Casa de Reguengos, Portugal: a wedding in August

Among the plants in the forest next to Casa de Reguengos, the bride and groom, sitting on the ground, look at each other bathed in the golden light of the evening.

JAZZ AND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY by THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN LISBON

Among the plants in the forest next to Casa de Reguengos, the bride and groom, sitting on the ground, look at each other bathed in the golden light of the evening.

Wedding photos with a wedding ceremony at Enxara do Bispo Parish Church and party at Casa de Reguengos in Vila Franca do Rosário, Mafra


• Pode ler este artigo em Português. 

Casa de Reguengos: a wedding in August

Wedding Photographer Listening to Miles Davis

Seen in a mirror and with several bottles in front of him, the groom shaves his beard to prepare for the wedding.

The wedding photographer, listening to a track by Miles Davis — Sanctuary, from his famous album Bitches Brew — found a connection between the piece and what I do. A bit twisted, or forced, if read by a jazz “fanatic,” but the truth is that a day covering a wedding through photography isn’t far off from a track played by musicians in a state of grace, in a performance that’s always unexpected, even for ears accustomed to journeys through musical notes, fingers, and jazzy breaths.

Let me explain. Just like jazz, a wedding day has a theme. A path we know we will follow, with its own melody and more or less defined rhythms. The couple’s home, where their preparation takes place, the ceremony, the party, the photo session with the couple — all of this is more or less defined, and we know it won’t be much different from the themes we’ve already played on other days of unions for a life together.

The Wedding Day and Jazz

The groom's mother checks that what he is going to wear for his wedding day is prepared for it.

Just like jazz on an inspired day, the wedding also starts with that theme, but soon, as if in a perfectly controlled frenzy, we begin to hear those rhythmic deviations, the stretches and compressions of time, the soloists stepping in to alter the route of textures through the combination of instruments — and that theme we initially identified transforms into a journey full of surprises: a deeply emotional grandmother, the arrival of family, and then — where is the bride?

…let me kiss the bride first, we have to wait for the father who went to park the car better, the bouquet hasn’t arrived yet… suddenly, the rhythm changes, the chosen tempo is no longer valid, and on the way to the ceremony we can’t shake the thought that the priest doesn’t like delays and nothing can wait anymore — especially not because the wedding photographer got stuck in traffic. It’s time to return to the original theme of the piece to start a new one, one of many prepared for the day, as if the wedding day had turned into a great jazz concert.

Wedding Photographer as the Soloist of an Orchestra

The groom with his mother who helps him to button his shirt, when dressing for the wedding.

Of course, Tânia and Bruno’s wedding — at the Parish Church of Enxara do Bispo and the celebration at Casa de Reguengos — was no different: with its chosen theme, the necessary improvisations, never losing the beat, and the soloists always shining, as it should be on such a meaningful performance day.

For me, if I were a musician, I’d only want to play jazz, but as a wedding photographer, I can’t say I get any less joy. In my somewhat fertile imagination — exaggerated, some might say — I always imagine myself as a great soloist invited to play with a great orchestra. Thank you, Tânia and Bruno, for making it happen. Until the next performance.

Wedding Photographer: The Art of Capturing Emotion to the Rhythm of Jazz

During the stage of getting ready to go to the wedding, the groom buttons the cuff of his shirt.

A wedding day is a symphony of emotions, moments, and details that intertwine to create a unique narrative. Just like in jazz, where the main melody serves as a base for emotional improvisations and solos, the wedding photographer plays the role of the soloist, capturing every nuance with sensitivity and creativity. Inspired by tracks like Sanctuary by Miles Davis, every wedding is a unique performance where the photographer interprets and records the most meaningful moments.

The Preparation: Tuning the Instruments

In the room where he dresses for the wedding, the groom has just donned his suit vest and looks at his hands as he tightens his watch strap.

The journey begins at the couple’s home, where anticipation and emotion fill the air. Here, the wedding photographer starts composing their visual symphony, capturing intimate details and the pre-ceremony moments.

