On 16 May 2025, Sarah Zimmer and Brian Schoonover gathered their closest family and friends on the sun-drenched coast of Portugal to celebrate their marriage at Casa Monte Cristo Collection.

Set high above the sparkling shoreline of Lagos, their four-day celebration brought together beautiful moments, vibrant design, meaningful traditions, and a dance floor that stayed full long into the night. With guests travelling from across the United States to share in the experience, their wedding became more than a single day, it was a shared adventure, rich with colour, music, and deep connection.

Real Wedding at Casa Monte Cristo Collection

Some love stories begin with a glance across a crowded room. Sarah and Brian’s began years earlier, through a friendship that quietly set the stage for everything that followed.

In 2017, in Atlanta, Brian formed a close friendship with Sarah’s brother, Gray. At the time, neither of them could have known that this bond would one day shape the course of Sarah and Brian’s lives. It wasn’t until Thanksgiving Day in 2020, in North Carolina, that Sarah and Brian finally met, when Gray unknowingly invited his future brother-in-law to join the family holiday.

The connection was instant. And, as if destiny were quietly at work, the following week Brian’s job assignment placed him near Sarah’s hometown for an entire month. What began as a temporary placement quickly became a series of cherished weekends spent between cities, learning one another’s rhythms and dreaming about what could be. After two years of long-distance devotion, they chose a shared address in 2022, and from that moment on, life was side by side.

A Lakeside Proposal

In spring 2023, just after finishing graduate school, the couple planned a celebratory gathering at their family’s lake house. What Sarah didn’t know was that Brian had carefully reimagined the occasion into something far more meaningful.

Under the soft glow of evening light, beside the water at a quiet point near the fire pit, Brian asked Sarah to marry him. Family and friends watched from the porch, holding their breath as the moment unfolded. In a detail that still feels poetic, a tiny fawn rested in the nearby brush, an unspoken witness to the beginning of their next chapter.

Champagne followed, along with stories, laughter, and the kind of joy that lingers long after the sun has set.

A Celebration Abroad

Travel has always been woven into their relationship, a shared passion discovered early on.

“One thing we discovered about each other early on, is our shared passion for travel. We loved the idea of starting our next chapter together in a place that was new, exciting, and coastal.” Sarah, the bride.

Portugal called to them, sunlit, romantic, and rich with atmosphere. At Casa Monte Cristo, they found exactly what they had imagined: a private hilltop estate where their closest friends and family could stay together for four unforgettable days.

“We absolutely loved that our venue, Casa Monte Cristo, provided accommodations for all of our guests, making our wedding a truly immersive experience. Having everyone together on the same property for four days was everything we had envisioned, and the convenience of having all our loved ones within walking distance eliminated any complexities with transportation or logistics. The seamless accessibility allowed us to focus entirely on celebrating together, creating an intimate atmosphere where every moment felt effortless and connected.” Sarah.

Guests arrived from across the United States, many turning the celebration into their own European adventure before gathering in Lagos.

A Warm Welcome

A Day of Music, Movement & Meaning

On 16 May 2025, beneath the Portuguese sky, Sarah and Brian exchanged vows surrounded by warmth, colour, and an unmistakable sense of anticipation. The design reflected their personalities: romantic yet spirited, refined yet joyful.

Warm tones formed the foundation, punctuated by vibrant bursts of colour. Florals carried texture and movement, thoughtfully arranged by venue owner and coordinator Victoria Morgan-Cummins in collaboration with a local Lagos florist. The result was layered, expressive, and entirely personal.

Their invitations had set the tone from the beginning, hand-deckled paper, satin ribbon, and wax seals created with the help of a local artist in Charlotte, a heartfelt nod to home.

As evening unfolded, the celebration gathered momentum.

“Our wedding day was an absolute dream, a continuous celebration filled with musical bliss, great vibes, and an energy that was both electric and intimate. From the ceremony through the reception and late into the night, incredible cocktails flowed while a perfect soundtrack kept everyone dancing and celebrating. The seamless accessibility of having everyone on-site allowed us to focus entirely on soaking in every magical moment, creating an atmosphere where everything felt natural and connected.

The experience was enhanced by the shared adventures our guests brought with them, many had turned the trip into their own travel experience, exploring new destinations before arriving and creating stories that became part of our wedding weekend conversations. This collective journey made the entire celebration feel even more special, as if we were all on one unforgettable adventure together, united by love, laughter, and the joy of being present for every precious moment.” Sarah.

The Dress & The Details

Sarah wore Salomé by Saint Bridal Couture, the sister label of Rue de Seine, founded by Michele Corty. The Mikado bodice offered a modern silhouette, while the asymmetric dropped waist and pleated skirt moved beautifully across the dance floor. Paired with the Je T’aime veil by Toni Federici, the look felt both contemporary and romantic.

She also carried deeply personal heirlooms: a sapphire and diamond piece gifted by her aunt as her “something blue,” and a pearl bracelet from her baptism, lovingly redesigned by her mother as her “something old.” Each detail connected her past to the promise she was making that day.

Their First Dance

For their first dance, Sarah and Brian chose “Space and Time” by Tyler Childers. The acoustic ballad captured their philosophy of marriage: to treasure each day, to honour the space they build together, and to live with intention.

As they swayed beneath the lights, surrounded by the people who had travelled across oceans to stand beside them, the lyrics felt less like a song and more like a vow renewed in melody.

Sarah and Brian’s wedding was not simply a day, it was a shared experience, unfolding across four days on the Portuguese coast. A celebration born from friendship, strengthened by distance, and crowned with a promise beside the sea.