#realchicbride Alondra in Custom Liz by Ines Di Santo — her dream wedding dress
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
It all started with a simple question: “How tall are you?” From that moment, the conversation never stopped. Our first date felt like the beginning of something special, and since then, we’ve been inseparable. From spontaneous getaways to quiet weekends with our dog Lilly, we’ve built a life full of love and adventure.
We dated for seven years before getting married, and he proposed after five. Though he mentioned marriage early on—around our two-year anniversary—we were still in college, just 22 and 23. He wanted to wait until he could offer a more secure future, always thinking ahead like the gentleman he is.
The year he proposed, I picked an oval-shaped diamond from Freddy’s in Miami. Four days before my birthday, he surprised me with a magical proposal at Secret Gardens, followed by a Miami staycation, dinner at La Mar, and an engagement-moon in Mexico.
It was a dream come true—and a beautiful reminder that waiting for the right love is always worth it.
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
I had five non-negotiables for my wedding: Bridgerton-inspired romance, the dress of my dreams, an intimate celebration, a breathtaking venue with a solid rain plan, and a bouquet of peonies. I had them all—and I was a very happy bride.
Our wedding was a multi-day celebration, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. We kicked things off with a sunset boat tour along the Tagus River, treating our guests to unforgettable views of Lisbon. The night before the wedding, we hosted a private dinner at the beautiful Palácio da Anunciada, filled with heartfelt toasts and incredible food. On the third day, we said “I do” at the breathtaking Palácio Nacional de Queluz.
As a perfectionist, I expected something might go awry—and the wind did challenge our florals—but nothing could take away from the magic. Thanks to the incredible team I handpicked alongside my amazing planner, Ana Coelho Duarte, I truly felt like a princess in a Bridgerton fairytale. I stayed true to myself throughout the process and created something timeless—something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
While I don’t consider myself religious, I’m deeply spiritual and identify as Christian—so being married by a pastor of my faith was a non-negotiable. Finding an English-speaking pastor in Lisbon proved challenging, but my aunt worked what felt like a miracle. One day, a Portuguese pastor walked into her business in Miami, and—by pure chance—he had a connection to Pastor João Trindade from MCI Lisboa. Somehow, it all came together, and Pastor João kindly agreed to officiate our ceremony and bless our union. It truly felt like divine intervention.
To honor our grandparents who couldn’t attend, we asked them to write prayers for us. These were read aloud by our mothers during the ceremony, and it was such a touching, emotional moment.
And of course, our dog Lilly—my heart broke that she couldn’t be there, but the palace didn’t allow pets, and the long flight from Miami wouldn’t have been safe for her. Instead, we found creative ways to include her: a custom illustration of her featured on our invitations and bar signs, lily of the valley flowers for the bridesmaids, and even a surprise giant cutout of her face during the reception. It was a hit, and everyone loved it.
How did you decide on the location?
As soon as I got engaged, I dove headfirst into the venue search—looking everywhere from Florida to Italy, Spain, France, and Portugal. I emailed over 150 venues and narrowed it down to my top 20, which I shared with my then-fiancé. Every location had its charm, but when I showed him the first photo of Palácio Nacional de Queluz, he immediately wanted to see more. After watching a video tour on YouTube, he looked at me with a serious face and said, “I don’t know why you’re still searching. That’s the one.” And he was right—we had seen countless places by then, but none compared to that.
At the time, we had never been to Lisbon, let alone visited the palace in person, but we knew in our hearts it was the place. We picked our date and began planning the wedding from afar. I even started dreaming about seeing the palace in real life—wondering what it would feel like to stand there.
A few months before the wedding, we finally visited Lisbon and Sintra. The moment we arrived, even just dropping off our luggage, we were already enchanted by Lisbon’s energy and views. But nothing prepared us for Queluz. When we stepped inside, I was in total shock—the interiors were jaw-dropping, with the most magnificent chandeliers I had ever seen. And then, when I stepped into the gardens and finally looked up at the palace’s main façade, I burst into tears. It was so beautiful, it felt unreal—like a dream. We even touched the walls to convince ourselves it was real.
That day, the palace became something sacred to us. Since then, I’ve returned more than five times, and it remains one of my favorite places on Earth. I hope to visit it for many years to come—it’s a place that holds a permanent spot in our hearts. It was even my "something blue" on our wedding day.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
The dress! It was the second most important part of my wedding, right after marrying the love of my life. I consider myself one of the pickiest people on earth, and finding the perfect gown was no exception. I searched high and low for inspiration—visiting over ten bridal boutiques, even traveling to New York. I initially had a budget in mind since my mom was generously paying for the dress, and I didn’t feel right asking for more—even though she kept reminding me that I was her princess and she wanted me to have the dress of my dreams.
Everything changed when I walked into Chic Parisien and met Alana. She made both me and my mom feel instantly at ease and handled our dynamic with such grace. I was still saying “no” to every gown, just like I had before, until I showed her a picture of the Liz gown by Ines Di Santo—a design I had fallen in love with but had never been able to find since it had just debuted. Alana told me they had ordered one for the store, but it hadn’t arrived yet. She went above and beyond by contacting the designer and requesting the runway sample just for me.
When she called to tell me the dress had arrived, I told my mom to cancel her plans—we had to go. In my heart, I knew I was about to try on the dress. And when I did… it was magical. Though it didn’t zip up completely (I’m on the curvier side), I still felt like a princess. My mom, who might actually be pickier than I am, wasn’t convinced by the original fabric. But again, Alana stepped in—contacting the designer, who agreed to create a custom version for me in a different fabric: magnolia.The dress ended up being far above our original budget, but when my mom saw the look on my face, she told me not to worry for a second. She knew—it was my dress. No one knew at the time, but I had always been searching for a modern take on Cinderella’s wedding gown. At last, I had found it.
