Why Spain is the new Italy for destination weddings

Spain is the sunniest country in Europe, fact!  It not only enjoys a longer wedding season than other popular locations in Italy but the cost of living is also cheaper in Spain. Two main reasons why Spain is the new Italy for destination weddings in Europe – sunshine and cost – win! win!
Plus it’s easy to get to!

Spain has the longest wedding season in Europe

Southern Spain boasts 320 days of sunshine and a microclimate that ensures the stretch of coast from the Alicante on the Costa Blanca to Estepona on the Costa del Sol offers the longest wedding season in Europe.
Couples are also taking advantage of out-of-season discounts for winter weddings by cleverly choosing the increasing number of Spanish venues now offering a superb wet-weather plan B

Cava is the new prosecco

Spain has its own excellent version of sparkling wine and instead of prosecco, wedding guests can enjoy a chilled glass or three of dry sparkling “cava”.
And at only €2 in the supermarkets for the Spanish version of champagne, toasting with cava means your wedding budget goes a whole lot further!

A wide variety of Spanish wedding venues

At its closest point, Spain is just 14 kilometres from Morocco in North Africa! No wonder the Moorish influence is visible all over southern Spain, even the name “Andalusia” is derived from the Arabic word Al-Andalus.
The Romans too, left their mark and many castles, palaces and villas boast typical Andalusian architecture with vaulted ceilings, pebbled courtyards, painted tiles, water features and century-old stone walls just perfect for romantic wedding photos.

Palm lined tropical beach weddings

Couples wanting a beach wedding in Spain are spoiled for choice. Here the Mediterranean beaches are lined with palm trees and the lesser known stretch of coast of Granada is even named the Costa Tropical with parrots nesting in the palms and bananas, mangos, avocados, pomegranates, oranges and lemons thriving in the warm climate. The Costa Tropical even boasts the only rum distillery in Europe! What an amazing experience for wedding guests literally wanting a taste of authentic Spain.
Incidentally, Spain produces half of the world’s olive oil – more than three times as much olive oil as Italy or Greece – so if it’s a wedding in an ancient olive grove you want, you won’t better Spain!

Open minded and open hearted weddings in Spain

The Spanish people are very family orientated. They take their children out with them in the evenings to restaurants and would expect you to include children as wedding guests.
Gay marriage has been legal in Spain since 2005 and there is a huge gay community both along the coast and in the major cities with some of the best LGBTQ+ Pride festivals in Europe held from May right through to September. Inclusive gay weddings in Spain are common place and another feather in the cap of this open minded and open hearted country.

Spain wins as top destination wedding location on so many levels

• Getting there: Spain is easy to get to with regular flights on all major airlines into Spanish airports dotted all along the coast and obviously into the beautiful major cities too.
• More wedding for your money: Spanish living is not only laid back, it remains one of the cheapest places to live in Europe so your wedding budget goes a lot further.
• Sunshine: And let’s not forget those 320 days of sunshine for a guaranteed warm smile on your wedding day

No wonder so many wedding planners are now scouting Spain for the best wedding venues it wins hands down on travel, weather, budget and variety!

Author bio: Debbie Skyrme is Celebrant Spain. Award winning bilingual officiant of elopement, vow renewal and wedding ceremonies in the Spanish sunshine.

Photo Credits: Real wedding photos in Spain by kind permission of @tonibonet_wedding