WEDDING BLOG

The family farm in Amparo had been largely untouched for three decades, but instead of booking a traditional venue for their Sao Paulo wedding, Johanna and Murilo decided to restore the property from the ground up. The project became much more than a place to host guests. It gave both sides of their family—coming from Brazil, Germany, and beyond—a reason to gather in one place that would continue to belong to the family long after the celebration ended.

The couple first crossed paths years earlier while dancing Forró in a park in Munich. They reconnected at the very same spot two years later, discovered they were both finally single, and quickly realized they shared much more than a love of dance. Johanna’s Portuguese, learned during a year living in Brazil as a teenager, helped bridge two cultures that would later shape every part of their wedding.

What We Love About This Sao Paulo Wedding

• Renovating a 30-year-old family farm instead of booking a traditional venue
• A “Tropical Day in the Desert” dress code complete with a custom mood board for guests
• Johanna walking down an aisle of colorful rugs to one of Murilo’s own songs, performed live as a surprise
• A ceremony translated live into German, with English translations printed for guests
• Brazilian food, samba, jazz, and carnival performances paired with German family traditions
• Handmade details, including Johanna’s macramé ceremony backdrop and an “AMOR LIEBE” flag

Turning A Family Farm Into Their Wedding Venue

The biggest priority wasn’t finding somewhere new to celebrate. It was creating a place where both families could finally come together.

“It was always our biggest dream to unite both families in one place,” the couple shared. Since Johanna’s relatives likely wouldn’t have all traveled to Brazil otherwise, Murilo’s family farm became the obvious choice—even if it wasn’t exactly ready for guests.

Nine months before the wedding, renovation work began. While Johanna and Murilo planned everything from Germany, Murilo’s family, friends, and their local planner worked on transforming the property into a wedding venue.

“The decision to not hire a wedding venue and instead put the money into renovating the farm was one of the best decisions we have ever made.”

Bringing Brazilian And German Traditions Together

Their vision was summed up in four words: “A Tropical Day in the Desert.”

The theme reflected both the places that had shaped their relationship and the contrast between their backgrounds. To help guests embrace it, they created a color palette and mood board filled with outfit inspiration before anyone packed a suitcase.

Those cultural connections continued throughout the day. Beer came from two breweries named after Johanna’s hometown of Bamberg and Murilo’s hometown of Campinas. Brazilian dishes from Bahia and Minas Gerais introduced international guests to regional flavors, while speeches, childhood photos, and a playful wedding game brought in traditions from Johanna’s side of the family.

How They Managed Nine Months Of Planning From Germany

Organizing a Sao Paulo wedding while living in Germany came with plenty of logistical hurdles, but having trusted people on the ground made all the difference.

Their planner helped source vendors who shared the couple’s appreciation for authentic local products and craftsmanship. Friends and family stepped in wherever they could, making the renovation and planning process feel like a true group effort.

Rather than stretching the budget across every category, they focused on what mattered most: music, food, and creating an inviting atmosphere.

“Part of this wedding was actually to show the families that it was possible to do the wedding in this place, which nobody actually believed was possible before.”

Giving Guests Time To Settle In Before The Wedding

Many guests traveled long distances, so the celebrations began the evening before.

Everyone who arrived early gathered at the farm for slow-fermentation pizzas baked in an outdoor oven. It gave guests time to settle in, meet one another, and get familiar with the property before wedding day.

By the following afternoon, the farm already felt less like an unfamiliar destination and more like a shared home.

Dressing For The Heat Without Losing The Style

Murilo skipped a traditional black suit in favor of a custom burnt orange design made in Berlin. Instead of a tie, he wore a neckerchief, encouraging guests to leave formal dress codes behind and stay comfortable in the Brazilian heat. He also tracked down a pair of Italian shoes during a trip to Turin, checking off one personal wedding wish.

Johanna found her dress almost immediately: a fitted lace gown with an open back. Only after choosing it did she ask Murilo how he pictured his future bride. “I don’t know, but I kind of see you in a lacy, fitted dress with an open back.” She had already found exactly that.

Giving Every Part Of The Family A Role In The Ceremony

There was no first look. Instead, Murilo first saw Johanna walking toward him along a path lined with colorful rugs leading to an antique family table placed between two palm trees.

As another surprise, Johanna arranged for Murilo’s best friend, her brother, and her sister-in-law to perform “Something New,” a song Murilo had written for her shortly after they started dating.

Their mutual friend Isabella officiated the ceremony in Portuguese while Johanna’s best friend translated every section into German. English-speaking guests followed along using printed translations.

Family members also played active roles. Murilo’s mother walked him to the ceremony, Johanna’s father accompanied her down the aisle, her mother carried the rings, all seven siblings shared reflections on topics like love and adventure, and their nieces and nephews formed a circle around them during the ring exchange.

Moving From Jazz To Samba To A Carnival Parade

Instead of moving into a traditional reception, guests wandered over to long tables and cozy seating areas for food, conversation, and live music.

Jazz musicians played while servers wearing traditional Bahian dresses passed Brazilian appetizers. Later, a live samba group took over before Johanna’s family introduced German traditions through speeches, childhood photos, and games rarely seen at Brazilian weddings.

The transition back to Brazil arrived in dramatic fashion when a carnival samba school marched into the celebration with drums, led by Isabella carrying a handmade carnival flag created especially for the couple. 

Adding Handmade Details Without Hiding The Farm’s Character

Many of the decorative pieces were created by the couple themselves or sourced locally.

Johanna spent months making a large macramé backdrop that hung between the ceremony’s palm trees. She also stitched a large flag reading “AMOR LIEBE,” combining the Portuguese and German words for love.

Arabic rugs formed the aisle, while flowers, plants, lamps, and vintage pieces helped the renovated farm retain its relaxed character instead of disguising it.

The Details That Mattered After The Wedding Was Over

Like most weddings, a few things went missing, including some elusive Polaroid cameras. By the end of the day, none of it seemed important.

One surprise only revealed itself afterward.

A week later, Johanna discovered she had already been two weeks pregnant on their wedding day. Today, their daughter Alma—a traditional German name that also means “soul” in Portuguese—has become another reminder of the way their two worlds continue to come together.

Johanna and Murilo’s Sao Paulo wedding is proof that investing in a place with personal history can leave a legacy long after the last dance. And if there’s one decision they wouldn’t change, it’s choosing a photographer they trusted completely to document every part of it.