DESTINATION WEDDINGS IN SPAIN
Destination Weddings in Spain
your dream wedding, wherever you imagine it
Why Get Married in Spain?
Spain is one of the most coveted wedding destinations in the world — and for good reason. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, world-renowned cuisine, and a stunning diversity of landscapes ranging from Mediterranean coastlines to medieval inland castles, getting married in Spain is an experience your guests will never forget.
Madrid, in particular, is an exceptional destination wedding hub. Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport offers direct connections to over 180 destinations worldwide, making it easy for your international guests to arrive. And from the capital, you can access weddings in historic palaces, vineyard estates, Andalusian country houses, or rural mountain retreats — all within a few hours' drive.
At Este Sapo Tiene Novia, we are Madrid-based wedding planners who specialize in destination weddings for international couples. We speak Spanish and English fluently, we know the legal requirements for foreign couples getting married in Spain, and we have a solid network of vendors — photographers, caterers, florists, musicians — across the entire country.
Today, 40% of our couples don't live in Spain, and more and more international couples are choosing our beautiful country as the setting for one of the most special days of their lives. Your destination wedding in Spain will be an unforgettable experience for both you and your guests, and we make sure everything turns out perfect. Don't let distance stand in the way of enjoying the planning process. With our team, you can confidently hand over the organisation of a day as important as your wedding.
Exceptional Climate
Over 300 days of sunshine a year. Spring and autumn are ideal for outdoor weddings — mild temperatures, golden light, and no rain. Summer months are also popular, especially along the Mediterranean coast.
Unique Venues
From baroque palaces in central Madrid to olive-grove estates in Toledo, vineyards in La Rioja, or villas with Mediterranean views — Spain offers a variety of settings for destination weddings that you'd be hard-pressed to find in any other European country.
Gastronomy & Wine
Spanish cuisine is recognized as one of the finest in the world. A wedding menu in Spain is, in itself, a memorable experience for your international guests: Iberian ham, fresh seafood, designation-of-origin wines, and a tradition of celebrating around the table that few cultures can match.
Excellent Connections
Madrid-Barajas is the largest flight hub between Europe and Latin America, with direct connections to almost every corner of the globe. Your guests — wherever they're coming from — can reach Spain without complicated layovers.
Competitive Pricing
Compared to other European wedding destinations like France, Italy, or the United Kingdom, Spain offers exceptional value for money. You can host a luxurious wedding for a budget that in other countries would barely cover a standard celebration.
Culture & Tradition
Spanish weddings have a special energy: the joy, the dancing, the live music, the endless toasts, guests chanting "¡Que se besen!" ("Kiss! Kiss!"). If you want your wedding to be a real party — not just a ceremony — Spain is your place.
Ceremony Types
Spain recognizes three types of ceremony, and foreign couples may choose any of them. We advise you on which best suits your legal situation and personal wishes.
Civil Ceremony
The civil ceremony is the only one with full legal effect in Spain for both residents and non-residents. It takes place before a judge or civil registrar in your chosen municipality. For foreign couples, documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish. The process can be started from your home country in advance, and we guide you through every step. This is the most popular option for international couples who want to be legally married in Spain.
Religious Ceremony
Catholic weddings have full civil recognition in Spain under the Concordat with the Holy See. Other religious denominations (Evangelical, Jewish, Islamic) are also legally recognized if registered as religious entities. Catholic weddings require at least one party to be baptized. Exact requirements depend on the diocese and chosen parish, but we know the process and can guide you through every step.
Symbolic Ceremony
The symbolic ceremony has no legal effect in Spain, but it's growing in popularity every year, especially among international couples. The advantage is total freedom: you can choose any location (a private garden, a vineyard, a rooftop with a view), any officiant, any ritual. Many couples choose to marry legally in their home country before or after, and celebrate their wedding in Spain symbolically with the style they truly want. For us, these weddings are some of the most moving and personal ones we plan.
Legal Requirements
Getting married in Spain as a foreign national is perfectly possible, but it requires preparation and time. The paperwork isn't complicated if you know what you need — and we handle the entire process, so you only have to worry about enjoying it.
