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We feature lots of destination weddings, sometimes the couple live in the country already, but for the most part, the couple planning the wedding are based here in the UK. It can be really easy to get carried away with the fun of planning a destination wedding - the sunshine, the cocktails, dining under the stars, but with destination wedding planning comes an extra level of detail you'll need to make sure you've covered.
Getting married in Spain? Let's have a look at the legalities and important details you need to check off your list, I'll hand you over to Elizabeth at Spain 4 Weddings...
What exactly does getting married abroad in Spain look like?
Elizabeth: Spain is a beautiful country that enjoys an average of over 300 days of sunshine each year. It has been deemed one of the sunniest countries in Europe and this is one reason that foreign couples love to have their destination wedding celebrations in Spain. (The sunshine along with the amazing cuisine of course)! But what about the legalities of getting married in Spain for foreign couples? The legal side of hosting a destination wedding in Spain can be a bit tricky. This post addresses everything you need to know about getting married in one of the most beautiful countries in Europe.
A Catholic Ceremony
If you or your partner is Catholic the good news is that your wedding can be recognised as legal in Spain. The process can be lengthy but not impossible. Catholic weddings are the only legally recognised religious wedding ceremonies in Spain. In fact, a Catholic wedding is the only way to be legally married in Spain if neither you nor your partner is a Spanish citizen. Those intending to have a Catholic marriage ceremony in Spain need to allow at least six months for all the documentary requirements to be met. At least one partner in the couple has to be Catholic and neither can be divorced. Although Catholics of any nationality can wed in Spain, they need first to contact their local priest and discuss their desire to marry abroad. Paperwork needs to be completed at home, usually through the bride’s parish but certain documents such as the groom’s baptismal certificate will be required. The priest will get in touch with the parish in Spain and will guide you through the paperwork. Forms and documents need to be translated into Spanish. The couple will then be required to submit the following documentation to their priest:
For Other Religions
You can have a blessing but the paperwork will have to be sorted out at home. Unfortunately, you can only be married legally in Protestant, Islamic and Jewish ceremonies if you can meet the 2 year residency requirements. Normally couples who are from a religion other than Catholic choose to have a blessing ceremony. This route can be much easier and most couples decide to hold their blessing in Spain and deal with the paperwork when they return to their home country. If you are prepared to get married in a civil ceremony at home first, then you can arrange to have a religious blessing in the church of your faith here in Spain.What We Recommend: A Blessing Ceremony
Planning a destination wedding can be enough stress on its own and dealing with the extra paper work can make things even more difficult. A blessing ceremony is a ceremony that is the same as a legal wedding ceremony, the only difference is that it is not recognised as legal. This is why we think it’s a great idea to have a blessing ceremony with an officiant (that’s what I did). This way you get to have an official looking ceremony, which you can even help to design or write, and your guests are none the wiser that it’s not the real thing! After our wedding and reception in Spain we then went back to the UK and has a small registry wedding in my home town of Aylesbury! If you would like any more information on this subject, just get in touch with the experts at Spain For Weddings: The Spanish Wedding Network. And for Spanish wedding suppliers handpicked by team RMW, please visit our supplier directory The List, or browse the real wedding pages on our site. Big thanks to Elizabeth at Spain 4 Weddings for her help on this article, if you're getting married in Spain we're jealous!
Written by Fern Godfrey
Content From :
Spain For Weddings
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