Something Old, Something Blue: Regal Romance in a Portuguese Palace

Nov 26, 20222 min read

Updated: Jan 31

Published by https://onefabday.com/wedding-shoot-portuguese-palace-palacio-de-estoi/

Full article at One Fab Day - Written by Jessica O'Sullivan Photographer www.witfoto.nl

Dreaming of a destination wedding in Portugal's popular Algarve region, but still searching for a venue that gives you butterflies. Let our beautiful wedding shoot, set in a pink Portuguese palace sweep you off your feet. Chic and opulent - the Palácio de Estoi in the Algarve, is an ideal wedding spot and made for a breathtaking setting for our wedding shoot. Not only that but a dream creative team pulled together a reception fit for royalty, that will have you ooh-ing over every image. This fairytale photo story was dreamed up by bespoke wedding planner Amanda from The Wedding Assistant and captured in that gorgeously golden Algarve light by Wit Photography.

There are so many reasons the Algarve remains a much-sought after location for couples who dream of a destination wedding. More than 300 sunny days a year, sublime sea views and rolling hills, famous seafood and a plethora of traditional churches and ancient castles dotted around the countryside. The poussada in Portugal is a type of venue that is steeped in history creating one-of-a-kind romantic and intimate settings, and has come to be connected with luxury hotel accommodation in a beautifully restored historical building. Like an old monastery, palace or castle.

Traditionally, a pousada was a small family-run business offering rooms overnight. In 1940 the first pousadas were started, and now there are around 40 in Portugal, one of which is only 15 minutes from Faro airport - Pousada Palacio de Estoi where our shoot took place. A luxurious neo-Baroque and neo-Rococo mansion surrounded by beautiful French-inspired gardens and old statues, that married elegance and opulence.

The palace was built in the 1800s, and was owned by the Viscount of Estoi, José Francisco da Silva's family until 1987. Then Faro City Council purchased it and in 2007 it was restored and transformed it into a luxurious hotel with 63 bedrooms. Because the palace was built against a hill, its walls and gardens offer so many backdrops and settings for different events during a destination wedding including an al fresco reception.