Required documentation
- Birth certificate (with Apostille of The Hague if required by your home country)
- Certificate of marital status (single, divorced, or widowed as applicable)
- Valid passports for both parties
- Sworn translations into Spanish of all foreign documents
- In some cases, a consular registration certificate in Spain
Recommended timelines
Start the process at least 3 to 6 months in advance. The Civil Registry needs time to review and approve all documentation, and timelines can vary by municipality. We recommend starting as soon as you have your date and venue confirmed — the sooner, the better.
Consular registration
If you want your marriage celebrated in Spain to be legally recognized in your home country, you'll need to register it at the relevant consulate. We'll walk you through the necessary steps and help you prepare the documentation for that post-wedding process.
We handle the entire legal process on your behalf. You talk to us once, and we contact the Civil Registry, track the file, and keep you informed at every step. You don't need to understand Spanish bureaucracy — that's what we're here for.
Our Services for International Couples
We plan destination weddings throughout Spain, based in Madrid. We have experience working with couples from the UK, US, France, Germany, Latin America, and beyond. We know what it means to plan a wedding from a distance, and we've designed our services so that distance is never an obstacle.
Bilingual coordination ES / EN
The entire process — meetings, documentation, vendor communications — can be managed in Spanish or English according to your preference. You don't need to speak Spanish to get married in Spain with us.
Vendor network across Spain
We have trusted vendors in Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Valencia, Seville, the Costa Brava, and many other locations. Photographers, caterers, florists, musicians, photo booths, officiants — we know the best and we know who to work with.
Travel & accommodation advice
We help you find accommodation for the couple and guests, recommend restaurants for pre- and post-wedding dinners, and arrange transfers if needed. We want your entire experience in Spain to be perfect — not just the wedding day itself.
Cultural guidance
Weddings in Spain have their own traditions and rhythms: the aperitivo that stretches on, dancing until dawn, gifts of thanks for guests. We explain what to expect and how to blend your own traditions with Spanish ones to create a truly one-of-a-kind celebration.
Full logistical management
We handle all operational logistics: schedules, run-of-show documents, vendor coordination, contingency management. On your wedding day, you only need to arrive, enjoy, and get married. We take care of everything else.
Virtual meetings
We work with couples from around the world through video calls, email, and collaborative platforms. You don't need to travel to Madrid for every planning meeting — only for venue visits and, of course, the big day itself.
If you’re planning a destination wedding in Spain from outside the country, this page is your starting point: a quick overview of the essentials, with direct links to the three full guides where we answer — always with the official source visible — the legal and practical questions international couples ask us most.
Explore each topic in depth
Marriage documents and paperwork for foreign couples
What documents you’ll need, the two routes for processing the marriage file — the Civil Registry or a notary — and what happens if neither of you lives in Spain.
Ceremony types and legal validity
Which ceremonies produce a legal marriage in Spain — civil, religious with civil effects — and which is “just” a symbolic celebration, without legal validity on its own.
Destination wedding logistics
The two legal deadlines that shape your timeline and, beyond that, our real experience organising destination weddings in Madrid: season, planning lead times and international guests.
Below we answer, in short form, five of the questions we’re asked most, each one linking to the full page. If you still have questions about your specific situation after reading them, get in touch and we’ll help you work it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can two foreign nationals legally get married in Spain?
What legal procedure do we need to complete before the wedding?
Source: BOE — Law 20/2011 on the Civil Registry, art. 58.2-58.3
Does every ceremony count as a legal marriage?
Source: BOE — Spanish Civil Code, arts. 49, 50 and 60 (affirmation by absence)
How far in advance do we need to start the legal procedure?
Can we get married in Madrid if neither of us lives in Spain?
Source: administracion.gob.es — General Access Point, Marriage section
The information on this page is for general informational purposes about the process of getting married in Spain. It does not constitute legal advice. Procedures, deadlines and requirements can change and vary depending on nationality, region and each couple's specific situation. Before making decisions, please verify the information directly with the official source cited in each answer, and if you have questions about your own case, consult a professional (a gestoría, a notary, or the relevant Civil Registry office).
Dreaming of a Wedding in Spain?