You will of course need a valid passport! If you need to apply for a new passport, please make sure to do this with plenty of time to spare as it can take a bit to receive it. Also do keep in mind, passports must be valid for six months beyond the date the traveler will exit the United States so check those expiration dates! Also... In 2023 it was announced that in order to travel to Portugal starting in 2024, US travelers would need to fill out an EITAS application. This is no longer the case!!! They have pushed the launch date for this program back to 2025. There is no need to fill out one of these applications for this trip!
We encourage and hope that most will stay with us on property at Quinta dos Machados! Please message us to see if there is room at the venue as we assign the rooms ourselves on first come first serve basis before booking alternative accommodations. However, we will have alternate options with special rates as well once all the rooms are filled at our venue. Here is the link to our special rates at other hotels in the area. https://zola.hotelplanner.com/EventPage7692145 Our top recommended alternate hotels are Vila Gale Ericeira, Nesha Flats Ericeira, Reserva Flh Hotels Ericeira, and Dolce by Wyndham CampoReal Lisboa. The are also many wonderful Airbnbs in Ericeira.
September is an absolutely stunning month in Portugal -well let's be real September is the best anywhere! The weather in September is usually warm and sunny, and still inviting for a day at the beach or pool (we are planning to have a pool hang on one of the days). Remember to pack your sunscreen and swimsuit. Rainy days are usually rare (don't wanna jinx it), but there may be some cold nights. You’ll want to pack a coat and layers are def your friend. During the day, wearing shorts and short sleeve shirts is still a good option.
If your plans in Portugal mainly consist of hanging around Lisbon & ofc our wedding, then you should be totally fine without a rental car. Public transportation & ubers are abundant. Our wedding coordinator Magda will help with any transportation needs from the venue. If you are planning to explore the other incredible regions that Portugal has to offer including Porto or the Algarve, you have some options! If you just plan to go from city to city, the train is an easy, reliable & inexpensive way to get around. If you are hoping to travel along the coast and stop in multiple cities or villages, you may want to get a rental car. The highways in Portugal are easy to navigate & the prices are reasonable. We have traveled throughout Portugal both ways and both are very solid options. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions!
While we love your little ones, our wedding is adults only. If you will have infants or young children with you in Portugal, we are happy to ask our wedding venue to arrange for professional babysitting services during our ceremony and reception. Please reach out to Lauren or Sam to arrange this service!
Yes, for the guests staying at QDM there will be complimentary breakfast spread served in the morning until 10 am in the restaurant on both Wednesday and Thursday morning. After that time, the restaurant will change over to lunch which will be on the guest to pay.
Our wedding has a cocktail/semi-formal dress code. Think Mediterranean Chic! For ladies, this includes cocktail dresses, pantsuits, the bridesmaids will be in gowns so that's an option as well! For men, this includes a suit or sport coat/blazer, tie optional. Whatever you wear, have fun with it- we're in Portugal!! All guests should be aware that the ceremony will take place on grass and the property includes cobblestone walkways, please choose your footwear accordingly.