The prospect of getting married in Gran Canaria under the warm sun with beautiful scenery is very tempting but there are a few things you need to know before deciding whether a wedding in Gran Canaria is for you.
Weddings can be very stressful and there is so much to think about – flowers, a wedding cake, what type of ceremony you want, the legalities etc – which is why it’s nice there are a few companies specializing in weddings in Gran Canaria who can sort out every last detail for you.
Photo by Sifu Renka
You already have more to think about if you want to get married abroad, including flights and accommodation. You might also have to pay to fly some of your wedding guests out so that’s something to consider! There are pros and cons to marrying at home or abroad but if you want something different and a wedding/honeymoon rolled into one, Gran Canaria could be the perfect option.
Reasons to Marry in Gran Canaria
Fewer people than ever are typing the knot these days but more people are choosing to marry overseas somewhere romantic and warm. Overseas weddings tend to be cheaper than UK weddings too, when you take everything into account.
Photo by Szeke
Gran Canaria is one of the few short haul destinations which offers pretty much guaranteed good weather, even in the winter months, so you don’t have to go long haul to get married in the warm. Also, if you get married in the Caribbean or somewhere like that, a lot of your relatives won’t be able to afford to join you, which is why Gran Canaria is a great choice.
Necessary Documents
You might need some or all of the following, but a Canarian wedding organiser will be able to inform you:
- Original (long) birth certificate
- Passport
- Certificate of residence (empadronamiento – or local electoral register)
- Certificate of consular inscription – a letter verifying personal data, available from the British Embassy or Consulate
- Certificate of no impediment to marriage – you can get this from a British Consulate after notice of marriage has been posted on the consular notice board for at least 21 days
- Proof that both parties are single – get a form from a Civil Registry in the UK
- Original death certificate of deceased partner (if applicable)
- Original divorce certificate (if applicable)
- Marriage application form – get one from the District Court or the Civil Registry
- Baptismal certificate (if you want a Catholic marriage)
Photo by Winged Photography
What is the Next Step?
There are several companies located in the Canaries who can sort out your whole wedding and give you all the advice you need. These wedding companies know all the essential ins and outs of getting married overseas.
I cannot recommend one company in particular because I have never been married in Gran Canaria (or anywhere else!) or had any firsthand experience with any of the wedding companies, so I suggest you scroll down to the comments section and make up your own mind, going by the comments.
If you just want a wedding blessing in Gran Canaria rather than a legal wedding, you can arrange a romantic day out on a boat or contact one of the wedding companies if you have something special in mind.
Thank you,we have sorted it all ourselves.alot easier too.amy-louise my email is [email protected] if you want to contact me for any details.don’t waste your money on a wedding planner that you don’t need.x
delighted you got it sorted catherine. just wondering has anyone any contacts for wedding singers in gc. was planning on certain music by family member but have just been told now it has to be religious music so abit stuck now!
Try David Searle website. He moves to America in October but he his very good.
Thanks Sharon,hope you have an amazing day x
Glad to hear that you have got sorted out Catherine, I hope you have an amazing day x.
The problem we have to be honest is that neither of us are particularly religious so I’m not sure about contacting priests etc, as I have been told that you have to be to get married legally in Gran Canaria.
We were going to register in the UK & have a ceremony in Gran Canaria – Hopefully in a nice hotel garden or something. If anyone knows of anyone/anywhere that we can contact any info would be gratefully received.
Thanks
Hi Amy Louise
Contact [email protected]
The Rev Ford conducted the blessing for my daughter and her husband in the little church at Puerto de Mogan last October. You don’t have to use that church. He is the minister for the Holy Trinity Church in Las Palmas. He is a lovely Yorkshire man. He will help you out. Do you have a preferred venue you would like to use?
Liz
Hi Amy
I know you said you weren’t really religious but that takes you back to using a wedding celebrant and going through the dreaded weddding planner.
