Our Story · Elopement & Intimate Wedding Creators in Portugal

At Elope in Portugal, we turn love stories into soulful celebrations. Born from a passion for intimacy, authenticity, and Portugal’s timeless beauty, our work goes beyond planning weddings — it’s about weaving emotions, traditions, and landscapes into experiences that feel uniquely yours.

Meet The Team

anabela@elopeinportugal.com

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Anabela Lança

Creative Director & Project Manager

I am the creative soul of Elope in Portugal. My work is about more than planning — it’s about weaving stories, emotions, and landscapes into elopements that feel authentic and unforgettable. Portugal is the stage, but your love is always the center.

sofia.matos@elopeinportugal.com

Sofia Matos

Brand Keeper & Manager

Sofia carries the family vision of Elope in Portugal, ensuring the project remains rooted in authenticity and connection.

With a background in law, she brings calm strength and stability, guiding the company with dedication and care.

palmira.matela@elopeinportugal.com

Palmira Matela

Detail Weaver & Assistant

Palmira is the quiet force behind the scenes, making sure every detail flows with ease. With her generosity and organisational talent, she supports the team and every couple, ensuring their elopement feels effortless and full of care.

Our Vision

Elope in Portugal was born from a simple desire: to create intimate, soulful, and authentic celebrations.


We believe an elopement is more than a “yes” between two people. It is a moment free from conventions, where everything feels right — the place, the light, the breeze, the words from the heart.



Our work is rooted in Portuguese heritage and shaped by a global perspective. We are a collective of planners, celebrants, and creatives who design meaningful elopements that honour love in its purest form.


And above all, we welcome couples of all backgrounds, identities, and stories.
Always with presence. Always with heart.

Behind the scenes of an elopement on the Tagus River: a couple poses smiling on the deck of a sailboat, with the 25 de Abril Bridge in the background. A videographer is capturing the moment with a camera and microphone.
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.

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.
  • Somewhere Crazy
     We collaborate with international agencies such as Somewhere Crazy. For couples dreaming beyond Portugal, we provide referrals. For couples eloping here, those same agencies trust us as their local team of celebrants and coordinators.
  • 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.
  • Casal Sta. Maria Winery
     In partnership with Casal Sta. Maria, Europe’s westernmost vineyard, we create intimate elopements surrounded by ocean views, golden light, and the timeless beauty of Portugal’s winemaking heritage.

Working with us directly means connecting to the heart of Portugal, with a team that knows its hidden gems, traditions, and most soulful places.

Elopements in Portugal, Off the Beaten Path

We’re passionate explorers with a deep love for uncovering hidden corners

of Portugal — places where nature, intimacy, and emotion meet. Over the years, we’ve mapped out secret beaches, quiet villages, mossy forests, and cascading waterfalls — ideal settings for soulful elopements and intimate weddings in Portugal.



But this is about more than beautiful places. Through Elope in Portugal, we’re committed to sustainable and regenerative travel — celebrating love in a way that honours local communities, protects the environment, and uplifts small family-run businesses.