Wedding Day

Religious Ceremony

Reception

We are thrilled to announce this very special moment in our lives, and hope you are able to celebrate with us. Please save the date, and share our joy. We look forward to seeing you and officially tying the knot surrounded by our favorite people and the blessings of God.

Please RSVP by  Jan 21, 2023

Our Wedding

Our Story

Our engagement photos!

We are so happy to announce that our wedding celebration will happen in Belle's hometown in Brazil! The religious ceremony and reception will be placed at the same venue in the lovely town of Itajubá, Minas Gerais, Brazil! Here's a little peak of the views from our Venue ❤️ If you want to check the location, here's the Address:&nbsp;R. da Alemanha, 120 - Nações, Itajubá - MG, 37504-360

Where will the wedding be??

We will have a buffet served with authentic Brazilian food with a touch of American cuisine. We will also make sure to accommodate any allergies that anyone celebrating with us may have.&nbsp; Stay tuned as we sample and share more of our delicious menu!&nbsp;

What's on the menu?

<a href="https:" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Itajubá</a>&nbsp;is a&nbsp;municipality&nbsp;in southeastern&nbsp;Minas Gerais&nbsp;state of the&nbsp;Federative Republic of Brazil. It lies in a valley by the Sapucaí River and has terrain elevations ranging from 827 to 1500 meters, occupying an area of 290.45&nbsp;km²&nbsp;(112.14&nbsp;mi²), with a population of 97,334 people (2020 est). Neighboring the city are the mountain slopes of the&nbsp;Serra da Mantiqueira&nbsp;range. The climate sees heavy rain in the summer months with dry weather in the winter (July). You should expect the average temperatures of 63.1, with very occasional rain and lowest temperatures at night. Itajuba is a quiet, kid friendly and peaceful mountain town and has a lot of nature and local food to appreciate. It is also known for its cluster of college and universities and for that it has been gradually growing a lot of restaurants and attractions. In July, Minas Gerais celebrates one of the most famous tradicional country festivals called <a href="https:" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Festa Junina</a> with many traditional dishes and treats. Another historical curiosity is that Itajubá, just like many other towns, restaurants and places are named indigenous names from the dialect Tupi Guarani, which is still spoken in some regions of Brazil in many indigenous communities. One of the greatest riches of Minas Gerais, along with its history and culture, are in the <a href="https:" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">kitchen</a>, in its clay pots, on the woodstove, and everything that relates to typical Minas Gerais food. It is almost impossible to visit the state and not return with a suitcase full of cheeses and sweets (seriously!). We'll add pictures and recommend you to browse about food mineira (from Minas Gerais) 😋 Itajuba is specifically known for one of the best universities in the country: Federal University of Itajuba (UNIFEI), where Belle attended! It has a beautiful campus and the perfect spot for a picnic. Some of its other popular attractions include:• Mercado Municipal de Itajubá: where you can get some of the tradicional foods! •Cachoeira do Ano Bom and Cachoeira Serra dos Toledos: beautiful waterfalls to visit! Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Agonia (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Agony): that's is a church at the top of a hill where the whole neighborhood can see and listen to its bells. Origin and meaning of "Agonia" The word agony has its origin in the distressing struggle between gladiators in ancient Rome. Therefore, the Virgin Mary began to be invoked by fishermen from Viana do Castelo in Portugal, as our Lady of Agony. They began to use the title "of the Agony" because they always faced the great fight against the dangers of the shipwreck. • Lago do Parque Municipal de Itajubá: that's the attraction in the city. It's a park with a big pond where people go to exercise, play or just enjoy the view with their families. There is a lot to do: restaurants, bar, lanchonetes -snack stands, movies, f1 carts, a small playground with slides and swings, and tennis and soccer fields! It is Belle's family favorite spot. • Trilha Pedra Aguda: a hiking trail with beautiful views. It attracts a lot of tourists every year, though it is a 3 hour hike to a high elevation. • Pesqueiros Arco iris in Maria da Fé, Juquinha in Wenceslau Braz e Picumã em Piranguçu: those are local restaurants with authentic food of the state and optional catch your own fish on their lakes! Belle's family loves to spend time at Pesqueiros! 🐟 • Restaurants Pé na Roça em Piranguçu e Aramis (Peixinho) em São José do Alegre: restaurants at farms that are very typical in the state! Balanço infinito em Delfim Moreira: a beautiful viewpoint at the mountains with a swing to get pictures on! *All of these locations are drivable, except for the hiking trail and the waterfall Serra dos Toledos, where you also have to hike a little.

