If you want to get married in a unique and romantic location, Spain is the place for you. It offers everything from tropical beaches to dreamy forests.
The main reason why people choose to get married in Spain is for its breathtaking scenery. It’s not only one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, it also has plenty of stunning venues and hotels to choose from.
Getting married in Spain
If you want to get married in Spain, you will need to meet certain requirements. For example, at least one of the spouses must be a Spanish national or have resided in Spain for at least two years before the wedding date.
You also need to decide what type of ceremony you want to have and whether or not you wish to have a religious wedding or a civil marriage. If you are planning a religious wedding, it is essential to check with the parish church where you plan to get married to make sure that they will support your plan and allow you to marry there.
In the case of a civil ceremony, you must make an appointment to visit the local civil registry office where you live. Here they will explain the process, give you an appointment and provide all the documentation that is required for the procedure.
After you have submitted all the required documents, you will need to sign a marriage petition and deliver it to the local civil registry. After this, they will publish it for 15 days to allow people to object to your wedding.
Once the legal procedure has been completed, you can then set a date for your wedding in Spain. The whole process can take between 30 and 50 days, so it is important to ensure that all the necessary paperwork is in place.
Alternatively, you can hire a wedding planner to help you with the legal procedure and organize your wedding. Many couples use local Facebook groups to find local wedding planners who are familiar with the legalities of getting married in Spain.
In both cases, you will need to have all your foreign wedding documents legalized and translated into Spanish before they are presented. This is an additional cost that will add about 170 euros to your overall expenses.
When it comes to the actual wedding itself, you will need to decide on a date for the ceremony and select a venue (if applicable). You will also need to choose the location of your reception and guest list.
Catholic weddings
Getting married in a Catholic church is one of the most traditional ways to get married in Spain. It’s also a lot of fun and can make for an unforgettable wedding ceremony!
Besides the religious elements, Spanish Catholic weddings include several other traditional customs that are unique to this country. From the bridal party’s procession to the padrinos y madrinas (godparents), these customs are often used to highlight the cultural significance of the day and celebrate the couple’s faith.
The bride and groom usually select two of their parents, or close family members, to act as a padrino and madrino at the wedding. They will take on the roles of godparents, and will sponsor a number of different aspects of the wedding ceremony and party.
They will usually play a role in the wedding’s ceremony, reading passages during mass, hosting the bridal party and making important contributions to the wedding reception. They can also act as a witness to the marriage, and they can help the groom and bride to tie their wedding rings.
Another traditional element of a Spanish Catholic wedding is communion, which is a symbolic ritual that represents the Last Supper where Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples before his death. Non-Catholics can partake in this ceremony if they are willing to line up and wait in front of the priest for their turn.
To get married in a Catholic church in Spain, you must be a practicing Catholic and at least one of you must be over the age of 16. You will need to provide your baptism certificate and a letter from your parish priest to say that you are a practising Catholic.
These documents must be issued from your home parish, dated within six months of the date of your wedding and authenticated by the issuing bishopric in your home country. They should be translated into Spanish and signed by a notary.
While the process for getting married in a Catholic church in Spain isn’t a difficult one, it does require a lot of paperwork. This can be a bit of a pain for foreigners who don’t speak Spanish, so it’s best to hire a local wedding planner to handle this for you.
Protestant weddings
If you are planning a Protestant wedding in Spain, there are several steps that you will need to take. You will need to discuss your plans with a local priest or pastor who can provide you with pre-nuptial paperwork.
1. Proof of your religious background (Baptismal certificate): These should be issued up to six months before you get married and authenticated by the Bishopric where you were baptised. They must also have a Spanish translation attached to them. If one of the two of you is Catholic, then your home bishopric must also issue a Dispensation to accompany this.
2. Letter of freedom to marry: This should be obtained from your parish priest and must include permission from the priest that you are free to marry in a Catholic church elsewhere. The priest will then forward this to the local bishop who will let the church that you are getting married in know that everything is in order.
3. Confirmation of your wedding: This should be issued from your local parish back home, signed and dated within six months before your wedding. It is important that you have more than one copy as the Spanish authorities may need to see more than one.
4. Symbolic or non-religious: If you want to have a non-religious wedding in Spain, you can choose a blessing service conducted by a humanist minister or a pastor. These ceremonies are not legally binding, so you will still need to marry in a registry office in your country of origin before bringing the marriage papers to Spain.
5. Same sex marriage: Since 2005, Spanish law has allowed same sex couples to get married legally. This has allowed many couples to break away from traditional wedding etiquette, and they now enjoy more flexible options for their big day.
6. Ceremony: Typically, Protestant weddings in Spain last from 30 minutes to an hour and feature the exchange of rings. They are often held at a chapel or church, and the couple can have a reception later that evening with tapas and drinks.
Non-religious weddings
Spain is a popular destination for weddings. The sunny weather, beautiful beaches and rich culture are all reasons why couples want to get married in this Mediterranean country.
While some of the Spanish traditions and customs are rooted in Catholic religion, others have come to the country from other parts of the world. For example, orange blossoms are an essential part of many weddings in Spain and came to the country from the East during the Crusades.
Another popular custom is for the groom to present the bride with 13 gold coins (arras) which represent Jesus and his apostles. This is a symbol of good luck and a promise to provide for the family.
The bride and groom also hand out small wedding favors during the reception, which symbolize love and gratitude. In addition, it is common for the bride to wear a mantilla.
Despite all of these different traditions, many Spanish couples still choose to have their weddings in churches. Thankfully, the rules for getting married in Spanish churches are fairly straightforward.
However, if you are not Catholic and do not wish to have a religious ceremony in a church, you can legally get married in Spain by having a civil marriage ceremony or a blessing. This can be done at the civil registry office (Registro Civil), district court or in your local town hall.
Non-religious ceremonies are becoming increasingly popular with foreigners looking to get married in Spain. These ceremonies are not legally binding but are a great way to personalise your day and include all the elements of a traditional wedding.
A humanist wedding is also a popular option, especially for gay couples and same-sex couples who are not Catholic or Christian. These types of weddings are also known as “Blessings” or “Ceremonies.”
As of July 2nd 2005, same-sex marriage was legalized in Spain, allowing couples to marry in Spanish churches. This was a major step in ensuring that all marriages are equal regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Although a non-religious ceremony does not take away any of the emphasis from your special day over in Spain, it is important to note that you will need to get your legal paperwork ready in your home country before having your blessing here. This can be a time-consuming process, so it is best to start planning for your wedding in Spain well in advance.
