COSTA DEL SOL

 Spain’s glamorous Costa del Sol, including Marbella, the celebrities favourite, and the iconic millionaire’s playground of Puerto Banus, is the perfect place for your glitzy wedding in the Mediterranean sunshine – and it’s just a short flight away!

Spain’s Costa del Sol is not just famous for its trendy resorts and excellent year-round climate, but also its long stretch of coastline with sunny beaches and the stunning Sierra Bermeja Mountains as a backdrop, its beautiful landscapes, delicious food, charming whitewashed villages and its many customs and traditions. Away from the tourist sports you can follow mountain trails and discover its rich cultural heritage. Explore further afield and the marvelous secrets of the Costa del Sol will be unveiled, making your stay unforgettably romantic.

Marbella

Affectionately referred to as ‘Marbs” by the cast of Reality TV’s TOWIE, Marbella manages to combine its cosmopolitan attitude with Andalucian traditions and hospitality, no wonder it’s widely regarded as the Costa del Sol’s jewel in the crown! Marbella’s climate is legendary – boasting an average of 320 sunny days a year as well assome of the best beaches on the coastline. Sun worshippers can simply rent a sunbed and soak up the sun, punctuated by tasty snacks from the friendly beach restaurants. But our advice is to also take a leisurely stroll along Marbella’s amazing promenade, where people-watching is a MUST! And be sure to discover the pretty narrow streets, historic buildings, shops and galleries of Marbella old town and the famous Plaza de Los Naranjos (Orange Tree Square) with its orange trees, cafés and restaurants. At night, Marbella comes alive with nightlife in its range of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Estepona

Less famous, and to be fair, less posey than neighbouring Marbella, Estepona offers its own distinctive character. The town, which was once just a small fishing port, is situated south of Marbella – at the foot of the Sierra Bermeja Mountains. Historically Estepona and Marbella were separated by open countryside, but urbanization in recent years has almost joined the two resorts completely, with Puerto Banus situated between the two. Estepona is known for its lovely beaches and tiny coves. The town remains charming and unspoiled, with narrow, cobbled streets and quaint shops, peppered with many excellent restaurants and lively bars. Estepona’s port and harbour are located just a short stroll from town.

Puerto Banus

Stroll along the quayside and admire luxury yachts belonging to the world’s elite, browse designer boutiques and dine al fresco in an endless choice of international restaurants and bars as you watch the rich and privileged rub shoulders with holidaymakers. Puerto Banus is the place to see and be seen.  The iconic marina is located 6 km away from downtown Marbella and was developed by Jose Banus to recreate a typical Andalusian fishing village along the marina to which the jet set flocked. There are now 915 docking posts for yachts and Gin Palaces, a beach on either side of the marina, and a number of luxury hotels. However it is the designer boutiques and lively nightlife that really draw the crowds.

Mijas

Historic Mijas is a town of two halves. It is partly a charming traditional whitewashed mountain village set amidst evergreen pine trees with narrow winding streets that beg to be explored on foot or by donkey. The Old Town is a typical Muslim village with parts of the old wallsstill standing, and offers great panoramic views of the Costa del Sol. Be sure to visit the Mijas Bullring, which stands on the rock. Whilst on the coast, the new-build tourist resort of Mijas offers a wide range of leisure facilities, including a racecourse, a water park and golf courses.

Benahavis

The picturesque mountain village of Benahavis is in a privileged position, 7km from the coast, and surrounded by mountains between Marbella, the Sierra Blanca and the Ronda mountain range. Renowned for its restaurants – they call it the dining room of the Costa del Sol – it is where one can find incredible mountain as well as sea-views. It is also a hot spot for golf lovers, boasting 12 of the Costa del Sol’s 70 golf courses, and that will go up to 15 in the next couple of year.

 Malaga

Malaga, Pablo Picasso’s birthplace, is a thriving city which is gateway to the Costa del Sol. Culture vultures will discover that it is well worth a visit with its impressive number of museums and monuments, including the 11th-century Alcazaba fort and Museu Picasso Malaga, providing plenty of diversions for those who opt not to spend all their time on the beaches and in the bars.

The old city is quaint, with plenty of taverns and bistros for lunch and refreshments.

Weddings in southern Spain.

Marry in the Costa del Sol

If you want a stylish wedding venue in a beautiful sunny location that is just a short flight from the UK then the Costa del Sol ticks all the boxes, it’s gorgeous all-year-round climate makes it ideal for outdoor wedding celebrations. With low-cost flights available to Malaga airport from most UK airports, it’s the sunny destination that your guests will be able to afford. You can have everything from a delightful blessing at your hotel, villa or a restaurant to a religious Catholic Church wedding. You could opt for a large reception by a golf course, a traditional taverna to an intimate celebration on the beach – choose your style to suit your individuality. You can even hire a private villa to host the entire wedding – there are many choices for your perfect wedding. Take the stress out of planning your wedding by hiring the skilled services of a professional wedding planner.

 The Legals

If you wish to get married in Spain you’ll need the following documentation:

• An original birth certificate
• Certificate of Residence
• Passport
• Certificate of no impediment to Marriage
• If applicable an original Divorce Certificate
• If applicable an original Marriage Certificate
• If applicable an original Death Certificate
• Baptismal Certificate (Catholic)
• First Communion/Confirmation Certificate (Catholic)
• Freedom to marry Certificate (Catholic)
• Marriage Course Certificate (Catholic)

 All documents that are in English have to have the Hague Apostille Stamp on them

All documents must then be translated into Spanish and presented at the relevant town hall at least 3 months before the planned wedding.

 Catholic ceremonies

A full Roman Catholic ceremony is the only type of religious ceremony that can be carried out in Spain. It must take place in a Catholic church (not outside the church). It is legally binding and the local civil registry gets updated with the wedding details. A Catholic wedding requires a lot of work to be done beforehand with your local Priest. If only one of the party is Catholic a marriage is still possible with a Dispensation, requested from the couple’s Bishop. Neither party can be divorced.

 The Civil ceremony

A civil ceremony in Spain is legally recognised, even though all documents will be in Spanish. It can take place at a designated venue but must, by law, be registered in the civil registry at the local town hall or Justice of the Peace – so the ceremony must also include a 5-minute appointment in front of a judge at the local civil registry. There are lots of different rules regarding civil weddings in Spain that vary from region to region, so check well in advance – in fact, someareas of Spain don’t allow non-residents to marry in a civil ceremony.A professional wedding planner will help ensure that you have done all the correct paperwork and hold your hand through the legal process.

 5 Top things to do

1. Chill at the beach club

Join the party set and spend the day at Nikki Beach in Marbella eating a delicious Sushi lunch followed by an afternoon sipping Champagne and listening to cool music.

2. Shop for bargains at the market

Meander around the stalls at Puerto Banus’s famous market, which takes place every Sunday morning in the streets above the port. You’ll be delighted at what you can find!

3. Discover Picasso’s masterpieces

Take a day trip to Malaga and visit the Museu Picasso Malaga, where you will be amazed by the collection of Picasso’s stunning art in the city of his birth.

4. Drive through the mountains

Hire a car and wind through the awesome mountain range that acts as a backdrop to the coastline, and discover stunning traditional mountain villages – the most spectacular is historical Rhonda, set high in the mountains.

5. See the Rock of Gibraltar

Take a bus or drive down the coast to Gibraltar to discover the iconic Rock, featuring its famous monkeys. Or simply spot the Rock of Gibraltar from the beaches along the Costa del Sol, which is easy to see on a clear day, along with the African coastline.