Image by Andre Teixeira Brancoprata via Wedding Chicks

Portugal is set to be THE next big wedding destination and here are some reasons why:

1. Weather

The Portuguese weather is pretty magnificent all year around. Even during the winter period the climate is mild, most days are blue skied and sunny.

Beauty and diversity

Each area in Portugal has its own beauty, you would not believe it could co-exist in the same country. The Algarve at Portugal’s most southern tip is red soiled and dry, perfect for tropical/southern european plant vegetation. Beautiful wide white sandy beaches line the shores, hence its popularity with the Northern Portuguese in the summer period. The Algarve is the perfect place for a wedding on the beach or a private wedding in a secluded Quinta.

Image by Piteira Photography via 100 Layer Cake

The Alentejo is also very dry, however, it is highly irrigated because it is Portugal’s main agricultural centre. It is the hottest area of Portugal in the summer time so it is most suited to weddings in local churches, and exclusive vineyards. Forget the Rose wines that are widely exported from Portugal, true Portuguese wines are something to behold.

Lisbon has history in its bones, due to the vast wealth it collected when it was one of the great colonial empires. You can feel its history all along the coastline venues, with palaces, quintas, churches and historic monuments. The Portuguese love contemporary, this has led to rise of uber modern hotels and venue spaces, right on the water. Due to Lisbon’s location on the river Tagus Estuary mouth, it is also possible to have beach weddings along the coast. It has a very mild all year round climate, with a cooler sea breeze in the summer period.

Image by Piteira Photography via Jet Fete

If you would like to marry in Lisbon, it is also worth considering Sintra. Sintra is situated on a mountain around 20 minutes away from Lisbon. Due to its location it is cooler and much greener, so much so, that you would not believe you could get this landscape in sunny Portugal. It houses many UNESCO world heritage sites with amazing views of the coastline & is an incredibly beautiful place.

The north of Portugal is also known from its cooler temperatures and history. You could marry in a beautiful vineyard on the river Douro, the home of Port or in a small traditional church.

Weddings

You can plan for Civil and Catholic legal ceremonies in Portugal and any form of religious blessing. It is not possible to marry legally in the form of any other religion apart from Catholism. You can get around this by either having a small civil ceremony in Portugal, or in your own country of origin, then have a big religious blessing ceremony for family and friends in Portugal.

On the 17th May 2010, Portugal became the 6th country in Europe to allow same- sex marriages nationwide. This allows couples to marry legally in a civil registry, or have a blessing for family friends after already being married in their own country of origin. Foreign national couples can also marry in Portugal even if same sex marriage in not recognized in their country of origin.

Venues

Villa Sao Paulo – A palace built in 1911 by a Portuguese aristocrat, Villa Sao Paulo has been lovingly renovated and is now perfect for wedding ceremonies and receptions for up to 90 guests, with room to sleep up to 36. The exterior and  interior boast stunning architecture typical of the period, mixed with high quality contemporary finishes on all floors. The first floor houses a terrace perfect for wedding ceremonies and the pool floor offers fantastic space for wedding receptions with large sheet glass windows. Each floor has an incredible panoramic ocean view.

Image via Lisbon Wedding Planner

Villa Aqua Living is a cutting edge, contemporary villa situated in Quinta da Marinha which is considered the most exclusive area in the whole of Portugal. The villa is set in landscaped gardens, with outlooks of Oitavos Dunes Championship Golf course and is a five minute walk to the ocean front. The villa is full of indulgence and high end finishes, with a home cinema room, heated inside pool, outside pool and its very own spa. The house has 8 bedrooms and can hold up to 50 guests in its grounds for a wedding celebration.

I hope you enjoyed this post Polka Dotters!

Ms Gingham says: Looks absolutely divine! If anyone is planning a destination wedding in Portugal we’d love to hear from you!

About Lisbon Wedding Planner: We are a Wedding Planning Company in Lisbon, Portugal. We organise everything to make our brides lives easier. We organise ever small and large detail from the ceremony to the reception, accommodation, honeymoon, anything the party want to do while they are in Portugal.