Plaza Ribeiro Telles: a wedding day in the countryside

Bride and groom, at the time of swearing in the ceremony, in front of the priest, at Igreja Santa Isabel in Lisbon by the wedding photographer.

THE CEREMONY by THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN LISBON

Bride and groom, at the time of swearing in the ceremony, in front of the priest, at Igreja Santa Isabel in Lisbon by the wedding photographer.

The photographs belong to a wedding with the ceremony at the Church of Santa Isabel in Lisbon and the party at Plaza Ribeiro Telles


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The ceremony is the highlight of the wedding day

Groom on the phone while she gets her hair done.

Anyone following my work will notice that I dedicate a great deal of photographic focus to the ceremony, whether religious or civil. This is for two reasons. One is that the ceremony is, as the name suggests, the highlight of the wedding day.

The couple gets ready, does their hair and makeup, dresses up, and spends a lot of time choosing the little details that make a difference—from the bouquet to the cufflinks—to look, as the French say, ravissantes, wonderful, and to truly feel the value that the ceremony holds for them. The second reason is that everything that happens before and after exists because of the ritual that officially unites the couple as husband and wife: the famous “yes.”

Attentive to emotions

The groom's cufflinks.

That’s why I feel it is my duty, as a wedding photographer, to invest everything I know and can do to ensure the wedding ceremony coverage is worthy of the solemnity, the couple, the family, and the wedding guests. But photographing the wedding ceremony is much more than just “taking” pictures. It’s about being attentive to the emotions, the ongoing communication between the couple, and, for me, it’s especially important to capture the entire atmosphere surrounding the event.

Understanding the space, figuring out how the environment can be used to build photographs that, without altering, enhance and serve as a vehicle to convey the emotional side of the ceremony, and knowing how to highlight what’s important and hide elements that may cause visual discomfort. That’s the photographer’s responsibility, through their equipment, knowledge, and sensitivity. On my part, I will always invest everything I know in how I photograph the wedding ceremony.

The wedding photographer was a witness

In the mirror, the groom ties his tie.

That’s exactly what I did at Joana and Bruno’s wedding at Plaza Ribeiro Telles. The rainy day and low lighting inside the church gave me a soft, almost ethereal light, which I embraced and believe I was able to transmit. It was a day of intense photographic involvement and great joy from the shared moments, in which the wedding photographer was a witness throughout.

The groom, ready for the wedding, leaning against a piece of furniture in the house.

The importance of the ceremony at Igreja de Santa Isabel, in Lisbon

The wedding ceremony is the most symbolic and emotional moment of the day, where the couple officially seals their union in front of family and friends. Igreja de Santa Isabel, located in Lisbon, offers a historic and spiritual setting that is ideal for this solemn moment.

A historic and inspiring temple

Bride laughing while someone helps her get dressed, next to her mother.

Igreja de Santa Isabel, built between 1742 and 1763, is a remarkable example of Pombaline and Neoclassical architecture. Designed by military engineer Carlos Mardel, the church features a single nave and vaulted main chapel, with gilded woodwork and paintings by Pedro Alexandrino.

Its interior was enriched with artworks from other churches affected by the 1755 earthquake, making it a space of great artistic and historical value. Recently, the church underwent a rehabilitation project that included the creation of a new ceiling painted by Michael Biberstein, giving it a unique and contemporary atmosphere.

Capturing the essence of the ceremony

Bride's earrings for the wedding.

As a wedding photographer, it is essential to be aware of the emotions and atmosphere that surround the ceremony. The soft light that filters through the church, combined with its imposing architecture, provides an ideal environment for capturing genuine moments between the couple, the bride and groom, and the wedding guests.

  • Igreja de Santa Isabel is a historic venue with Pombaline and Neoclassical architecture
  • The interior was enriched with artwork after the 1755 earthquake
  • The recent renovation included a new ceiling painted by Michael Biberstein
  • The church’s natural light and ambiance are perfect for emotional wedding photographs

The celebration at Plaza Ribeiro Telles, in Vila Franca de Xira

The bride, in the street, as she gets into the car with her father and the driver.

After the ceremony, the wedding reception is a time of celebration and socialising between the couple and their guests. Plaza Ribeiro Telles, located in Vila Franca de Xira, is a modern and versatile venue that provides all the conditions for a memorable celebration.

