Our Story
We met on a dating app in the fall of 2020, back when the world was mostly shut down and swiping left and right was at an all-time high. Rachel was in her second year of medical school at UCSD. Finn was five years into living out his San Diego dreams. After about four messages Finn asked Rachel out, which she could’ve taken as confidence or a massive red flag. Luckily for Finn, Rachel said yes and we chose a date. That day came and Rachel got stuck in the OR, so we ended up rescheduling. Looking back now, it was a pretty good litmus test on if we were willing to endure the challenges of medicine and dating.
Our first date was on October 10th, a sunset picnic at Kate Sessions Park with a charcuterie board and a couple of Juneshines. We talked long enough that by the time the date was over we had already planned a second one. Date two was pizza making at Finn’s, whose apartment Rachel thought was suspiciously well decorated for a late 20s single guy living alone. That date was also the first time Rachel met Tito, who acted so aloof that she was convinced he hated her and her chances with Finn were over. Eventually, Rachel won Tito over and by New Year’s we were officially a “we”.
The next couple of years were the fun part of getting to know each other and building a life together: weekend walks with Tito to The Rose for brunch, quiet mornings with homemade lattes on the couch, Rachel studying while Finn played Candy Crush, watching Apple TV screensavers and trying to guess the locations, trips to the beach, family dinners with the Donnellys, and figuring out how the other loads the dishwasher. Somewhere in there we stopped being new.
In 2023 Rachel graduated medical school, officially became Dr. Segal, and matched into her top-choice residency at the University of Washington in Seattle, which was a huge deal but also meant leaving paradise for at least six years. We said goodbye to San Diego and threw one last party in our 800 square foot apartment: forty of our favorite people crammed in, stacks and stacks of Tribute Pizza, and enough Tommy’s margaritas to forget what the party was for in the first place.
Rachel moved up to Seattle first, and Finn followed a few weeks later, driving up with his dad and Tito through a heatwave that sat over a hundred degrees most of the way. We settled into our new home and the first couple months were great, warm, and sunny. Then reality set in…
The Pacific Northwest is not Southern California. The darker, rainier winters took some getting used to, but we figured it out together. Rachel persevered through her first year of residency, Finn made the jump into big tech, we made a habit of Sunday mornings at the Ballard farmers market, walked Tito around the neighborhood rain or shine, and slowly started to learn the different areas, parks, and restaurants. Eventually Seattle started to feel like home.
Anyone who knows Rachel isn’t surprised to hear that she designed her own ring on a trip we took to NYC in 2024. Finn’s only job after that was to get it made exactly as designed and then keep it hidden, which is how it spent months in the bottom of a tuxedo shoe, in a shoe bag, in the corner of our shared closet.
In April of 2025, we took a trip to Valle de Guadalupe and on our second night, under an old oak tree at golden hour, Finn proposed. He’d set up a camera and claimed it was just for a few photos, then got down on one knee and forgot the entire speech he’d practiced. Rachel said yes, doing her best to act like she hadn’t packed a potential engagement dress for every night of the trip. Afterward, up in San Diego, Finn surprised Rachel with a dinner at Campfire that he’d quietly arranged with both of our families.
That September, after months of trying to decide where we wanted to say “I do,” we flew into Lisbon and started making our way up through Portugal, headed to Finn’s uncle’s wedding in Spain. One of our first stops was at Aethos Ericeira, a hotel overlooking the Atlantic, where the cliffs, surf, and warm air reminded us of San Diego. We immediately knew this was the place we wanted to get married.
What’s next is the part we haven’t lived yet. We got engaged in 2025 and then made everyone wait two and a half years for the wedding.
Well, it’s finally happening, and all that’s left to do is celebrate it with you!
Aethos Ericeira
The entire hotel,
exclusively ours for the weekend
Two nights, checking in 3PM on Friday and checking out 12PM on Sunday
€550 total for the full stay
Made-to-order options and a continental breakfast
Good to Know
For some information and recommendations on flights and travel options, you can use this informational tool.
Guests will be asked to stay at the property for two nights, checking in September 17 and checking out September 19. The rate is €275 per room per night, or €550 total for the stay.
If you’d like to arrive earlier or hang out a little longer after, you’re more than welcome to, just let us know as the rate for those extra nights is different.
Once RSVPs are confirmed payment instructions will be sent.
A couple of small notes:
- Aethos has a limited number of rooms. In the small chance more guests plan to stay than we have rooms available, we may need to ask people to stay off-property. Earlier RSVPs will take priority for rooms over later ones.
- Two of the rooms are larger and sleep up to six, a king bed plus two bunk beds split by a wall. If you’d happily share with family or friends to save on cost, reach out. Whoever snags them first gets them.
This includes both the on-site accommodations and events.
Friday, September 17
Dress like you’re on holiday somewhere expensive. Elevated resort wear, two-piece sets, linens and soft textures. Outfits that look luxurious, but feel effortless.
Inspo: Welcome Party Mood Board
Ceremony & Reception
Saturday, September 18
Formal attire that makes you feel fun and stylish. Think vibrant colors, interesting silhouettes, and unique textures. We’d love for everyone to look their best and embrace the atmosphere and celebration!
Inspo: Ceremony & Reception Mood Board
Breakfast
Sunday, September 19
Casual. It’s the morning after and a travel day for most, so keep it easy and comfortable. Come as you are.
The wedding party will be wearing:
The Basics:
Hello: Olá (oh-LAH)
Goodbye: Adeus (ah-DEUSH), or a casual “tchau”
Thank you: Obrigado if you’re male, Obrigada if you’re female. The word matches the speaker, not the person you’re thanking.
Please: Por favor
Cheers: Saúde (sah-OO-deh)
The deadline to RSVP is June 18, 2027.
We understand plans can change so you can update your RSVP at any time through the website or by reaching out to us up until the deadline. Any changes in plans after the deadline please reach out to us directly.