How to get married in Barcelona – the ultimate wedding guide!

Are you dreaming of getting married in Barcelona, Spain, but don’t really know where to start? Don’t worry, I got you! In this guide you will find everything from legal requirements to knowing which season is the best for your destination wedding in Barcelona. I’ll make sure to give you the exact next steps to get you started in your planning journey as well as valuable insights to finding the right venues and vendors for you. All so that you can have the destination wedding of your dreams in the vibrant city of Barcelona.

Legal or symbolic ceremony?

First step is to decide if you want the ceremony on your day to be legally binding or not. There are two ways to get legally married in Barcelona (and Spain), a civil ceremony or a religious ceremony. Whilst it is possible to get legally married in Spain as a foreigner, the procedure to get there can be quite lengthy. 

The third alternative is to have a symbolic ceremony. I know this can feel a bit discouraging, but I promise you that a Symbolic ceremony feels just as real and celebratory on your day! (Trust me, I’ve attended many!). You can read more about Symbolic ceremonies and how to make them personal here.

Legally binding ceremonies

It is possible to have a legally binding civil ceremony in Spain even if both of you are foreigners to the country. That being said, the process is a bit more extensive than if one or both of you are residents. Read more about legally binding ceremonies in Spain here.

What might be good to know is that if you go for a legally binding civil ceremony, the ceremony must be performed in a town hall or civil registry. It is not possible to get the officiant to come to you in a private finca or restaurants as it is in some other countries. 

Even if both of you are foreigners to Spain, having a Religious Catholic ceremony that is legally binding is possible. The requirement for this is that one of you is Catholic. This process can also be a bit lengthy and requires quite some documentation, just remember that the paperwork needs to be signed within 6 months of the wedding date. Read more about the documentation for Catholic ceremonies.

A third option is to check if your domestic church has a basis in Spain. For example, The Swedish Church has an office in Spain and can help with legally binding religious ceremonies for Swedes getting married in Spain.

Symbolic & Commitment ceremony

What many couples do when wanting to have their wedding ceremony at a specific place around Barcelona, for example at their venue, is to have a Symbolic ceremony or Commitment ceremony. Really they are different words for the same thing and can be defined as a marriage ceremony where you commit your lifes to each other, without it being legally binding.

The most important thing to remember is that commitment ceremonies are and feel just as real as any legally binding ceremony and are just as emotional (sometimes even more emotional). Commitment ceremonies can look exactly like a legally binding ceremony, having your vows and exchange of rings, but can also look totally different. Having this type of ceremony gives you the possibility to personalize the marriage ceremony after the two of you och your wishes, without the mandatory parts of a legal ceremony.

What season is the best to get married in Barcelona?

Barcelona has a good climate with nice temperature almost all year round. And with few rainy days you got yourself an almost guaranteed beautiful day to look forward to! Here are a few pointers that might be good to know.

The coldes months are December to February. During these months the average daytime temperature is 15 degrees, although it can raise up to 25 on occasion! Outside of the city you might experience 0 degrees in nighttime. The warmest months are July & August. During these months the heat is pressing and I’d recommend a venue with an AC for the most comfort.

The windiest months are normally in the spring and fall, March – April & November. Whereas the most average rain falls in May, September & October. However, I find that the rain often falls during nighttime. 

My recommendation is to plan your wedding in & around Barcelona between May-June or September – October. During these months the weather is good and temperature nice but not overwhelming. Of course, depending on your venue and wants, Barcelona is really a city where you can get married in good weather all year around!

Should you get married in the city or outside of Barcelona?

Barcelona is surrounded by beautiful coastal areas and villages. Depending on what type of wedding, venue and vibe you want on your big day the options are endless! Regardless of the area you choose in Cataluna, the region where Barcelona is located, you can be sure to enjoy both beautiful venues and breathtaking nature.

The city of Barcelona offers both historical buildings, a cool urban vibe and a lot of nature, all at the same time. Having your destination wedding in the city is perfect if you want the city pulse and your guests to be able to enjoy the city. It is also the perfect back-drop for your wedding photos!

Right outside the city you find beautiful areas that are less crowded and more secluded. If you travel north of the city, you find Costa Brava. All along the Costa Brava coast there are gorgeous fincas – which are old Spanish country estates or farmhouses. These often have some rooms to house your wedding guests flying in as well as dedicated spaces for the different parts of your day.

South of the city only 40 min from the airport you find the picturesque town of Sitges, an old fishing village. In this area you will also find beautiful fincas to house your destination wedding in. Being in this area, the town of Sitges makes a perfect day-trip for your destination wedding guests.

Different types of wedding venues for different locations around Barcelona

Having your destination wedding in Barcelona or outside of the city will also affect the type of venue for your day. In the city itself you have many stunning hotels to celebrate in which will also be able to house all of your wedding guests. Hotels comes with the benefit of offering full drink & dinner menus in house, somethings that both makes the planing a little easier but might also limit your choices.

If you’re looking for more traditional or even historical buildings, finding a finca just outside of the city is a great option. Here you can find alternatives that offers total flexibility for you to bring food & drinks or that might be able to provide it for you. Fincas usually offer more nature and depending on your choice even ocean view.

Do you need a wedding planner?

Planning a destination wedding includes a lot of logistics and decisions. Having a wedding planner who knows the local market, the language and venues in the area can be a big help! That being said, a wedding planner is not a must!

If you are the ones who prefer to be a little more hands-off but still take decisions about what is most important to you – wedding planner might be the way to go. Having a wedding planner can mean less stress leading up to your wedding, but even more so on the actual day when you have someone to make sure it all runs smoothly. Here is my top 3 wedding planners in Barcelona.

If you on the other hand are the ones who likes doing research, loves a little more hands on & DIY and already knows what you want – I’d say you’re also good to go on your own if you prefer it! Some fincas & hotels also have coordinators that will help out, just know they are not the same as a wedding planner even though they often help with for example suggestions for other vendors. An alternative if you choose not to have a wedding planner can be to have a day-off coordinator, who keeps everything running smoothly the day of.

There is also the possibility that other vendors help with parts of the planning. As a wedding photographer in Barcelona I for example help with other vendor recommendations such as florists, music & make-up. Included in my services is also timeline design for your day.

Getting married in Barcelona is the perfect way to have a truly personalized destination wedding.

Barcelona with its surroundings is the ultimate place to have a personalized destination wedding. The options for making the day truly yours is endless in everything from venues to surroundings and style.  Knowing how to get married in another city, as Barcelona, might feel a bit overwhelming & unbelievable fun at the same time, and I’m here to help guide you and capture your wedding day!