How to Get Married in Spain
Spain is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Irish people so it is little wonder than many also consider having their wedding there.
It is perhaps surprising that a country as geared to tourism as Spain makes it so difficult for non-residents to legally marry there, but that is the case.
In fact it is virtually impossible to have a legal wedding in Spain (other than in a Catholic Church) unless at least one party to the wedding has been resident in Spain for a minimum of two years and holds a residency card.
Legal Civil Weddings
Getting married legally in Spain if one of you is not resident there ranges from difficult to impossible!
Registrars require that at least one party to the marriage has been resident for at least 2 years in Spain.
More about Civil Weddings in Spain
Church Weddings
It is possible to get married legally in a Catholic Church without meeting any residency requirement.
Protestant, Islamic and Jewish and several other churches will marry overseas couples but these marriages cannot be legally registered.
For those who do not meet the residency requirement it is only possible to have a Religious wedding in one of these faiths provided you have been legally married elsewhere beforehand.
More about Church Weddings in Spain
About Spain
Its varied and vibrant culture and enviable Mediterranean climate and lifestyle makes Spain a great destination for a wedding.
The Gibraltar Alternative
One popular option is to marry legally in Gibraltar, which has a far more relaxed regime, and return to Spain for the wedding reception.