While we're keeping things relaxed without a strict dress code, we encourage you to dress up and feel your best for this special occasion. Most guests will be wearing cocktail attire - for women, this typically means a party dress, stylish jumpsuit, or elegant separates; for men, a suit or sport coat with dress pants, dress shirt, and optional tie. A heads up on the weather: August in Madeira can be a delightful mix of warm sunshine (75-95°F / 24-35°C) and the occasional surprise shower. Santana likes to keep us on our toes with sudden chilly breezes, so pack a light layer to stay comfortable.
While we love children dearly, our wedding ceremony and reception will be an adults-only affair. We hope you understand that children double our wedding numbers. We kindly request that guests plan for childcare on the wedding day.
Madeira has one airport (Cristiano Ronaldo airport – yes, you get to take a picture with his famous statue!). Please make sure to arrive the day before as Madeira’s winds sometimes do not allow airplanes to land. If you can, consider flying TAP Portugal, as they have the most experienced pilots to land in Madeira and hardly ever cancel flights due to wind (or make you land somewhere else).
Due to venue capacity constraints and our efforts to keep the guest list intimate, we've had to limit our invitations to couples and families only. If your invitation did not include a 'plus-one' or your guest's name, we kindly request that you attend the wedding without an additional guest. We understand the desire to bring a date or companion, but we hope you'll appreciate our need to keep the guest count within our limits for this special occasion. Thank you for your understanding.
Madeira has flights from most big cities in Europe! TAP Portugal’s routes include Lisbon, Porto, Caracas, Toronto, Madrid, Milan, Brussels, and Amsterdam.
We do not have a hotel reserved but we would advise guests to stay in Funchal, Machico, Santo da Serra, or the surrounding areas.
While many places accept credit/debit cards, it's good to have some cash (American Express sometimes not accepted). ATMs are widely available, and they often offer better rates than currency exchange offices.
Yes, tap water is safe to drink in (most places in) Madeira. However, bottled water is also readily available if you prefer. Don’t drink water from the natural fountains during your hikes.
Tipping is not mandatory. If you want to tip, 5% would be fine.
Madeirans are generally relaxed and welcoming. It's polite to greet people when entering small shops or restaurants.
The main hospital in Funchal is Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça. For emergencies, dial 112.
Absolutely! Don't miss trying Espetada (beef skewers), Bolo do Caco (traditional bread), Bolo de Mel (honey cake), and of course, Madeira wine. We also love Madeira’s bananas and their one-of-a-kind soda (Briza de Maracujá –passion fruit).
We know many are eager to take photos and we would love to see them. We'll provide details on how to share your photos with us at the wedding. We’ve hired a team of photographers and videographers so you don’t have to ;) Please be mindful not to obstruct the professionals.
Madeira is a great base for exploring. You might consider visiting Porto Santo island, or taking a short flight to mainland Portugal, the Azores (the bride’s father is from the Terceira island), or even Morocco.
