When Sarah Hong and Vincent Shapiro met back when they worked together at WSJ. Magazine, their connection was immediate. “On my very first day, we clicked instantly while supporting the publisher,” Sarah recalls. “We even jokingly called ourselves his ‘left’ and ‘right’ hands because of how closely we worked together.”
Vincent proposed during what Sarah thought was just a surprise birthday trip to Iceland. On the drive from Reykjavik to The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, he suggested a sunset hike and encouraged her to set up her phone to capture some “organic photos.” “That’s when he got down on one knee,” she says. “I was completely taken by surprise.” The moment was followed by Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries at the hotel and several days of pure bliss at the spa. “It was the most magical start to the trip, and a moment I’ll never forget.”
When it came time to plan their wedding, Sarah and Vincent wanted it to feel immersive rather than traditional. With the help of their planner, TALES, they chose Palácio da Fonte Nova in Sintra, Portugal—a historic estate filled with chandeliers, statues, lush gardens, and eclectic interiors. “It felt like the perfect canvas,” Sarah says. “We wanted something quirky, moody, colorful, and fresh—what we called elevated whimsy.”
Their wedding weekend took place June 6–8, 2025. Drawing inspiration from their travels and shared love of design, they layered rich hues, organic textures, and sculptural florals by Bosque to create what Sarah describes as “a maximalist dreamscape that felt entirely like us.”
After trying on more than 50 wedding dresses, Sarah chose a two-piece set by SEPT—a look that surprised her most. “I always pictured myself in a fitted, embellished gown,” she explains. “But even after two months of sleeping on it, it was the only look I couldn’t stop thinking about. When you know, you know.” She styled the look with meaningful heirlooms and gifts, including a butterfly necklace and Chanel bag from Vincent, a bangle from her mom, a matching bracelet worn by her grandmother and sister, and a Cartier Baignoire watch from her parents. Prada mesh shoes completed the look.
Vincent wore a Giorgio Armani tuxedo, styled with a midnight-blue bowtie and cummerbund. Together with Harmeet Singh of The Jewel Boutique, the couple created a custom celestial lapel pin inspired by their sun-and-moon emblem, paired with star-motif earrings on his lapel.
The ceremony was the most meaningful part of the day for Sarah. “I’m a very sentimental person, and I wanted the ceremony to reflect the love and romance in our lives,” she says. Set on the estate grounds, the ceremony featured custom blue-and-white checkered cushions and a breathtaking floral altar. The couple also included a ring-warming ritual, inviting guests to pass the rings and fill them with love and well wishes. “Once the ceremony began, we absolutely basked in the warmth and love surrounding us,” Sarah recalls. The weekend was perfectly captured by photographer Marcijuš Studio and videographer Sublime Films. For beauty, Sarah worked with SophieMUA to elevate her signature look with a sharp cat-eye, dramatic lashes, bold brows, and warm-toned hues.
A jazz trio from 24 Robbers eased guests into cocktail hour, which doubled as an interactive experience. Guests received mysterious keys, slipped them through a curtained keyhole, and were handed envelopes revealing their table numbers by a gloved hand. A garden scavenger hunt led to hidden bottles that could be exchanged for specialty cocktails by Bar Factory and sweet surprises like chocolate-covered strawberries, truffles, and macarons.
Dinner by Imppacto featured goat cheese puff pastry with honey and walnuts, chilled strawberry gazpacho, and a choice of steak with truffle sauce or seared seabass with sparkling wine velouté. A mushroom truffle course arrived tableside under glass cloches filled with smoke. Honoring their multicultural backgrounds and Portuguese setting, menus included celebratory cheers translated into Dutch, Korean, and Portuguese.
Dessert was a chocolate cake by Edelweiss, filled with passionfruit and pineapple, cut beneath fireworks. Toasts were given by Sarah’s father, her sister and maid of honor, and Vincent’s brother and best man. The night opened with a high-energy brass band, followed by a saxophonist from Alta Cena, before closing out the night with a DJ set that kept guests dancing late into the evening. Guests also enjoyed a photo studio by M/Ania, capturing playful moments throughout the night.
The celebration continued the next day with a deeply meaningful Korean Paebaek tea ceremony staged by Sarah’s grandmother, aunt, and mother. Custom hanboks were worn by both families, and Sarah’s sister emceed, explaining the symbolism behind each ritual. For her “something old,” Sarah tailored one of her mother’s hanboks from her newlywed days and paired it with a matching bag.
After a mini-moon at The Reserve in Madeira, the couple jetted off for a larger honeymoon in Australia, Japan, and Korea.
