familiar to me. I understood its strengths as well as its challenges. I no longer felt entirely Lithuanian, but I was also aware that I would never be Portuguese — I learned to embrace this “in-between” identity, which helps me understand both my international clients and my local partners.

One of the main challenges was managing different communication styles. International couples are often anxious and expect very fast responses. In Portugal, the rhythm can be different. I realized that my role is to be the bridge: I manage my clients’ expectations while maintaining a constant flow of communication with vendors.
I always tell my couples that while an email might take a little longer, the quality of most Portuguese professionals on the wedding day is exceptional. My role is to ensure that waiting never feels like worrying.
Another adjustment was my approach to supervision. Coming from a very rigorous work culture, I initially believed that giving clear instructions was enough. However, I quickly learned that as a wedding planner, I cannot simply “trust and relax.”
Today, I use a much closer supervision process. I don’t just plan; I verify every single detail. I am the guardian of the couple’s vision, ensuring that everything — from the color of the cake to the placement of the décor — is exactly what was promised. This hands-on approach is what gives my clients true peace of mind.Although you started in Portugal, you’ve expanded to several European countries... could you share some of the challenges you faced in adapting your services to different cultures and markets?

Expanding to different European countries has been an exciting journey, but it hasn’t been without its challenges. The primary hurdle has been navigating language barriers. While working in Portugal is seamless with English, countries like France and Italy often require a deeper understanding of their native languages to connect fully with local vendors. Despite this, we’ve always risen to the occasion, leveraging our network, cultural sensitivity, and dedication to ensure every wedding is executed with grace and perfection. These experiences have only strengthened our ability to adapt and deliver exceptional results, no matter the location.

How does living in Portugal and speaking several languages influence the way you work with international couples?

I am completely comfortable working in Portuguese and always communicate with local vendors in their native language. At the same time, most of my couples are international, which places me in a particularly interesting position: culturally fluent, yet still able to maintain an outsider’s perspective.

After twenty years in Portugal, I deeply understand local customs, but I can also clearly identify which traditions may not naturally resonate with international couples.
I am very intentional about introducing Portuguese elements that genuinely add meaning — local cuisine, music, craftsmanship, and traditions that feel authentic rather than imposed. These are ideas I personally conceive and implement in my weddings, from inviting a traditional tuna band to accompany guests through Lisbon’s historic streets, to proposing personalized azulejo place cards or selecting award-winning Portuguese sparkling wines to elevate the cake-cutting moment.

Honoring the couple’s cultural backgrounds is essential to me. When one partner is Portuguese and the other comes from abroad — or when both are international — the cultural elements chosen often carry an even stronger emotional weight when celebrated in a multinational environment.
I take great pleasure in explaining these multicultural rituals to Portuguese guests so everyone feels included rather than observing from the outside. I love weaving cultural traditions seamlessly into contemporary wedding formats, allowing family stories, memories, and inherited gestures to quietly shape the celebration.
I’ve also noticed that Portuguese guests are generally very curious and welcoming toward these cultural elements, which creates a beautiful sense of exchange.

In short, I experience Portugal as an insider, but I plan weddings through the eyes of someone who understands what it means to marry abroad. Intercultural empathy is one of my strongest tools.Have any personal or cultural experiences influenced your approach to planning luxury weddings?
My approach to planning luxury weddings is deeply rooted in my personal experiences. Before founding Dream Weddings Europe, I worked in luxury car sales, where delivering the highest possible standards of service was non-negotiable. I had the privilege of working with high-profile clients, including politicians, celebrities, and oligarchs, which taught me the nuances of catering to discerning tastes and exceeding expectations. It was a demanding role, but it instilled in me an impeccable understanding of luxury service culture. This experience has shaped my commitment to excellence, and it’s why I’ve dedicated myself to working with clients who value the same level of sophistication and attention to detail.

If you had to define Meu Amor Weddings in three words, what would they be and why?

Soulful, because my work is rooted in “Meu Amor” — in love itself. When you look at my portfolio, you’re not just seeing beautiful décor; you’re seeing the quiet, intimate energy between two people. I want my weddings to feel like a deep breath: intentional, grounded, and focused on connection rather than pure production.

Evocative, because I’m drawn to imagery and design that stir emotion and tell a story. I want couples to look back and remember not only how their wedding looked, but exactly how it felt.

