| Spain is the second most visited country in the world. | | | | yourselves) the chance to enjoy Spain in all its |
| History oozes from every corner and in southern | | | | splendor. Culture and folklore emanate from every |
| Spain you are practically guaranteed warm weather | | | | corner; Seville has the highest quality flamenco shows. |
| year-round. Spain gives you the opportunity to have an | | | | The city is very near Malaga, where there is a denser |
| outdoor wedding surrounded by beautiful landscapes | | | | population of English speakers, therefore having a |
| as well as a chance for all your guests to holiday, take | | | | blessing in English or any other language will be no |
| some time out and have fun!! | | | | problem at all. |
| With so much choice across the country, here is a | | | | Ideas |
| review of the most outstanding spots for me. The | | | | Holding the wedding at a Spanish “Cortijo” or |
| location you choose will pretty much depend on the | | | | “hacienda”. “Cortijos” are the typical |
| kind of destination wedding you have in mind, although | | | | farmhouses of southern Spain. This may not sound |
| if you still haven’t decided, this mini guide may help | | | | very glamorous at first but these are in fact the most |
| you get some ideas. | | | | refined and noble of all. Families became rich over |
| Malaga as a wedding destination | | | | centuries breading horses and bulls. Photo of Cortijo. |
| Malaga is an ideal choice if you are looking for a sun | | | | Many of these “Cortijos” specialize in celebrating |
| and sea wedding and vacation, although it has many | | | | weddings. This could be a great option as you can |
| beautiful rural spots to offer. Malaga has stunning | | | | have the blessing, the banquet and the reception all in |
| beaches, modern facilities and great weather, not too | | | | one place. Some have even been turned into hotels |
| hot – not too cold! The sea winds are not too | | | | and have accommodation with a suite for the bride |
| strong in this area either, compared to further down | | | | and groom, spas, additional restaurants…. |
| the coast such as Cadiz. | | | | Having your destination Spanish wedding in a |
| As Malaga is mainly geared towards tourism, there are | | | | “Cortijo” sets the scene and theme easily. You |
| many hotels to choose from, although the | | | | and your guests will be in out-of-the-ordinary |
| entertainment options are slimmer than in other | | | | surroundings, making it a magical and memorable |
| Spanish cities such as Seville or Granada. The main | | | | experience |
| historical monuments can only found in the main city, | | | | Adding your touch |
| whilst the coastal towns offer bars and beaches. | | | | Having your destination wedding with a Spanish theme |
| There are, on the other hand, plenty of sea activities: | | | | does not mean you have to miss out on adding your |
| taking a small cruise across the coast, scuba diving, jet | | | | personal touch. Quite the opposite, use the theme as a |
| skiing or simply having dinner at a restaurant on the | | | | canvas and make the wedding truly yours. I think a |
| beach…... Malaga is glamour and class. | | | | wedding should reflect the personalities of the bride |
| Ideas | | | | and groom. Live music and entertainment can help you |
| Malaga offers its Botanical Gardens for weddings. You | | | | a great deal here. |
| can have the blessing, banquet and reception here. | | | | A Gospel choir or even a classical guitarist, playing |
| The Botanical Gardens used to be the home of a rich | | | | during your outdoor ceremony … Once the |
| merchant family and features a stunning pergola | | | | ceremony has finished a great way to greet all your |
| overlooking the entire state. A great bonus is that you | | | | guests is over a “cocktail”. You can have it very |
| can do evening/night weddings, perfect in the summer | | | | close to the blessing grounds and have the waiters |
| when the sun doesn’t set until 9 – 10 pm. | | | | serve appetizers and drinks. With a jazz and swing |
| Benalmadena, a coastal town, offer its Bil-Bil castle. | | | | band playing in the background, you will keep your |
| This is a newly constructed castle however its charm | | | | guests from getting bored until you arrive back from |
| lies on its location – practically on the beach. You | | | | taking photos, and what more can you ask for: sipping |
| can have your ceremony, banquet and reception all | | | | on champagne, outdoors in the sun, while you listen to |
| within the castle grounds. | | | | Sinatra’s “LOVE” played live! |
| | | | A wedding in Spain does not have to mean flamenco |
| Marbella boasts some amazing beach restaurants | | | | dancers and Spanish songs. Live music agencies such |
| lounges where you can have a jet-set glamorous | | | | as The Tribute Band provide all styles of party |
| wedding. Many of them are large enough to have a | | | | entertainment, with professional musicians from all over |
| blessing in the same grounds, such as Pangaea | | | | the world. Have a look at some videos so you can |
| Prive. The amazing Finca La Concepcion can also be | | | | start getting an idea of what atmosphere you want to |
| found in Marbella and it is one of the best wedding | | | | create during the reception. |
| venues I have ever seen. The finca itself is beautiful, | | | | Pros |
| with a remarkable entrance. Although it is only a short | | | | - Clean, environmentally friendly city |
| drive from Puerto Banus, as soon as you arrive to the | | | | - True Spanish feel to it |
| Finca you feel like you are in the middle of the | | | | - Lots for guests to do and see |
| countryside, where the only sounds come from birds | | | | - Superior quality restaurants and products, not much |
| singing. | | | | more expensive than the rest of Andalucia. |
