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GETTING MARRIED IN SPAIN
Nerja and Almuñecar are lovely places for your wedding ceremony or to renew your existing wedding vows, perhaps on a special wedding anniversary.
If you are thinking of getting married here or in the surrounding area and want to have a religious ceremony, then we can usually help.
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THE LEGALITIES:
Spanish Residents
Weddings in Spain all require a civil ceremony first at which the couple become husband and wife in the eyes of Spanish law.
This civil marriage requires at least one of the couple to have Spanish residency. Even when this is the case, it is not an easy way to proceed – you will certainly need a person who is a fluent Spanish speaker to make the arrangements with the local Town Hall (Ayuntamiento).
If this does become a realistic option then the civil ceremony can take place at the Town Hall or possibly even at the venue for the religious ceremony. In the latter case it can come immediately before the church service.
Non-residents
If neither of the couple fall into the above category than a civil ceremony is required by British law in a UK Registry Office or in Gibraltar followed by a religious ceremony in church or other location here.
Before proceeding with the church service we shall need to have sight of the
marriage certificate.
THE SERVICE OF BLESSING:
For this we follow the Order of Service authorised by the Church of England of which we in this Diocese in Europe are a part.
In practice, this means that it is clearly a Christian ceremony which seeks God’s
blessing on the union of a newly married couple.
The service, in English, incorporates much of the Marriage Service – hymns and music, bridesmaids, blessing of rings etc. The only clear difference is the couple do not exchange vows but rather re-affirm the promises they have already made.
In short, we can promise you a memorable and enjoyable Service of Blessing.
We take a lot of trouble in preparing for, and conducting such a service, and will
try to accommodate your particular requests if at all possible.
THE SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING FOR MARRIAGE
Many couples today wish to give thanks for the years of married life they have shared together, often on a special wedding anniversary.
We therefore are pleased to offer an Order of Service of Thanksgiving for Marriage.
The service follows the shape of the wedding service including the renewal of vows and possibly the giving and receiving of new rings. It can include music, hymns and readings chosen by the couple.
For either service, here are some points you will need to consider –
Fixing The Date:
Please contact us as soon as you can to ensure that the date and time are
possible and put in our diary.
We strongly suggest that if your service is in the months of June, July or August, you avoid the middle of the day as it will be very hot then – it can be well over 40 degrees C – and we don’t want you fainting in your posh clothes!
Order Of Service:
Many couples like to have a personalised form of printed service. There are
parts of the service which are mandatory but plenty of opportunity for personal
choice as well. It is usual to include the words of the hymns as well. PLEASE
do talk with us and certainly let us see the draft before you get these printed
– we are more likely to spot mistakes.
Venue:
Ideally the service will take
place in a Church building – we usually use San Miguel in Nerja. By
arrangement, other local Roman Catholic priests allow us to use their churches
too.
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These days
the use of a hotel, villa or even a beach bar can be arranged (but NOT on a
beach).
If it is not to be in a church we shall need to satisfy ourselves that it is possible to create an atmosphere which is conducive to an act of Christian worship. After all, you are asking for God’s blessing on your union as man and wife! |
The Cost:
Please bear in mind that we
only have an English church here because it has been possible to raise the funds
to make it so. An important part of the revenue we manage to raise is through
services such as these.
At present the basic cost for
a wedding ceremony and a Service of Thanksgiving is 200 €. To this needs to be
added 50€ for an organist, and a further 50€ which goes to the Roman Catholic
Church for the use of their premises. Expenses for travel might be added if the
venue is a considerable distance from Nerja.
We ask that, if possible, you
will kindly pay this sum in euros in advance. If the person paying is also a UK
taxpayer, then we invite you to gift-aid your donation which gives us a further
25% without any extra cost to you. We will provide a special envelope for you
to do this.
We also ask the ushers to take a retiring collection after the service from
those attending.
Photographs & Videos:
It would be
a strange occasion if there were no photos! If you are hiring a professional
photographer you will get better pictures, probably, but at a cost!
Ensure that such a person takes pictures which YOU want – after all you are
paying! But please, whoever it is, we ask that you use only ONE photographer
during the ceremony itself. If a VIDEO is being made, then it is often both a
waste and disappointment unless the operator really knows how to do it.
Some other questions that are frequently asked:
How early do I need to start making my arrangements?
You would normally need a minimum of three months to make your plans with either the Town Hall or Registry Office.
Why can’t we have the legal part of the marriage in church as well?
Unfortunately the Anglican Church in Spain is not qualified to perform legal ceremonies without a lot of expense and administration which we do not recommend.
Can we still have a marriage ceremony if one of the partners has been divorced?
Yes, but please talk it through with Fr Geoff as early as possible in your planning.
Neither of us is really a believer. Can we have a secular wedding?
This is something Fr Geoff would be pleased to discuss with you.
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Is it possible to use another location apart from the usual church in Nerja or Almuñecar?
Yes, the Roman Catholic Church offers us hospitality in many of its churches in the towns and villages in our area. Many couples ask if the ceremony could be performed in a hotel, private home or villa, this is usually possible.
This photo was taken at the Church of San Juan, Melegis in the Lecrin Valley. |
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What about music?
The possibilities are endless. Some couples book our church organist for traditional hymns and music, others choose recorded music or provide their own live music. It is not unknown that couples have included Flamenco guitarists, soloists and string quartets.
Does the service have to be complicated and formal?
No, ceremonies range from just the couple being present to large gatherings of family and friends.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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