X

Plan a Portugal Honeymoon

Like the soulful, heart-stirring sounds of its famous Fado music, Portugal evokes old-world mystery and is poetry come to life. With cliffside castles, elaborate monasteries and treasures dating back to its storied "Age of Discovery," the coastal nation is also home to wine regions, modern cities and endless beaches. From the trendy Algarve region in the south to the quieter north, Portugal promises romance.

By: Becca Hensley

Enter Slideshow
  • Room at the Inn

    Room at the Inn

    For an authentic stay, spend some nights in a pousada. This collection of 36 unique hotels once owned by the state, and now under the flag of one of Portugal’s leading hospitality companies, includes restored castles, palaces, monasteries and rustic lodges, set amid vineyards, atop ski mountains, on the seashore and encircled by Roman and Celtic ruins.

    Photo Credit: Pousadas de Portugal

  • Cruising

    Cruising

    Sometimes people argue about the best way to see a locale: From the water onboard a boat or pedaling through its landscape? They both offer a slow-motion, deeply immersive experience, and they both propel you from one point to another. Now, a trip by highly regarded outfitter Backroads combines the two. Beginning in Spain and ending in Porto, the tour has you cycle across sunbaked terrain by day and lounge in cruise ship comfort by night.

    Photo Credit: Arquivo ICEP Portugal

  • Capital City

    Capital City

    The Portuguese love their eye candy. Lisbon alone has more than 16 official viewpoints. A few scenic spots include Miradouro Nossa Senhora de Monte, poised at the highest point in the city, and Penedo de Saudade, which faces astonishing vistas of the eastern part of town and the Mondego river.

    The word saudade only exists in the Portuguese language, and can’t be easily translated — it references an unspeakable yearning or longing for something lost or never acquired. While pondering that, check out the centuries-old love poems engraved on stones.

    Photo Credit: Turismo de Lisboa/visitlisboa.com

  • A Room at the Inn

    A Room at the Inn

    A favorite hotel is the Pousada Santa Marinha da Costo, a former 12th-century Augustine monastery (room rates start at $90 a night and include breakfast; pousadas.pt).

    Photo Credit: Pousadas de Portugal

  • Capital City

    Capital City

    The Belem Tower in Lisbon is pictured here.

    Photo Credit: Antonio Sacchetti

  • Hip Scene

    Hip Scene

    Once upon a time, Algarve — the centuries-old fishing village — was awash in Moorish influences, with cobblestone streets and brightly colored, charming buildings. Then the artists came, followed quickly by the travelers. That brought golf courses and all-night parties, created just for vacationers. But here’s the thing: Some places get noticed for a reason. And, that’s Algarve. Here, intoxicating beaches are isolated from the world by rocky cliffs that shelter the sandy crescents like cupped hands.

    Photo Credit: José Manuel

7 / 6
ALL PHOTOS

Plan a Portugal Honeymoon

X
X

50 Creative Wedding Cake Toppers

While most couples today top their cakes with flowers, there's something to be said about the traditional wedding cake topper — it's a keepsake that serves as a wonderful memento from your wedding long after the last slice of cake is gone. Here, check out 50 of our favorite ideas.

By: Kristen Klein

Enter Slideshow
51 / 50
ALL PHOTOS

50 Creative Wedding Cake Toppers

X

October 5th

Photo credit: Renee Sprink from Renee Sprink Photography, a member of Professional Photographers of America

Tip of the Day: Be aware that the time of day and season you choose to get married in will impact your wedding photos. "If you want beautiful, natural light photos or gorgeous sunset snapshots of you and your groom, but you also want a six p.m. ceremony in November, it's not going to happen. It'll be pitch black by the time you get married. Work with your photographer to determine what is most important to you and heed their advice on how best to achieve it," says Renee Sprink from Renee Sprink Photography, a member of Professional Photographers of America.

In this scenario, she suggests either moving the ceremony start time up (probably by several hours) or having a "first look" with the groom before the ceremony.

Pages

Subscribe to BridalGuide RSS