| Getting Married in Spain - Part 1 |
By Sara Millbank
Spain is a country shaped with many cultures including Roman, Greek, Jewish and Celtic influences and is rich in history and colour making it the perfect place to get married. The climate does its part too. With the near tropical weather in the south to the cooler temperate in the north, you can choose almost any type of setting for that special day. A proud Spanish expression is 'Quien dice España dice todo' which means 'he who says Spain says everything' and it's easy to see why more and more non-residents choose Spain as the place to get married.
Legal requirements
The first thing you need to consider about getting married in Spain is the legal requirements. A friend of mine went to Gibraltar to get married because he said it was a mine field trying to sort out what he called the if, buts and cannots. Actually, it's very similar to British regulations and you can marry if you're divorced, non-catholic or even a non-resident.
While doing the research for this article, I was given various conflicting advice concerning what documentation you need. What it did hi-light is that different regions ask for different paperwork, so always check with your local authority, but below is a list you will need whether it is a civil or religious ceremony (more on that later).
All documents from outside of Spain must be officially translated into Spanish and authenticated. People under eighteen year's old are not allowed to marry in Spain.
Civil Marriages
The consent to get married is given by the Judge in charge of the Civil Registry, by the town Mayor or the Diplomatic Officer of the Civil Registry abroad.
Religious Marriages
Whether it is a Catholic, Protestant or Jewish marriage, the certificate of marriage issued by the Church after the ceremony must be registered with the Spanish Civil Registry in order to obtain the official marriage certificate.
Catholic Marriages
The Catholic Church is the only Church in Spain that can register a wedding for non-residents. Either the bride or groom must be catholic. Neither party can be divorced. Most Churches offer a prenuptial wedding course and you will need your certificates of baptism and confirmation. An international marriage certificate which is recognised worldwide will be provided after the ceremony.
Blessings
Blessings including non-denominational Blessings are available in a wide range of venues which vary from region to region. Couples who are not able to marry in Spain and have either held the ceremony in the UK or Gibraltar, find this is a very good alterative.
Pre Nuptial
Before the marriage, an article of marriage can be drawn up concerning property owned separately by the couple. No-one is obliged to do this, but if they wish to, the article must be granted by a Notary and registered with the Spanish Civil Register.
Report
For non Spanish Citizens, whether the marriage is civil or religious, it is very important to remember to report the wedding to your own country's embassy or consulate.
When?
So, you have decided to get married in Spain and understand all the paperwork or have at least got someone who does. What's next? The process of getting married starts with the initial announcement of the wedding (edictos), similar to the British rules of posting the banns. This shows a public declaration of intent to marry. If no-one objects to this, the marriage can take place 20 days later.
Of course 20 days is the minimum number of days and most people like to have time to sort out the best venue etc. Most people allow six months for the paperwork, especially as some regions ask for additional paperwork from the embassy or consulate of the foreign national.
Where?
Choosing the venue is almost as important as choosing the bride or groom. It will depend on how many guests you are intending to invite and of course what you can afford.
Northern Spain offers rugged shores from the Atlantic coast in three regions - Galicia, Cantabria and the Basque Country. Each has its own dialect but all offer green hills, towering peaks and beautiful beaches. Top of the menu at a wedding in this area would be seafood and the best wine would be Rioja produced in the neighbouring region.
Madrid is in the very centre of Spain and the perfect setting for a city wedding. Renowned throughout the world as a centre of art and culture with a night life that is the envy of most cities, Madrid is also very popular for themed weddings such as renaissance or medieval. Ceremonies often take place throughout the evening in Madrid and it is not unusual to see weddings taking place after midnight.
Further south, Andalucia, with its mix of European and African culture is another perfect region in which to get married. Here, bullfighting or flamenco could be a big part of the theme and the blossoms of almond orchards and orange and lemon groves make a beautiful back drop.
There are of course places locally that are set in beautiful surroundings that would be ideal for that special occasion. It is worth asking at your local Church and looking in the local press for details of venues.
Don't forget that if either party is not entitled to get married in Spain for whatever reason, then Gibraltar may be considered, as British citizens do not need to be residents in order to marry. A special marriage licence is granted by the Governor of Gibraltar and the ceremony is conducted in English.
Look out for part 2 in next month's Costa Cálida Chronicle when we will continue looking at Weddings in Spain, including some traditions, same-sex marriages, children of the marriage and also divorce.