A versatile and elegant space

Plaza Ribeiro Telles offers large and modern rooms that can be adapted to the style and scale of the celebration. All areas are climate-controlled and acoustically insulated, ensuring comfort throughout the event. The space’s clean design allows for customised décor, making it easy to plan every detail.
Additionally, it features a charming outdoor terrace ideal for open-air ceremonies.

Capturing moments of joy and spontaneity

During the party, the wedding photographer must stay attentive to interactions between the couple and their guests. Plaza Ribeiro Telles offers a variety of settings for spontaneous and creative wedding photographs—from the dance floor to the outdoor areas.

  • Plaza Ribeiro Telles is a modern and versatile venue for wedding celebrations
  • It offers climate-controlled rooms with acoustic insulation and an outdoor terrace
  • The space design allows for fully customised decoration
  • It provides several settings for spontaneous and creative photographs

The importance of a sensitive and attentive wedding photographer

The bride with her father walking up the church steps.

The wedding photographer plays a crucial role in documenting the wedding day. More than just capturing images, they are responsible for telling the couple’s story through the wedding photographs.

Witnessing and eternalising unique moments

From the couple’s preparations to the final dance of the evening, the photographer must be present and alert to all the details and emotions. Their sensitivity and experience allow them to capture unique moments that reflect the couple’s essence and the atmosphere of the event.

  • The wedding photographer tells the couple’s story through images
  • They must be attentive to every detail and emotion throughout the day
  • Their sensitivity and experience are essential to capture unique moments

The ceremony is the highlight of the wedding day.

As a wedding photographer, I devote special attention to photographing the ceremony, whether religious or civil, as it is the moment that formalises the couple’s union. My mission is to capture every emotion, every glance, and every gesture, so you can relive those moments each time you look at your wedding photographs.


Talk to me

If you’re looking for a wedding photographer committed to authentically and emotionally eternalising your day, get in touch with me. It will be a pleasure to be part of your story.



Bride at the hairdresser seen through blurred colored bottles.
Groom buttons wedding apparel vest.
The groom receives a kiss from his mother, with the father looking on.
The bride's dress hanging, seen from the door.
In makeup, the bride in the process.
Bride smiling in black and white portrait by wedding photographer.
Tried the veil on the bride's hair.
In the car, the bride leaves for the wedding ceremony.
At the church door, the bride prepares to enter the ceremony.
The groom greets the bride's father when she comes to him.
The bride and groom in front of the altar in the church, with the priest and the guests.
The altar area of ​​the Church, with gilding, with the bride and groom seated, the priest and the guests.
The groom, the bride, with the veil over their face, laugh sitting in front of the altar.
Hands of the bride and groom with the ring on the finger of the groom.
The children talking by the altar.
The groom, staring at the priest, with guests in the background, blurred.
Priest, with his back turned out of focus, with the bride and groom in front of him.
The bride, in black and white, during the wedding ceremony.
The newlywed couple leaving the church in a cloud of flower petals.
Arrangement of blue flowers on a wedding party table.
Seashells decorating a table at the wedding party.
The inner square of Plaza Ribeiro Telles with guests in conviviality.
Bride, groom and guests talk to a girl.
In the woods of Plaza Ribeiro Telles, the bride and groom being photographed by the wedding photographer.
The groom peeks through two columns during the wedding photography session.
Portrait of the bride, in black and white, in the garden of Plaza Ribeiro Telles.
The newlyweds next to an old wooden structure, with unfocused garden plants.
Among orange trees, the bride and groom embraced.
The couple look at each other from above.
Next to an old car, the bride and groom receive the light from a window, in the late afternoon.
The groom sitting on an old car, in Plaza Ribeiro Telles.
The bride receives, in a window with red curtains, the light coming from the street.
The newly married couple sitting at a table in the inner square of Plaza Ribeiro Telles.
Looking at each other, in the garden already with the light of the lamps.
The bride and groom in front of the wedding cake when cutting it and offering it to the guests.
The couple cutting the wedding cake.
The couple in a dance step at the wedding party.
Bride danced at her wedding party.
The groom dances with the bride's mother at the wedding reception at Plaza Ribeiro Telles.
Dancing wedding guests.

By Fernando Colaço

Fernando Colaço, wedding photographer in Portugal. Natural, discreet and documentary. The photos will tell the story.

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