Olá, Amigos!

We are beyond excited by all the RSVPs we’ve received and the incredible number of you who have already booked your flights to Brazil. Thank you so much for your enthusiasm and commitment to joining us for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration. We’ve also been getting lots of great questions about what to expect, both for the wedding and for your travels. To help, this newsletter is all about Brazilian culture and wedding traditions so you’ll feel fully prepared.

🇧🇷 Brazilian Culture 101

Brazil is a warm, vibrant country where hospitality is everything. A few things to know before you go:

• Greetings: Brazilians often greet each other with a hug and one kiss on the cheek, usually on the right side. Don’t be surprised if even new acquaintances greet you warmly.

• Lunch: Lunch is king in Brazil. Forget the 15-minute desk lunch; here, the mid-day meal is the big one. Many people head home for a full, multi-course meal with family, and restaurants mirror that tradition. If you grab lunch out, expect dinner-sized portions and plenty of options.

• Dining times: Dinner in Brazil is much later than in the U.S., often starting after 8:30 or 9pm. You’ll have no problem finding open tables at the typical American dinner time… just make sure the restaurant is open.

• Restaurant Etiquette: It’s perfectly acceptable to wave down a waiter for service and it’s not considered rude. Also, Brazilian steakhouses are a casual and inexpensive experience compared to the Brazilian steakhouses in the U.S. We strongly encourage you to visit a churrascaria (multiple times) during your stay.

• Water & Beverages: Bottled water is the norm. While tap water is safe, restaurants almost always serve bottled and yes, you’ll pay for it. Same goes for soda refills: no freebies here. Luckily, drinks are cheap (think about $1 for a Coke), so it won’t break the bank.

• Punctuality: Time runs differently in Brazil. Being late isn’t rude here, it’s expected. So if plans start a little behind schedule, just roll with it since Brazilians are famously relaxed about time.

• Bathrooms: This is a big one — nothing gets flushed down the toilet, not even toilet paper. Instead, there will be a small trash bin beside the toilet. Please follow this to avoid plumbing issues.

• Energy & Social Life: Expect energy everywhere. Brazilians are loud, warm, and extroverted people who love to connect. Don’t be shy about introducing yourself and meeting new people. If you joined us in Pittsburgh, expect similar interactions when we fly south.

Speaking & Languages:

For those that are fluent Spanish speakers, this will come in handy. Most Brazilians will be able to understand slow, properly pronounced, and fluent Spanish; however, this is not the time to practice your limited, high-school taught Spanish. Our recommendation? Unless you grew up speaking Spanish, resort to English… most tourist heavy cities (e.g., Rio) are used to English speaking visitors. Younger generations are bilingual and after a couple of cocktails, 90% of our Brazilian guests will be trying their English speaking skills out with you.

Some handy phrases in Portuguese that will be helpful regardless of city:

• Oi, tudo bem? – Hi, how are you?

• Não falo português – I don’t speak Portuguese

• Onde fica o banheiro? – Where is the restroom?

• Mais uma cerveja, por favor – Another beer, please

🥂 Wedding Traditions, Timeline, & Details

Let’s chat about the reason we’re all here. Our wedding will be similar to a traditional Southern Brazilian wedding. Similar to an American wedding, we will have a ceremony, cocktail hour, and then reception which will include drinks, dinner, and of course a great party.

Some key differences you may notice are that the bridal party is much larger than a typical American wedding. We are lucky enough to have 24 of our closest friends and family members walk down the aisle before the bride and after the groom. Large bridal parties are standard in Brazil and we’re excited to have so many people included in our ceremony. Additionally, there are fewer formal “moments” during the reception: no speeches, no cake-cutting, no stand alone parent dances. Outside of the first couple’s dance, the reception is just purely a celebration! Expect a mix of live bands and DJs, playing a wide range of music to keep the energy high all night long. From traditional Brazilian rhythms to international hits, the music will carry us through until 3am.

“What to wear? How formal is the wedding? Should I consider getting hair/make-up done? What suit/dress should I bring?” All of these great questions have been sent our way in the last couple of weeks and hopefully this newsletter sheds some light on those FAQs:

Brazilian weddings are formal and elegant occasions, and the attire reflects that:

• Men: A dark, full suit with tie/bow-tie is expected. Feel free to add in your personalized spice to your outfit; three-piece suits or maybe those fancy shoes you never get a chance to wear. NO tuxedos, summer suits, and tan or linen looks.

• Women: Think formal, full-length gowns, similar to a black-tie gala. Evening wear is the norm, and guests tend to dress to impress — it’s part of the fun of the celebration. It is common, almost tradition, that Brazilian women get their hair and make-up done before attending a wedding. Please contact Manuella asap if you’re interested in any of those “treat ya self” professional services.