Key points:

  • Capturing spontaneous and genuine moments.
  • Focusing on details: dress, rings, bouquet.
  • Interaction with close family and friends.
  • Creating a cohesive visual narrative from the start of the day.

The Ceremony: The Main Melody

The pocket watch that the groom will wear on his wedding day, next to his belt and a box, over the fabric of his pants.

The ceremony at the Parish Church of Enxara do Bispo is the heart of the day. This historic building, with its 16th-century architecture and serene atmosphere, provides the perfect setting for solemn and emotional moments.

Key points:

  • Respect for religious traditions and protocols.
  • Capturing the emotional expressions of the couple and guests.
  • Attention to the architectural and symbolic details of the church.
  • Using natural light to enhance the space’s atmosphere.

The Party: Improvisations and Solos

The groom's father, reflected in a mirror on the left, helps the groom put on his coat.

After the ceremony, the celebration continues at Casa de Reguengos in Vila Franca do Rosário. This stunning venue, with panoramic views and a dedicated team, offers the perfect setting for moments of joy and relaxation.

Key points:

  • Documenting spontaneous and fun moments.
  • Group photos and guest interactions.
  • Capturing the personalized décor and details.
  • Recording traditions like the cake cutting and first dance.

The Photographer’s Role: The Soloist in the Orchestra

After getting dressed for the wedding day, the groom poses for the wedding photographer, looking straight ahead.

Like a jazz musician, the wedding photographer must be versatile, sensitive, and attentive to their surroundings. Every wedding is a new composition where improvisation and creativity are essential to capture the essence of the day.

Key points:

  • Adapting to different environments and situations.
  • Ability to anticipate key moments.
  • Discreet interaction with the couple and guests.
  • Careful editing to highlight the natural beauty of the images.

Conclusion: The Complete Symphony

Bride's face smiling as she talks to someone, at the stage when she is getting her hair done for the wedding.

The wedding day is a unique composition where each moment contributes to the final melody. With sensitivity and artistry, the wedding photographer captures this emotional symphony, creating memories that will last forever.

Key points:

  • Importance of choosing a photographer who understands the couple’s vision.
  • The value of a photographic record that tell the full story of the day.
  • The benefit of having images that capture both major moments and subtle details.
  • Trust in the experience and artistic sensitivity of the photographer.

Ready to compose the visual symphony of your special day? Get in touch to schedule a meeting and discover how we can turn your wedding into a photographic masterpiece.

Give me a Call
  • You can see a full wedding story:
Wedding

In Casa de Reguengos at Vila Franca do Campo.