| | | | - Near Airport |
| The Byblos hotel in Mijas is truly amazing and is | | | | - Great for honeymooning |
| available for weddings. The hotel is set within the Mijas | | | | Cons |
| Golf Course, with its stunning lakes and peaceful | | | | - Very hot during July & August |
| surroundings. Byblos is “Andalusi” inspired, | | | | - Not near the sea |
| combining Spanish and Arabic decoration. This is a | | | | - Not many English speaking service providers so |
| wonderful place to have a banquet and reception as | | | | communication can be hard – although Malaga is |
| the building itself is beautiful. The restaurant is set near | | | | just a short drive and many can be booked from |
| the pool and you can have live music until late. | | | | there. |
| Speaking from personal experience, this is an amazing | | | | Granada as a wedding destination |
| hotel to have your honeymoon. The rooms are | | | | Granada was the capital of the “Andalusi” world, |
| luxurious, the staff make you feel like royalty, it is quiet | | | | the Moorish kings who conquered and lived in |
| enough to sleep-in and stay in bed as long as you | | | | Andalucia for over 700 years. With the Alhambra |
| want, and some of the rooms have gigantic baths! | | | | forever present, this city is a true blend of Jewish, |
| On the other side of the coast we find Nerja, a | | | | Catholic, Moorish and modern Spanish culture. |
| favorite amongst many couples. Although a little far | | | | Choosing Granada as a wedding destination offers |
| from the airport, Nerja has some fantastic views, | | | | many possibilities: Snow, City and Beach. The city of |
| restaurants and still keeps that bohemian look about it. | | | | Granada is set inland although the province runs all the |
| There is plenty for guests to do here, including some | | | | way down to the coast. There is also a ski resort, |
| unique caves where you can watch ballet shows in | | | | Sierra Nevada, with the longest skiing season in |
| the summer. The most stunning part of Nerja is the | | | | Europe. This gives you plenty of options to organize |
| Europa Point, fantastic for pictures. Right next to it is a | | | | guest activities and lots to do for your own |
| great restaurant, Casa Luque, where I have attended | | | | honeymoon. |
| a couple of weddings. The restaurant features a | | | | Eating out in Granada is extremely reasonable and fun. |
| gigantic terrace on the edge of a cliff, looking right out | | | | It is a tradition in many bars across the city to get a |
| to sea, where you can celebrate the blessing, banquet | | | | free “tapa” each time you order a drink. |
| and reception. | | | | Granada University is one of the most prestigious in |
| You can create your wedding theme around the | | | | Spain and therefore the city has a vast array of live |
| venue: For example a vintage 40’s – 50’s | | | | music venues for all ages. |
| theme, a style that can provide a lot of entertainment | | | | Ideas |
| and fun. Swing was in and the "cool cat" sounds of | | | | Quite obviously, the ideal choice is to have your |
| Benny Goodman, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin | | | | wedding near the Alhambra such as in the old town, |
| were being heard in ballrooms and nightclubs | | | | the “Albaycin”. The noble people who lived in |
| everywhere. If you love the jumpin' and jivin' sounds of | | | | ancient Granada had homes in this part of the city, |
| the 1940’s, along with glamour, then why not plan | | | | right next to the Alhambra palace. Many wonderful |
| your wedding theme around this fascinating era? | | | | restaurants in the area have terraces with views to |
| A wedding in Spain does not have to mean you are | | | | the beautiful labyrinths of narrow streets running |
| limited in choice. Live music agencies such as The | | | | across the “Albaycin”. |
| Tribute Band provide all styles of party entertainment, | | | | Within the forests of the Alhambra, next to the |
| with professional musicians from all over the world. | | | | “Albaycin”, and the “Generalife” (residence |
| Have a look at some videos so you can start getting | | | | of the sultans who lived in Spain) there is a wonderful |
| an idea of what atmosphere you want to create | | | | Hacienda, “Carmen de los Chapiteles” ideal for |
| during the reception. | | | | weddings. Enchanting gardens and fountains and |
| Pros | | | | views of a city you will not forget easily. |
| - Clean, accessible beaches | | | | |
| - Near Airport | | | | Another fantastic option is the “Parador de la |
| - Excellent weather | | | | Alhambra” located within the Alhambra palace itself. |
| - Many English speakers | | | | Pros |
| Cons | | | | - Beautiful monuments, buildings and gardens |
| - Not much historical heritage in the coastal areas | | | | - Easy to move around without a car – Taxis are |
| - A car is needed to go pretty much everywhere - | | | | very reasonable |
| alternatively, hire a mini-bus with a chauffeur. | | | | - Mix of landscapes & activities: beach, snow and |
| Seville as a wedding destination | | | | city |
| Seville used to be the capital of Spain until, for strategic | | | | - Mixture of interesting cultures |
| reasons, it was moved further inland to Madrid. This is | | | | Cons |
| the city where Columbus set sail from, scene to the | | | | - Very hot in July & August and very cold during |
| romantic Carmen opera, and is in my opinion the most | | | | December, January & February |
| Spanish of all the Andalucian capitals. Surrounded by | | | | - Not many English speaking service providers – |
| monuments dating back thousands of years, gigantic | | | | so it is hard to communicate. However Malaga is just a |
| parks and a stunning river, it will give your guests (and | | | | short drive and many can be booked from there. |