If you have a question that isn’t answered on our extensive FAQ page, please email or message either of us. But first, please read through this entire page since we have tried really hard to answer most questions we could think of in relation to the wedding and travel to Portugal.
During the week of the wedding, we will likely be hard to reach, so if you have any urgent questions, please contact Meda Sandu and Jonathan Moss, whose details are on the Contact Us page. They are lovely and will be happy to help.
Please see our RSVP page. No paper invitations will be sent.
Please let us know as soon as possible whether you can attend.
Please check with the bride and groom prior to inviting a date. While we would love to be accommodating, we have a very strict limit on guests due to venue restrictions.
Yes. Please let us know if your child is old enough to require a meal so we can let the caterers know. We will not be arranging babysitting.
We would prefer that you send us your photos and videos rather than post them on social media, for privacy issues. We have opened a private instagram account @tashandrich for all the wedding pics.
If you must post on your own social media accounts, please make sure to share only with your friends, not public.
See our honeyfund page.
Evening wear. This means smart suits and dresses.
The ceremony, cocktail and dance are all outdoors. The dinner will be served indoors. It can get chilly at night so bring a jacket or pashmina.
Wear whatever shoes you like, but keep in mind the palace is on a hill and we'll be dancing late into the night, so bring some comfy shoes as backups!
No. If you'd like to get your hair done (or other beauty services) for the wedding, please look for hair salons in Sintra as that will be your best bet.
Yes! There are beaches all along the Lisbon coast and near Sintra and the recommended hotel has indoor and outdoor pools. You won’t need it for the wedding party, however.
Yes-- for appetizers during cocktail, dinner, and snack time.
Please let us know as soon as possible if you will require a gluten-free meal so we can let the caterers know.
Yes--juices, water, flavored water and soda.
Open bar.
See our accommodations page.
We will arrange a shuttle to take people staying at the Pestana Sintra Golf Resort to the Palacio at 16:25. People staying in other hotels or renting cars, there is plenty of parking and you can take an uber or taxi to the Palacio without a problem. Please be sure to leave at least 30 mins to get the venue even if you are staying in Sintra, as there can often be delays on the mountain.
While we will be arranging a shuttle back to the recommended hotel for stragglers at 2 am, if you’d like to leave before then, please either drive, use Uber or call a taxi--record a taxi number in your phone; you can get the number from the hotel you’re staying at.
Please visit The Big Day page.
While most of our guests speak several languages, the one most have in common is English (and it happens to be our native language) so the ceremony will be held in a mix of British and American English.
No, but we recommend it since it'll give you an idea of the venue’s rich history. Guided tours of the inside of the palace will be offered after the cocktail, but before dinner, and should last less than an hour.
Yes, for the most part, each area can be reached by elevator. For those of you with wheelchairs, please let us know in advance so we can ask the venue to make arrangements. Unfortunately, the palace tour is not disabled-friendly, however.
Lisbon airport is the closest to the wedding venue. Sintra is just 30km (18 miles) or so from Lisbon airport and can be reached by all types of transportation. Uber generally costs under 30 euros, and a taxi costs less than 45 euros, but we recommend Uber over taxis to make sure you get the best deal.
The sooner, the better. Prices always go up closer to the date.
Uber, rental cars, taxis, trains and buses are all great options. Google maps works well in Portugal and will give you public transportation options. Please note that the recommended hotel is not near public transportation so if you're staying there, you may want to rent a car for convenience (though uber is cheap and easy to use, too!)
Those of you with American and EU (which, for the moment, includes the UK) passports will not require visas. Those of you with other passports or residencies / visas, please check with your embassies. Any Schengen visa will allow you to visit Portugal. If you require a visa please start process early to avoid disappointment
Portugal uses Euros. For the best exchange rate, use a debit card at an ATM. Some banks have partner banks that don't charge fees. Also, credit cards are accepted about half of the time, so you will need a combo of cash and credit, or just cash (in euros).
It’s a magical place. But don’t take our word for it. Take a look at the country’s official tourism page.
Generally speaking, the Lisbon area is quite sunny in October. It can range from about 20-25 degrees Celsius (68-77 degrees Fahrenheit). That said, with climate change and all, one never knows so be sure to check the weather forecasts before traveling. Do bring a jacket for the evenings--Sintra especially can get a bit chilly at night since it's the mountains.
Portugal has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. That said, as in all cities and tourists locations, watch your belongings for petty theft.
Absolutely--although sadly, homophobia still happens in most places around the globe.
Portugal has universal healthcare and you will never be turned away from a hospital. However, for those of you that do not have EU passports / E-111 cards, you may want to get travel health insurance because you may still get charged. Please be sure to call 1-1-2 if you have an emergency.
Yes, but make sure to bring your prescription. Different pharmacies have different hours, but there are some that will even be open until midnight for late night needs.
All drugs are decriminalized in Portugal. This means it is totally legal to consume recreational drugs and have them for personal use. That said, OF COURSE, do not travel / cross international borders with any drugs that are illegal in most other places.
Portuguese is the official language of Portugal. Spanish and English are also widely understood and spoken, but not always.
Generally speaking, taxis and other services are not tipped. The only place where tips are really recommended are restaurants, but usually a couple of euros or change is enough (not the usual 10% or 15%).
Of course! We love Portugal and we love food / giving tips so here's our list of favorite places to go:
Typical things to eat and drink while you’re in Lisbon: Vinho Verde, pasteis de nata, Duoro wine, sardines, a gelato from Santini.
There are plenty of “miradouros” in Lisbon where you can have a drink and take in the city’s many incredible views. Check out the 10 best ones here.
The usual tourist attractions include taking the tram up to the São Jorge Castle and walking around the Praça do Comércio.
Chapitô à Mesa-- An amazing restaurant in Lisbon with breathtaking views of the city.
Leitaria a Camponesa -- A delicious little restaurant in the heart of Baixa, Lisbon.
The Teatro Nacional de São Carlos is a gorgeous opera house in Chiado, Lisbon where you can see operas, ballets and more for affordable prices.
Mercado da Ribeira, also known as the Time Out Market, has stands from some of Lisbon’s best restaurants.
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation also has some great exhibits and concerts.
Park is one of our favorite bars in Lisbon because of the views of the bridge.
Pensão Amor is another fun bar in Lisbon, right by the Cais do Sodre station.
A small town on the coast of Lisbon where you can have your fill of the original pasteis de nata, visit the Jerónimos Monastery and the Museu Coleção Berardo.
On the way to Belem is also the trendy LX Factory where you can check out restaurants, a very cool bookstore and art shops.
The town where Richard and Natasha live has lovely beaches, the Paula Rego Museum and plenty of wonderful restaurants such as Masala (Indian food), Galeria House of Wonders (vegan food and lovely terrace) and more. We also recommend you rent a bike (there are eco-bike locations all over town where you can rent bikes from the municipality for a euro and a bit) and ride along the coast all the way to Guincho Beach and the Cresmina sand dunes for beautiful sights.
While our wedding will be held at one of the most iconic palaces in Sintra, there are so many other castles, palaces and just amazing buildings to see in Sintra and we recommend them all if you have a chance.