After Jo and Frisco’s London engagement shoot I was very excited to travel to Portugal and their Palácio do Freixo Destination wedding. They were planning to honour both Jo’s Portuguese and Frisco’s Chinese roots in including wedding traditions from both cultures. They did this beautifully at different parts of this Porto Destination Wedding.

Stunning views over the Igreja da Lapa church at a Porto Palácio do Freixo Destination WeddingHonouring the Portuguese wedding traditions at the Igreja da Lapa

Although the day started with a torrential shower, by the time everyone met at the church the temperature had already hit 30C. Jo arrived with her dad and couldn’t wait to step into the stunning Igreja da Lapa church and join Frisco at the top of the aisle. The priest has been Jo’s priest from youngest childhood and was very moved to conduct her ceremony. Jo’s mum sings with Church Choir, so many of the singers have also known Jo since she was a little girl. It made the ceremony very special to them.

In Portuguese tradition, Frisco lead Jo to an altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary and to offer her wedding bouquet for good luck. Such a lovely tradition.

Tons of confetti and rice and hugs and congratulations followed. Then we all headed to the Palácio do Freixo, an old Portuguese Northern Baroque palace with stunning views over Porto’s bridges and river.

Palácio do Freixo Destination wedding speeches

I’m a sucker for speeches that get half the room laughing and the other half crying. It was very touching to hear how Frisco’s parents fled China over Vietnam to Australia. They didn’t even have time to think of taking his birth certificate and sacrificed everything for their children’s well being. Joana’s dad welcomed Frisco and his family to his Portuguese family. It makes you realise how crazy and amazing life is to bring a couple from such different backgrounds together.

The Chinese Tea ceremony

After the speeches it was time for Jo and Frisco’s Chinese Tea Ceremony. Jo changed into a traditional Chinese wedding gown and joined Frisco and to serve tea to their loved ones. It is a sign of reverence and respect at a Chinese wedding and a beautiful wedding tradition. I loved photographing the respect and love that passed between the two newly forged families.

And so to the Party

There was only one thing left to do and that was to PARTY! Jo and Frisco lead the way with their first dance, and the rest of the night was filled with lots of singing and dancing. There was some expert air guitar and air drum playing. And see if you can spot the Frisco face masks that the groomsmen had brought as a surprise. What a brilliant Porto Destination Wedding party!

If you are planning your destination wedding and are looking for a photographer, let’s chat as I can’t wait to be part of it.

Bride holding her veil standing on a balcony with views over Porto in the summer Brides mum smiles at her as her veil is put in Porto Bride hugs her father ahead of her wedding ceremonyGroom greets wedding guests at a Porto Church Best man puts on the grooms buttonhole at a Porto church Groom hugs a tiny little wedding guest at his Porto wedding Bride walks up the aisle with her dad at her Porto Destination Wedding Bride smiles up at her priest at her Porto Destination Wedding Flower girls walk out of the church ahead of the bride and groom Confetti shower over the married couple at a Porto Palácio do Freixo Destination WeddingBride greets a little girl at her Porto Wedding Bride hugs her wedding guest after her Porto destination wedding ceremony Bride and groom smile at each other in their porto destination wedding carView over the Porto harbourWedding guests arriving at a Porto Palácio do Freixo Destination WeddingPorto Palácio do Freixo Destination Wedding | Maria Assia PhotographyPorto Palácio do Freixo rotundaHappy wedding group shot at a Palácio do Freixo Destination WeddingWedding guests chat at Palácio do Freixowedding guests laugh and chat at Porto Palácio do Freixo a great-grandmother holds her great-grandchilds hand at a wedding in PortoBride laughs with her wedding guestsBride and groom hug in a ruin in Porto Porto Palácio do Freixo Destination Wedding | Maria Assia PhotographyBride and groom cheer as they enter their wedding reception Bride greets her wedding guests at her Palácio do Freixo Wedding receptionBride greets her wedding guests during her wedding receptionGroom kisses his bride during his speechGrooms mum cries at his wedding speechBest man speech at Palácio do FreixoBride and Groom laugh at the wedding speeches at their Porto Palácio do Freixo Destination WeddingWedding guests react surprised to the wedding speeches Small girls playing at a weddingBride and groom laugh to tears at their Palácio do Freixo WeddingFather of the bride speech at Palácio do FreixoBride laughs at the speeches at her Porto wedding Wedding guests cheering the bride and groom at the end of the speechesBride and groom laugh together at their Porto Palácio do Freixo Destination WeddingBride and groom serve tea to the brides parents in a chinese wedding tea ceremony Bride and grooms first dance at their Porto Palácio do Freixo Destination Wedding Friends pose together at a wedding Wedding guests singing and dancing Bride dances in a conga line at her destination weddingGroom dances with groomsmen all wearing his face masksBride and groom in Chinese wedding outfits hug at night with the Porto bridge in the background

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COMMENTS

Lovely work Maria! The bridal portrait early on in the piece is sublime!

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