Portuguese Wedding Photography

Romantic, elegant and unique Portuguese Wedding Photography covering NJ, NY, CT & PA.

Portuguese Wedding Traditions

Today more than 99% of all Portuguese are Roman Catholic and most weddings over the past 30 years or so have been patterned after the modern religious ceremonies in the United States and Western Europe.

That’s not to say that there is nothing of the old customs in the modern ceremonies of today. Even today it is customary for the oldest members of the community to attend a stag party for the groom at which he bids farewell to his single life and his single friends. It is also still customary, as it was in ancient times, for friends and neighbors to lend a hand wherever they can to help with the celebration and with the wedding itself. Also, the ancient custom of passing around the bride’s shoe during the reception and stuffing it with money to help the young couple with their honeymoon and to help them start their new life together is still very much alive.

Recently, however, there has bit somewhat of a revival in the ancient wedding customs. More and more couples are now opting for the romanticism and tradition of the more ancient wedding customs handed down from generation to generation.

Portuguese Wedding Rituals - What to Expect at the Reception

Portuguese wedding ceremonies usually consist of a Roman Catholic mass, where traditionally the priest would bind the couple's hands with his stole, or call for the Bride and Groom to exchange rings, and then cover the couple with his stole, to unite and protect them. As the newlyweds exit the church, friends and relatives customarily throw bonbons and flowers, in lieu of tossing rice. In Portugal, many weddings used to be small and restricted to direct family, while others would be larger affairs where friends and relatives would all lend a hand in planning and organizing all the details of the wedding festivities. In Canada, Portuguese communities have been influence by other cultures and old customs are beginning to change.

Wedding receptions typically do not have a firm schedule: parties can last long into the night, and it is not unusual for breakfast to be served. Meal structure allows for free time between courses, giving guests a chance to dance and build up an appetite! Weddings have always been fashioned after European traditions, where food is abundant but not extravagant. Receptions typically involve traditional music and a lot of dancing, while guests exchange stories about the Bride and Groom. The ancient custom of passing the Bride's shoe around to all the guests, to receive monetary donations that will help the couple set up their new home, is still maintained today, and guests eagerly join the festivities and participate in this ritual. Traditionally, there will also be a money dance, where the Bride's shoe is passed around the dance floor, as young -- and not so young -- men pay for the privilege of dancing with the Bride.

Images by Gustav is a highly skilled and experienced Professional Photographer. If you are planning a Portuguese wedding, you have come to the right place. Gustav combines unique creativity and contemporary insight, and his artistic eye and raw talent capture each moments as it flawlessly unfolds. With an uncompromising uproach to excellence, your wedding Photography is in the safest, most experienced hands. Every photo will be a memory that can be shared for generations to come.