Getting Married in Spain

Spain is a country of regions, and a wedding here takes its character from the one you choose, so choose the region first, then the venue. Andalusia looks most clearly like Spain, with whitewashed cortijos among olive groves and the Moorish heritage of Seville and Granada, while Marbella is the Spanish destination that works all year. Catalonia brings modernist streets in Barcelona and masias among the vines, and the Costa Brava is strongest for couples who want a Spain few guests will have seen. The Balearic Islands add sheltered coves and island fincas.

Mallorca is the most developed wedding destination in Spain, with a deep pool of finca and villa estates and direct scheduled flights to Palma from every major UK airport. Menorca suits couples who want the Balearics without the Mallorca market and accept a smaller supplier network in return for tranquillity. Ibiza's identity, built around the arts, privacy and an international bohemian life, draws a couple profile that differs deliberately from the mainstream. On the mainland, the Costa Brava venue pool is smaller than Mallorca's and the logistics need more planning.

It depends on the region. Marbella works all year, while Andalusia is at its best in April and May, with September and October also workable, because Seville regularly passes 40 degrees Celsius in July and August. Barcelona suits May, June, September and October, and the Costa Brava May, June and September. In the Balearics, Mallorca is best in May, June and September, and Menorca in June and September.

Málaga is the main gateway for Marbella and Ronda, with year-round direct flights from major UK airports. Barcelona El Prat is among the best-connected airports in southern Europe, and Girona Costa Brava has seasonal Ryanair routes from London Stansted, Edinburgh and some regional airports. Palma has direct scheduled services from London and virtually every UK regional airport. Ibiza and Menorca have direct UK routes in the season from April to October, and in winter guests route through Barcelona, Madrid or Palma.

Accommodation follows the region. Andalusia runs from hacienda estates and boutique city hotels to cortijo conversions in the Serranía de Ronda, and Barcelona has two landmark waterfront hotels and a strong boutique scene in the Gothic Quarter, El Born and the Eixample. Girona is the main guest base for the Costa Brava. In the islands, Ibiza accommodation is dominated by the private villa and agroturismo market, and Menorca's stone fincas house the core wedding party, with overflow guests in Mahón hotels.