Getting Married in Portugal - Portugal Wedding Guide

Portugal is not to be outdone by neighboring Spain. If you are after ornate architecture, Fado music, gorgeous hilltop vistas, and let's not forget the Algarve coastline with Albufeira, one of Europe's most scenic coastal areas, then Portugal could be your dream wedding destination. Oh yes, it also has terrific weather!

 Location & Flights

Where is Portugal?
Portugal is in southwestern Europe. The country borders Spain on the north and the east and the Atlantic Ocean on the west.

How long is the flight to Portugal?
The flight to Portugal is 2 hours from the United Kingdom about 7 hours from New York City. Also, the flight is around 12 hours from Los Angeles to Portugal.

Highlights

What is Portugal Famous for?

Lisbon


Portugal is famous for Lisbon, its bustling capital city; a city famous for ornate architecture, Fado music, and gorgeous hilltop vistas. Lisbon is a great wedding destination because of the superb weather and historical vibe – it attracts millions of visitors, and travel experts routinely vote the city as Europe’s best weekend getaway port.

Porto
Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city and home to various UNESCO World Heritage Sites, excellent wine, and scenic river cruises. It is a superb wedding destination because of the medieval architecture and World Heritage Sites in Porto’s center. It is home to various magnificent wedding venues in Portugal.

Algarve


Algarve is a great wedding region and one of Europe’s most scenic coastal areas. It is a great wedding destination because of the various beautiful beaches and coastal towns, all perfect for getting married! If you’re a hiking, surfing, or beach enthusiast – you will love the Algarve; it attracts almost 4 million visitors yearly.


Coimbra
Coimbra is a lesser-known gem in Portugal’s center – and many people know the city for being Portugal’s former capital city. The city has immense historical importance and an eclectic mixture of boutique hotels offering some of the best wedding venues in Portugal.

To see the location of these districts of Portugal, along with all 18 districts, here are our Districts of Portugal map.

Weather and Climate

Portugal has a terrific climate, and visitors often regard it as one of Europe’s best climates. Lisbon is officially the sunniest European city – and the country has long and hot summers. The average summer temperature is 26.3 °C or 79.3 °F. Also, winters are mild and warmer than in most of Europe. The average winter temperatures are 17.2 °C or 53.0 °F.

Culture and etiquette

Portugal is predominantly Roman Catholic. The country has a strong emphasis on family values – and the culture has various influences, such as the Vikings, the Celtics, Germanic, Moorish, and Visigoth. Portugal is a conservative and traditional culture, and innovation and change within rural communities are uncommon.

Visitors find the Portuguese to act reserved and overly-energetic communication, such as hand gestures and exaggerated body language, are sometimes offensive. The Portuguese tend to dress conservatively, and the locals regard dressing fashionably as an important cultural aspect.

Is Portugal Safe?
Portugal is one of Europe’s safest countries. According to the Global Peace Index 2020, Portugal is Europe’s second safest country behind Iceland. Visitors regard Lisbon as one of the safest and trouble-free European capital cities.

However, you should always take usual precautions and be vigilant against petty crimes such as pickpocketing. Lisbon is a busy city that attracts over 4.5 million tourists yearly. Therefore, tourists can be victims of petty crime in crowded areas, but Lisbon remains a top wedding venue in Portugal.

Food & Drink

Portugal is one of the world’s most underrated cuisines, but visitors adore the delicious cuisine. Although Portugal’s cuisine isn’t as renowned as its neighbors, you will find a vast list of seafood and meat dishes. A popular seafood dish is Bacalhau, a traditional codfish dish with over 365 different ways to prepare the meal – you have many options to try!

Visitors also love Portugal’s traditional custard tarts. You can find these in many places, including restaurants and markets. They are sweet and delicious, but you might have a few too many!

Wine drinkers regard Portugal as having some of Europe’s most outstanding wines, competing with France on many grape varieties. Highly-rated wine regions include Alentejo, Lisbon, and the Douro Valley. If you visit Portugal’s northern areas, you will find the famous Vinho Verde grape variety. It is renowned for being fruity, light-bodied, and slightly sparkling.

Money and Сost of wedding in Portugal

Is it expensive to get married in Portugal?


The wedding cost in Portugal significantly varies depending on where you marry and the wedding venue. You can organize a wedding up to 1000 people for between 15,000 - 25,000 euros.

Also, there are various additional costs. You must translate all paperwork into Portuguese, and there is a lengthy paperwork procedure you must follow. Fixing all the paperwork could cost you up to 250 Euros to complete.

You could opt to get married at home and celebrate in Portugal. The official Portuguese wedding celebrant fee is 350 euros, but the ceremony set-up could cost an extra 500 euros.

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Legal requirements for marrying in Portugal

The following notes are not comprehensive and are intended as a guide only. Before planning your wedding in Morocco we strongly advise you to contact the Portuguese embassy in your home country or your country's embassy in Portugal to obtain up-to-date legal requirements.

According to Portuguese law, you have to be an expatriate to marry in Portugal. However, there are no legal residency provisions required to marry, but the bride or the groom must have been in Portugal for 30 days minimum.

Furthermore, the Portuguese authorities require valid passports and birth certificate copies. You must also present a non-impediment certificate to the Portuguese authorities before your wedding.

You can find wedding information about the process of marrying in English, on the Portugal government’s website.

How to get married in Portugal

Once you have fixed all the paperwork and provided the Portuguese authorities with all the paperwork and passport confirmation, you need to do a few more things.

A civil marriage ceremony in Portugal

If you choose a civil ceremony – it will take place at a Civil Registry Office, but you may need a good translator if you can’t speak Portuguese. A good translator will come at an additional cost.

A religious marriage ceremony in Portugal

If you opt for a religious wedding, you will need legal permission. To have a Roman Catholic Church wedding, you must have permission from Portugal’s Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic church requires all baptismal records, and once you have approval, your wedding must take place within three months.

Many Portuguese priests can speak English, but a Roman Catholic ceremony must take place within a church. It is not possible – unlike in some countries – to have a Roman Catholic Wedding outside the church.

You can find various information on the Portuguese wedding website, offering tips and advice on the Portuguese marriage process.

Regions of Portugal

Portugal is home to over 18 different districts and two autonomous regions. These include Lisbon, Leiria, Santarém, Setúbal, Beja, Faro, Évora, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Coimbra, Aveiro, Viseu, Bragança, Vila Real, Porto, Braga, and Viana do Castelo. The two autonomous regions are The Azores and Madeira.

Find out more about the Districts of Portugal or browse our Portugal Wedding Directory to start planning your dream wedding.