We promise it ends with a “happily ever after” if you have been secretly waiting for a love story ??

Once upon a time…

… actually, 10 years ago, Portugal set the bar as one of the most open-minded countries in the world, legalizing same-sex marriage. It is also worth mentioning that Portugal outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation way back in 2004.

It’s really easy to forget the positive steps we take along the way and move on to the next challenge, but it is as emotive as important to preserve our actions in the past and understand how vital they were in a time where the fight for the LGTBI+ community rights demanded more each day.

In 2010, Portugal became the eight-country worldwide to approve same-sex civil marriage, one of the several additions to the achievements that led Portugal to the forefront of sexual citizenship rights for the LGBTI+ people in Europe.

Until today, not only is same-sex marriage legal but also the adoption by same-sex married couples.

https://www.facebook.com/TrumpsLisboa/photos/a.2393592717350736/2393595877350420/?type=3
Portugal’s Pride March 2019

Winds of change in Portugal

2019 was a year of success here in Portuguese lands. The country was voted the world’s most gay-friendly destination alongside Sweden and Canada), according to the Spartacus International Gay Guide Index 2019, and by the end of the year, the blog Asher & Lyric took a deep look at LGBTI+ rights and created an LGBTI+ Danger Index, where you’ll find our little country rated in 4th.

So yes, things are pretty swell in Portugal, and with tourism booming, we have more reasons to believe the stats and credit our country for its open-minded spirit and friendly people. Although there is still a long way to go, we trust that the future will shine brighter and reinforce diversity, respect and love between every single one of us.

Lisbon is one of the most famous destinations for same-sex couples to marry. No wonder why, look at this beautiful background!

So what’s the plot?

Yes, we are officially entering the main topic that brought us here, and that also gives title to our article: M-A-R-R-I-A-G-E. In this particular context, gay marriage!

As we said, 10 years ago we celebrated the freedom of same-sex couples to marry in Portugal and since then a lot of love birds nestled in our country and tied the knot!

If you love him, then you shoulda put a ring on it, in Portugal!

5 Reason to get married in Portugal

Here you’ll find 5 more than “good” reasons why you must consider Portugal as your “happily ever after” location.

First Reasons First: Our Legal Situation is your dream

Minimum paperwork and flexible legislation! (along with low administration fees, quick issuance of the certificate after the registration)

Legal requirements to get married in Portugal:

  • Legal age for marriage is 18 years old (for both men and women)
  • With 16 or 17 years old, parental consent is mandatory
  • The Bride and Groom cannot be 1st degree related
  • Cousin and same-sex marriages are allowed in Portugal.
  • There are no residency requirements or no minimum stay is required to get married in Portugal.

Data from dreamdayweddingplanners website.

Second Reason: Safety first!

When it comes to the safest locations in the world, we are probably a recurring contender.

According to the Global Peace Index, Portugal ranks 3rd in the safest countries in the world to live and work. In general, Travelling around Europe is usually very safe; with a guaranteed healthcare service, political stability (as stable as we can get in 2020) and a considerable low crime rates, you’d be unlucky to encounter any serious problems.

However, Portugal still manages to appear as one of the few countries offering a respectful, friendly and open-minded ambience, and Portuguese people are known for being fairly friendly and welcoming!

Third Reason: Easy like Sunday morning

In Portugal, any couple can get married, regardless of gender, nationality or their status in the country.

When you think about marriage arrangements, a lot of things come up and we surely understand how much paperwork can destroy one’s dream of tying the knot.

But hey, we can help you!

Like a fairytale! Find the venue of your dreams and make it memorable.

The following data was first presented in My Guide Algarve website.

Civil Ceremony A civil wedding is a contract that is bound to the laws of the country where the contract is issued. To legally marry in Portugal you will need:

  • Identification documents
  • Birth certificates
  • A Certificate of No Impediment (Portuguese law requires that you have a document stating you are free to marry according too the laws of your country of nationality)
  • Additionally, you may need divorce certificates, death certificates of former partners or previous marriage certificates

All documents must be translated into Portuguese and notarized locally, and you will need a translator for the civil ceremony.

Civil Ceremony and Religious Ceremony

In addition to the above and in the case of Catholic ceremonies, you will need:

  • Documentation from your parish priest granting permission for the ceremony to be held
  • Documentation for the Bishop of your parish
  • Documentation regarding baptism, first communion and confirmation

Celebration Ceremony

The celebration ceremony is not a legally binding act and therefore not subject to the restrictions of the civil ceremony.

It complements the legal facts of the civil ceremony while allowing couples to truly experience their dream wedding as they can choose the location, the time of day, the words, promises, prayers and vows that mark the start their life as a married couple.

Fourth Reason: Heaven in a place in Portugal!

We offer an array of romantic destinations where you can have a legal Civil same-sex wedding or a symbolic blessing. To celebrate love, couples can choose from several locations and venues and enjoy the sunshine on an Outdoor event. The most difficult thing will be choosing what do you prefer!

Romantic Wedding

The ‘Old World’ romance is not dead, and nowadays couples seem to love the trend of romanticism recurring to ancient wedding traditions from past generations to plan their weddings. Alongside beautiful monuments and quirky castles, in Portugal, the sun shines 290 days a year and the temperatures rarely fall below 15 degrees.

Definitely Portugal offers the romantic vibe and the most picturesque and enchanting venues!

Wedding by the Sea

If we could sum up Portugal’s iconic landscapes maybe we could describe them as a wonderful set of diverse, contrasting and distinctive venues for you to get married.

Not so oddly enough, there’s an important reason why thousands of couples chose Portugal as a wedding destination – after all, we offer a long coast of more than 1000km with beaches and natural cliffs and escarpments!

With sea sunset, bright and warm colours and the crystal clear blue waters it will be impossible for you not to consider our country. From the north to the south of Portugal, there are magnificent beaches all along the coast, each one more beautiful than the one before.

Fifth Reason: Wedding Planners will be your BFF’s

Each year, couples from all over the world choose to get married in Portugal. Recently an Israeli same-sex couple made the news for finding a legal loophole for marriage that allowed the union (they got married in Portugal in August 2019) to be officially recognized in Israel.

In addition, in Portugal, you’ll find several options of wedding planners that will help you to quicken the bureaucracy and simultaneously offering unique venues and solutions for you to be the wedding of your dreams!

Get to know Same Vibes Wedding Agency!

“We are a multilingual wedding agency, which primarily deals with the formal and legal part of marriage. Nevertheless, we will be happy to organize a ceremony for you and your guests, both indoors and outdoors, including finding a beautiful location, catering or restaurant, accommodation, decor, photographer.”

Check Dream Day Wedding Planners too!

At Dream Day Wedding Planners we believe in every couple’s uniqueness. Thus, we always make sure that every wedding concept is different, based on the couple’s requirements and designed especially to match each client requirements and budget. There is no such thing as two equal weddings.

It’s a date to celebrate and to make us all aware of the path we still have to embrace to create a more respectful society where love has no labels. So what are you waiting for?

Credits

Lisbon Pride March by Marta Ribeiro on Trumps Club – Lisboa
Female Couple in Lisbon by Dima Kornilov on Portugal Gay Wedding
Gay Couple with Rings on Hands by Nick Karvounis on Unsplash
Male Couple Marriage by Dima Kornilov on Portugal Gay Wedding
Lisbon’s Cathedral by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
Leiria Castle by Diogo Palhais on Unsplash
Bordeira Beach by Jojo Franke on Unsplash
Three Brothers Beach by Liam McKay on Unsplash