Weddings in Spain

Glorious weather for a Spanish wedding

What style of wedding?

“Spain can offer a relatively diverse style of wedding from the Moorish influence in Andalusia to the clubbing scene in Ibiza to the year-round sunshine of the Canary Islands,” says James Lord, of Love & Lord.

“Like Italy, the quality of venues and food and drink are high, and weddings are usually created to a couple’s own requirements rather than as a package.”

How long does it take to get there?

Low-cost and national airlines fly from all over the UK to every part of Spain in just a few hours.

What time of year is best?

“The Canary Islands can host weddings all year round due to its location just off the African coast,” says James. “In the Balearic Islands, we would recommend April to October, and in Andalusia as well. For Catalonia, as it is further north, have your wedding between May and September.”

There are an average of 320 sunny days every year – so your chances of good weather aren’t bad! Remember, though, that the Spanish interior can get unbearably hot and dry in the summer months.

Are there any legal considerations?

“To have a civil wedding in a Town Hall in Spain is virtually impossible due to the fact that you must be resident for 40 days prior to the day,” says James. “Protestant ceremonies inside or outside churches have no legal standing in Spain, so it’s best to have the civil part in the UK. Catholic weddings, however, have full legal validity.”

Anything else?

The Weddings Company suggests getting married in Gibraltar  – a British territory where civil ceremonies are easier to organise and legally recognised – and then ducking across the border into Spain to celebrate.

Useful websites

Wedding planners or specialist operators

Love & Lord: www.loveandlord.com

Spanish Wedding Planner: www.spanishweddingplanner.com

Find honeymoon operators near you in the Y&YW Directory.

Find the perfect honeymoon destinations in the Y&YW Directory.