Hi everyone, how are you? I’ve been away for a while, but I have lots of news!
Landing in Lisbon after so many years writing about Portugal for the blog always has a special feeling – but this time, I confess, it was different. I wasn’t just passing through the city on my way to another destination: Portugal was, once again, my starting point to talk about destination weddings, history, iconic hotels, and new discoveries that make perfect sense for anyone who dreams of getting married in Europe. And, as everything in my life seems to align with the world of weddings, this trip began with a very special invitation. I had a trip planned to Mozambique, where I was going to speak at a conference. When choosing the connecting flight, I could have gone through South Africa, of course. But do you really think that I, with my heart half Carioca (from Rio de Janeiro), half Portuguese, was going to miss the chance to enter through Portugal? Never. That’s when Tânia, the events director of the iconic Hotel Palácio Estoril , found out about my trip. In two emails and a phone call, the plan was set: “Before Mozambique, you’ll stay here with me at the Palácio,” she suggested. And I, obviously, said yes.
More than just accommodation, the idea was to transform those two nights into a destination wedding immersion in Estoril, and also to bring along one of the strongest names in European wedding planning: Rui Mota Pinto. If you research weddings in Europe, you’ve probably already come across the name Rui Mota Pinto. He is one of the most creative and respected wedding designers in Portugal, known for bold, personalized projects full of personality. Rui lives in Cascais, knows the region like few others, had already been to the Hotel Palácio Estoril for lunches, events, friends staying there… but had never experienced the hotel “as it should be”: sleeping there, waking up there, experiencing each space with the perspective of someone who designs wedding experiences. So I did what any good wedding destination ambassador would do: I invited Rui to spend those two nights at the Palácio with me, as a true experiential site inspection. Tânia loved the idea, opened the hotel doors to us, and welcomed us with the kind of care that, honestly, makes all the difference when it comes to destination weddings: looking out for the couple, the planner, the guests, and every aspect of the celebration.
Hotel Palácio Estoril
Those who follow the blog have already seen the Palácio Estoril featured here a few times. It’s a true classic on the Portuguese coast, one of those hotels that seems born ready to host elegant, timeless weddings full of history. The Palácio carries that charm of a traditional European hotel: classic, imposing yet welcoming architecture; interiors that combine sophistication with comfort; gardens perfect for outdoor ceremonies; halls that seem to have come straight out of a period film. Staying there again, but now with the perspective divided between “hotel-obsessed blogger” and “destination wedding curator,” was a delight. And this time, with Rui by my side, everything gained an extra layer of professional insight: flows, timings, layout possibilities, experiences for the couple and for the guests.
Speaking of movie scenes, the Palácio Estoril is not just a hotel; it’s a true Hollywood icon – or, more accurately, a Bond, James Bond icon. In 1941, the film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” with George Lazenby as Agent 007, was filmed right there, in the halls and gardens that exude mystery and sophistication. But the story goes deeper: during World War II, with Portugal neutral, the hotel became a hub for spies and royal intrigues, inspiring Ian Fleming himself – who was a British spy – to create the universe of Casino Royale. That’s how the Palácio earned its official “James Bond Experience” certificate, and I was lucky enough to experience it firsthand. José Diogo, the hotel’s concierge for decades, guided me on an exclusive tour of the Hall of Fame – a mural of kings, queens, and celebrities reminiscent of the one at the Copacabana Palace, but with a Portuguese twist. At 17, he had a small role in a James Bond film; today, at 62, he’s still there, telling stories with a contagious smile and handing certificates to lucky guests like me. Just imagine: a wedding in this setting, where the “I do” could be the perfect plot twist in an eternal script?
