I Run Like A Girl

Where do I begin? These last 4 days were ones I’ll remember for a long time. My heart is so full, not only because one of my best friends got married but also because we made wonderful memories with our group of SF friends in this magical place.

The center of our two-week Portugal trip was Chrit and Rene’s wedding in Évora, a quaint medieval town in Portugal’s countryside. There was a big group of guests for the wedding, and we all stayed in the same hotel, Convento do Espinheiro. It was really fun to be in the same place as everyone, and over the course of 4 days, we became one big community.

The hotel itself was BEAU-TI-FUL! As we arrived, Joe and I sighed a breath of relief as it was a 5-star retreat from busy Lisbon. If you’ve been reading my blog, you’ll know that Joe and I gravitate towards quieter destinations, and this gave us the countryside fix we were looking for in Portugal.

We spent most of the 4 days at the hotel as it had everything we needed: outdoor gardens, countryside trails, delicious food, spa, pool, gym…Joe and I spent a lot of time wandering around the different areas and enjoying the amenities.

The first event of the wedding was a welcome party on the first day. Rene and Chrit provided two coach buses to take us to the different events. I found this pretty hilarious as we definitely stood out driving around Évora in the massive buses. 😛

When we pulled up to the restaurant, we were greeted by large temple ruins from 1st century A.D. This had a major wow factor as I felt transported to Rome. I instantly noticed the rich history that Évora is known for.

The welcome party was an absolute blast. I loved seeing our friends in summer formal. 🙂 We chatted with all the different guests, meeting some new people as well as reuniting with old friends. Over the last few years, I’ve gotten to know Rene’s friends through parties in SF, girl’s trips, family gatherings, and more. I hadn’t seen some in a while, and it was a heartwarming reunion.

The details of the weekend were impeccable. There were many thoughtful touches like branded wedding swag, beautiful decor, and personalized guest favors. I expected no less from Rene, who is known for effortlessly planning beautiful events. I give so much credit to her, as she was the definition of a chill bride. In fact, Rene was hanging out at the pool 2 hours before the wedding ceremony! Both her and Chrit’s relaxed energy over the weekend translated to everyone feeling at ease and having a blast.

Wedding weekend was officially kicked off!

The next day, we had another group event: a wine tasting at Fitapreta Vinhos. Joe and I loved the scenery during the drive over, especially the wildflowers growing on the side of the road. The countryside was so relaxing, and I felt like we could drive for hours.

The winery itself was gorgeous. I thought Napa wine country was nice, but this was the nicest winery I’ve ever visited. The property was HUGE, and they even converted an ancient castle to a wine cellar. Spectacular.

We tasted a few wines while walking around the property and chatting away. It was nice to spend time with our friends while continuing to meet people in the beautiful space.

Beautiful spot for photos. 🙂

Finally…the wedding day! We were all looking forward to this day the most. I had to pace myself with the other events in anticipation for this evening. 😉

The wedding ceremony took place at a convent inside the hotel. It was a Catholic ceremony and beautiful to witness. The church was old and powerful, and it reminded me of the wedding from The Sound of Music. Rene looked absolutely beautiful in her classic white wedding dress with colorful embroidery on the train, while Chrit rocked a baby blue tuxedo. Very on brand for the couple. 🙂

Next up, cocktail hour with the newly married couple! This took place at the hotel cloisters. I sound like a broken record, but it was absolutely beautiful once again. There were unique touches like a postcard station, photo booth, live acoustic duo, and a refreshing cocktail menu featuring espresso martinis which were very popular with the guests.

Dinner was exquisite. I was blown away by the table setting and all the little details. In classic European fashion, dinner was a 4-course meal and lasted until 11pm. 😉 The highlight was the bumpin’ live band and tear-jerking speeches.

The seat setting included personalized notes to all 140 guests. Did I mention how I loved all these details!? Story time: Rene and I have been friends for 7 years. We met when I moved to SF, and we hit it off right away as we had similar views of life and how to live it to the fullest. Rene is a seasoned solo traveler, and she inspired me to do my first solo trip to Thailand in 2018. After that, Rene did a gap year in Asia which ultimately inspired my gap year in 2022. She has always been an amazing friend and an inspiration to me. We’ve seen each other go through several milestones over the last 7 years, and we’ve made wonderful memories traveling the world together, including Tulum, Vancouver, Hawaii, and more! It meant the world to me to be part of her wedding. ❤

After dinner was dancing! The music was a fun mix of hip-hop, EDM, and techno. Very solid playlist that got us dancing until 3am! Such a fun night and one to remember for a long time…

Besides the wedding festivities, Joe and I got out to explore Évora. The town was pretty small, and we saw all of it in a few hours. There were several historic sites, cathedrals, and ruins. The cobblestone streets, old buildings, and small businesses made it a very charming place to visit. Évora isn’t on many people’s Portugal itineraries, but I really enjoyed it and would recommend it for a peaceful retreat away from the coast. The highlight for me was just being out in the countryside and relaxing – definitely off the beaten path and I’m grateful we had an excuse to visit!

We found a local lunch spot outside of town. We were the only tourists and got a whole meal for 10 euros! I was very proud to find this gem.

We also found a nice Italian restaurant for dinner on Joe’s birthday! It was lucky that his birthday fell on the wedding weekend, as it was extra festive to be with friends on his birthday.

Évora was certainly the highlight of our trip. I’m leaving feeling exhausted but happy we made all these memories. As much as we valued being with our friends, next up, Joe and I are excited to have some 1:1 time in the Southern beaches of Portugal!