About Itajubá, MG, Brazil

The closest international airport to Itajubá, Minas Gerais is located in the city of Guarulhos (GRU Airport), São Paulo, Brazil. The total flight duration from Boston, MA to Brazil is&nbsp;7 hours, 59 minutes. After you arrive there, the distance between Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) and Itajubá is 96 miles. The road distance is 153.1 miles. There is no direct bus from Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) to Itajubá. However, there are services departing from Aeroporto Internacional de Guarulhos Terminal 1 (GRU Airport terminal 1) and arriving at Itajubá via Sao Paulo – Tiete Bus Station. Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) to Itajubá bus services, are operated by Viação Santa Cruz, and depart from Sao Paulo – Tiete Bus station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 21m. *That is the most affordable way to get from Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) to Itajubá is to bus, which costs $13&nbsp;-&nbsp;$28. Viação Santa Cruz operates a bus from Sao Paulo – Tiete to Itajubá 4 times a day, and the journey takes 4h. The quickest way to get from Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) to Itajubá is to drive. The driving distance between Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) to Itajubá is 153 miles and it takes 3h 19m. Belle usually takes an Uber and the average price of the trip is US $100 in a car that fits up to 4 people. We personally suggest this option above the others. If you have any interest in exploring on your own and visiting places along the way (for ideas visit <a href="https://www.theknot.com/gs/dashboard/preview?location=things-to-do" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Things To Do</a>), you could also look into renting a car. If you have any interest you can <a href="https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Sao-Paulo-Airport-GRU/Itajub%C3%A1#r/Drive/s/0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">rent a car</a> in São Paulo.* Also, keep in mind the approximate fuel cost is US$25–36, not including rental car fees and tolls. We are available to answer any questions and search with you any options that will accommodate your preferences! We are so excited to cherish this once in a lifetime moment with you!

How to get there? 

Here are some hotel suggestions. Belle, Belle’s family, and Matt have stayed at all these places before, and we highly recommend them! They are all within 10/15 minutes of our venue.   - <a href="https:" />Gontijo Inn Hotel</a> - <a href="https:" />Gontijo Apart Hotel </a> - <a href="https:" />Itajubá Flat Hotel </a> - <a href="https:" />Hotel Centenario Itajuba</a> - <a href="https:" />Hotel Amantykir</a>   We also encourage you to explore available Airbnbs. Let us know if you need any help.   We have noticed that expenses tend to be more affordable when paid in reais, so we recommend using your card in that currency. For reference, a night at the hotel is usually around USD 60.

Where to stay?

These are some destinations we want to share so you have an overview of the region! You can either drive from Itajuba to some of them or even stop there while driving to Itajuba. We are assuming that you are landing in São Paulo, SP. But if you want to visit the beautiful City of Rio de Janeiro RJ, you could certainly fly there and then adapt the rest of the trip. Let us know if you have any questions, we will be happy to assist you =)

Campos do Jordão is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in southeastern Brazil. It is part of the Metropolitan Region of Vale do Paraíba e Litoral Norte. The population is 52,405 (2020 est.) in an area of 290.52 square kilometres (112.17 sq mi). The city is situated 1,628 metres (5,341 ft) above sea level and is the highest city in Brazil. The driving distance between Itajubá to Campos do Jordão is 33.4 miles and it takes about 1h21m by car. Getting a taxi or Ubering there can cost you about US $20-60. Activities for tourists and winter residents. These include hiking, mountain climbing, treetop cable swings (arborismo), horseback riding, and ATV and motorbike riding. July, of winter season vacations, sees an enormous influx of visitors due in part to the winter festival of classical music. Its attractions throughout the year include German, Swiss and Italian cuisine restaurants, bars, and a cable car. There are many pousadas (inns) and chalets, and the hotel prices start at $70 USD&nbsp;a night for two people. Also, in order to cater to the large number of visitors, several bars, lounges, discos and clubs open during the winter months (from June to September). Finally, the driving distance between Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) to Campos do Jordão is 105 miles. It takes approximately 1h 58m to drive from Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) to Campos do Jordão and this route is also available by public transportation (taking longer). It takes approximately 4h to get from Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) to Campos do Jordão, including transfers, and it costs $7&nbsp;-&nbsp;$13. If you think that is a destination you would like to hit and if you want to make the driving distance to the wedding in parts, we truly recommend making Campos do Jordão your first stop! It is absolutely gorgeous! We are also available to answer any questions and Belle will be happy to help you figure out the easiest way to move and where to stay! Keep in mind Campos do Jordão receives thousands of American and all nationalities visitors each year, and it is pretty easy to get away speaking English at restaurants and hotels. Related to the weather, you can expect very pleasant temperatures during the day in July. The average maximum daytime temperature in Campos do Jordão in July lies at 22.3°C (72.14°F). Usually it is the coldest month of the year. The average minimum temperature goes down to around 8.7°C (47.66°F) (often the minimum temperature is noted at night).&nbsp;Belle is really curious to see if you guys coming from New England will be cold lol

