Aqafarina Cascais

Welcome to Cascais, Let the Celebrations Begin!

Copo Alto

Wedding Party Rooftop Dinner

Forte da Crismina

The Night Before: Cliffside Soirée

Welcome to our Wedding Webiste!

Meet us in Portugal!

Ceremony

Queluz National Palace

Reception

Our Wedding Day

Our Wedding

Saturday, May 23, 2026 

Aqafarina -  4:30 PM–6:00 PM

Kick off the wedding weekend with us in the heart of Cascais, a charming beach town just 20 minutes from Lisbon. Cascais will be the central hub for our celebrations, and we highly recommend making it your home base for the weekend. All guests are invited to join us at Aqafarina from 4:30–6:00 PM to mingle, pick up your weekend itinerary and local recommendations, and enjoy your first drink on us in the square! From 6:00–8:00 PM, we kindly ask the wedding party to stay for an intimate rooftop dinner at Coppo Alto. ﻿ For everyone else, we encourage you to take this time to explore beautiful Cascais, whether that’s strolling along the coast, enjoying a glass of wine at a local café, or trying one of our favorite restaurants. It’s the perfect way to settle in and make some early memories before the weekend festivities begin.

Sunday, May 24, 2026

 5:00 PM–8:00 PM

Attire: Coastal Cocktail Attire! ﻿On the evening before we say "I do", join us by the ocean for a lively celebration to cap off the wedding weekend’s pre-ceremony events. Drinks and appetizers will be served cliffside with stunning views of the ocean! It can get very windy, so plan accordingly! For those in the wedding party, please plan to arrive at 4:30 to run through the ceremony flow. Thank you!

May 25, 2026

 4:30 PM–2:00 AM

Attire: Dress to Impress: Black Tie Optional Take the morning to relax, enjoy Cascais, and prepare for an unforgettable evening of celebration. Whether it’s a leisurely stroll by the beach, a quiet coffee in town, or simply resting up, we hope you’ll take this time to get ready for a night of love, laughter, and dancing. Shuttles will arrive at the Cascais Bus Station in the center of town and will begin shuttling guests around 4:15 PM transporting everyone to the stunning Palácio Nacional de Queluz in Loures, Portugal. Upon arriving at the palace, you’ll have the chance to explore its incredible museum before making your way to the gardens for the ceremony. The evening will flow into cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing as we celebrate in one of Portugal’s most breathtaking settings. Stay tuned for more details on the full wedding day timeline. We can’t wait to share this special day with all of you!

Weekend Events

New E.U. Entry Requirements

Lisbon Airport - Customs Arrival Tip

As Lisbon continues to grow in popularity, airport lines, especially for passport control can be longer than expected. We recommend heading straight to passport control upon arrival, where self-service kiosks and app pre-registration can help save time. Avoid stopping or shopping before clearing customs. Once through, you’ll find plenty of cafés and food options. After collecting your luggage, the transportation area is easy to navigate, and an Uber or taxi to Cascais takes about 25 minutes.

Before you fly!

Download the "Travel to Europe" app Pre-register within 72 hours of your flight: upload passport photoanswer a short questionnaireHave your boarding pass and hotel booking ready as both are required to complete the app pre-registrationYou'll receive a QR code to scan at the self-service kiosk on arrivalIf you used the app, scan your QR code at the kiosk to speed up the processNote if traveling elsewhere in europe: the ees changes still apply, though the app is only available for travel to/from portugal and sweden

Check your passports!

If you’re traveling to Portugal from the U.S., make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates to avoid any issues at customs. Check your passport’s expiration date and plan ahead!

