Reid’s Palace, A Belmond Hotel is a hotel destination wedding venue in Funchal, Portugal, hosting 20 to 180 guests in the $$$$ price range, reached from Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo (FNC), 25 minutes by car. Best months: February, July, August, September.
Reid’s Palace, A BelmondHotel
A cliff-top hotel above Funchal harbour, opened in 1891 by the Scottish hotelier William Reid, run by Belmond since 1996, and still the building Madeira is measured against.
Reid’s Palace, A Belmond Hotel in Funchal, open February, July – September.
A cliff-top hotel above Funchal harbour, opened in 1891 by the Scottish hotelier William Reid, run by Belmond since 1996, and still the building Madeira is measured against.
Ten acres of subtropical terraced garden fall from the hotel to the sea, planted over 130 years with things that grow nowhere else in Europe at this latitude.
Seven event spaces sit inside that: the Palm Garden for small ceremonies and drinks, a rooftop terrace that scales up, and a dining room that opens into adjoining rooms to seat up to 250.
Belmond quotes weddings from 20 to 180 guests.
4 notes of our own.
Opened 1891 on the cliff above Funchal; Belmond since 1996
Ten acres of subtropical terraced garden down to the sea
Seven event spaces, from the Palm Garden to the rooftop terrace
Dining room opens into adjoining rooms to seat up to 250
Best held in February, July, August.
The months the weather, and the local rhythm, is kindest to a stay at Reid’s Palace, A Belmond Hotel.
Ask about a date.
Choose a day from the calendar.
Nothing is reserved until the venue confirms. A first note comes back within two business days.
How the weekend usually runs.
Yours will be different, nothing below is required. Every planning begins with the three meals you most want to eat, and builds outward.
- 16:00Afternoon tea on the terrace above the harbour
- 20:00Welcome dinner at Villa Cipriani in the gardens
- 17:00Ceremony in the Palm Garden
- 18:00Drinks on the rooftop terrace as the sun drops into the Atlantic
- 20:30Dinner in the dining room, dancing after
- 11:00Boat out of Funchal, or the levada walk up into the hills
Things worth knowing.
FNC · 25 minutes by car
Guests fly into Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo. Our team arranges every transfer.
€90,000
The 20 to 180 guest range, the seven event spaces and the 250-seat dining format are Belmond’s own published figures. The euro amounts are estimates from Belmond-tier planning ranges and are not a quote.
See the full figure+
€90,000 to €180,000 for 120 guests over a weekend (estimated)
Not published; quoted inside the Belmond wedding proposal
A one-time licence and setup fee, paid to the venue.
€200 / head
A seated dinner with wine and service, by headcount.
See the full figure+
€200 to €320 per guest for food and drink (estimated)
€400 / night
A standard room in the wedding window. Group rates on request.
See the full figure+
€400 to €900 per room in season (estimated)
February, July – September
The 4 months the weather is kindest. Shoulder dates soften the light and the rates.
Figures are estimates, modeled from regional rates and public sources, not a quote from the venue. Once the venue claims this page, their own rates take precedence.
Asked along the way.
How many guests can Reid’s Palace host?+
Belmond quotes weddings from 20 to 180 guests across seven event spaces. For dinner the main dining room opens into adjoining rooms and seats up to 250, so the ceiling is the reception format rather than the building.
Where does the ceremony happen?+
The Palm Garden is used for smaller ceremonies and cocktails, and the rooftop terrace takes larger groups with the Atlantic behind. The terraced gardens give several other options depending on the time of day and the light.
What is the weather like in Madeira?+
Mild all year, roughly 20 to 26 degrees, which makes Madeira one of the few European wedding destinations that works outside the summer window. Rain arrives in short bursts and the south coast around Funchal is the driest part of the island.
How do guests get to Madeira?+
Funchal has direct flights from Lisbon in about 1 h 40 and from several European cities. The airport is 25 minutes from the hotel. The approach is exposed to crosswinds and diversions do happen, so ask guests to arrive at least a day early.
Can we get legally married on the island?+
Yes. Civil ceremonies are performed at the Funchal civil registry, and Madeira is a normal Portuguese jurisdiction for the paperwork. Most couples handle the legal step at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in the gardens.
Others to weigh.
Ask about dates at Reid’s Palace, A Belmond Hotel.
A note to us with a rough season and guest count. Nothing is reserved until the venue confirms. A reply comes within two business days, from a person by name.