A sunset elopement in a Sintra Portuguese castle

Reflections on the day

Sonya and Kevin contacted me because they were planning a trip to Portugal and were dreaming of eloping in Portugal. Sonya’s family used to live in Portugal when she was little, as she was absolutely in love with the town of Cascais, located on the coast right next to Lisbon. When we started chatting about their elopement plans and ideas, they didn’t really know what kind of background they envisioned for their ceremony, so we spent a lot of time scouting for locations to exchange their vows. It was very different, from sandy beaches to secluded forests. But they picked the Moorish Castle, located in the Sintra National Park. This beautiful construction overlooks the whole area and offers beautiful views for the ceremony. We were very happy to shoot in the forests surrounding the castle, and were thrilled to be the only ones to enjoy sunset at that location that day.
However, the drought of 2022 didn’t spare us, as we got a call the very day of their elopement, from the National Park Agency, telling us that we were no longer able to hold their ceremony at the castle because there was a fire risk and the whole National Park was closed to visitors. They sent us alternatives that were accessible, and while shooting in different beautiful locations around Cascais, Sonya and Kevin looked at photos of the locations, and finally chose the National Palace of Sintra. I mean, it’s not every day that you get married in a national Portuguese palace!
Sonya and Kevin’s elopement was an absolute dream to shoot and live by their side. We spent the whole day laughing together, exploring the area and taking photos in beautiful locations, honoring the Portuguese artisanat and architecture! When the ceremony time came, everybody went very quiet, and we all cried as they exchanged beautiful and heartfelt vows with the sun setting on the ocean in the distance.