Xuan & Neil · Pre-Wedding Photoshoot at Palácio de Seteais
Xuan and Neil came to Portugal for a pre-wedding photoshoot rather than a wedding day, the kind of dedicated portrait session that has become a cherished tradition for many couples before their celebration. Two locations and three changes of dress gave the day its own structure: a candlelit morning inside the salons of Palácio de Seteais, followed by an afternoon on the wild Atlantic coastline at Fortaleza do Guincho.
Xuan wore three looks. A lace gown by Bijou by Galia Lahav for the ceremony-style portraits, a black and white gown by J. Lenhart for the palace interiors, and a red gown by Le Blanc Bridal for the coast. A horse carriage carried the couple between Seteais and the gardens of Quinta da Regaleira, a detail that became one of the most romantic threads of the day.
We photograph a maximum of ten weddings a year in Portugal, Italy, France, and across Europe, and we are equally drawn to sessions like this one, where the entire focus is the couple, the light, and the story two people want to tell before their wedding day.
Vendor Credits
Photography ⎜ The Lopes Photography — thelopesphotography.com
Venue ⎜ Hotel Valverde Palácio de Seteais — valverdepalacioseteais.com
Venue ⎜ Fortaleza do Guincho — fortalezadoguincho.com
Wedding Gown (Ceremony Look) ⎜ Bijou by Galia Lahav — galialahav.com
Wedding Gown (Black & White Look) ⎜ J. Lenhart — instagram.com/j_lenhart_
Wedding Gown (Red Look, Fortaleza do Guincho) ⎜ Le Blanc Bridal — casablancabridal.com/collections/le-blanc
Bridal Shoes ⎜ Jimmy Choo — jimmychoo.com
Groom's Attire ⎜ Custom
Makeup & Hair ⎜ Atsushi — instagram.com/atsushiyy
Horse Carriage ⎜ Sintratur — sintratur.com
Content Creator ⎜ Nuelma, The Lopes Collective — instagram.com/portugalweddingcontentcreator
Planning a Pre-Wedding Photoshoot at Palácio de Seteais? Questions We're Often Asked
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A pre-wedding photoshoot is a dedicated portrait session, usually with multiple outfit changes, captured before the wedding day itself rather than during the ceremony or reception. It is a tradition especially popular with couples from Asia, and increasingly with international couples who want a separate editorial session in Portugal ahead of their wedding elsewhere.
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Yes. Portrait sessions at this historic Sintra palace, now operated as the Hotel Valverde Palácio de Seteais, can be arranged through the hotel for couples wanting access to its salons, gardens, and triumphal arch. As photographers who have worked there, we are happy to share planning insights during a call.
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Most couples choose two to three looks, often moving from a formal indoor gown to something different for an outdoor or coastal setting. Xuan and Neil wore three: a lace bridal gown at Seteais, a black and white look for the palace interiors, and a red gown for the coast at Fortaleza do Guincho.
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A: They complement each other well, which is why we paired them for Xuan and Neil. Sintra offers palace architecture and storybook gardens, while Fortaleza do Guincho, just outside Cascais, gives a dramatic Atlantic coastline a short drive away.
If you are planning a pre-wedding photoshoot or a destination wedding in Sintra, Cascais, or elsewhere in Portugal, we would love to hear from you.