If you are looking for an exotic location to get married Spain ticks pretty much all the boxes. The weather is far superior to the UK and the choice of locations around the country to host your wedding is varied and often spectacular.

The only real downside to getting married in Spain is the legal requirements, which can be a bit of a minefield, not because they are especially difficult to comply with but more that they tend to vary from area to area. There is a lot of advice on planning your Spanish wedding available on the internet the trouble is much of the advice is conflicting. So here are a few guidelines that should help you plan your wedding.

Legal:
1. Application forms
2. Bride and Grooms original birth certificates
3. Proof the bride and groom are free to marry, this can be obtained at a registry office in the UK
4. Should either the bride or groom have been previously married you may need the divorce certificate.
5. You will need your passports and a signed affidavit via your consul officer
6. Certificate of Consular Inscription available from the Spanish Embassy
7. The Baptismal and confirmation certificate for catholic weddings.

It is also important to ensure any documents you are intending to provide are translated into Spanish.

These are intended as a guide only, you should contact the Spanish Embassy for full details.

As we have already mentioned, the rules are complex and indeed variable depending on the area in Spain you get married. It is therefore very important to search for your perfect wedding venue well in advance so you can adhere to any local variance in the rules. It might also be advisable to considering using a Spanish based wedding planner who will be experienced in handling this sort of wedding.

Once you have the all the tedious paperwork in hand, and the venue is booked you will need to turn your attentions to the detail such as wedding entertainment for your guests. As you are getting married in Spain it would at to the authenticity of the occasion if you chose some traditional Spanish entertainment, especially during the afternoon. Then later in the evening you might want consider a live function band.

Whilst getting married in Spain is no doubt more complicated that a simple UK wedding, there are many benefits. The trick is to plan well ahead, talk to the Embassy, consult a wedding planner and ensure your paperwork is in order well in advance of your big day!