Madison Utendahl and Alexander Lex Kendall met at a dinner party in October 2020.
The timing was divine, Madison says.
It happened exactly when it was meant to.
Photo:Emilie White Photography
They got engaged in October of 2022 at Palm Heights in Grand Cayman.
October has become such a special month for us ever since, Madison notes.
It was during their re-opening post-Covid, and we were some of the first guests back at the hotel.
Lex had been holding on to the ring for months, waiting for the perfect time.
I thought it might be some kind of anniversary surprise, she admits.
I looked up, completely shocked, and there he wason one knee proposing!
It was the surprise of my life and so incredibly special.
We chose Portugal because it is the perfect halfway point for our friends and family.
The setting allowed for real connections, with so many shared moments beyond the evening events.
From the start, we set a clear intention, Madison explains.
Our wedding wasnt just going to be a partyit was going to be about building our future community.
As a result, the couple broke with traditional wedding rules and followed the books advice.
The couple enlisted Molly ORourke and Jeffy Hnilicka to plan their wedding weekend.
They are the best duo on the planet, the bride says.
The wedding weekend started with a vibrant welcome celebration dubbed A Lively Festival on Thursday night.
This meant custom pieces made from deadstock fabrics in New York or vintage-sourced finds.
It wasnt always easy, but it was so worth it, she says.
A vintage Alexander McQueen Irene dress from his 2001 Shipwrecked collection served as her first look.
I found it on 1stDibs and later discovered it was sourced through Tab Vintage, Madison says.
It inspired me to take a trip to L.A. to visit their studio for more looks.
She paired the dress with earrings and a bracelet by Mejuri and Amina Muaddi shoes.
I loved the entire process, and Patricia was a dream collaborator.
She truly understood my vision and brought it to life with such care and precision.
