The People Behind Your Ceremony

Luxury Elopement Creators in Portugal

We cultivate a passion for intimacy, authenticity, and the unique beauty of Portugal. We transform your love story into a celebration that interweaves emotions, local traditions, and stunning landscapes, creating a moment truly your own, lived with intention.

Meet The Team

Anabela sits smiling on a large, mossy, felled tree log in a dense, foggy forest. She wears a cream-coloured cardigan over a patterned dress. The misty woods of Serra de Sintra create an ethereal, atmospheric backdrop.

anabela@elopeinportugal.com

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Anabela Lança

Creative Director & Celebrant

Anabela is the creative force and sociologist behind Elope in Portugal, designing authentic elopements rooted in Portugal's soul. She also leads Celebrantes – Bespoke Ceremonies® as Project Director.

Sofia, Manager at Elope in Portugal, smiling outdoors.

sofia.matos@elopeinportugal.com

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Sofia Matos

Brand Keeper & Manager

As Brand Keeper & Manager, Sofia is the guardian of the Elope in Portugal promise. Her background in law grounds her calm, meticulous attention to detail.

Palmira walks carefully up a leaf-strewn incline in a forest of tall, slender trees, possibly eucalyptus. She is wearing a black and white dotted shirt and a black cardigan. A body of water, like a river, is visible in the background through the trees.

Palmira Matela

Detail Weaver & Assistant

As the 'Detail Weaver' & Assistant, Palmira is the hands-on heart of the celebration, a calm presence that lets each couple feel truly present.

Our Vision

Elope in Portugal was born from a simple idea: to create heartfelt, intimate celebrations that feel truly special.

Anabela Lança proposed this project to CONPLAN, a family-run company whose story spans ventures across distinct fields, always guided by the same care and long-term vision. Convinced that the most important moments in a life do not need a crowd to be true, only intention, beauty, and someone who cares for every detail as if it were their own, Anabela shaped a team dedicated entirely to bespoke romantic experiences, far removed from the traditional logic of event planning. We do not call ourselves wedding planners, because that is not what we do. We create experiences.

To us, an elopement is more than just a "yes." It's a quiet, meaningful moment where everything feels right, in the place, the light, the breeze, the words spoken from the heart. Inspired by Portuguese heritage and a global outlook, we are a team of planners, celebrants, and creatives who design weddings that honour love in its most genuine form.

Most of all, we welcome every couple, every story, and every kind of love. Always with care. Always with heart.

A couple celebrating an elopement in the forest of Serra de Sintra – Peninha, surrounded by mist, with an officiant standing between them; the bride holds a bouquet and wears a flowing dress, creating an intimate and mystical atmosphere.
A bride and groom stand smiling outdoors near a historic stone structure with columns and pink walls. The bride holds a bouquet and wears a sparkling white dress. Joana, the celebrant, is adjusting the bride’s train while holding a folder, ensuring everything is perfect for the ceremony.

Behind the Brand

Elope in Portugal is powered by CONPLAN, a family-run consultancy founded in 1985.

With decades of experience in planning and organisation, CONPLAN gives our project the structure and reliability that allow us to dream boldly and create freely. This partnership means every elopement is not only intimate and soulful but also carried out with professionalism, transparency, and care.

Redefining the Modern Ritual

Elope in Portugal’s Project Manager and Creative Director was recently interviewed by Revista Sábado regarding the evolving sociology of elopements in Portugal. This feature validates a methodology that combines professional project management with authentic storytelling. We don’t just plan events; we manage territory and heritage. From private encounters with the Order of the Knights Templar to restricted access at Vir-a-Corça, our mission is to transform historical landscapes into the backdrop for contemporary, minimalist rituals.

Revista Sábado magazine spread featuring a group elopement celebration in Portugal, with the headline on the rise of micro-weddings.
Revista Sábado article page featuring Anabela Lança of Elope in Portugal, discussing the trend towards symbolic and minimalist weddings.

This recognition marked the start of our 2026 journey,

dedicated to redefining the art of the micro-wedding.

View Journal Post

Trusted Partnerships

We are proud to collaborate with carefully selected partners who share our vision of meaningful and authentic celebrations.

  • CP – Comboios de Portugal
    As official partners of the Presidential Train, we design exclusive elopement experiences aboard one of Europe's most legendary journeys, blending heritage, romance, and slow travel.
  • Order of the Templars
    Through our partnership with the Ordem dos Templários, we design elopements and vow renewals inspired by history, symbolism, and the timeless mystique of the Templars in Portugal.

Your Elopement in Portugal,

off the beaten path

We're passionate explorers with a deep love for Portugal's hidden corners, where nature, intimacy, and emotion meet. Over the years, we've mapped secret beaches, quiet villages, mossy forests, and cascading waterfalls, perfect settings for soulful, intimate weddings.


This is about more than beautiful places. Through Elope in Portugal, we're committed to sustainable, regenerative travel, honouring local communities, protecting the environment,

and uplifting small family-run businesses.