Approachable, because I enjoy working with couples and vendors in a relaxed, honest, and human way. I want people to feel they can tell me anything, so the planning process becomes as joyful and natural as the day itself.

Your work includes different wedding formats. What inspires you most when planning intimate celebrations versus large events?

Elopements and micro-weddings have grown significantly in recent years, especially within destination weddings, and I’ve been fortunate to work with couples who value intimacy and intention.

That said, I don’t define myself by wedding size. What truly inspires me is emotional authenticity. Elopements often concentrate emotion beautifully — no distractions, no expectations to please others, just the couple and their commitment. Being present in such moments is a privilege.
At the same time, I recently planned a wedding with 150 guests where the collective energy, joy, and celebration were essential. The atmosphere was so powerful that the wedding couldn’t have been smaller — it was exactly right. Every couple deserves to choose what feels authentic to them, not what is expected.

When planning an intimate wedding, what detail is essential to make it memorable?

The vows. You can be anywhere — in nature, in a church, or in a city — but personally written vows carry an emotional depth that transforms the entire experience.

What advice would you give to couples hesitating between a traditional wedding and a more intimate format?

Invite only the people who truly matter. When a celebration grows beyond emotional closeness, something meaningful can be diluted.
My role is to help couples create a wedding that reflects who they are, regardless of size. I don’t work with copy-paste packages. Every wedding should be unique — repetition would be creatively uninspiring for me.

Emotion and love cannot be manufactured; they must already exist.

What advice would you give to couples planning a wedding in Portugal from abroad?

It may sound like a cliché, but hiring a local wedding planner is one of the best decisions couples can make. There are nuances, logistics, and cultural details that are difficult to manage remotely.

A planner who accompanies you throughout the entire process understands your priorities, your non-negotiables, and absorbs the stress of the wedding day. It is an investment in peace of mind — and should be one of the first decisions couples make.

What makes Portugal so special for destination weddings and elopements?

Portugal offers extraordinary diversity — from Atlantic beaches to mountains, valleys, and a compelling mix of historic and contemporary architecture. Despite having travelled extensively across the country, I am constantly discovering new places and atmospheres that continue to inspire me.
Beyond Lisbon, Porto, and parts of the Algarve, many regions remain relatively unexplored for weddings, preserving an authentic beauty that appeals to couples seeking originality rather than predictable destinations. I proudly plan weddings across all of Portugal, from iconic locations to places quietly waiting to be discovered.

Portugal invites couples to slow down, travel, and truly experience the country — through its cuisine, vineyards, history, light, and the warmth of its people. For destination couples, the wedding naturally becomes part of a meaningful journey, extending far beyond a single day.

What was the most memorable wedding you’ve planned — and why?

It’s difficult to choose just one, as every wedding leaves a meaningful mark. Still, two celebrations come immediately to mind.

The first was a mountain elopement for a couple who drove a retro campervan from Lithuania to Portugal. Before the journey, the groom built a wooden arch, and during the 3,700 km drive, the bride hand-knotted a macramé decoration. Once in Portugal, they assembled it together and married on a breathtaking mountain peak. Even today, that quiet symbolism stays with me.
The second was a surprise wedding for a Canadian couple who invited guests under the pretext of a milestone birthday celebration. Mid-party, they revealed it was their wedding. The reactions — shock, joy, tears — were unforgettable.
These experiences reaffirm why I love what I do: creating celebrations that are unmistakably theirs, even when far from home.

What feedback makes you most proud?

When couples tell me they felt supported, understood, and genuinely cared for. Trust means everything to me.

It also deeply fulfills me when couples recognize that no detail was overlooked and that their initial ideas grew into something even more extraordinary through collaboration.

What personally motivates you to continue this work?

The responsibility, the emotion, and the beauty of it all. I never tire of witnessing vows or seeing a bride find her dress. Each wedding allows me to combine leadership, sensitivity, and visual creativity — always in a new way.

Do you have any future projects you’d like to share?

In 2025, I began offering styling as an integrated service, and the response was incredibly positive. I now feel confident proposing more defined aesthetics and developing complete creative concepts.

This evolution reconnects me with my artistic roots and brings me immense joy — sometimes even a healthy obsession with the details.