They fell in love with the Azores and chose São Miguel to celebrate their marriage.

The Azores are undoubtedly a romantic destination. We share with you a true passion for the beauty of our islands, which resulted in the celebration of a marriage on São Miguel Island.

They are Marina and Alex from Ukraine, who fell in love with the Azores. They discovered these fantastic islands in 2017 while searching on Google Maps. It was love at first sight, and they immediately bought plane tickets to begin a great adventure!

Arrival in the Azores

Heading to São Miguel Island, they arrived at night and could only appreciate the beauty and charm of the island the next day. They chose accommodation located in the parish of Livramento, in Ponta Delgada. Staying in an 18th-century house turned into a true adventure, as they reported hearing strange noises at night; nonetheless, it was a lot of fun.

In just six days, they explored the island, highlighting its beauty, waterfalls, whale watching, hiking trails, unique climate, cheese, and milk. However, six days were not enough to explore everything. They left with a desire to return and discover more of São Miguel Island and the others.

The Return to the Azores

A year later, in August 2018, they set off again for São Miguel Island for a two-week stay. This time, they rented a car to explore the whole island!

“It is a great pleasure to drive on these roads with magnificent views, especially the road lined with kilometers of hydrangeas“

Their stay in Caloura (Lagoa) and in Santa Bárbara (Ribeira Grande) allowed them to explore the best of each area, including a surf lesson at Areal de Santa Bárbara. During this trip, they highlight one of the most incredible yet frightening moments: witnessing a magical sunset at Miradouro da Boca do Inferno. Since their car was parked far from the viewpoint, and with the mist and darkness setting in, it turned into a scary run in a dark environment, reminiscent of a typical horror movie scene.

Still, it was not enough to stop them from loving this destination… with the next chapter: their return and the celebration of their wedding!

Wedding Celebration and Adventure on the Island of Flores

Two years after their first visit to the Azores, specifically to São Miguel Island, and after getting married in Ukraine, they both wished to celebrate their marriage in the destination they also fell in love with and shared unique moments.

In the summer of 2019, they headed to São Miguel Island to celebrate their marriage with a photo session across the island at the places that meant the most to them: Mosteiros (during a fantastic sunset), Miradouro da Boca do Inferno, Tromba do Elefante (Capelas), among others.

With a bouquet of hydrangeas and perfectly fitted dresses, several locals and other tourists joined the celebration, seeming like authentic guests, wishing happiness to the couple. The unique moments captured in photographs and videos do justice to all this love.

Still in the summer of 2019, realizing an idealized dream – Visiting and getting to know the Island of Flores – they traveled to the Western Group to explore the islands of Flores and Corvo. According to them, it was the first time they booked their stay first and then a flight to a destination.

When asked about the possibility of moving to the Azores, they stated that they had thought about it a few times and asserted that the Azoreans are lucky to live in a place where nature has created a true masterpiece! They plan to return, as they feel good and happy in the Azores, promising to stay for a long time.

The byAçores team wishes you all the happiness and always welcomes you to this, which is also your home <3

Wedding Celebration Photos

Original Answers in English

Where are you from?
We are Alex and Marina from Ukraine.

How and when did you meet?
We met in our home city at the movie scene a long time ago.

How did the first trip to the Azores come about?
We found them on Google Maps and bought tickets immediately. The first trip to the Azores was in 2017. We landed on Sao Miguel at night, drove to our place in Livramento, and went to sleep. Only in the morning did we discover how beautiful it was around us.

What did you like the most?
Nature and tranquility! It’s so cool to swim in a waterfall alone. We saw the whale and hundreds of dolphins, and it struck us very much. A variety of trails, climate, milk and cheese, and a 17th-century house where we lived in Livramento. We had never lived in such an old and big house before. We heard some strange noises, and it was very scary there sometimes, but it was funny.

What made you return to the Azores?
We spent only 6 days on Sao Miguel and flew to Lisbon. It wasn’t enough at all for such beauty. So we came back in August ’18 for two weeks. We rented a car and traveled the whole island. It’s such a pleasure to drive on these roads with magnificent views, especially the road with kilometers of hydrangea. We lived in Caloura and near Barbara beach. We swam in the ocean and took a surf lesson.

One of the great moments was the sunset at Miradouro da Boca Do Inferno. It’s one of the most beautiful places we ever saw. Here you understand how powerful nature is. We were the only people there, and after the sun went down, the place was covered with impenetrable fog. You could only see your legs and a segment of the path as if everything else was erased. Our car was a 20-minute walk away, and we felt an urge to run because it was getting dark and scary. It was like a scene from a horror movie.

How did you feel celebrating your wedding in the Azores?
It was a very peaceful and relaxed day. That was our third summer on the island 🙂 We swam all morning in the pool of our home in Capelas. We changed swimsuits to bridal looks, took a branch of hydrangea as a bouquet, and drove with the photographer to the place with the rock shaped like an elephant. We discovered that place this year. People were so happy to see us, like they were guests at our wedding. We heard a lot of compliments, especially about the dress. We watched the sunset at Mosteiros and celebrated in our favorite restaurant. In a few days, we flew to Flores.

What are the future plans for the Azores?
To come back and visit other islands. We have already been to Sao Miguel, Flores, and Corvo. Flores was the dream destination for 2 years. It’s the place where we first found where to live and only then booked the flight.

Have you thought about moving to the Azores?
Sometimes it happens. You are really lucky to live in a place where nature has created such a masterpiece. We like coming back to the Azores because we feel super happy here. Nobody’s in a hurry, and you feel so much more human here. To live by the ocean is a great privilege and a special way of living. So, who knows?! Everything is possible. We are definitely coming here for a longer period! 😉