How to get married in Spain. Legal and symbolic ceremonies

Many foreign couples choose Spain as destination for their wedding.

The beauty of the historical cities, the sun and good weather, gorgeous beaches and landscapes, invite many couples to plan one of the most important days of their lives,  in this dreamed land. Your Elopement in Spain will be a dream come true.

But can non-national couples get legally married in Spain?

Yes, they can! But it is important to clear up different questions.

There are two ways you can get legally married:

• CATHOLIC CHURCH CEREMONY. In this case one partner has to be Catholic and neither can be divorced.
• CIVIL CEREMONY. In this case it is very important to have in mind that the civil registries (Registro Civil) of each region requires different documents and according to which the couple has to meet some requirements (for example one partner in the couple must have the residence in Spain for at least 2 years). It’s advisable to always consult the consulate and the civil registry of the city where you want to get married.

You need several months to prepare and deliver the requested documents for a legal ceremony. So it’s better to start the process as soon as possible.

Symbolic Ceremony as the best solution to get married in Spain

There is a third way to get married in Spain, and even if it is not a legally recognized marriage, I think this is the best solution that allows you to avoid any stress that means the process of paperwork: the symbolic ceremony.

What exactly is a symbolic ceremony?

This kind of ceremony has no legal value. It can be officiate by a professional specialised or also by relatives or friends of the couple.

There is a guide note that can be personalized according to the needs of the couple, including the moment of vows, the exchange of wedding rings and some ritual as the sand ceremony,  rose ceremony or candles ceremony.

Each moment is accompanied by music previously chosen by the couple, including readings from a friend or family member.

You can make this ceremony a very emotional, romantic or funny moment. It also depend on the personality of the officiant.

Choosing a symbolic/blessing ceremony, you have the chance to choose the best venues to say “Yes I do”, as a garden full of flowers, a beach, a wood, a castle, etc.

And what kind of ceremony have you chosen?

We also recommend you these Puglia Wedding Venues where to have an intimate and unforgettable wedding.

You can see my work as a Wedding Planner at Weddings in Andalusia, Weddings in Puglia, Italy y Elopements in Scotland

Photos by: Juanan Barros  /  Anna+Mateo  /  Roxanne Turpen

This post is also available in: Spanish