Congratulations, you’re now starting to plan one of the biggest days of your life. But where do you start?
 
Legal Requirements
Both civil and Catholic marriages are deemed valid under Spanish Law, and therefore are recognized legally throughout Europe.  Your wedding coordinator will guide you through the legal process ensuring that you are aware of all documentation required, and will submit the documents to the local authorities on your behalf where possible.

Catholic Ceremonies
Catholics of any country may be legally married in Spain. Primarily the couple must contact their local diocese to discuss their marriage intentions. From there, the necessary paperwork will be arranged within the church itself. If one party member is non-Catholic it will be necessary to request a Dispensation from their Bishop. Neither party may be divorced for a Catholic wedding.

NOTE: The process for a Catholic wedding requires strict paperwork which may take a year to obtain. With high demands for the local Catholic Church it is recommended that provisional dates are booked early to avoid disappointment.

Wedding Blessing
A wedding blessing is the easy option that gives you the best of both worlds. Once you have signed the papers to make the marriage legal (usually in your home country), the ceremony (blessing) with all your friends and family present can be religious or non-religious - you choose whichever suits you best. The inter-faith minister works closely with you to determine the style, form and content of the blessing ceremony to give you a chance to create a ceremony that is truly memorable. You can write your own pieces for the blessing, or decide on poems or songs for inclusion.

Civil Ceremony
At the current time legislation regarding civil weddings for non-residents is complex and subject to mis-interpretation. We recommend that couples who are not resident in Spain have a civil marriage in their home country and follow that with a wedding blessing here in Gran Canaria. If this isn’t a route you want to take please contact us directly for more details of what a civil wedding for non residents entails.

If you are resident in Spain for some or part of the year you need the following documentation for a civil marriage :

  • Original birth certificate (accompanied by a sworn translation)
  • Passport
  • Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (this may be obtained from your local registry office or consulate)
  • If applicable, an original marriage and divorce certificate must be presented and accompanied by a sworn translation.
  • If either partner is widowed, then both the original marriage certificate and death certificate must be presented with sworn translations.
  • Certificate of Empadronimiento from the Town hall of the town in which you are resident.

All documents that are in English must be stamped with the Hague Apostille. For this you must contact the Legislation Office :

UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Admiralty Office
London SW1A 2LG
Tel 0207 008 1111

Irish Department of Foreign Affairs
Consular Section
Department of Foreign Affairs
Hainault House
69 - 71 St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2
Tel. (01) 408 2174

NOTE: the process of obtaining and submitting all paperwork is timeline sensitive and there are strict deadlines involved. Whilst your wedding coordinator will inform you of the deadlines and processes for your paperwork, Gran Canaria Sunshine Weddings do not accept responsibility for incorrect paperwork or missed deadlines. Obtaining and submitting the correct paperwork is your responsibility.