Portugal Elopement
Abby & Ryan's magical Portugal elopement checked off some bucket list items (for both the couple and me!) as we explored sea caves and arches, rocky cliffs, and adorable beach towns.
Hey there! I'm Sam, Your Destination Elopement Photographer & Planner
I absolutely love getting to travel and explore new places with my couples, and I would be thrilled to help make your elopement just as epic as Abby & Ryan's.
Sea Arches at Sunrise
We met up early in the morning to kick off Abby and Ryan's Portugal elopement with a private boat tour of the sea caves and arches along the coastline.
We headed out at sunrise through the choppy sea – we'd been hoping for beautiful sunny weather, but it was a little stormy and a bit overcast.
The tour guides asked if we wanted to turn around – but Abby and Ryan were total troopers, and insisted we push on! And we got beautiful moody skies as we explored the stunning natural arches and colorful cliffs. I honestly think it worked out for the best!
Bucket List Elopement Activity
The star of the boat tour was absolutely when we reached a huge sea cave with a hidden beach. It was so serene inside, like a little secret world. There are so many things I love about elopements in nature – but one of my favorites has got to be moments where you can find peace and quiet in a beautiful place, and it feels like you're the only people on earth!
This cave was also a bucket list item for me, and a totally new experience for all three of us! It was so much fun to make a once-in-a-lifetime memory with this couple on their elopement day.
Postcard Vow Books
After the boat ride, we popped into a souvenir shop so Abby and Ryan could choose postcards to copy their vows on to.
Then we took a little break for breakfast (and a nap), and met back up in the afternoon at the beach. I grabbed a few portraits, and then the couple found a spot in the sand to sit and write their vows.
Not only are postcards a fun alternative to vows books – they also make a really cool elopement souvenir to take home with you!
Portugal Elopement on the Cliffs
After Abby and Ryan finished copying down their vows, we trekked up to the cliffs above the beach to take some portraits. Part of the hike involved a steep incline that we had to scale with a rope, and I caught some fun shots of Abby making the climb in her wedding dress.
Originally, we'd planned to go to a few different spots along the coast before sunset for the couple's ceremony and more portraits. But the views of the rocky coastline at this first spot were so gorgeous that we decided to hang out there for the rest of the afternoon!
Sentimental + DIY Details
I took some details shots, including a few of the couple's rings and their vintage film camera. I loved how they incorporated some sentimental family heirlooms into their elopement – the film camera was passed down from Ryan's dad, and the diamonds in Abby's wedding ring came from her grandma.
Abby also had an absolutely insane veil – one of the longest I've ever seen – and she made it herself! She saw some photos online of long, dramatic veils that attached at the shoulders, but they were pretty expensive. So she figured out how to construct her own veil for about $25 of supplies at the craft store!
Vows + Champagne
Abby and Ryan shared their personal vows during an intimate, unhurried ceremony at the edge of the beautiful cliffs. There were lots of smiles, laughs, and even a few tears as they read their promises for marriage and life aloud to one another.
Then we had some silly moments as the couple popped some bottles of champagne (and Ryan attempted a very unsuccessful handstand).
Exploring the Coast
Abby and Ryan decided to explore a little further down the cliffs. They disappeared down the trail, and for a few minutes I couldn't see them... until they popped back out on the edge of a tall, dramatic bluff a few hundred feet away.
After I took a few photos of them on the cliff, they beckoned for me to come over to where they were. After a slightly treacherous hike, I saw why: they were right at the top of another sea arch!
Beach at Blue Hour
After the sun set, Abby and Ryan changed into swimsuits, and we headed back down to the beach for some fun photos in the water.
Abby ran into the ocean with her veil – and after the first wave, it was pretty much ruined with salt water and seaweed – but because of her thrifty DIY, it really didn't matter!
The couple had a lot of fun splashing around in the waves as we wrapped up their adventurous Portugal elopement.
