Can I Legally Get Married in Spain?
- Laura Charles
- Jul 20
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 21
Spain continues to be one of the most popular wedding destinations in Europe but this one question comes up time and time again and often the answers can be slightly confusing so we hope this blog post will clarify this for you.
Can Non Spanish Nationals Legally get Married in Spain?
In Spain, civil weddings are only permitted if one of the parties is a legal resident in Spain and in most cases, you may need to be a resident for at least two years.
If you or your partner are a Spanish resident or citizen, a legal wedding is definitely possible but there is quite a lot of paperwork involved. You can start the process at your local town hall.
Can Non Residents Get Legally Married in Spain
Technically no, but read on if you are a Catholic.
Spain does allow Catholic church weddings to be legally recognised, even for non-residents. This option is popular with destination weddings particularly from Ireland wishing to get married in Spain in the sunshine!
You will need to contact the church of your choice and confirm your wedding date & time of your ceremony. Here in Marbella the most popular church is the Encarnacion located just off Orange Square. Do note they only speak Spanish.
Some churches will book out days on the weekend just for the local residents weddings so you may find a Saturday is not available but could have your wedding on a weekday such as a Thursday or Friday.
Once you have your date booked at the church you will have to complete your marriage file and course with your local priest which will include birth certificates, proof of baptism, confirmation, and single status. If one of you isn’t a Catholic then you will also require a letter of dispensation from your priest allowing you to marry.
Once your marriage file is complete it is sent to the local diocese in Spain. All Marbella weddings come under the Málaga Diocese. The Málaga diocese address is
SECRETARÍA GENERAL – CANCILLERÍA, OBISPADO DE MALAGA
C/ Sta. Maria 18-20
Aptdo. Oficial 31
29071 Málaga
Spain
Paperwork should be up to date and sent about 3 to 5 months before your wedding date. The certificate of baptism must be no older than 6 months before your wedding date.
About two weeks before your wedding the Diocese sends your file to the relevant church, it is always wise to call both the Diocese and the church during this process to confirm your paperwork is there and moving through the system.
You will need to plan your ceremony with the Catholic Order of Service and insert your choice of songs and readings. Decide what readings you would like and who is going to do these for you. Once your Order of Service is complete you need to send this to the church for approval.
We do have a beautiful Order of Service A5 booklet template especially designed for the Encarnacion Church in Marbella.
It is simple to personalize using Canva, includes clear instructions and a list of suggested songs & readings helping you to plan the perfect ceremony.
You can purchase your template and instructions here.
You will also need two witnesses to sign your church documents, they will need to be presented at the church with their passports before your ceremony. Ideally this can be done during your wedding rehearsal which can be booked at the church.
Do make sure all the wedding party involved are available for the rehearsal, usually the rehearsal is done the day before your wedding if there is availability at the church. There is a church fee which is currently 300 euros and you can pay this to the church as well during your rehearsal visit.
When your wedding ceremony is over your planner or a member of your wedding party will need to go to the office in the church straight afterwards to collect your marriage certificate.
You will either need to make an appointment at the Marbella Civil Registry Office to register the marriage or you can do it online.
Dress Code for a Church Wedding in Marbella
Some churches are stricter than others but generally as a rule it is just being respectful and sensible. Whilst most Spanish brides will opt for sleeves and shoulders covered many destination weddings will choose an off the shoulder with a veil covering the shoulders. You will find Spain is quite formal so for men it is suits and ties.
To combat the heat you can read more tips here.
There are many wedding planners in Marbella that will offer a church service should you wish to hire someone to help you with this.
A Symbolic Wedding Ceremony in Spain
This is the most popular choice for couples wishing to marry in Spain. You legally marry in your home country (town hall, registry office) and then have your actual wedding ceremony here complete with vows and exchanging of your rings. Most guests will never know this isn’t the legally binding ceremony.
This option gives you full freedom over your ceremony location, timing and style with none of the legal constraints.
Many faiths host their wedding ceremonies here from Jewish to Muslim and non religious.
Joanne says ‘Choosing the right celebrant will make creating your ceremony easy and enjoyable. It's so important that you feel you are in safe hands, supported, and able to trust the person guiding you through it and more importantly you feel excited!’
Ashlyn explains there are many ways to personalize your wedding ceremony.
‘Handfasting, unity candles, sand ceremonies, or cultural traditions can add rich symbolism and emotion. It is a great way to include friends & family into your ceremony.
Ask friends or family to do readings, music, or blessings, if it feels right. It makes the ceremony more communal and touching.’
To find out more about what wedding celebrants offer here are two of our listed celebrants websites to have a look at.
Joanne McCafferty https://www.celebrantcostadelsol.com
Based in Marbella Joanne is a certified wedding celebrant of the Academy of Modern Celebrants. Joanne is a natural, warm and highly talented celebrant who is also married to Marbella’s famous Frank Sinatra! With no strict rules Joanne will craft you a personalized ceremony exactly as you wish.
Ashlyn Watts
Ashlyn Watts covers the whole of the Costa Del Sol, conducting weddings, vow renewals and elopements. Ashlyn is a fully qualified celebrant affiliated with the AMC and has more than 30 years experience as a writer. She will use all of her creative talents to provide you with a bespoke and captivating ceremony.
At The Marbella Wedding Directory, we connect couples like you with trusted venues, celebrants, planners, photographers, and more all based in Marbella and the Costa del Sol. If you wish to be on our mailing list to be inspired, read real weddings and many tips for getting married in Marbella you can sign up here.
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