Liz
Hi Liz
Thank you so much for that. We are also from Yorkshire. I have heard of a place called Mos Place in Anfi where we can marry in the Garden & have pictures on the beach. Which is just what we’re looking for. But it doesn’t seem to be on-line & I’m not sure whether its attached to a planning company?
Amy
http://www.anfi.com/en/anfi_resorts_golf.htm
have a look at this site and see if the place you like is there. I don’t know it myself. If you find the one contact them direct and ask for what you would like. Don’t believe the rubbish on the wedding planners site saying do not contact the venue directly they won’t deal with you. That is wrong, they don’t want you contacting them as you will find out how much they (the Wedding Planner) are overcharging you. Everyone is desperate for business so if they can do it I am sure they will. Then contact Peter.
Liz
Thanks Amy,we are doing the same just having a blessing in gran canaria.Mos is the photographer for a wedding planning company but he does own some restaurants in Anfi.There are lots of stunning hotels you could have your ceremony and then the photographer could take you to the beach for pictures.If you want i can give you details for photographer,video or anything else you need.x
Thanks for the advice/help both of you. I am not stuck on the venue, its mainly just that I heard you can marry in the gardens. I think a florist, photographer & priest is all we need really after the venue. x
hi all iminthe middle of organising my wedding in gc for next year and like all comments above the same problems lie with wedding planner legal documents can anybody stear me in the right direction regarding priests and that
thanks girls x
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Hi all,
Would like to confirm a few points for those of you on here as most of what is being written is actually correct so I can maybe save you hours of researching and you can get right ahead with your planning – please excuse me being one of those ‘pesky wedding planners’ (we’re not all bad or rip-off merchants as you seem to be experiencing, honest!!!!)
The ONLY legal ways to get married here are if one of you are resident (or prepared to lie as to this which we personally don’t recommend and won’t actually work with) or through the Catholic church. As long as one of you is a practising Catholic you will have no problems, and yes your marriage is fully legal back in the UK and Ireland. It is indeed possible to bring your own priest over if you wish, but there are native English speaking priests already here (both mentioned in above posts are highly recommended by us). The easiest way to get the ball rolling is to speak with your local Priest. The ceremonies can be more or less religious in tone to suit the couple, so don’t worry if you aren’t looking for the more religious style.
If you want to get ‘married’ in a hotel, villa, park etc (some of these places will need special license for you which is applied for locally, most will already have it) you need to actually get married at home FIRST. A quickie in the registry office is the way most people go, bring the certificate with you, and have the ‘wedding’ you want here – although legally it is only a blessing, if you prefer your guests don’t have to be any the wiser and that day can be thought of as your actual wedding day.
If anyone on here wants to mail with questions feel free, I will answer as quickly and honestly as possible – and no, I won’t be trying to get money from you! I’m just trying to get a better name circulating for weddings here in Gran Canaria as some people have made that very hard these past few years and it affects us all adversely…
With regards to Sarah’s comment above, I have been in touch with her in the past with regards to getting married in GC, I received an honest response and she never made out that we could marry there legally if we weren’t Catholic. If I am honest, I had considered looking at organising it ourselves, but my partner does not think that this is the best option and would prefer to have a designated point of contact over there.
Thanks Amy-Louise, always good for people to hear it from someone else and not just from me! If you decide to organise most yourself and just want help co-ordinating it here drop me a mail and we can sort something out
I know we ended up arranging my daughter’s wedding ourselves but we had quite a few friends on the island after having had a number of visits. Sarah organised the music entertainment for the wedding (she was not a wedding planner at the time although involved in the entertainment side) and I found her to be really, friendly, helpful and trustworthy and wouldn’t hesitate to contact her is I was arranging something else.
Liz
Sarah, we may take you up on the offer to come over & see you next year before the wedding in 2013. We do just about know what we’re looking for so it would be great to speak to you nearer the time.