I’ll be forever grateful to Alana and the entire Chic Parisien team. They made my dream come true. The dress was even more perfect after the custom alterations, all thanks to Mary, who was a magician. I even called her the night before the wedding to walk me through how to properly iron the gown. Their care, patience, and love will always have my deepest gratitude.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
My family played a huge role in the planning process—especially my mom, who was by my side every step of the way. There were countless sleepless nights filled with decisions and details, but they’re also moments I’ll cherish with her forever.
My bridesmaids were incredible, always offering thoughtful input. My mom, younger sister, and cousin even traveled with me to New York on a dress-hunting trip, and they took turns accompanying me to alteration appointments.
My older sister, who was also my maid of honor, helped me find my wedding shoes and worked closely with me on the one major thing I DIY’d—our wedding stationery. From long Zoom calls designing every detail to assembling invitations, save-the-dates, and custom welcome bags by hand, she was a godsend.
My fiancé’s graphic design expertise was also a huge help—he created custom visuals, coordinated the groomsmen, curated all the playlists, and planned our honeymoon. My maid of honor’s partner—lovingly crowned my “man of honor”—spent hours helping me compare menus and vendor options.
My little cousin helped me pack for two full weeks before the wedding, she was my right hand emotional support throughout the planning process. My childhood best friend, who now lives in Spain, became my second hand throughout the wedding weekend. Although she couldn’t be involved in the planning from afar, her presence during those days meant everything to me. The rest of the groomsmen were equally kind and eager to help with anything we needed.
Our people truly made this journey unforgettable. We’re beyond grateful—and our hearts are full.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget.
So many beautiful memories happened on that one perfect day, but if I had to choose a single moment, it would be something my husband shared during his vows. Of course, his words were filled with love and tenderness—but then, in the middle of them, he said, “I’ve been keeping a secret.” I was completely caught off guard.
What followed was a story he had never told me before—something deeply personal (which I’ll keep private) that happened even before our first date. He said he had kept it to himself all those years because, even back then, he somehow knew I was the one. And he wanted to save that story for a moment as meaningful as our wedding day.
Hearing those words broke me—in the best way. I sobbed. I had never felt more seen, more loved, or more special in my entire life. It’s a memory I’ll carry in my heart forever.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
Surprisingly, I wasn’t too picky about my actual hair or makeup looks—I was more focused on finding the right artists to bring everything to life. My wedding planner was instrumental in this part of the process. She has impeccable taste, so when she gave me her recommendations, I paid close attention.
After my trials, I knew immediately that Tom Perdigão was the only person who could do my makeup better than I could do it myself. He’s a true artist—immensely talented and professional. I hired him to do my makeup for the entire wedding weekend, and he absolutely delivered. We chose each look spontaneously, and somehow, he just got me. His energy is infectious, and having him there made the whole weekend feel even more special.
For hair, I had a specific inspiration in mind: a wedding look worn by influencer Greta Louise Tome. I loved the silhouette of her dress, which felt similar to mine, and her hairstyle looked timeless and elegant—but most importantly, my hair had to last all night. That’s when I found Tania de Sousa, and after our trial, I knew I was in good hands. In fact, right after the trial, I went straight to the airport and was on a plane for over nine hours… and my hair didn’t move. What more proof did I need?
Tânia was incredible—talented, kind, and so easy to work with. Between her and Tom, I felt confident, beautiful, and completely at ease on my wedding day.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
It’s hard to choose because I truly loved all my vendors—I'm already dreaming up a vow renewal just to hire them again! I can't pick a favorite. But one that really surprised me was Catia from Behind The Vows. I found her just a few weeks before the wedding when she was just starting out and only had two videos posted, but I could tell she just got it.
She was so kind, attentive, and incredibly professional. Even with barely any direction from me, she completely delivered. She sent me content the very next day, and her edits were thoughtful, fun, and creative. You can tell she genuinely loves what she does—and I was obsessed.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
My husband planned an incredible honeymoon across Europe, and it truly felt like a dream. We explored Cascais, Milan, Lake Como, the Dolomites, St. Moritz, Mallorca, and Barcelona. Every stop was magical, but the most special part was simply spending uninterrupted time together. I love him so much—he’s like fresh air to my lungs.
Our favorite destination was, without a doubt, the Dolomites. It was surreal—every turn revealed another breathtaking view. Visiting had been on our bucket list for years, and it exceeded every expectation.
Bride: Alondra Villafranca - @alondravillafranca
Groom: Nicholas Franquiz - @nickfranquiz
Planning, Decor & Styling: Ana Coelho Duarte Weddings – @anacoelhoduarte_weddings
Bridal Fashion: Ines Di Santo – @inesdisanto and Chic Parisien – @chicparisiem
Veil: The Wedding Veil Shop – @theweddingveilshop
Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo – @jimmychoo
Groom’s Attire: Sartori Amici – @sartori_amici
Makeup: Tom Perdigão – @tomperdigao
Hair: Tânia de Sousa – @taniadesousahairstylist
Photography: Momento Cativo – @momentocativo
Videography: Delight Films – @delightweddingfilms
Content Creation: Behind the Vows – @behindthevows_weddings
Catering: Casa do Marquês – @casa.do.marques
Entertainment: Deluxe Events – @deluxeeventos.pt
Decor Rentals: BackUp Rentals – @backup.rentals
Venue: Palácio Nacional de Queluz @parquesdesintra
Get ready Venue: Pestana Palace @pestanapalace