Part of the bride's face between blurs, with the hands of the makeup artist who paints her eyes.
Looking to the side with her eyes closed, the bride smiles as the makeup artist, blurred in the foreground, smoothes her makeup with a brush.
After combing and makeup, the bride in a mirror looking down.
In a mirror, painting the bride's eyes.
Lying on the floor next to each other, the bride's two dogs follow the process of her grooming.
On the balcony, with her dress in the background, out of focus, the bride waves to someone across the street.
The bride's dress hangs in the window overlooking the balcony.
The wedding rings attached to a floral arrangement with roses and other flowers.
With her dress already on, the bride, with the bouquet in her hand, looks down.
Two friends of the bride just arrived, greet her at the balcony door.
The bride surrounded by friends who help her put on her shoes.
Viewed from the balcony, the bride looks to the side, sitting with the bouquet in her hand.
The bride, already prepared to leave for the wedding ceremony, talks to the little boy with the hat on his head.
The bride, with her parents and a friend, is getting ready to get into an old car to go to the wedding ceremony.
With the bride, smiling, already inside the old car, a hand gives her the bunch of flowers.
A floral arrangement on one of the church benches, where the wedding ceremony will take place at Nossa Sra. da Assunção of Enxara do Bispo.
At the church door, before the wedding ceremony, a friend of the groom adjusts his coat and the flower in his boutonniere.
A couple of wedding guests walk with their children to their place inside the Church of Nossa Sra. da Assunção of Enxara do Bispo.
The bride gets out of the old car in the church square to enter for the wedding ceremony.
The bride enters the Church of Nossa Sra. of the Assumption of Enxara do Bispo, with her father, among the guests towards the altar.
Once inside the church, the bride and groom sat next to each other, holding hands and holding the bouquet.
Interior of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção of Enxara do Bispo, with the bride and groom, the officiating priest and the guests.
Sitting and facing the priest, the bride and groom listen attentively to the homily during the wedding ceremony.
Seen between the priest, in his homily, and part of the altar, the bride and groom, in the background, seated in front of their guests.
With the groom, the bride reads the oath of marriage in a book held by the priest.
An almost baby girl, with her brother, now a boy, deliver the wedding rings to the bride and groom, together with the bride and groom and the priest.
Groom's hand holds the floral arrangement with the rings while the bride's hand removes the rings.
The couple, together in front of the priest, during the wedding ceremony, remove the rings from the floral arrangement.
The groom gives the ring to the bride during the wedding ceremony at the Church of Nossa Sra. da Assunção of Enxara do Bispo.
The groom signs the marriage documents at the Church of Nossa Sra. of the Assumption of Enxara from the Bishop.
After the wedding ceremony is over, inside the church, guests greet the bride and groom.
The newlyweds just left the church, after the wedding ceremony, among the wedding guests.
Outside the church, after the wedding ceremony in the Church of Nossa Sra. da Assunção of Enxara do Bispo., a guest embraces the groom congratulating him on his marriage.
Two photographers at the moment they photograph the bride and groom, when they arrive at Casa de Reguengos for the wedding party.
The groom's grandfather playing the mandolin to entertain the guests before the wedding meal.
Among the flowers in the garden of Casa de Reguengos under the golden light of the late afternoon, the bride and groom smile together in the session with the wedding photographer.
Leaning on the groom's chest and cheeks together, the bride looks back smiling, in the midst of wild, unfocused bushes in the garden.
The bride and groom kiss, seen through the trees of the woods next to Casa de Reguengos, where the wedding party is taking place.
Bathed in the golden light of the end of the day at Casa de Reguengos, the bride and groom, next to each other, pose, among the trees in the forest, for the wedding photographer.
Standing, the newly married couple receives the warm light of the late afternoon, surrounded by plants and trees.
Portrait of the bride in black and white, looking straight ahead and framed by two tufts of plants, taken by the wedding photographer.
Next to trees with mosses on the trunks, the bride, with her back on the groom's chest, looks at him with the two of them holding hands, entwined in front of the bride.
Among the oleanders, small cedars and tufts of marigolds at Casa de Reguengos, the bride and groom, standing and intertwined, look to the side.
The bride smiling and with the bouquet in her hand, on a path near the Casa de Reguengos, in a portrait by the wedding photographer.
The groom smiles, sitting by a wall with vases of flowers.
The bride and groom are about to start the first dance of the wedding party.
During the first dance of the wedding, the couple intertwined, talking between blues and purples colors.
At the end of the first dance, the groom with the bride in his arms, lit by a green light behind them.
The bride with the bouquet in her hands, aloft, before tossing it to the singles at the wedding, in front of her.
The hill with the Church of Nossa Sra. da Assunção of Enxara do Bispo, seen from the Casa de Reguengos.
Before the wedding cake is cut, the bride and groom give a speech, laughing a lot, thanking their guests.
Along with the wedding cake, the bride and groom thank their guests for their presence, before distributing it to everyone.
The bride with a mask during the wedding party at Casa de Reguengos.
The bride and groom, facing each other, wearing masks, play with each other during the wedding party at Casa de Reguengos.

By Fernando Colaço

I am Fernando Colaço a wedding photographer based in Portugal. My approach to wedding photography is open and not intruder, leaving the event just to happen. We may call it photojournalism. But, it is better to let the photos talk. I am at your service.

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