Our Top Portugal Destination Wedding Picks!
There are many wedding trends that come and go; however, there has been a general shift in what couples want to experience and plan for their weddings. The desire to host a more personalized ‘wedding experience’ is something we hope stays for a long time to come.
There are many wedding trends that come and go; however, there has been a general shift in what couples want to experience and plan for their weddings. The desire to host a more personalized ‘wedding experience’ is something we hope stays for a long time to come. With rising costs and the wish to plan a wedding based on what feels authentic as opposed to common traditions has lead many couples to think about destination weddings with smaller guest counts. Destination weddings allow couples to enjoy quality time over multiple days with their closest family members and friends in a beautiful location - making them unforgettable experiences!
Portugal is becoming one of Europe’s fastest growing European destination wedding locations due to its close proximity to the Americas, it’s fascinating history, natural beauty, amazing food and the over 850km of coastline! Unlike some European countries that impose inconvenient requirements for non-resident couples, legal weddings can be held in almost all Portugal venues, even those without a special wedding license.
Read below for some of our top picks for Portugal destination weddings!
1. LISBON
Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal and is one of the oldest cities in the world; the second-oldest European capital city (after Athens), predating other modern European capitals by centuries. It’s rich in culture and architecture, making it the perfect backdrop for photos and unforgettable memories. It has a Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and warm to hot, dry summers. Due to its variety of old vs new ensures that there are venues to suit every style and look.
2. SINTRA
Sintra is a town and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. A major tourist destination famed for its picturesqueness, the municipality has several historic palaces, castles, scenic beaches, parks and gardens. Long the home of Portugal’s monarchs, Sintra’s historic mansions, villas and castles are set against the backdrop of lush hills making destination weddings both intimate and private. Many Quintas can be rented to both accommodate guests overnight and to host weddings which can ease the logistics of hosting international guests.
3. THE ALGARVE
The Algarve is a personal favourite of Junilo and mine! It’s long sandy beaches, stunning cliffs and quintessential Mediterannean lifestyle makes us want to keep going back! The Algarve’s expat community, award-winning golf and country clubs and whitewashed beach towns make it an ideal vacation spot for guests attending weddings there. Portugal’s well maintained toll routes, make the drive to the Algarve incredibly easy. It can be done in under three hours from Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport. We would highly recommend many different venues in the Algarve to couples looking to host their unforgettable Portugal destination wedding!
Whether your plans include a small destination elopement or hosting a large number of international guests, Portugal has something for everyone! Please contact us below for more information on our European destination wedding collections and availability!
How to Plan Accordingly for Your Wedding Day's Weather
Summer’s heat, fall’s wind and storms, winter’s below zero temperatures and spring’s showers, there is no end to the possibilities of what the weather could be on a wedding day. Added to the seasons, very often our Ontario weather includes any number of different weather patterns on a single day!
Summer’s heat, fall’s wind and storms, winter’s below zero temperatures and spring’s showers, there is no end to the possibilities of what the weather could be on a wedding day. Added to the seasons, very often our Ontario weather includes any number of different weather patterns on a single day!
In our experience, weather can be one of the most stressful factors of a wedding; it’s an element of the day that cannot be controlled; however, it can really change a couple’s vision and wedding plans. Despite the uncertainty, the weather forecast doesn’t have to negatively affect the day’s events and the happiness a couple experience. The keys to not being stressed about the weather are: 1. Good planning, 2. Communication with your wedding vendors, and 3. Being prepared.
1. Good Planning
One of the first things a couple does when they first get engaged is booking their venue. When touring different venues, think about different scenarios at the venue depending on the weather. Does it have a covered location if the ceremony is going to be taking place outdoors? Does the venue offer different options, eg. indoor and outdoor locations for photographs? Are they flexible with where a couple can host cocktail hour or have photos taken on their wedding day? A venue is the single most important factor to set the tone of the wedding day so thinking about the different options based on possible weather forecast is an important thing to consider.
