Welcome Cocktail Event

Wedding Day

Our Wedding

On October 4, 2019, the bride Shelly (she/her) and groom Kade (they/he) had their first date at Nitecap, a dimly-lit, romantic cocktail bar on the Lower East Side. Over seven hours later, they were still there—suspended in time and transfixed by each other, unable to bring the evening of conversation to a close. Although the night had to come to an end, the conversation didn't. The two proceeded to spend as much time together as possible: haunted houses, long walks exploring NYC and Jersey City, meeting up between Kade's grad school classes and Shelly's workout classes and staying out late never wanting to say goodbye.

FALLING IN LOVE

In that liminal space between night and morning on November 23, 2019, Kade made it official and asked Shelly out in the moody basement of the iconic but now-defunct Pyramid Club. A few months later, Kade and Shelly said "I love you" to each other for the first time, standing on the PATH platform after a romantic evening out. Their adventures continued even during the pandemic, when their road trips through the Shenandoah Valley and beyond revealed a deep travel compatibility: a love of long drives, loud music, and action-packed exploration.

On May 28, 2021, they moved into the apartment where they've lived ever since with their fluffy cats Alex and Blizzard (with frequent visits from their daughter baby cat Lina)!

Shelly said yes on June 15, 2025 (pride month!) aboard a sailing yacht on the Hudson River. The magical moment preceded an engagement photoshoot on the boat that Kade was thrilled to have kept a surprise from the mystery loving Shelly.

SAYING "YES!"

A summer whirlwind trip to Vienna, Austria; Bucharest, Brasov, Bran, and Constanta, Romania; and Istanbul, Turkey later that month embodied Kade and Shelly's relationship as perfectly as the proposal: the two are all about grand gestures, nonstop surprises, and romantic adventures!

The story continued on October 10, 2025, when Kade said yes in Staunton, Virginia, the charming Blue Ridge Mountain town the two have made their vacation home away from home ever since stumbling upon it during their pandemic roadtrips. Kade's ring—hidden within a copy of his favorite book—was engraved with an overlook along Skyline Drive, symbolizing all the roads they've traveled and all the sights that remain to see. And with a fun bonus also occurring during Staunton's own pride festival!

Our Story

Photos

Please See Below For FAQ - RSVP Link Is Now Live

Q + A

Registry

Visa + Passport Information

Starting the last quarter of 2026, all Americans will need a VISA to travel to Europe. The process is very easy to follow and outlined below. 1) Go to the official ETIAS website<a href="https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias</a> (applications will open closer to the effective date of the new VISA regulations)2) Fill out the online form- Takes about 10 minutes- Requires your passport details, travel plans, and a few security questions3) Pay the €20 fee (Pay by Card)4) Get confirmation by email- Most approvals come through within minutes- Some may take up to 4 days or more if additional review is neededImportant Notes- Apply at least 1 month before your trip to be safe- Especially important: Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your departure from Europe- ETIAS is valid for 3 years (or until your passport expires)- It allows multiple short stays within that time

Travel

Accommodations

Shelly and Kade will be staying at the <a href="https://www.palacioestorilhotel.com/offers/?partner=1684&amp;partner=1684&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=16514568415&amp;gbraid=0AAAAA_uGwJBGiV3RCHmfpGd4s8DAYyBa4&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwm6POBhCrARIsAIG58CIovoiArBPoQZs5Z7DHdgySu77xcOjz6IvCoJd3hoYtpnqWGlxb57caAuK6EALw_wcB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Palácio Estoril Hotel</a>, the historic hotel that inspired Ian Fleming's James Bond. (Bonus: it's a 10-minute walk from both our wedding venue and the beach, Praia do Tamariz!) You can use the promo code shellykade26 to get a 10% discount on website reservations from October 7th through 11th.

We encourage you to stay in either Estoril or Lisbon, as both have their advantages! Estoril will offer stunning coastal views, proximity to recreation like Europe's largest casino, and easy access to the venue, while Lisbon is a lively, culturally rich European capital city conveniently accessible by rideshare or public transit. But don't stress over the choice too much; with the wedding in Estoril and the welcome party in Lisbon, you'll get to experience the charms of both.

The Palácio is located at R. Particular, 2769-504 Estoril, Portugal. You can find more info and book a room <a href="https://www.palacioestorilhotel.com/offers/?partner=1684&amp;partner=1684&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=16514568415&amp;gbraid=0AAAAA_uGwJBGiV3RCHmfpGd4s8DAYyBa4&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwm6POBhCrARIsAIG58CIovoiArBPoQZs5Z7DHdgySu77xcOjz6IvCoJd3hoYtpnqWGlxb57caAuK6EALw_wcB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

The Estoril train station, which offers rides to Lisbon, is only a two-minute walk from the venue. Trains also run every 20-30 minutes until 1 - 1:30 AM., and Uber rides are also regularly available at reasonable rates.

