ELOPE IN PORTUGAL | GETTING MARRIED IN PORTUGAL
ELOPE IN PORTUGAL & THE PROCESS OF GETTING MARRIED IN PORTUGAL:
Choosing a destination for your wedding or elopement isn’t easy.
But if you’re thinking about eloping in Portugal or getting married in Portugal and wondering whether it’s worth the logistics, we can say confidently: it’s a very good idea.
We’re Rui & Savannah of The Lopes Photography—Portugal wedding and elopement photographers working across Lisbon, Sintra, the Algarve, Alentejo, the Douro, and beyond. We photograph couples who want a laidback, luxury feel: cinematic locations, beautiful light, and an experience that still feels personal.
Below, we’ll walk you through:
Why couples choose to elope in Portugal
The basics of legal vs symbolic ceremonies here
What kind of locations are possible
A simple overview of documents you’ll usually need for a legal wedding in Portugal
This isn’t legal advice (we’re photographers, not lawyers or planners), but it will give you a clear starting point before you contact your embassy, officiant, or planner.
Why elope in Portugal?
One of the reasons couples love eloping in Portugal is that you can often have a more exclusive, design-led experience here than in some other European countries.
You might not be able to have a luxury destination wedding or elopement in your home country—but in Portugal, your budget can stretch further without sacrificing the experience.
Depending on permissions and logistics, couples have married or eloped:
On dramatic cliffs overlooking the Atlantic
In palaces, castles, and historic estates
In forests, vineyards, and countryside fields
At sustainable, modern villas and design hotels
In the old streets and rooftops of Lisbon or Porto
You won’t be short on locations. The real work is choosing what kind of day feels most like you.
Legal vs symbolic: where to start
Before you fall in love with a cliff or a palace, it’s important to decide how you want to get married in Portugal:
Legal ceremony in Portugal
Your marriage is legally registered in Portugal.
You’ll work with local authorities (civil registry and/or church) and provide specific documents.
There are rules about who can officiate and where the legal part happens.
Symbolic ceremony in Portugal
The legal paperwork is done at home (often at a registry office, quietly).
In Portugal, you have a “wedding ceremony” that feels real to you, but the legal part is already taken care of.
This often gives more freedom for timing, locations, and content of the ceremony.
Many destination couples choose a legal ceremony at home + a symbolic ceremony in Portugal, especially if they want maximum flexibility with locations and timing, or are coming from countries with stricter documentation requirements.
Either way, you can still have a full wedding or elopement experience in Portugal—we photograph both options all the time.
The legal basics for getting married in Portugal
If you want your marriage to be legally recognised in Portugal, there are documents you and your partner will almost always need. Requirements can change and vary by nationality, so always confirm with your local embassy, the Portuguese consulate, and/or your planner.
In general, couples are usually asked for:
Passports
Your passports must be valid (usually at least six months beyond your wedding date). If one of you lives in Portugal, a resident card may be enough for that person.Full birth certificates
Newly issued, full-length birth certificates that show your parents’ names and are dated within a set window (often within six months of your wedding date).Proof of termination of any previous marriage
A divorce decree or death certificate, if applicable, is usually issued within the last six months.
If you were previously married in the Catholic Church and the marriage wasn’t officially annulled, you generally cannot marry in the Catholic Church in Portugal.Parental or guardian consent
If you or your partner is under 18, written consent is normally required.Apostille & translations
Most documents issued outside Portugal must be:Endorsed with an Apostille stamp, so they are recognised as genuine.
Accompanied by official translations into Portuguese, carried out by an agency recognised by the Portuguese consulate in your region.
Fees and additional documents
There are administrative fees, which can change from year to year. Depending on your nationality and on whether you’re having a civil, religious, or Catholic ceremony, you may need extra documents or certificates.
Because this is different for each couple, it’s important to check directly with:
Your local Portuguese consulate or embassy
The E-Portugal government portal
Your planner or local officiant
The original legal information for this post was cross-checked with resources such as One Fab Day and E Portugal.Gov.Pt. For the most up-to-date details, always refer to official government sources.
So… where do we come in?
We’re not lawyers, celebrants or venue managers. We can’t process documents, handle legalities or book a venue for you.
What we can do as your Portugal elopement and wedding photographers is:
Help you think through locations in terms of light, privacy and timing
Show you what different ceremony types (elopement vs wedding, legal vs symbolic) look like in real galleries
Work alongside your planner and officiant so timelines actually feel good on the day
Photograph your celebration on digital, film and Super 8 so it feels timeless and intentional instead of trendy
If you’re planning to elope in Portugal or host a destination wedding here and want a team who understands both the logistics and the romance of this country, we’d love to talk.
You can learn more about us and enquire with The Lopes Photography—your Portugal wedding & elopement photographers—via our contact page.
