Taco Bell’s first wedding in Portugal was held at Palacio Frontera. “It was nice”
Ryan and Jessica were responsible for bringing this typically American trend to our country.
An idyllic 17th century mansion in the center of Lisbon, a North American couple is in love and can’t live without Mexican food and hundreds of friends and family in the mix. It sounds like a combination invented to make a dry joke, but it may be the “tweet format” summary of the first Taco Bell wedding in Portugal. This concept may seem strange, but it works in the USA and we will explain everything to you. But first, the bride and groom.
Ryan and Jessica met in 2019, at a brewery in Boston, and began dating shortly after. They soon discovered they had a common passion: Mexican cuisine. Two years after their first meeting, the long-awaited marriage proposal came during a vacation.
“I convinced her to wake up very early so we could watch the sunrise on a very beautiful beach in Honolulu, Hawaii. When the sun came up, I popped the question and she said yes. The rest is history,” Ryan tells NiT.
He is 33 years old and works as a physiotherapist, and she is 31 years old and works as an events organiser. After two years of courtship, they were married in Lisbon, more specifically at the palace of the Marquis de Frontera, on September 23.
They lived in different areas of the United States and the guests were also spread across the country, so a “destination wedding” seemed like a good choice. “We knew they would have to get on the plane anyway,” they joke. The couple loves to travel and have visited Lisbon at least five times.
We always felt welcome thanks to the happiness and generosity of the Portuguese people. “Portugal is beautiful and we are passionate about the country’s history and culture. In the future, we would like to live here,” they admitted.
The choice of the capital over any other point in the country was based on “logistical ease, because there are many direct flights to the United States.” “When we came to see the place, we immediately felt that it was the right choice,” they emphasize.
Palacio dos Marqueses de Fronteira is a very traditional property – with extensive gardens, lakes and “magnificent architecture” – full of splendor and romance, characteristics that convinced the bride and groom. However, no one knew that one of the country’s most unusual weddings would take place there.
Ryan Grill and Jessica Blair were the heroes of the first Taco Bell wedding in Portugal. Although it is almost unknown among us, this concept is very popular in the USA. Given their immense passion for Mexican food, their desire to include it in the party came naturally, they just needed to find a way to make it happen on this side of the Atlantic.
In 2017, the chain restaurant in Las Vegas began organizing weddings in what is known as Sin City, where many decisions are made without thinking twice about them. The ceremony is officiated by a certified priest, and over the years, more than 900 couples have been officially married. Those who get married in this venue, which is now an authentic church, also receive merchandise from the brand, such as clothing, a bouquet made from product packaging, and of course, plenty of food.
A picture that cannot be missed.
Taco Bell weddings are here to stay
They decided to have a wedding filled with Taco Bell’s signature dishes, but in another part of the world, they contacted the brand’s branch in Portugal via email while they were still in the United States. When they asked for a demo, they received a surprising answer: The chain didn’t offer the service nationally, but they decided to do so — and they were going to serve them the meal. After all, it was to celebrate the first Taco Bell wedding in our country — “and it was beautiful.”
The main dinner menu was typically Portuguese, with dishes such as cod and custard tarts. “After midnight, when everyone had had enough to drink, dinner was served – with only Taco Bell specials. “The brand is very dear to us and our guests loved it,” they reveal. “It gave them the dose of energy they needed to dance until late.” From the morning on the dance floor,” joked the newlyweds.
But after all, why are so many Americans obsessed with Taco Bell? The reason is simple. They serve food that is quick and easy to eat, and almost every city has a chain restaurant (there are over 7,800 in the USA). The brand’s popularity reached its peak in 2007, during Major League Baseball, when it decided to offer bats to all Americans whenever a player hit a home run.
At Ryan and Jessica’s wedding, guests had the opportunity to devour the best-selling dishes on the menu: nachos with cheese sauce, BBQ and guacamole; Crunchwrap Supreme, Crunchy Taco Supreme (with ground beef, cheddar and lettuce), burrito, quesadilla and chicken nachos.
The chain confirmed to NiT that it does not intend to stop there, and in the future it hopes to receive other orders for Taco Bell weddings. If you would like to serve your guests a Mexican inspired dinner or dinner, you can always email (info@voidtacobell.pt) to settle the details with the company.
The newlyweds did not reveal much information about their honeymoon. However, we suspect they haven’t chosen Mexico as their destination – they likely don’t want to see specialties from that country on offer in the coming weeks. After all, they left Lisbon swinging.
Click through the gallery and see the best photos from Ryan and Jessica’s wedding, the first Taco Bell wedding in Portugal.
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