Your wedding will probably be the most special day of your life, and therefore it deserves to be lived to the fullest, with everything the bride and groom have ever dreamed of. This is why we believe Restaurante do Forte is the ideal location to get married – an idyllic place that offers delicious delicacies. A great choice for couples who live abroad and even better for couples who live in Madeira!
This restaurant has been organising weddings for almost 20 years; it is a truly unique place that stands out from its surroundings. You only have to look at these photos to know that it is full of history and has a breath-taking landscape, although there is nothing better than seeing it with your very own eyes! The restaurant is made up of a team of high level service and quality, specialised in weddings. “The professionals at Restaurante do Forte will accompany the bride and groom through every step of the process, as well as managing and coordinating the day of the event“, Vanessa Silva ensures.
The fact that this restaurant is located in the historic centre of Funchal makes it a great place for a wedding, especially if you are going for a fairy-tale, medieval, and/or romantic theme. The restaurant consists of several rooms and patios, and can host up to 200 guests. If you’re looking for somewhere to party, these are the spaces available: the tent has a capacity for 160 to 190 people, the military room for 50 to 60 people, and the patios for 80 to 200 people. Religious weddings are also an option for this location.
You will have all the support you need for your big day: “Our sales department accompanies the bride and groom throughout all the preparation for the day“, an interviewee states. Even though there are many things occurring at the same time, the bride and groom will still feel like the only ones in the room, due to the “several patios and rooms, which we have set up in such a way that each group feels exclusive“, the interviewee adds.
Regarding decoration, Restaurante do Forte has a plethora of decorative pieces from which the bride and groom can choose. Usually a decorator/florist is hired by the couple, according to Vanessa. However, at Forte, the team coordinates with the suppliers in order to prepare the arrangements and decoration that the couple desires or that goes with the chosen theme. There is even a place in one of the courtyards designated to special effects/lighting used for the party.
Every successful party has a wide selection of food and drinks, including special menus for those with special dietary requirements. At Restaurante do Forte, “the chefs at the restaurant make anything that you would like on your wedding day“, told in advance of course. In terms of the price, “Our wedding programs start at 55 euros per person. In addition to the buffet or set menu (depending on the preference of the customers), it also includes background music played at the wedding reception“, Vanessa explains. This reception includes a cocktail, champagne, and appetizers. Furthermore, Forte also delivers drinks during the meal, champagne offered as the cake is served, and a bar open until the end of the party.
Depending on the program chosen, there are other services that the bride and groom can benefit from, namely the trip in our classic car, Austin, made in 1932, and there are also fireworks and a DJ. The restaurant receives dozens of requests daily for weddings and other types of events, therefore my friendly advice is to contact them as soon as possible; “Usually bookings are made one year in advance, there are some that are even made two years in advance“.
Vanessa was asked whether there was one particular wedding that stood out for her. Usually there would not be one in specific, as every wedding celebrated at Restaurante do Forte is special to them, however there was one that she could vividly recall; a wedding by a couple from the United Kingdom, that took place in 2016. “We were completely present during the entire process, from the photography to the hair, the cake, the civil ceremony. It took 2 years to plan everything in perfect detail, mostly by email and over phone. We used almost every space of the restaurant, each one for a different moment, and it was greatly emotional and satisfying to see everything come to fruition on the day. All couples who get married at Forte become part of our family – and this couple was no exception. Three years later, our team still affectionately remembers this remarkable and joyous event“.
Contact the suppliers mentioned in this article
Don't want to miss out on the latest trends for your wedding?
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Leave a comment