Travel Information - Booking Flights & Hotels

Advance BookingInternational fares are generally lowest when booked 6–9 months ahead. Still, airfares can spike or dip unexpectedly - set price alerts and check back regularly to snag the best deal. Airline OptionsWe’ve flown TAP Portugal several times and always had positive experiences. Most major airlines fly into Lisbon, so compare TAP with other carriers to secure the best price and schedule. We often use travel points to get the best deal! Fare InclusionsBefore booking, double‑check what’s covered: checked baggage, seat selection, onboard meals, and change or cancellation fees. Knowing exactly what’s included can help you avoid surprise add‑ons at the airport. Smart SearchesUse an incognito or private‑browsing window to keep your searches from “remembering” you and driving up fares. Then compare across aggregators like Skyscanner and Google Flights to see all routes and prices. Deal AlertsWe’ll post here whenever we spot great flight deals or travel offers - stay tuned. Reminder to check if your credit card is running any point transfer deals to certain airlines. Some of the promos are game changers!

The E.U. launched a new Entry/Exit System (EES) in April 2026. All non-EU travelers (including Americans) must complete biometric registration on first arrival. This includes a fingerprint scan and facial photo required before passing through customsthis new system may result in longer lines at customs though there are steps to you can take before you travel to speed up the process.

Travel

Your Home for the Weekend - Cascais Hotels & AirBnb Tips

Olá, Family &amp; Friends, We’re beyond excited you’re considering joining us in Portugal to celebrate our wedding, it truly means the world to us! While the big day is still a ways off and formal invitations won’t be sent until the fall, we know some of you are already starting to plan. Most hotels in Cascais are small, boutique-style, and tend to fill up quickly, so we wanted to share this guide early to give you first dibs. We’ve included a range of options to help you find what works best. Please click on each of the pages below to see more info. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out, we’ve visited many of these spots and are happy to help. No pressure or rush at all, but once you’ve booked, please let us know where you’ll be staying and for how long so we can coordinate wedding day transportation. We can’t wait to celebrate with you! With love,Mackenzie &amp; JR

Hotels & Airbnb Recommendations

Visiting Sintra?

Visiting Lisbon?

Visiting Lagos?

Visiting Porto?

Things to Do

It all began six years ago at a Fordham football homecoming game when Mackenzie walked up and asked, "You’re that R.J. guy, right?" Close enough to spark J.R.'s interest. Mackenzie, dressed head to toe in maroon (Fordham’s school color), didn’t hold back her disappointment in J.R.'s lack of school spirit, evidenced by his green shirt. Determined to make an impression, J.R. marched to the bookstore, bought a maroon shirt (two sizes too small), and was back in less than 20 minutes, proudly sporting his new Fordham pride.While J.R. might like to claim "the rest was history," it actually took over a year to convince Mackenzie to go on their first date, which finally happened in February 2020.Both recently graduated and living in New York City, their date went well. But just a week later, the Covid pandemic disrupted everything, sending J.R. and Mackenzie back to their respective hometowns for several months.The two kept in touch, and despite New York City having turned into a ghost town, they both returned with plans to see each other again. With Mackenzie’s lease ending and her roommate not returning until the fall, she temporarily moved into J.R.'s apartment for the summer. Curious about the sudden setup, J.R.'s parents visited the city to confirm that Mackenzie was, in fact, real, leading to her meeting his parents before their third date!Fast forward five years, and the two have built a life together in New York City while also traveling the world, adding new chapters to their love story along the way.Most recently, in May 2024, J.R. and Mackenzie visited Portugal, a country that holds a special place in Mackenzie’s heart, where J.R. proposed.While it may not be a typical love story, it is uniquely ours, and we are incredibly grateful to have so many friends and family who have been part of our journey.It feels fitting that on our next trip to Portugal, we celebrate this milestone by tying the knot, surrounded by the loved ones who have supported us every step of the way. We are so thankful for your presence and can’t wait to create a memory together that will last a lifetime.

Our Story

Photos

Welcome to Our FAQ Page! We’ve started adding answers to common questions and will update this section regularly with info on hotels, flights, dress codes, times, locations, and more. Check back often for the latest updates!

J.R. & Mackenzie

J.R. & Mackenzie

Photos