Sintra Portugal Destination Wedding at Penha Longa

Ashley and Dennis

Couple from NYC

As Featured in Brides

Location: Estoril, Sintra and Lisbon, Portugal

Venue for Welcome Dinner: Forte da Cruz, Estoril

Venue for Ceremony and Reception: Cloisters of Penha Longa Sintra and Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira

Photographer: Erich McVey

Ashley and Dennis loved the history and atmosphere of Sintra, a magical resort town. While they sought out other locations for their destination wedding, Dennis, who grew up visiting Portugal, knew that hosting their wedding in Sintra would give their destination affair a personal touch. 

Taking place across three venues with a full itinerary of events, Ashley and Dennis’s celebration began with a tennis tournament and welcome party at Penha Longa Resort. 

The following day, the couple said their vows in the courtyard of the cloisters at the sixteenth-century monastery on the grounds of the hotel, where wildflowers and hydrangeas gave the cloisters a garden feel.

Keeping the reception location a surprise from guests, we then transported the 120 guests to Palacio Fronteira in Lisbon to sip port tonics while they wandered the palace grounds ahead of a candlelit al fresco dinner, where the couple’s colour palette of rich blues, white, and deep burgundy popped from neutral linens and the facade of the palace. 

The tablescapes featured this motif, incorporating our own fine custom linens and Vista Alegre table chargers and handmade candles. The menu included Portuguese fare paired with Douro Valley wines. They couldn’t end the evening without entertainment from the flamenco dancers and some late-night dancing for themselves and guests to enjoy, of course.

Once the wedding weekend concluded, the couple continued their Portuguese adventure by staying at the Six Senses in the Douro Valley before flying home to New York City.

“ELEGANT, BUT DIDN’T TAKE ITSELF TOO SERIOUSLY.”

“Jasmine understood our taste very well from the beginning and the team really brought everything to life.”

Welcome dinner

wedding day