Part of wedding planning should also include a Plan B and even a Plan C based on possible weather scenarios. If the wedding day include multiple locations (including locations which require photography permits), it is absolutely essential to think about whether they would still work if it were to rain, or if it were extremely windy stormy, etc. Having a solid ‘weather plan’ well before the wedding day is one of the easiest ways to combat unnecessary stress on your wedding day.
2. Communication With Your Wedding Vendors
Your wedding vendors, in particular your wedding planner and photographer, are your greatest resource for ideas and inspiration! Depend on their experience and knowledge with how they have dealt with different weather in the past, locations they recommend for photos in the case of bad weather and trust that they know what is best! All of this should be discussed well before the wedding day so that a solid plan is in place and all your vendors are on the same page.
We love when our couples are in touch and take the time to book a call to talk about ideas and/or inspiration. We want our couples’ weddings to turn out the very best possible so our advice is with the best of intentions! We want nothing more for our couples than to enjoy their wedding day, not worrying about weather-related hiccups the day of. With good communication, the day of will be absolutely perfect.
3. Being Prepared
Being prepared before your wedding day is the best way to alleviate any stress the day of. Have umbrellas on hand for a rainy forecast, ask your hairstylist to be generous with the hairspray for windy days, have your bestie close by with water and blotting paper for those incredibly humid summer days and have a solid Plan B in place well before your wedding day.
Once you’ve done all you can to prepare, focus on being present and enjoying every moment of your day without stressing about the weather. You just never know, it might end up being the reason for some of your favourite candid photos from your wedding day :)
Photography: Ugo Photography | Venue: Three Feathers Terrace
Reach out to us to begin planning your wedding photography by clicking below!
Upscale Winter 'Lodge' Vibe at Intimate Wedding Venue: Braestone Club, Oro Medonte
We couldn’t have been more excited with our visit to one of the most talked about venues north of Toronto; Braestone Club and The Kitchn back at the beginning of ‘23. And let us tell you, it lived 110% up to the hype.
We couldn’t have been more excited with our visit to one of the most talked about venues north of Toronto; Braestone Club and The Kitchn in Oro Medonte. And let us tell you, it lived 110% up to the hype. If you could only hear all the ‘wows’ from Junilo and I while we toured Braestone’s latest intimate event space with Sarah, Director Of Hospitality & Events at UpCountry Venues. From a wedding photography perspective, Braestone Club literally ticks all the boxes for an ideal intimate wedding venue: ample natural light, impeccably manicured green spaces for outdoor wedding photos, Oro Medonte’s beautiful rolling hills for photographs, incredible architecture and tasteful modern decor and styling. It literally felt as if we were touring an upscale and modern lodge! As Sarah explained the history and thought behind the design of Braestone Club and The Ktchn, we couldn’t help imagining the timeless wedding photographs here!
As Braestone Club primarily functions as a popular golf course during golf season, the venue hosts weddings and events from beginning of November to April. It’s fireplace room sets the tone for a cozy yet modern space for wedding ceremonies. All the furniture can be moved so that the couple’s wedding ceremony is in front of the mesmerizing stone fireplace.
We can just imagine all the couples walking down the majestic stairs to their wedding ceremony! Once the ceremony is done, couples can use the bar and the clubhouse’s pro shop to host cocktail hour. The main dining space opens to a beautiful stone terrace which overlooks the pristine golf course. Guests and the newlyweds can enjoy a cocktail and appetizer while taking in the beautiful natural beauty of Oro Medonte’s Horseshoe Valley.
Another advantage of Braestone Club’s location is its proximity to hotels and Air BnBs. One of the most popular destinations in Ontario for skiing and winter getaways, Oro Medonte is full of accommodations for any out of town guests. Couples celebrating their wedding day at Braestone Club can make their celebration not only a day, but a whole weekend getaway with their family and friends!
We couldn’t have been more inspired by Braestone Club and The Kitchn and look forward to photographing many couples’ elegant and timeless weddings here in the months and years to come!!!
Contact us below to book your special day with us!