Have you ever wondered what  are those little things that  make Portugal a unique wedding destination? Portugal Wedding Guide has made a list of the best things that define Portugal as a nation and make it such an appealing Wedding Destination.

Camelias in January

There is a saying that there is no flower in winter. Completely wrong! Portugal is full of Camellias, also called  “winter flowers”. In autumn the first camellias start to bloom but it is in January, February and March that you can see a huge amount of Camellia mainly in the Douro Litoral and Minho regions. So don’t worry because whatever the season you chooseto have your wedding in Portugal, you will always find a flowery landscape. Even in January, you will beautiful Camellias for your bride’s bouquet. 

Portuguese Sidewalk

Photo by Gabriele Iuvara

Portuguese sidewalk is a traditional ornamental style of pavement used in the covering of many pedestrian areas in Portugal. Later they were introduced in the old Portuguese colonies like Brazil and Macau. The stones of irregular shape are usually in white and black limestone, and put together in decorative patterns or illustrative symbols of Portuguese history.

Fado - Portuguese music genre

Photo by Môsieur J.

Fado is a Portuguese music style. It is usually sung by one person (singer) and accompanied by classical guitar (in the media singers called viola) and Portuguese guitar. The fado was elevated to the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Fado began in the streets of Lisbon in the second half of the 19th century, packed in chains of romanticism, a song that expressed the sadness of the people that were disappointed towards this season, dropping their letters in their sorrows, so it would set them free.

Espresso Coffee



What can we say about our small cups of strong coffe? A reminder of the essences of the pure and brown coffe! A small dose but five times stronger. You must try it with a custard cake in the morning or in the afternoon sitting on the terrace of a Portuguese beach with a clear blue-sky beache while relaxing before your wedding abroad.

Yellow Tram

The first yellow tram was created in Oporto in 1895, the next one in the capital Lisbon in 1901 and four years later it appeared in Sintra (in 1904). You will enjoy visiting Lisbon in the tram 28, a vintage yellow tram which goes through the whole city of LIsbon, enabling people to make a memorable and funny tour in the capital. Being popular, cheap and convenient (you can hop-on and hop-off as you wish), this tram is often full so you should avoid riding it when its full so as to enjoy the journey.

Cristiano Ronaldo

You definitely know the famous Real Madrid football player Cristiano Ronaldo... Well, he is Portuguese! This 30 year-old-prodigy began his career with only 18 years of age in the Sporting Club of Portugal, before moving to Manchester United and then to Real Madrid in 2009. He is so sought by the other football clubs that is now under a €1 billion buyout clause which makes him the most expensive and highly-paid football player in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo is an awarded man, he has won twice the Ballon d’Or (gold-ball) in 2008 and 2013 and received, in 2014, in Lisbon’s presidential palace by the Portuguese President himself, who made him an official of the Order of "Infante Dom Henrique", one of Portugal’s highest honors. This Portuguese national order awards people for relevant services in the expansion of the Portuguese Culture, its History and values. The President Anibal Cavaco Silva said Ronaldo deserved this recognition because he “brings prestige for Portugal around the world”.

SagresSagres is a Portuguese beer created in 1940, considered as a prestigious beverage at that time, and started the export of this beverage. The Sagres brand only uses natural products, following exclusive traditional methods without any additives or preservatives in the production. As well as its competitor Super Bock, these two Portuguese brands lead the beer market in Portugal and have 89.5% market share.
Over the years, the beer brand diversified its offer and launched a range of different beers. First, a lager beer, a white one, a dark one, the “Sagres zero” (without alcohol), the “Sagres Bohemia” (a brown beer) and the “Sagres Radler”, a beer mixed with lemon juice.
This way you will be sure to find your Sagres and please all your guests at your wedding.

Portuguese cork

In Portugal, cork oak trees are abundant since it concentrates 34% of the world’s cork oak tree forest thanks to the good climate conditions. Cork is one of the products which contribute the most to the economic growth of the country. Actually, Portugal accounts for about 50% of the world’s cork production, the main part being to make bottle caps but also for more unusual uses such as floor tiles or fishing accessories.

Sea Sunset

Because Portugal is the south western most country and has the Atlantic Ocean in the west and more than 1000 km of long coast with beaches and natural cliffs and escarpments it will be impossible for you to miss our sea sunset for its bright and worm colours and is reflection in the blue and calm sea. And this is one of the most important reasons for thousands of couples have already chosen us for wedding destination, because in Portugal a wedding by the sea or a beach wedding is possible! 