Brazilian Switzerland - Campos do Jordão

This is a very country town where you should take a day trip to. It's where Belle was born and it's known for the Parque das Águas (literally translate as Park of the waters). Great place to spend the day and try some different tasting waters from the local aquifers.&nbsp;

São Lourenço, MG

Once you may be probably landing in São Paulo, you could also just start off your adventure there! The most affordable way to get from Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) to São Paulo is to bus, which costs $1-$7 and takes 21 min. While Taxi or Uber would cost $15- $19 and takes 20 min. The City of São Paulo, also called Sampa, is with its nearly 20 million inhabitants one of the largest cities in the world, and the capital of the State of São Paulo (the most populous state of Brazil). São Paulo city is larger than New York, being the largest city in the Americas and in the southern hemisphere. There is so much to see and to do, and it has activities for all tastes! It has tons of tourists from everywhere in the world all the time, so you can certainly get to communicate in English at restaurants, hotels, and touristic activities or tours. You can also have access to many guided tours that take you from São Paulo to various destinations (like Rio de Janeiro). Sao Paulo is relatively safe, and youll have a great time there. However, you must exercise caution at all times while visiting. Just like with safety in Rio de Janeiro travelers must avoid areas like the slums, known as favelas. Do not keep valuable things in sight. Don’t hold your cell phone, money or documents in your hand – that’s inviting a snatch-and-grab theft.

Sao Paulo city SP Brazil

It is a cute country town known for its farm lands, waterfalls, hikes and farm hotels. It is about 45 miles away from Itajuba and it takes about one and a half hours to get there.

Goncalves MG

Rio de Janeiro is a huge seaside city in Brazil, famed for its Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, 38m Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mount Corcovado and for Sugarloaf Mountain, a granite peak with cable cars to its summit. The city is also known for its raucous Carnaval festival, featuring parade floats, flamboyant costumes and samba dancers. It has one of the most beautiful beaches in the country and world. Rio is a big city and as any other we recommend you to exercise caution and being aware of your surroundings. The city is also known for its sprawling favelas (shanty towns). Though Rio counts on a heavy police presence in the tourist areas, just stay away from favelas and enjoy the city!

Rio De Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

Things to Do In The Region

Questions And Answers

Is Itajubá MG safe?  Q + A

Greetings:Hi - Oi. Pronounciation: oh-eeHello - Olá: oh-lahGood Morning - Bom Dia: bom dee-ahGood Afternoon - Boa Tarde: bo-ah tar-dehGood Night - Boa Noite: bo-ah noytGoodbye - Tchau: chowHow are you? - Como está? ko-mo es-tah?I’m good, and you? - Eu estou bem, e você? eu es-tou behm, eh too?Good, thanks. - Bem, obrigado / (m.)&nbsp;obrigada (f.) behm ob-ree-gah-doh/dahPlease - Por favorpor fa-vorThank you - Obrigado (m.) / obrigada (f.) - ob-ree-gah-doh/dahYou’re welcome - De nada - de na-dahYes - Sim - singNo - Não - naoumExcuse me - Com licença - kom lee-sen-sahI’m sorry - Desculpa / lamento - des-kool-pahI don’t understand - Não compreendo- naoum kom-preh-en-dohDo you speak English? - Fala inglês? - fa-la in-gles&nbsp;How much is…? - Quanto custa…? -kwan-toh kos-tahWhere is…?- Onde é…?ond-jeh ehWhen? - Quando?kwan-dowMay I please have…? - Pode dar me…, por favor?pod-je dar meh por fa-vorBeer - Cerveja - ser-ve-jahWine - Vinho - vin-yoWater- Agua - ah-gwaI don’t eat... - Não como... - naoum ko-mohI’m a vegetarian - Sou vegetariano (m.)/ vegetariana (f.) - sow ve-ge-ta-re-en-no/nohThe bill, please - A conta, por favor- a kon-tah por fa-vorLeft - Esquerda - es-ker-daRight - Direita - djee-rey-taStraight ahead - Sempre em frente - se-pre em fren-cheeTurn left - Vira a esquerda - vi-rai a es-ker-daTurn right - Vire à direita - vi-rai a djee-rey-taBus stop - Paragem de autocarro - pa-ra-jem dje au-to-kar-roMetro station - Estação de metro es-ta-sao dje me-trowAirport - Aeroporto - ah-eh-roh-por-tohEntrance - Entrada - en-tra-daExit - Saida - sigh-da ﻿

Isabelle & Matthew

Isabelle & Matthew

Our engagement photos!