Liz, thats great to hear, its nice to have reassurance as it is a big step trusting someone with one of the most important days of your life & I too have been given mixed reports, but so far Sarah seems to be able to provide what we are looking for & gas been helpful.
Thanks a million Liz. Your hard work definitely paid off – it was a great day and so good that you’s had exactly what was wanted! Amy-louise not a bother at all, just let me know.
Hi Sarah, I am trying to organize somewhere for the 20th October for some surprise entertainment for Joni and Garry. Hopefully I will get the ok from the owner of the bar and I will be in touch soon.
Liz
That sounds great Liz, will be nice to see you all again!
Foto Mos has been based in Anfi for over 20 years, as our business is making Wedding and Social photography we work along with a number of wedding planners on a individual basis.
Please feel free to contact us if you would like to have your special day captured in the excellent surrounds o Anfi.
Hi Sarah,
Do you have an email address that you wouldn’t mind me contacting you on? Can you offer a quote/estimated costing if I send you details of what we are looking for? Also, as it seems that we need to register in the UK if we have the Wedding Ceremony in GC, does it matter which way round we do this?
Thanks
Amy
Hi Sarah
I’ve been on your site and sent an enquiry. It is quite detailed, I have tried to be specific. I look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Thanks
Hi Amy-Louise, have your mail and am working on the details for you … will get back to you very soon! Sarah
That’s great, thank you for letting me know. I dont know how it all works over there so if things can’t be exact its ok, just as close as we can get to what we have in mind. I look forward to hearing from you x
Hi I want to give my partner a surprise wedding in Gran Canaria we are flying out 9th November 2011 have you got time to arrange it. Only us two flying over no guest what will we need. We are stopping a week flying back on 16th. Hoe much will it cost
Hi Liz, we can arrange a wedding blessing for you at that notice yes. If you’d like to email me at [email protected] I will get back to you to find out your requirements, and then be able to offer you a realistic quote. Kind regards
Hi my partner and I are planning a non religious blessing in Lanzarote May 2012. We are going to book the venue and reception ourselves, but we are finding it hard to get hold of a person to perform the ceremony for us. If anybody had any details of blessing officiants in Lanzarote I would be so gratefull. Kind regards Linda
Hi Linda, If you have no joy finding an officiant in Lanzarote it would be possible for us to send you one from Gran Canaria for your ceremony – it’s only a 35 minute flight after all! If you want to know more email me with your date and whereabouts you will be holding the ceremony, and we’ll see if we can offer you something suitable. Regards, Sarah
Hi Sarah
It looks like we will be coming out in March :^) It would be great if we could meet face to face to discuss the Wedding plans?
As we are mainly visiting to look at venues etc, can anyone recommend venues that are worth a visit?
Thanks
Been reading all the comments regarding wedding planners in Gran Canaria and i have to agree with Sarah.
Hiring a Wedding Planner is very relative to what you need and what you are capable of organising yourself. Some people feel confident to organise many of the services themselves and others don’t know how to or have the time to organise their wedding abroad. If you are the latter, then hiring a professional a reputable Wedding Planner is a great investment and can save you lots of time and stress.
Its like any service you contract , always check the company is reputable and double check the advice they give. Liz can double check any information as she has a wealth of knowledge about the island.
Sarah has given the right advice to you Amy. Unless one of you is a resident here on the island you must get married through the catholic church to be married legally. Don’t be afraid however of contacting your parish priest. The whole process is easier than what you think. You don’t need to be a practicing catholic to do this. The catholic ceremonies here are beautifully conducted. Just a suggestion!
Having a blessing on the Anfi Island is also a favourite of mine if you opt out of the religious route.
I can also vouch for using Mos as a photographer, i use him for my weddings and have personally known him for 18 years, you will not be disspointed with his service. Go on my website and see some of the pictures he took. http://www.perfectweddingcompany.com
If anyone needs any professional advice on getting married here in Gran Canaria, please feel free to contact me for a complimentary consultation and quote or visit my website for more information.