After those two intense nights at the Estoril Palace, I packed my bags and headed to Lisbon – still in wedding mode, but now with my sights set on another essential aspect of a destination wedding: the accommodation of the bride, groom, and guests in hotels that, even if they don’t host weddings, complete the experience. That’s when Maria João, from Segredos de Portugal, a fantastic company representing some Portuguese hotels that I love to follow, invited me to visit and stay at the Art Legacy, a boutique hotel in Lisbon’s Baixa district, right next to Chiado, a location that seems designed for those who want to experience the city on foot, feeling every corner.
As if all the charm of the Palace wasn’t enough, our itinerary also included a visit to the Estoril Golf Club, which is just a five-minute drive from the hotel. The course doesn’t belong to the Estoril Palace, but it functions almost as a natural extension of the experience: the hotel offers a minivan shuttle, and many guests arrive with their clubs already packed, ready to play. Tania, Rui, and I went to do a site inspection there, and between photos, I imagined how perfect the setting is for a relaxed pre-wedding shoot, an outdoor welcome drink, or even a slower-paced day after, for guests who want to extend the celebration in an elegant way. The golf course, with its impeccable greenery, tree silhouettes, and the soft light typical of the region, creates a beautiful contrast with the classic atmosphere of the Palace: on one side, historical glamour; on the other, nature framing lighthearted moments, laughter, and toasts.
Art Legacy
Art Legacy isn’t a wedding hotel. It doesn’t host wedding events per se, nor does it have a ballroom. But it does something equally important for the destination wedding world: it welcomes couples and guests who are getting married in Lisbon. Imagine a contemporary, cool boutique hotel with a very well-defined artistic concept. Now add a perfect location, attentive service, and that sense of “discovery” that we love when we travel. That’s it.
The décor is entirely designed by the artist MOOOL, giving the hotel a unique visual identity. The corridors, rooms, and common areas interact with each other, as if they were all part of a single artwork. And the elevator… ah, the elevator! The velvet elevator, the animals, and the “cool Lisbon” mood. The Art Legacy elevator deserves a paragraph of its own. Covered in velvet-like fabric with animal illustrations, it completely escapes the idea of a neutral, aseptic, bland elevator. There, the elevator is almost a stage set. You enter and feel like you’re part of an art installation. It’s the kind of detail I pay close attention to when considering where to recommend to couples and their guests: the hotel needs to have soul, a point of view, something beyond “comfortable bed and good breakfast.” Because in a destination wedding, the hotel is, indeed, part of the wedding narrative.
The room I stayed in was cozy, well-designed, with that balance between design and comfort that I like. It wasn’t just pretty for photos – it was a pleasure to be in. And the location speaks for itself: downtown Lisbon, next to Chiado; close to everything, ideal for those who want to explore the city on foot; perfect for guests attending a wedding in Lisbon who want to spend a few days in the city. Even though it’s not a wedding hotel, Art Legacy is, for me, a destination wedding hotel – because it does exactly what we need: it welcomes, delights, and complements the celebration experience.
What charmed me most about this trip to Portugal was realizing how the country, which I’ve known and recommended for years, continues to reinvent itself for the wedding world: In Estoril, the classic Hotel Palácio Estoril reaffirms its place as the perfect setting for elegant weddings, with its structure, history, and a team that knows how to host grand celebrations. In Lisbon, the contemporary Art Legacy emerges as a charming and cool option for hosting couples and guests who want to experience the city in style, even if the “I do” happens elsewhere. Between one hotel and another, between Tânia’s invitation, Rui Mota Pinto’s presence, and Maria João’s affection, Portugal showed itself, once again, to be a country that embraces love in all its forms: from historic ballrooms to velvet elevators with illustrated animals.
And here I am, bags packed and heart full, mapping out every corner that could be the setting – or a luxurious supporting role – for your dreams of getting married around the world. If you were planning a wedding in Portugal today, would you imagine yourself more in the classic-elegant mood of the Estoril Palace or in the cool-urban vibe of Lisbon with a boutique hotel like the Art Legacy? Write to me, I’d love to help!
See you next week!
Kisses,
Simone
