Portugal’s wedding seasons at a glance
While it doesn’t actually face the Mediterranean, Portugal enjoys a Mediterranean-style climate of hot, dry summers and mild winters. It even gets more sunshine than California!
Being a long and thin country there are some regional variations. The north is cooler than the south, with a much more lush and green landscape. Inland areas are also hotter in the summer than the coastal regions with their cooling breezes.
With so much sunshine balanced against winters that rarely get very cold, Portuguese wedding weather is lovely all year round.
Spring weddings in Portugal (March–May)
Why our couples love spring weddings: fresh flowers, long daylight hours.
Pros: mild temperatures, fewer crowds.
Cons: chance of rain, especially in the north.
Best regions for a spring Portuguese wedding: Sintra for lush gardens, Douro Valley for its magnificent vineyards, Lisbon & Cascais.
“I absolutely love spring weddings in Portugal, especially in May,” says Patrícia. “The weather is mild, and the gardens are in full bloom.”
Average temperatures start in March at 52°F (11°C) and then rise to 72°F (22°C) by May, making it beautifully warm – the chance of an al fresco celebration is definitely on the cards!
Devin and Jacob made the most of this spring sunshine with their April outdoor wedding in Lisbon, held in the gardens of the city’s historic Grémio Palace. Further out on the coast, US Meredith and Ryan took advantage of Portugal’s beautiful springtime weather with a May wedding in Cascais that featured both a castle and a beach.
Summer weddings in Portugal (June–August)
Why our couples love a summer wedding: amazing sunsets, wonderful atmosphere, al fresco ceremonies.
Pros: Long hours of daylight, warm evenings.
Cons: Intense heat especially in July and August, lots of tourists.
Best regions for a summer Portuguese wedding: Algarve for coastal breezes and beaches, the Portuguese Riviera (Cascais, Oeiras and Sintra).
Patrícia loves this season for its sunshine, blue skies and outdoor celebrations. “It’s ideal for seaside weddings, countryside venues or sunset dinners under the stars.”
With long daylight hours and warm evenings, summer offers plenty of opportunities for a relaxed, Mediterranean-style celebration. This is just what Australian couple Jordan and Stuart experienced with their summer clifftop Algarve wedding – they got to head straight to the beach after their ceremony for a barefoot photoshoot!
June is ideal for early summer weddings before the temperature really heats up. “This month also brings the santos populares festivals, filling the streets with colour, music and joy,” explains Patrícia. These are three street festivals held to honor Saints Anthony, John and Peter, and are a time for street parties, music, dancing – and lots of grilled sardines! “It’s a vibrant time to celebrate, perfect for couples who want to experience the true spirit of Portugal,” says Patrícia.
Nadine and Harrison took their celebrations inland for a June wedding in the Douro region, where they brought a traditional wine ritual into the ceremony to honour Portugal’s vibrant culture.
Fall weddings in Portugal (September–November)
Why our couples love a fall wedding: beautiful scenery, great photo opportunities.
Pros: comfortable temperatures, more supplier availability.
Cons: higher risk of rain, shorter daylight hours.
Best regions for a Portuguese wedding in fall: Douro and Alentejo for vineyard and harvest vibes.
“Autumn in Portugal is absolutely enchanting!” says Patrícia. “The light turns soft and golden, and the atmosphere feels so intimate and romantic.”
September is often described as Portugal’s ‘second summer’. The temperatures have dropped from the high summer numbers to a softer, more relaxed warmth, with an average daily range of 64°F−81°F (18°C−27°C). By October, this drops to an average range of 59−77°F (15°C-25°C), so still very pleasantly warm.
November is the bridge to the cooler winter months, but can still get temperatures of 68°F (20°C). It was warm enough in November for Danielle and Michael to have a wonderfully romantic al fresco sunset ceremony for their autumn wedding in Cascais.
“I love it when couples embrace the season, serving roasted chestnuts, using warm color tones in their décor, and celebrating among the golden vines,” states Patrícia. “It’s a truly soulful time of year to get married.”