Portuguese Tiles

Photo by Patricia Feaster

Portuguese tiles or "azulejos", as they are called in Portuguese, are an iconic form of ornamental art that characterizes the architecture in the interior or exterior of churches, palaces and even simple houses. These tiles have also been used in contemporary architecture like for example in important railway stations or subway stations, where they tell a story of major historical and cultural aspects of Portuguese history.

Portuguese Guitar

Photos by Feliciano Guimarães

The origins of the Portuguese guitar go back to the Middle Ages to an instrument called “cítula”. This evolved over time, from the lute, culminating in the Portuguese guitar. The Portuguese guitar has an unmistakable timbre in such a way that, wherever you are, any Portuguese can recognizethe sound on the first chords. It is a musical instrument loaded with symbolism and at the mercy of its long alliance with Fado, is associated with the "way of being" Portuguese. Destiny, fate and longing are words that naturally associate with the trill of the Portuguese guitar.

Barcelo´s Cock

Photo by Graeme Churchard

This emblematic icon is a popular legend, that goes way back to medieval time, when the Galician pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela, and was miraculously saved from the gallows, thanks to Santiago, where the crowing of the roasted rooster stood up on the table and sang. After a few years, Galician returned to Barcelos and built a monument in honor of the Virgin and St. James to show them their recognition.

Portuguese Sardines

Due to its location on the ocean, Portugal is a country which eats a lot of fish. Saying that Portuguese people are codfish eaters is a cliché, actually, they eat much more sardines than codfish. So it is not difficult to find quality grilled sardines in Portuguese restaurants which is very popular in this country, we even recommend you to try it at least once during your stay in Portugal.

Portuguese  Shoes

The Portuguese footwear industry has been growing and expanding, for the design quality, fine materials and for the production process. The success is in such a way that the best Portuguese brands of shoes have been recognized and awarded in various specialty trade shows in Portugal and abroad. The best Portuguese brands of shoes are already a reference for quality and style across borders being increasingly appreciated by countries in the five continents, such as Germany, the USA and Japan. So if you are a fashionista bride be sure to have the best and exclusive high heels for your dream wedding in Portugal.

Golf Courses

It is in 1890 that the first golf course was created in Portugal, the sport was introduced by the British when British wine exporters settled in the country. Thanks to its good weather, Portugal is a great destination to play golf all year round. Some courses have been designed by world-famous architects, that is why with about 70 courses all around the country, most of them are famous worldwide, also due to their high quality, good conditions and beautiful landscapes. It is so pleasant to play in Portugal that every year, the country welcomes thousands of tourist golf players, even in winter. It is in the Algarve that the golf courses are the most concentrated, this beautiful region has been elected twice (in 2000 and 2005) best golf destination in the world. In 1995, the San Lorenzo course (Algarve), was elected the second best European course. So if you dream of a wedding on a green, you now know where to go!

Beaches

There are beaches all along Portugal, each one more beautiful than the one before. Nevertheless, some may catch more our attention, particularly in the Algarve region which is the main touristic destination in Portugal.

In Albufeira (Algarve) you will find the most popular beaches because of their golden sand, dunes, coves and cliffs such as the Dona Ana-Lagos beach and Praia da Rocha, a long wide beach with white sand backed by red cliffs. Still in the Algarve region, Vilamoura is the largest luxury resort in Europe, perfect for a family trip. Praia da Matinha (Algarve) is one of the most emblematic and beautiful beaches of Portugal, considered by the Michelin Guide as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in Europe and as one of the 100 most beautiful beaches in the world. In 1998, it was also awarded the "Golden Beach" given by the Portuguese Ministry of the Environment because of its natural qualities such as high quality water.

The Guincho beach is the biggest and most popular beach in Cascais, near Lisbon, surrounded by dunes, thin sand, bright sky and crystal clear water. International championships of surf, kite surf and windsurf are also organized on this idyllic beach. In the same region, between Sesimbra e Setúbal, the Portinho da Arrabida beach is a delightful small beach in a calm bay with crystal blue-green water that is excellent for swimming and diving. Nearby, the Coelhos beach has golden sand and very calm waters. They are the two most beautiful and calm beaches around Lisbon.

Espinho beach is located at 15 km from the city of Oporto. Permanently sunny, it is the right place for people who want to spend a calm and quiet break in Portugal. It offers various kinds of water sports as well as Golf courses, which are another major attraction of Espinho.

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