Planning Your Dream Costa Del Sol Wedding

Whether you’re living on the Costa del Sol or just enjoy visiting the golden coast for your annual holidays, there really is no better place to get married. Year-round sunshine, beautiful beaches and a laidback attitude make the Costa del Sol the perfect place to say your ‘I Do’s’. But how do you go about planning this dream wedding? Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Here’s everything you need to know to plan your dream Costa Del Sol wedding:

Get your Paperwork in Order

It might well be the most boring part of organising a wedding but it’s also the most important: you can’t get married in Spain without the right paperwork, so it’s essential to organise this as soon as possible. You will need:

• Valid passports and original birth certificates for both parties
• Proof that both parties are free to marry (you will need to obtain a form from your home country Embassy to prove this)
• Divorce certificates if either party is divorced. Dead certificates if either party is widowed.
• Certificate of residence (at least one of the parties must have been a resident of Spain for at least 2 years, or be a Spanish citizen, to have a civil marriage in Spain)
  

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t hold your wedding ceremony in Spain if you’re not a long-term resident of the country. A great way to work around this is to hold a blessing ceremony and exchange your vows in front of your family and friends, then have your wedding legalised in the local courthouse when you return to the UK. You can hold the wedding ceremony that you always dreamt of, but without the paperwork!

Choose the Right Season

Whilst the Costa del Sol enjoys year-round sunshine, like most European countries, it is much hotter in the summer months and cooler in the winter months. That means choosing the right season will be vital to the success of your Costa del Sol wedding. The Costa del Sol will typically experience temperatures in excess 25°C in June, July and August, which will be too warm for many. This is also the most popular time of year for tourists to visit, meaning your dream beach-front wedding may find your jostling for space.

If you’re looking for slightly cooler temperatures and quieter beaches then why not think about choosing May, September or October for your Costa del Sol wedding instead?

Tip: Most Spanish weddings take place at 5pm rather than at midday, which is more traditional in the UK. This means you can enjoy clear skies and bright sunshine without the risk of overheating.

Dress to Impress

One of the main considerations for most Costa del Sol brides is what to wear. Whilst most brides dream of wearing a long white gown on their wedding day, the sandy beaches of the Costa del Sol aren’t ideal for long hemlines, and the heat doesn’t favour layers of hot and sticky tulle either. Instead look for a gown with a hemline that falls above the ankle, in lightweight and breathable fabrics. Add bridal style with accessories: a bouquet of local blooms, a long veil, and dramatic jewellery are all great options.

Consider a casual dress code for your bridal party too: let them know that the ceremony will be taking place on the sand so that they don’t struggle in heels or wear heavy dresses and jackets that will leave them feeling stiff and uncomfortable.

Tip: Flip flops will make a great wedding favour if you’re having a beach wedding, and guests in heels can pop them on straight away.

Combine Your Wedding and Your Honeymoon

One of the best things about choosing to get married in the Costa del Sol is that your wedding and honeymoon become one beautifully combined experience: you can start celebrating your honeymoon before you’ve even exchanged your vows!

With this in mind, we recommend that you think carefully about where you choose to celebrate your wedding. Is it where you want to honeymoon too? To help you select your location, here is our handy guide to some of the most popular Costa del Sol wedding destinations:

Puerto Banús

Located in the heart of Marbella, Puerto Banús is where the crème de la crème of Marbellan society live, and is the ideal destination if you’re looking for no-expense spared extravagance. Home to a host of luxury boutiques, Puerto Banús is a great choice for shoppers, but accommodation here will be expensive for your guests.

Playa del Cañuelo     

Playa del Cañuelo is located slightly further up the coast at Nerja, and has a more low key and relaxed feel. It is widely regarded as the coast’s best beach. Getting here will be easy for your guests, but the beach here tends to see a steady stream of visitors year-round.

Fuengirola

Last but by no means least is Fuengirola, which is a popular coastal town. Its sweeping beaches attract water sports enthusiasts no matter what the time of year. Ideal if your wedding party are active and like to try new things, but there’s something for everyone: spectators can still enjoy the action, watching from one of the many independent tapas bars and cafés along the coastline.

Why not start your new life of wedded bliss with a new life in Spain?  Talk to us today for latest property listings, and sound advice on your relocation.