Hi. I need some help we have booked a hotel the lopesan meloneras in maspolomas gran canaries for the middle of dec 2012 i dont have a wedding planner an I have read about a few bad companys. Could someone give me some contacts for a wedding planner. Really appreciate someones help cause I’m so confused x
Hi Louise,we had our wedding at costa meloneras in September and had the most amazing day.we arranged everything ourselves and it was fine but we do have a lot of friends on the island.you would have no problem if you wanted to work without a wedding planner as the hotel staff are very helpful and I can send you details of whatever you need.you could also contact Sarah on this she is a wedding planner and won’t rip you off (unlike the rest of them!) and could organise everything for you x
Catherine, thanks a million for that – was just about to reply to Louise myself and your comment will do me no harm! Louise if you want to email me with details of what you actually want for your day I can talk you through the process and you can decide what you do or don’t want help with organising … [email protected]
Hi Sarah just wondering if u received my email x
Louise I have replied to you, please check all your email folders and if you don’t have it let me know so I can try from a different address 🙂
Hi Louise, we got married in gran canaria last year and hired the perfect wedding company to organise it for us. I couldn’t fault them and they were really resonable too. I’d recomend them, Bernadette was so nice, she couldnt do enough for us. They have a website or let me know and i can find their contact details for you. We had a church wedding but i’m sure they must deal with lots of other places. Good luck x
Hiya, I am thinking of getting married in Gran Canaria, Can you please send me websites/email address of people that can help? I am catholic but my partner is not, does that mean that we can lot get legally married?
Hi Nyssa,
Please send me an email to [email protected] and I will be able to reply in detail to you. Feel free to look at http://www.perfectsunshineweddings.com too!
Thanks
Saraj
Can’t even spell my own name right … excuse the typo! If you’re on fb and want to take a look at the page there also it’s http://www.facebook.com/PerfectSunshineWeddings
Thanks
Sarah
Hi, me and my future wife are dreaming of a wedding in Gran Canaria. Is it possible to send me some information/websites/e-mail about a wedding in gran canaria and how we can organise it from here in Belgium?
Thx
Kevin en Kathleen
Hi Kevin,
Please take a look at http://www.perfectsunshineweddings.com, or send an email to [email protected] and we can work though your wishes and what is possible for you here in Gran Canaria.
Many thanks
Sarah
hi all myself and husband are looking to renew our wedding vows in May 2013′ can any one give us any pointers please 🙂
Hi Sarah,
Did you get our email conserning our Canarian wedding ???
We mailed it a week ago but didn’t get any response …
K&K
Hi Kevin, I don’t have a mail from you no. Can you resend to [email protected] and hopefully we’ll have no problems! Sorry about that
Sarah
Hi Nyssa and Kevin,
I am also a Wedding Planner in Gran Canaria offering a specialist service in Weddings, Blessings and Renewal of Vows.
I also write the biweekly wedding column in the local Canary News paper.
Please feel free to send me an email with all your details to [email protected] or visit my website http://www.perfectweddingcompany.com.
You will also find some very helpful tips and information on getting married in Gran Canaria in my newspaper columns. Go to http://www.thecanarynews.com.
You can also find me on facebook on the following link https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Perfect-Wedding-Company/340084756012918
Regards,
Bernadette
Hi , Me and my partner are going to Puerto Rico on New years eve, and while we are there we would like to get married. Please could someone advise me how I would start to go about arranging this. We have our hotel booked etc so suppose I just need to know where you can get married and what you need.
Thank you
Hi Laura, if you would like to send me your email address we can talk over what you’re wanting for the day and go over your options. Mail me at [email protected], and if you already have some ideas please include them – if not don’t worry, I’ll walk you through it bit by bit 🙂
Thanks
We are based here on the island are available to help with every aspect of any wedding planning . Contact us at http://www.martinicaweddings.com or 0034634106949 . Lisa