Wedding in Valle do Riacho, Alenquer — Joana & João

Today, I'm thrilled to invite you to join me on a journey to Valle do Riacho, where I had the privilege of capturing the special day of Joana and João. As a wedding photographer, it's always an honor to witness and document the love and joy that come with a couple's wedding day.

If you're familiar with my blog, you might recognise this lovely couple from our pre-wedding session in Monsanto. The stunning landscapes and natural beauty of Portugal always provide a gorgeous backdrop for wedding photography.

Joana and I actually met during a physical therapy session, where she shared her dream of getting married someday. And now, here we are, celebrating her big day. It's a testament to the power of human connections and the importance of cherishing the relationships in our lives.

Valle do Riacho is a charming and historic estate surrounded by vineyards and woods, and it was the perfect setting for Joana and João's wedding. The venue's picturesque staircase made for some stunning family portraits, especially during the golden hour. And the catering provided by Páteo Velho was absolutely delicious!

The civil ceremony took place at Valle do Riacho, under the scorching sun, but the gorgeous evening light and mild night air made everything perfect. The couple's family and friends added personal touches to the decorations and details, including the mouth-watering cake topper.

As a wedding photographer, it's always a joy to capture the bride's preparation process, and Joana's was no exception. The intimate and cozy atmosphere of her parents' home made for some beautiful and candid moments, which I was able to document.

Thank you for joining me on this wonderful journey, and I hope these photos capture the essence of Joana and João's special day.

O João

O João preparou-se em Lisboa, com a Mariana Teodósio a fotografar essa parte do dia. A Mariana é uma colega com base no Algarve mas que se deslocou até Lisboa para me ajudar neste dia, ela fotografa muitas famílias e tem um jeitinho especial com os pequenos humanos, assim como um talento enorme para video.

Os avós do João não foram ao casamento, por motivos de doença e idade seria um dia muito duro para eles. Para tentar colmatar esta ausência, uns dias antes combinamos encontrar-nos e casa dos avós do João e fazer umas fotografias formais que depois eu juntei à galeria final, para os avós também estarem presentes de alguma forma neste dia especial.

As fotografias fotografias que se seguem (preparativos do João) são da autoria da Mariana Teodósio, com a minha selecção e edição.

Joana and João wanted a civil ceremony at the estate, followed by a reception (or cocktail, as you prefer) until sunset.

They had a duo singing - surpriseeee - during the afternoon, and guests were entertained taking pictures at the Photobooth, with the Instax camera, and writing words to the couple in the guestbook - which was lovely! The couple used the session photos to make their book, leaving a blank page on each sheet. It's a cute experience for guests but also a way to put on paper the photos we took and the words of the most important people - a true treasure of memories. There were also several frames spread throughout the estate with photos from the session that left me immensely proud, of course.

I should note that it was 34° on this summer day, and our ceremony started around 3:30/4:00 pm.

We went to the back of the estate, to the pool area where we have more peace and quiet for our couple session. Unfortunately, on this day, access to the adjacent forest was closed for maintenance, but that didn't stop us from taking some beautiful photos. The couple took the opportunity to hydrate and eat a bit, and practice their entrance dance to the hall, and of course, I took advantage of those moments.

Our night started with the couple's dance entry and continued calmly into the night. Between conversations, games, some playful surprises prepared by the bride's sister with the help of the younger crowd, dinner proceeded at its own pace. The cake cutting had the privilege of a starry night and a small surprise projection that was quite emotional. The rest of the party was all about dancing!

Segunda Fotógrafa: Mariana Teodósio

Maquilhagem & Cabelo: Sónia Camacho

Vestido: Uhma Store

Sapatos da Noiva: Uhma Store

Catering: Páteo Velho

If you're planning a wedding in Portugal, consider Valle do Riacho as your wedding venue, and let me help you capture your cherished memories for a lifetime.