Winter weddings in Portugal (December–February)
Why our couples love a winter wedding: Christmas magic, cozy ambiance.
Pros: Lowest costs, fewer tourists.
Cons: Unpredictable weather, some venues may be closed.
Best regions for a Portuguese winter wedding: Algarve (the sunniest place in Europe in winter), Madeira (warm year-round), Lisbon and Porto for winter city chic.
“In winter, Portugal transforms into a fairytale setting!” enthuses Patrícia. “The streets fill with lights, Christmas markets pop up all over the country, and there’s a wonderfully festive mood in the air.”
While you may not have the guaranteed sunshine for your wedding photoshoot, you can lean into the amazing architecture in Portugal when you get married in winter. Cities such as Lisbon and Porto have a wealth of picturesque buildings that make wonderful backdrops for photos – colorful ceramic tiles, Gothic and medieval buildings, and cobbled streets are all on offer.
You can also embrace interior styling for your Portuguese winter wedding. “This can be truly magical — think candlelight, elegant décor and, for weddings in December, a touch of Christmas sparkle,” suggests Patrícia.
If you want a guaranteed sunny winter wedding, we recommend checking out the Portuguese island of Madeira. Its subtropical climate means winter temperatures average at 68°F (20°C), with night time temperatures rarely dropping below 34°F (10°C). Even the sea is warm – perfect for a post-wedding dip!
Other considerations for when to get married in Portugal
Portuguese holidays
Portuguese national holidays and busy periods can affect the price of accommodation and venue availability. Many businesses are also closed on national holidays, so some forward planning may be necessary to navigate this. These include:
- Christmas and New Year
- Easter
- Portugal Day on 10 June, The Feast of the Assumption on 15 August, Republic Day on 5 October and All Saints Day on 1 November.
Week day versus weekend
A weekday wedding is held on Monday to Thursday, and is often a lot cheaper than a weekend wedding (Friday, Saturday, sometimes Sunday), as weekdays aren’t so popular. But as a destination wedding requires taking holiday anyway so you and your guests can travel, it doesn’t matter if it’s held on a weekday, which can really help to keep your costs down.
Your guest availability
If you’re thinking of inviting friends and family to your Portuguese wedding, you’ll need to consider when is a good time for them to travel around school vacations and annual leave.
Flight availability and cost
Portugal is a popular vacation destination, with several major airports serving international destinations. Flights during popular times (summer and Christmas, for example) will be more expensive, but there may also be more availability and routes.
Expert tips from our Portuguese destination wedding planner
Patrícia also suggests taking these points into considering for your decision on when to get married in Portugal.
Booking timeline
In order to book your preferred venue and wedding vendors, Patrícia advises having a lead time of 12-18 months. But as an experienced Portuguese planner who works with our extensive network of local venues and suppliers, she’s also organized celebrations with much less notice – sometimes as little as six months. Just be prepared to be a little more flexible around decisions, and to make your choices more quickly.
Legal & religious paperwork
Want to make your Portuguese wedding legally binding? You need at least a month to organize the paperwork for your marriage licence, then you need to get married within six months of the licence being issued. We’ve set out all the information you need in our blog post on Portuguese legal wedding requirements.
Planning your Portuguese destination wedding
We guarantee you’ll have a breathtaking wedding no matter when you choose to get married in Portugal. Looking to start planning? See how we can make your day peachy perfect with our all-inclusive destination wedding packages and expert local planner.
This article was created by:
Helen Dorritt
Helen is a writer and editor based in Bristol, UK. After five years sitting in the editor's chair of a bridal magazine, she now specialises in writing about all things wedding. You can find her on LinkedIn and The Wedding Wordsmith.
Patrícia Esteves
Fluent in both Portuguese and English, Patrícia draws on her background in TV production to bring a director’s eye and organization to planning stunning Portuguese weddings. A lover of romantic fiction, she also has insider knowledge of where to get the best pastéis de nata in her home town of Lisbon.