Here at Porto Weddings, the majority of our clients are for destination weddings, so typically they will bring their own cultural traditions to the wedding and of course it is out job to do everything we can to accommodate them. We love to go the extra mile to try and deliver exactly what the bride and groom have dreamt about for their wedding, even if it might get some of the locals scratching their heads in bemusement.
One thing that we a lot of our destination wedding clients ask for however is to have a touch of traditional Portuguese wedding in the day, so here are a few things you might want to consider which are typical here in Portugal, which perhaps you can include in your destination wedding to give an extra flavour of Portugal.
Attire
In many countries there is either a standard wedding attire or the invitation will state the dress code. The Portuguese generally don’t like being told what to wear and you will see an enormous variation in what they dress – some will come in a smart suit or a glitzy dress, others will look they are ready for dress down Friday at work. And the great thing is, nobody cares! Just wear what the hell you like. This reflects a general disdain for formality in Portuguese culture more generally and a relaxed approach to conforming. It can be a breath of fresh air if you are used to a more prescriptive culture, particularly at weddings – Portugal is a relaxed country, so why not bring a bit of that to your wedding?
The ceremony
Traditional Portuguese weddings are pretty much always Catholic and follow a well-trodden route with a mass and other Catholic rituals. These days however, some more liberal churches encourage a bit of a sing song and allow some discretion with the decoration of the church (although not generally to the extent that is seen in many other countries). So if you are going to get married in a church, expect the ceremony to be rather conservative, but you may be able to get some leeway. Meanwhile we know some fantastic celebrants, who know how to make a ceremony really zing, so if you have something specific in mind, then talk to us and we will find a way to make it happen – that is part of the fun of a destination wedding, where you can bring in elements of different cultures to make a unique ceremony.
The ’Mesa de treze doces’
Literally the ‘the table of thirteen deserts’. Portuguese deserts are generally extremely enjoyable (calorific, but fabulous) and at weddings in Portugal there is an old tradition to have 13 different desert options on a table (thought to signify Christ and his twelve apostles). But at the end of the day, just as important as what they signify is that you get to eat them. This is a Portuguese tradition that you certainly don’t want you or your guests to go without.
The ‘Ceia’
This is a kind of midnight feast that is served at weddings in Portugal, to pick up your guests who may be flagging after one too many turns on the dance floor – rather than being more of a snack as is often given in other cultures, the Portuguese are traditionally more generous with their midnight feast. In fact, Portuguese servings are nearly always on the generous side, particularly at weddings, where 2 or even 3 main courses are common. So when planning your wedding in Portugal, think about treating your guests to a traditional Portuguese ‘ceia’ and keep the dancing going for another few hours.
Fado
This is the most traditional of Portuguese music and is played with a couple of guitarists (playing eccentric-looking guitars) and a solo singer. The songs are generally heartfelt laments and although you may not understand a word of the lyrics, the music will hit you right in the feels. It is truly beautiful and deeply touching music and a good fado singer will put on a passionate performance that is a sight to behold. Perhaps not the kind of music you will want to be dancing to late into the early hours, but as a curtain raiser earlier on in the event it is difficult to beat.
Gifts for the guests
During the meal, the bride and groom at a wedding in Portugal will typically roam the various tables together to stop for a chat with each of the guests and present them with a small gift. It used to be cigars for the men and something more dainty for the ladies, but I think we all moved on since then (!). These days it is normally something fun with some kind of significance to the recently happy couple. It is a lovely way to thank your guests for coming and in the case of a destination wedding in Portugal, perhaps a chance to give them something typically local for them to remember their time here; furthermore it is a great opportunity for the bride and groom to have a quick chat with all their guests, rather than having to sit for hours chatting to their new in-laws on the head table (only joking, I am sure your new in-laws will be lovely!).
So, here are a few ideas to bring a bit of Portuguese tradition to your wedding in Portugal, but here at Porto Weddings, we are here to make your vision of a dream wedding come true, so you really don’t have to follow any of the Portuguese traditions if that is not your thing. Just let us know what you would like for your wedding and we will find a way to make it happen!
