Standing inside the Palace of Queluz, I saw everything I love about design come to life — proportion, harmony, legacy. But more than that, I saw myself reflected in its corridors: a quiet dialogue between history and intimacy, between grandeur and grace.

View of a grand palace with elaborate gardens featuring neatly trimmed hedges, fountains, sculptures, and a pathway with floral arrangements leading to the entrance of the palace.

Designing my wedding there wasn’t just about beauty; it was about authorship. Every decision — from the 21-meter aisle that framed our steps, to the chandelier greenery suspended like a living sculpture — became a reflection of The Ressa Approach: architectural precision layered with emotional resonance. The palace wasn’t simply a venue; it was a canvas, and for a brief moment, it became a world shaped by feeling and form.

Within those walls, I learned that grandeur means nothing without grounding, and detail means everything when it’s done with meaning. Every proportion, every petal, every glimmer of light held intention — a reminder that design isn’t about excess, but essence.

Aerial view of a formal garden with symmetrical hedges, fountains, and sculptures in front of a large historic building, surrounded by trees and a countryside landscape.

Notes from the Palace isn’t just a reflection on that weekend. It’s an affirmation of everything I believe in: that architecture, when made personal, can hold emotion as powerfully as it holds stone.

The Palace became a living journal — a place where love met design, and design met legacy. It taught me that beauty isn’t something we stumble upon; it’s something we build — thoughtfully, emotionally, and with a sense of reverence for what endures.

People gathered around a table with a white umbrella outdoors in a garden or park, seen from above.

NOTES FROM THE PALACE

Read more about our journal

BLUEPRINTS OF BECOMING

NOTES BETWEEN BEAUTY & BLUEPRINT

FORM & FEELING