• Shoes: Being barefoot at a wedding is considered disrespectful in Brazilian culture. Once dancing begins, we’ll provide flip-flops for comfort and to ensure there are no pés sujos. Please reference the below table for your Brazilian shoe size:

👟 Shoe Size Conversion (U.S. ➝ Brazil)

The Welcome Party (November 19th)

The night before the wedding, we’ll gather for a Welcome Party, which is not a rehearsal dinner but a true kickoff celebration. Intended to welcome you all to Brazil and kick-off the wedding events, we are excited to host you after a long day of travel. Don’t worry, more logistical details to come!

Dress Code: Please wear white. In Brazil, wearing white symbolizes peace, renewal, and good luck, which is why it’s so important during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

This evening is designed for everyone to mingle, meet new people, and set the stage for the celebration ahead. Please use this time to introduce yourself to the other friend and family that have traveled and our local Brazilian family. Come wedding day, y’all will be partying like old friends!

The Wedding Day (November 20th)

To eliminate confusion, the ceremony and reception are in the same location. You will be hosted at the Castelo do Batel in the heart of Curitiba - Manuella’s home town. Here are some basic elements to expect throughout the day:

• Ceremony: Begins at 6:00 pm and will last less than an hour. The service will be in both English and Portuguese, ensuring everyone’s native language is included and celebrated. We kindly ask that no one use their phone during the ceremony. Our professional photographers will capture everything beautifully, and we’d love to see a ceremony free of glowing phone screens. I promise, your Facebook uploaded pictures taken with your iPhone 14 will not beat out our paid professionals…

• Wedding/Bridal Party: Brazilian wedding parties are much larger than in the U.S. Typically, all members of the wedding party walk down the aisle before the bride, and sit towards the front of the ceremony.

• Cocktail Hour: From the end of the ceremony until around 8:45/9:00 pm, expect plenty of delicious food and drinks. Please enjoy cocktails and conversations immediately after the ceremony.

• Mesa dos Docinhos e Bem Casados: This is Kevin’s personal favorite Brazilian wedding tradition - a sweets table with thousands of sweets and cookies. These include traditional Brazilian desserts such as brigadeiro (sprinkle-covered chocolate balls). Make sure to pick up a bem casado, which is wrapped in a beautiful package and is given out to all the guests at the end of the reception. This little treat is a symbol of prosperity and good luck.

• Dinner & Dancing: Dinner will be a full, sit-down plated meal, served around 9pm. The first dance will take place around 10pm, and then the party begins. Brazilians take weddings seriously, so expect multiple bars (including drink-specific whiskey bars, a grand bar, and more), live bands, a late-night DJ, and dancing until about 3am. Midnight snacks will keep everyone going into the early hours!

• Structure: Unlike most American weddings, Brazilian weddings aren’t packed with formalities like wedding party entrances, parent dances, cake cutting, or speeches. Beyond the first couple’s dance, the focus is on enjoying the night together.

• Lounge Spaces: Our favorite times are spent with the people we love most, regardless if that is dancing for hours, or pulling up a chair at the bar. With this in mind, there will be a large, bar-focused lounge area adjacent to the dance floor, so you’re still in the heart of the celebration.

🗓 Wedding Day Timeline

• 6:00 PM — Ceremony begins (in both English & Portuguese). Please note: we ask for a completely phone-free ceremony. We want everyone to be fully present, and our photographers will capture everything beautifully.

• 7:00 PM — Cocktail hour with abundant food and drinks.

• 8:45/9:00 PM — Dinner service begins with a plated meal.

• 10:30 PM — First dance, then the party begins!

• Midnight — Late-night snacks served, live music transitions to a DJ.

• 3:00 AM — Party concludes (yes, Brazilians party late!).

🎒 Packing Tips (Preview)

We’ll send a more detailed packing guide in the next newsletter, but here are a few essentials to keep in mind:

• Beach cities (like Rio): Very relaxed — shorts, flip-flops, and beach cover-ups are completely acceptable.

• Curitiba: A bit more dressed up, similar to a European style where athletic wear isn’t common outside the gym. Men often wear pants with sneakers, and women lean toward chic casual looks.

• Weather: Curitiba’s weather is unpredictable, and you can expect at least one rain shower during your stay. Pack a light jacket or travel umbrella just in case.

Final Notes

We are so grateful to everyone making the trip to Brazil. It means the world to us to share not only our wedding but also a piece of Manuella’s culture and traditions with you. If you have any questions — from logistics to what to pack — please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We cannot wait to celebrate together!

A Few Quick Details:

• Wedding Date: November 20, 2025 – Mark your calendars!

• Location: Castelo do Batel, Curitiba PR - We can’t wait to share the beauty of Brazil with you.

• Wedding Website: Visit our website for general wedding day information and RSVP

As always, let us know if you have any questions. We’re happy to help with travel recommendations, clarifying wedding day details, and pointing you in the right direction (especially food options) as we get closer to the big day.

Até logo,
M&K