A Gothic Elopement in the Towers of Sintra - Joana & Tiago
A Gothic Elopement in the Towers of Sintra - Joana & Tiago
When Joana and Tiago told us they wanted to elope, we knew immediately that a traditional venue was never going to be the answer. Joana - known to many of you as @joanashino - has a vision that is bold, cinematic, and completely her own. Tiago matches her energy perfectly. Together, they wanted something that felt like them: intimate, atmospheric, and a little otherworldly.
They found it in the towers of Sintra.
The Venue: Two Towers Hidden in the Hills
Nestled in the hills above Sintra, their Airbnb was unlike anything we had ever photographed in. Two medieval-style towers rising above the trees, surrounded by the kind of lush, moody greenery that this corner of Portugal does so well. The architecture had weight and history to it - stone walls, narrow staircases, windows that framed the landscape like paintings.
Sintra has always felt like a place slightly outside of time. On the morning of the elopement, with a low sky pressing down and clouds rolling in from the Atlantic, it felt even more so.
Getting Ready
The morning began inside the tower. Joana's preparation was quiet and intentional - no large bridesmaids' entourage, no noise. Just her, the space, and the ritual of getting ready for the person she had chosen.
Her dress was by @birdiebridal - a handmade piece that felt entirely right for the day. There is something about choosing an independent maker for a day like this, a dress that exists as a one-of-a-kind thing rather than a catalogue choice. It suited her. It suited the towers. It suited everything.
We photographed the details: the dress laid out against stone, the light coming through small windows, the stillness before everything changed.
There is something we love about elopement getting-ready moments. They are unperformed. Nobody is watching except us.
The Ceremony
The ceremony took place in the tower grounds, just the two of them and their celebrant. June in Sintra brought clouds instead of sun - and honestly, we would not have had it any other way. The overcast sky softened everything, gave the light a silver quality that felt completely in keeping with the aesthetic they had chosen. No harsh shadows, no squinting into the sun. Just this beautiful, muted, moody atmosphere that held them perfectly.
Tiago's expression when he first saw Joana is the kind of thing that reminds us why we do this work.
The Portraits
After the ceremony, we moved through the towers and into the surrounding grounds for the portrait session. The stone walls, the ivy, the towers rising behind them — every frame felt effortless. Joana and Tiago are natural in front of a camera in the way that only comes when two people are completely comfortable with each other and with the story they are telling.
The clouds stayed with us all day. We are grateful for every one of them.
The Cake
Even an intimate elopement deserves a moment of celebration — and theirs came in the form of a stunning cake that sat perfectly against the tower interior. Dark, sculptural, entirely in keeping with the day's aesthetic. We photographed it with the same care we give every other element of a wedding: because the details tell the story too.
Why Sintra for an Elopement?
Sintra is one of those places that does not need to be dressed up. The landscape, the architecture, the light - everything works in your favour as a photographer and as a couple. It is accessible from Lisbon in under an hour, it is internationally recognised (UNESCO World Heritage status), and yet it still manages to feel like a secret when you find the right corners of it.
If you are dreaming of an unconventional elopement in Portugal, Sintra should be at the top of your list. And if you want two towers and a gothic atmosphere? We know exactly where to send you.
Joana & Tiago, thank you for trusting us with one of the most important days of your lives. This one will stay with us for a long time.
— Rose & Elodie, Wandersoul Stories
✦ Credits
Photography: Wandersoul Stories (@wandersoulstories)
Bride: Joana Shino (@joanashino)
Dress: Birdie Bridal (@birdiebridal)
Venue: Torre Única de Sintra, Airbnb
Elopement featured on ROCK N’ ROLL BRIDE
