CEREMONIES
Under
Spanish
law,
both
civil
and
religious
marriages
are
legal.
People
under
18
are
not
authorised
to
marry
in
Spain.
It
is
possible
to
have
a
civil
marriage
blessed
in
a
non-catholic
church.
but
you
can
only
have
a
Religious
Ceremony
if
the
other
party
is
Spanish
the
procedures
vary
significantly
from
parish
to
parish
so
you
should
check
the
requirements
with
the
local
priest. Civil
Marriages:The
consent
to
get
married
is
given
to
the
correspondent
officer
pursuant
to
the
principles
of
the
Spanish
Civil
Code.
The
marriage
shall
be
solemnized
by
the
Judge
in
charge
of
the
Civil
Registry,
by
the
town
Mayor
or
the
officer
duly
authorised,
or
by
the
diplomatic
officer
of
the
Civil
Registry
abroad. Religious
Marriages:Catholic,
protestant
and
Jewish
marriage
may
be
celebrated
in
Spain.
The
certificate
of
marriage
issued
by
the
Church
after
the
ceremony
must
be
registered
with
the
Spanish
civil
registry
in
order
to
get
an
official
marriage
certificate.
If
you
are
planning
to
marry
in
Spain,
you
will
need
the
following
documents:
Your
passport
Original
birth
certificate
Application
to
marry
form
Proof
two
parties
are
single.
A
form
can
be
obtained
from
the
civil
registry
of
your
home
country
If
previously
married,
the
original
final
divorce
decree
or
death
certificate.
Certificate
of
residence/impadronamiento:
If
you
are
non-resident,
you
may
sign
an
affidavit
before
your
consular
officer.
Certificate
of
Consular
Inscription:
Can
be
obtained
from
your
embassy
or
consulate.
A
baptismal
certificate
is
also
needed
when
arranging
Catholic
marriages.
The
required
documents
must
be
presented
to
the
priest
performing
the
ceremony.
All
documents
from
outside
Spain
must
be
officially
translated
into
Spanish
and
authenticated
by
apostille.
Once
your
forms
are
completed
a
notice
of
intention
to
marry
is
displayed
on
a
Consular
notice
board
for
a
clear
21
days.
The
notice
itself
is
sworn
by
the
applicant
and
can
only
be
accepted
if
he/she
has
been
residing
for
a
clear
21
day
period
in
the
Consular
district
where
the
notice
is
displayed.
Where
one
of
the
parties
is
resident
in
the
UK
and
plans
to
travel
to
Spain
shortly
before
the
wedding
they
should
contact
the
Spanish
Consulate
in
the
UK
to
obtain
information
regarding
the
procedures
involved.
Please
note
paperwork
is
extensive
and
time
consuming
therefore
you
should
allow
sufficient
time
at
least
6 months
for
preparation.
WEDDING
TRADITIONS
Traditional
weddings
in
Spain
are
different
to
those
in
the
UK
in
a
variety
of
ways!
Although
the
bride
can
wear
a
traditional
white
dress
frequently
a
genuine
flamenco
dress
is
worn
instead.
The
religious
ceremonies
normally
last
up
to
an
hour
and
include
communion.
Wedding
rings
[often
identical
differing
only
in
size]
are
worn
on
the
right
hand
instead
of
the
left.
The
groom
will
often
give
the
bride
a
pouch
of
13
gold
coins[Arras
coins]before
the
ceremony,
symbolizing
his
ability
to
support
and
care
for
her.
13
represents
Christ
and
his
12
apostles.
These
coins
become
a
part
of
their
family
heirloom.
The
bride
may
also
have
a
basket
of
brooches.
The
pins
often
resemble
lillies
or
orchids.
These
pins
are
given
to
all
the
ladies
at
the
reception.
They
will
wear
them
upside
down
whilst
dancing.
If
the
pin
falls
out,
the
girl
will
marry
shortly
!
