Planning on Portugal for your wedding?
We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Janna Nightingale from Candid Content Portugal, one of our Together Journal partners based in Portugal. Janna is an expert Content Creator, meaning she captures raw, emotive content, mainly via smartphone, that is turned around quickly and is used for sharing with friends and family who could not make the day as well as for posting across social media. Capturing this kind of content is also a great way for the couple and all of those present at the wedding to relive the memories and candid moments 24 hours after the wedding – as the day goes by so quickly and its easy to be overwhelmed and miss moments on the day. Content Creation photography and video is an emerging professional service for weddings, which is fast becoming very popular as it allows couples and friends to switch off from social media themselves. It also enables them to capture this type of unique, in-the-moment content to sit alongside and complement their other professional photographic and video services.
At Together Journal, we predict that Portugal, Spain, and Greece will become the next hot spots for destination weddings. We will have more on Spain and Greece later, but for now, to uncover all the intriguing details about Portugal and why you should consider it for your destination wedding (or local wedding if you are based in Portugal), we turned to Janna, a talented expert Content Creator on the ground, to gain valuable insights into what makes this country a standout choice for weddings.
So why is Portugal a great place to have a modern wedding or elopement?
Cultural Vibes:
How does Portugal’s amazing blend of history and culture add that extra magic to modern weddings and elopements? And are there any fun Portuguese traditions people can incorporate in a modern way?
Portugal’s charming culture and abundant history add a special and unique touch to weddings and elopements. Incorporating Portuguese wedding traditions with a modern twist or marrying in one of the many timeless and picturesque locations has proven to be an unforgettable way to elevate your wedding day, surrounded by all that Portugal has to offer.
With a Latin heritage, the beauty in the landscapes, people, and history around every corner (and not to mention the incredible cuisine) align perfectly if you’re looking to add an extra bit of magic to your dream day. A traditional culture comes with fun and unique wedding day traditions also, with a favourite I know from many brides & grooms being the huge array of traditional Portuguese tapas, food, and deserts served all day for the guests to enjoy and experience at specific moments of the day. The midnight seafood buffet is always a huge success!
Instagram-Worthy Spots:
What are some of the coolest, most Instagram-worthy locations in Portugal for tying the knot?
A few of my favourites based on location include:
North of Portugal:
Posada Mosteiro, Amares.
Palácio do Freixo, Porto.
Solar da Levada, Braga.
Central Portugal:
Palácio do Queluz, Lisbon.
Palácio dos marqueses de fronteira, Lisbon.
Rio do Prado, Obidos.
Sao Lourenço do Barrocal, Alentejano.
Solar de Pancas, Alenquer.
Algarve, Portugal:
Palácio de Estoi, Faro
Chapel Nossa Senhora da Rocha, Albufeira.
NoSoloAgua, Portimão
Monte do Serrinho, Algarve.
Food and Wine Adventures:
How do Portugal’s delicious food and world-famous wines take wedding celebrations to the next level?
From unequalled fresh fish, spectacular meat dishes, variety in rich pastries such as the famous Portuguese Tart (Pastel de nata), and not to mention the wine culture here in Portugal with its famous Red and Green wines brings something special to each and every destination wedding here, no matter what. What makes the food & wine culture here so special is the mentality and passion the Portuguese have toward their heritage and produce, and for your wedding day wherever you go in Portugal, their passion is seen and savoured by what they have to offer.
Quinta da Pacheca, located in Douro Valley just east of Porto (a haven for wine lovers) provides gastronomical experiences and with wine from their vineyard like you’ve never had before!
What can couples expect from local wedding planners and vendors? Any standout services or trends we should know about?
From my experience within the industry and currently planning my own destination wedding here in Portugal, I know that with so many options for wedding planners and vendors, each one has something different and special to offer.
In recent years, Portugal has grown more popular as a lead wedding destination, and with this increasing demand, I feel proud to work alongside Portuguese businesses who work passionately and excitably to make your day as magical as possible. You can expect local planners to incorporate traditional and authentic cultural details, great service and attention to detail, and, of course, bespoke wedding design where planners craft unique themes that blend modern elegance with traditional Portuguese elements (it’s becoming very well known here for this!)
Bang for Your Buck:
How does Portugal offer a luxe wedding experience without breaking the bank?
Portugal offers luxurious yet affordable options and wedding experiences for destination brides & grooms looking to marry or elope. With the cost of living here being lower than in places such as New Zealand or Australia, it translates to better competitive prices if you want to budget slightly lower or want a more affordable way to indulge. It can be easy to leverage the advantages and opportunities Portugal has to offer in terms of curating a luxe and bespoke experience, and with the right wedding planner, everything is possible to bring your vision to life.
Style Maker:
How is Portugal keeping up with or setting modern wedding trends while still keeping that charming vibe? Any unique weddings that come to mind?
I believe that while Portugal holds a special charm due to it’s heritage, cultural aspects, and exotic landscapes and architecture, as the wedding industry here is rapidly growing it’s becoming more common to see modern wedding trends immersed while maintaining it’s traditional culture.
A wedding I saw recently had a very unconventional take combining a Portuguese specialty and bespoke design. With Portugal being very well known for incorporating Cabbage into many of their traditional dishes, a floral designer created a centrepiece against a typical backdrop you will find in many architectural designs here in Portugal. I thought it was just so wonderfully clever- I loved it!
Easy Peasy Planning:
What makes planning a wedding in Portugal easier, especially for international couples?
Aside from the majority of vendors and the population here speaking some level of English (which, for a lot of destination couples marrying in Portugal, is a huge help!) What makes it easier is the vast level of accessibility and variety in vendors, venues, and offerings they have to offer! Even for my own wedding, trying to narrow down my list of vendors and venues has been a real challenge as I have loved so many, but it has also been a blessing to be able to really narrow down our vision for our wedding day.
Fun for Everyone:
What fun activities and attractions can couples and their guests enjoy around the wedding festivities?
Vineyards, exploring charming cities and quaint villages, and incredible beaches are just some of the best things Portugal has to offer. Especially during the summer months in Portugal, hundreds of cultural and traditional events are celebrated in every village and city. Any excuse to celebrate is what the Portuguese are most well known for, so incorporating this into your wedding festivities I have seen be a huge success for Destination brides & grooms here around Portugal!
Love Stories:
We know you work in the wedding sector. Can you share some standout stories from couples you have worked with who got hitched in Portugal? What made their weddings so special?
My personal favourite has to be the love story of my most recent wedding, which I documented based in the Algarve! A gorgeous couple from Ireland ventured to Portugal for their dream day as they’re a pair who love the thrill of adventures and, from when they got engaged, had pictured a very specific venue for their destination wedding on the coast of Albufeira (the church of Lady of the Rock). It felt so special to be a part of their day as they had so much adoration for the location, cultural festivities, and the fact that their closest family and friends had ventured here to also be a part of their love celebration.
There is something about a destination wedding that holds a special place in the hearts and memories of the guests, wedding parties, and vendors. The combination of experiences, uniqueness, and adventures made in the process make it feel like a built-in honeymoon for everyone- it feels special each and every time.
Janna, thank you for sharing your wonderful insight to Portugal. We highly recommend Janna if you are planning to marry in Portugal or elsewhere in Europe (she does travel). Learn more by visiting candidcontentpt.com and @candidcontentportugal. Explore Candid Content Portugal on the Together Journal Online Directory.
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