Guarda Wedding Photographer: at Hotel Lusitania

Under the orange trees, the bride and groom stroll, looking at each other in conversation, by the wedding photographer in Guarda.
Under the orange trees, the bride and groom stroll, looking at each other in conversation, by the wedding photographer in Guarda.

The wedding photos are from the ceremony at the Church of São Vivente in Guarda and the party at the Hotel Lusitânia


• Pode ler este artigo em Português. 

An intense day for wedding photographs that happened

The groom's mother putting on his tie.

After that beautiful afternoon through the streets of the City of Guarda and a restful night, early in the bright morning, with a scent of rain in the air, we started our day with Ana getting her hair and makeup done and a visit to Francisco’s house to prepare for the wedding day.

Back again, right in the center of Guarda, to Ana’s parents’ house, where the bride prepared for an intense, emotional, and joyful day. All at once and in a sequence that this modest wedding photographer was entrusted to follow and photograph.

Wedding ceremony

Seen through a crack in a door, the groom tightens his tie.

Just a few meters below is the Church of São Vicente, chosen for the ceremony and dear to Ana’s family. The ceremony was beautiful and emotional, as you can see in the photographs. One of my main concerns, while covering a wedding ceremony, is to stay attentive to the couple’s connection over time and how it evolves alongside their states of mind.

Once husband and wife, we headed to Hotel Lusitânia in Guarda, where a beautifully decorated hall awaited us. After rain that ended up not falling, in the hotel gardens, I photographed Ana and Francisco, and the night turned into a celebration, a joyful gathering of family and friends of this lovely couple.

Sitting with one arm on the back of the chair, the groom in a black and white portrait.

Morning Preparations and Emotions in the City of Guarda

Bride, with a bow in her hair, in makeup.

Ana and Francisco’s wedding day began with a calm atmosphere, marked by soft light and a scent of rain in the air. The morning started with Ana getting ready for the big moment, taking care of her hair and makeup, while Francisco received a special visit at his home.

Back in the center of Guarda, Ana’s parents’ house became the stage where the bride prepared for a day full of emotions. As a wedding photographer, I had the privilege of capturing each moment, from nervous smiles to the knowing glances between the bride and her family.

  • Bride’s preparations: Intimate and emotional moments at Ana’s parents’ house
  • Visit to the groom: Meaningful encounter at Francisco’s house
  • Morning atmosphere: Soft light and mild weather, perfect for natural photos
  • Captured details: Genuine expressions and spontaneous interactions

Ceremony at Igreja de São Vicente: Tradition and Baroque Beauty

The big bow on the bride's dress.

A few meters from Ana’s house, the Church of São Vicente was chosen for the wedding ceremony.
This Baroque church, rebuilt in 1790 under the guidance of Bishop D. Jerónimo Rogado de Carvalhal e Silva, stands out for its 18th-century tile panels depicting scenes from the life of Jesus.

The ceremony was filled with deep emotion, clearly seen in the expressions of the couple and their guests. As a wedding photographer, I focused on capturing the emotional evolution of the couple, from the solemn entrance to the moment they walked out as husband and wife.

  • Historic location: Church of São Vicente, a remarkable example of Baroque architecture in Guarda
  • Artistic elements: Tile panels that enrich the ceremonial setting
  • Emotional moments: Exchange of vows and guests’ reactions
  • Symbolic photographs: Capturing the essence of the ceremony and the couple’s connection

Celebration at Hotel Lusitânia: Elegance and Togetherness

Bride looking to the side, seen in a mirror.

After the ceremony, the guests headed to Hotel Lusitânia in Guarda for the celebration.
This four-star hotel, known as the first bio-friendly hotel in Portugal, offers a blend of comfort and sustainability.

The hotel gardens, despite the threat of rain that never came, provided the perfect setting for a photo session with the newlyweds. The night continued with a lively party, where family and friends enthusiastically celebrated Ana and Francisco’s union.

  • Reception venue: Hotel Lusitânia, known for its eco-friendly approach and modern facilities
  • Photo session: Use of the hotel gardens to capture intimate moments of the couple
  • Festive atmosphere: Elegant decoration and a welcoming mood for the guests
  • Spontaneous interactions: Photographs reflecting the joy and warmth among those present

An intense day for wedding photographs that happened

If you are planning your wedding day in Guarda or elsewhere in Portugal and are looking for a wedding photographer who captures every moment with sensitivity and professionalism, I am available to turn your memories into unforgettable images. Get in touch for more information and to schedule a meeting.

Give me a Call
See a wedding story, in black and white, from start to finish at the Vila Galé Collection Palácio dos Arcos Hotel in Paço de Arcos, Oeiras
The groom, at his parents' house, wearing his suit for the wedding.
After getting dressed for the wedding, the mother gives the groom a kiss.
Painting the bride's eyes.
Painting the bride's lips.
The bride's dress hangs on a piece of furniture in her parents' house.
The bride inside the dress, before buttoning.
The bride seen through the door of the room where she is dressed, already with the dress.
Two female friends button up the bride's dress.
The bride holds the dress while it is buttoned in the back.
In a mirror, the bride puts on her earrings.
Girl at the bride's parents' house plays with a pipe on the table.
The bride with a girl behind a fruit bowl and flowers.
The bride sitting waiting to leave for the wedding ceremony.
The bride, seated, as they put the garter on her leg.
Bride, ready, to leave at her parents' door.
Bride entering the Church of S. Vicente, in Guarda, with her father, among the guests.
The groom greets the bride's father as they arrive at the altar.
The bride, with the groom, in front of the altar of the church of S. Vicente in Guarda.
A boy and a girl sitting on a church step during the wedding ceremony.
The couple between two large lit candles at their wedding ceremony.
With the priest, the couple reads the oaths during the wedding ceremony.
Amid flowers and blurred candles on the church altar, the bride and groom chat during the wedding ceremony.
The groom looks at the bride as she looks ahead, listening to what the priest says, behind two lit candles.
Beneath a cascade of grains of rice, the bride and groom leaving the church.
The very smiling bride, among guests leaving the church of S. Vicente in Guarda.
The groom receives greetings from the guests.
Walking on a street in the garden of the Hotel Lusitania in Guarda, the newly married couple holding hands.
Viewed from a low plane by the wedding photographers, the bride and groom look at him.
The bride sitting on the side of the path between the trees in the garden of the Hotel Lusitania, in Guarda.
Portrait of the groom looking straight ahead, by the wedding photographer in Guarda.
Sitting on an old staircase in the garden, the bride and groom look to the side.
The bride and groom entering among the guests, in the dining room of the Lusitania hotel.
Sitting at the table, the bride and groom are photographed by guests.
Bride, glass in hand, chats with friends at the wedding party.
The bride, with the groom behind her, makes a sign with her hand, while a guest chooses a gift.
The wedding cakes, decorated with white chocolate shavings and flowers on them.
The groom and the bride cut the wedding cake at a party at the Hotel Lusitania, in Guarda.
Bride and groom dancing among the guests at the wedding party at the Hotel Lusitania.

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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