Marina & Francisco’s wedding at Casa de Quintã

There is something special about weddings in Portugal.

It’s hard to explain if you haven’t been to one. There is an intensity, a slow fire that starts in the morning and, when night falls, it burns without brakes.

A few years ago it happened to us in Sintra.

And that summer night at Casa de Quintã confirmed it all.

A half-Spanish, half-Portuguese couple, with guests coming from all over because their lives, like so many others, had been woven between countries and cities.

And there we were, in a house with history, surrounded by vineyards and warm air, with the lights hanging between the trees and a moon that seemed to be set on purpose.

Portugal and its way of celebrating

Portugal does not understand discreet weddings.

This is not a place for restrained love or textbook emotions. Here happiness is shouted, danced, hugged tight and stretched until dawn.

And that night was a festival of love beyond measure.

The long stares, the glasses raised, the laughter mixed with the sound of music and the murmur of people speaking in different languages.

But the best part was not the party.

It was the palpable affection.

That which is not said, but felt.

The one that makes that, even if you don’t understand a word of what they are saying, you know perfectly well what they are feeling.

We will return to Casa de Quintã

This year we will return to Casa de Quintã twice more.

And we can’t wait.

Because we know what awaits us.

We know there will be unrestrained dancing.

We know there will be hugs that feel like goodbyes, although no one is leaving.

We know there will be that Portuguese energy, that way of celebrating as if the world will end the next day.

And we know that, when the time comes, we will look around and think how lucky we are to have been here again.