There are many great options at a range of price points to stay in both Lisbon and Estoril, as well as the larger adjacent coastal town of Cascais. Below are just a few options to get you started!

More Hotel Recommendations

Lisbon

<a href="https://www.tivolihotels.com/en/tivoli-avenida-liberdade-lisboa?campid=8435708&amp;utm_campaign=nh_hotel&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_id=18327568311&amp;utm_source_platform=sa360&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=18327568311&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAD5GqPDEhzvblqFHY_0Jw72dp8x1K&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwkMjOBhC5ARIsADIdb3eQmq9OXNNt7zzg69-mYHBDOYr8L8q5R59564hllNE_VoD2K7SXJlwaArHrEALw_wcB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hotel Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa</a> is an impressive five-star hotel with a central city location, spa, and rooftop bar with skyline views. An intimate four-star hotel within a fully-renovated 18th century building, <a href="https://www.behotelisboa.com/en?sjrncid=GA_20269707312&amp;sjrnaid=GA_662407109216&amp;sjrnclid=GA_behotelisboa&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=20269707312&amp;gbraid=0AAAAACRUKJ_exOE57HIU0AfhOR5FvzHDz&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwkMjOBhC5ARIsADIdb3faQ6UHu1PzAfrolAZv5l1uJY60PgxG7gGIi_wNDWBMjiLYU0uzgAcaAqO3EALw_wcB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Behotelisboa</a> also boasts a convenient central location. Inspired by Portuguese poets, the three-star <a href="https://bepoetbaixahotel.com/about-us/?lang=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Be Poet Baixa Hotel </a>at the heart of Lisbon's Baixa district has an innovative, modern feel. The nearby Eduardo VII Park offers beautiful views with lush greenery at the three-star <a href="https://lcpark.com/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=20036299141&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADMX67k2WFEVOvKNOrP5ZubhgLWDK&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwkMjOBhC5ARIsADIdb3fYxOIX8ow8CMsvfD9EUCtqhBflZmN7su4C_MniXKM5OPJSw87RfFgaAhDQEALw_wcB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lisboa Central Park Hotel</a>, which is also centrally located and a great value.

ESTORIL

The <a href="https://www.guestreservations.com/intercontinental-estoril/booking?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=991006003&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=991006003&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADiMQMbYd8lS_8_c4BV4K2bFVZyKd&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwkMjOBhC5ARIsADIdb3dJhDHIO9oG6AwcMJoXJUXjBHk7bUN8ZirZBiLDcoHyx1A0d32b7RcaAk0FEALw_wcB&amp;ctTriggered=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Intercontinental Estoril by IHG</a> is a relaxed, modern five-star hotel with gorgeous oceanfront views in every room. You can see the venue from the windows! Close to the train station, beach, and wedding venue, the four-star <a href="https://www.hotelinglaterraestoril.com.pt/en/?gdp=affilired&amp;_affclk=adn:3817::Cj0KCQjwkMjOBhC5ARIsADIdb3fJVStU6rfv1hCIzkca65nXvHx5Vr5vNYbHwr177YPxz_zALO6quPsaApwREALw_wcB:8002y1&amp;gad_source=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hotel Inglaterra</a> is a boutique hotel in a Belle Epoque building with a sophisticated vintage feel. A one-minute walk to the Estoril Casino and a ten-minute walk to the beach, train station, and wedding venue, the three-star <a href="https://www.hotelalvorada.com/about-us.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alvorada Hotel</a> is a colorful, modern choice. Another budget-friendly option, the three-star <a href="https://hotelondres.com/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hotel Londres</a> also offers the opportunity to enjoy the prime location with proximity to the train station, beach, and was recently renovated for extra comfort.

Accommodations 

Shelly and Kade's Portugal Travel Guide

We’ve put together an optional travel guide for anyone less familiar with international travel, or just looking for extra tips! This custom guide is packed with helpful information to make your trip to Portugal as smooth and enjoyable as possible. You’ll find:- Handy travel apps and local phrases- Recommendations for hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops- Must-see sights and hidden gems- Sample itineraries for exploring Portugal before or after the wedding This guide is separate from our wedding details. Link to the Guide:<a href="https://www.canva.com/design/DAHFSgdyAK0/WALHyhZxnt-pscRXfUABDQ/view?utm_content=DAHFSgdyAK0&amp;utm_campaign=designshare&amp;utm_medium=link2&amp;utm_source=uniquelinks&amp;utlId=h4461ddc344" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> CLICK HERE</a> Copy and Paste link into your browser to view.

Shelly + Kade

Shelly + Kade

Photos