Well what can I say, nearly a week on and I’m still blown away by this wedding! On last Friday I flew out to Portugal to capture the marriage of Francesca & Filipe. This lovely couple tied the knot in a gorgeous church located in the small town of Palmela at the foot of a castle up on a hill.
The night before, all the guests were invited to a welcome meal put on in a local restaurant. This was a golden opportunity for people to meet before the big day and mingle! It also gave me a chance to get to know some of the guests and family members! It was a brilliant bonding evening and I referred to it as ‘The Wedding Day Part 1’. I hope those that were on my coach back to the hotel enjoy their tour guide from ‘Stacey’!
The wedding itself went so smoothly and of course we got the 30 degree Portuguese weather to boot! After a lovely service everyone made their way up the hill to the castle which stood at its top! Here in this stunning venue with stunning views we were all treated to much needed cold drinks and given time to chat and mingle. Once the sun had moved around the castle giving us a bit more shade I photographed the family members and then took our happy couple for walk around the to explore the grounds. The views and grounds of the castle provided so many locations that had to be captured that I got a TON of heart melting photos! So many in fact that I’ve included 3 sample images below! More than I’ve ever included on Lunar’s Blog!
Later in the afternoon we were led into the main area centred in a open top courtyard where there, were the tables all laid out for the evening meal. There was some lovely details including the Portuguese cockerel (also known as the Nandos chicken) and every placement (including my own) had a beautifully decorated tile with the guests name on the front and a magnet for use on your fridge on the back! The courtyard was also adorned with the Lilly’s that were seen everywhere from the church to the castle!
After some hilarious speeches the food was served and boy was it gorgeous! If there’s one thing I noted about my time in Portugal it’s that the food there is amazing. I particularly have a fondness for the Pastel de Nata’s. If you ever see them in England buy every single one they have! They are to die for!
The night was all wrapped up after the cake cut with most amazing DJ’s I’ve ever heard. There was 3 of them working at the same time to mix the music live and every tune they kicked out was a floor filler! Even I found myself wanting to dance and I don’t dance!
I can not thank Francesca & Filipe for their hospitality from start to finish. Not only did they ensure that I was well looked after but so were their guests! From private coaches provided to 2 days worth of food and drink provided they left no stone unturned!
So please raise a glass for the new Mr & Mrs Oliveira! Congratulations to the both of you and I hope you lead a happy, healthy and prosperous life together!
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