Getting to Spain is easy and affordable. The south of the country boasts 320 days of sunshine a year and hundreds of couples enjoy dream destination weddings in Spain. But what can you really expect from celebrating your marriage in the land of flamenco and tapas?

Getting to Spain

Spain is four times the size of the UK with 20 million fewer inhabitants which means there is lots of space for everybody!

Spanish motorways are empty and outside of the cities driving is a pleasure, so you may well consider taking a ferry to one of the large ports and using your own car to explore. That said, the majority of wedding couples fly into one of the major international airports and take a short taxi ride to their destination wedding location.

Spain as a destination wedding location

The north of mainland Spain is very green and much cooler than the desert-like provinces of the south. Ideal for a wedding in the heat of July and August.

Moorish influences can be seen in the castles, palaces and watchtowers that dot the southern coast – all stunningly beautiful potential destination wedding locations. Andalucia has a year-round wedding season, perfect for those wanting to save money on an out-of-season wedding.

The Spanish islands in the Canaries and the Balearics all have personalities (and weather systems) of their own with some fabulous all-inclusive hotels offering wedding packages.

On the southern tip of mainland Spain, did you know that the coastline of Africa is visible from many places in Andalucia?

Spanish wedding ceremonies

The Spanish are experts at separating the marriage from the wedding, which means that your ceremony in the Spanish sunshine is 100% your real wedding day.

Some top tips for contracting the legal part of your marriage:

• in your home country before you travel – no foreign paperwork to stress about

• in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar which is a part of mainland Spain bordering Malaga – and have a two-centre wedding!

Whether you choose a religious wedding led by a minister in one of the pretty whitewashed churches, or a wedding ceremony officiated by an independent celebrant in a luxury hotel, castle, on the beach or in the mountains, your ceremony in Spain will be your real wedding day.

Spanish wedding rituals and traditions

Most Spanish wedding ceremonies happen in the late afternoon or early evening partly due to the heat and partly due to the desire to party on into the night. It is common for Spanish weddings to go on until sunrise!

You can include whatever rituals you like into your actual wedding ceremony but traditionally, thirteen “arras” coins are exchanged by Spanish wedding couples. Although a modern twist is to ask 12 of your special guests to each present you with an arras coin in the name of truth, honesty, forgiveness etc with the 13th coin presented by you both in the name of love. These make a wonderful keepsake of a truly personalised ceremony.

Top tip: you can buy your own arras coins on Amazon or Etsy at a range of prices depending on the size and quality of metal.

Spanish wedding-moon holiday

Arriving a few days before your ceremony means you can get a tan and be totally relaxed before your big day, then enjoy more sunny days winding down afterwards on your wedding-moon.

So turn up the Spanish guitar music, sip your sangria, soak up the sunshine and know that your destination wedding dreams in Spain will soon be a reality!

Top tip: Turn your destination wedding in Spain into a holiday

The Suppliers

Thanks to the fabulous team who contributed to these photos:

Photographer: @sealoversphoto
Videographer: @noraifilm
Planner: @paniculata_wedding
Florist: @elrincondelasflores
Dress and suit: @silviafernandezatelier
Decoration and stationery: @artgallerybybea.jose and @beajose.xlll
Celebrant: @celebrantspain
Makeup: @lolamaquilladora
Hairdresser: @marytorres.motril
Headdresses: @calabylilian
Creative pastries: @reposteria_creart
Models: @bea_1016 and @alvaradowilmer
Dancers: @essther19 and @valdivia.bachata

Photo Credits: Sea Lovers Photography