If we were sitting together at Casa Monte Cristo right now, I’d tell you to kick off your shoes, grab a glass of gin and tonic—plenty of ice and a slice of local lemon, please—and just breathe. That’s the soul of my style: relaxed, refined, and completely effortless. I call it the "Swan" approach. Having spent my life in the industry—from standing in giant stockpots as a child in my parents' London catering company to managing events at 10 Downing Street—I’ve learned that the most spectacular celebrations require a massive amount of "graft" behind the scenes. My specialty is being that swan: complete precision and total command of the room, gliding through the chaos without breaking a sweat so that you never feel the stress. I’m also on a mission to break the mould of the "one-day-wonder." My personal style leans heavily into the multi-day celebration. I don't believe your wedding should be a 24-hour sprint ending in 3 a.m. blisters and a hangover. I specialize in orchestrating an elevated "Wedding Weekend" where the focus is on connection and quality time. Ultimately, my style is deeply personal. I’ve been a bride, and I’ve planned my brother’s wedding and my parents’ 40th anniversary right here at the Collection. I don’t just look at a wedding through the eyes of a planner; I see it as a sister and a daughter. I’m a self-confessed "control freak" for the details, but my goal is to give you a result that feels like pure, relaxed magic.

Couples hire me because I offer total peace of mind. —the kind of high-level expertise I’ve honed —but who delivers it with a relaxed, Algarve soul. They also hire me for my unfiltered honesty. I’ve spent my life in this industry, so I can spot a logistical hurdle before it even appears. My couples are often "watching the funds" and planning from afar, so they need a coordinator who is a self-confessed "control freak" for the details. They know I’m not just managing a venue; I’m protecting their dream day as if it were my own family’s. Ultimately, they hire me to turn the "one-day-wonder" into a seamless, multi-day experience. They trust me to handle the graft so they can focus on the fun and excitement.

The couples I click with best are those who value authenticity over "tradition for tradition's sake." They are usually the ones who want an elevated, beautiful experience, but they also want to be able to kick off their shoes and actually enjoy it. They aren't looking for a "one-day-wonder" or a frantic 24-hour sprint; they are looking for a weekend that feels like a big, warm hug with their favorite people. I get along wonderfully with couples who are intentional and decisive. They appreciate my "no-nonsense" honesty and my "control freak" eye for detail because it allows them to let go and trust the process. We usually bond over a shared love of the "little things"—whether that’s the perfect sunset backdrop, a specific bottle of gin, or even just chatting about our puppies! Ultimately, my favourite couples are the ones who see me as a partner. They aren't just looking for a coordinator; they want someone who cares about their "dream day" as much as they do. If you’re relaxed, a bit of a rebel against the "wedding sheep" mentality, and you value a good laugh through the planning process, we’re going to get along famously.

The aspect that never fails to give me butterflies is that "magic click"—the exact moment when the months of orchestration and "graft" finally dissolve into a living, breathing celebration. There is a very specific feeling right before the ceremony begins, or when the first toast is made on our stone terrace, where the atmosphere shifts. I’ve seen some of the most spectacular events in the world, from the Natural History Museum to Florida polo fields, but nothing compares to seeing a couple I’ve guided for eighteen months finally exhale, look around, and realize their "dream day" is actually happening. It’s that transition from being the "control freak" planner to witnessing the joy of a family sharing a multi-day weekend together. Knowing that I’ve helped break the mould and created a space where they can be totally present with the people they love most—that is what gets me every single time. It never becomes "just a job"; it’s deeply personal, and seeing that magic come to life is why I’m still just as obsessed with events today as I was as a six-year-old watching from the edge of the dancefloor.