Same-sex marriage in Spain

Same-sex marriage in Spain

Same-sex marriage in Spain was legalized on the 3rd of July 2005 by the social democratic government led by President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
It followed in the footsteps of the Netherlands and Belgium making it the third country in the world to recognize same sex marriages. Although the ratification of this law came up against some criticism, 66% of the population were in favor, along with the King of Spain who gave his Royal Assent.
Under Spanish law, the country’s same-sex marriage law permits a Spanish citizen to marry a non-Spaniard irrespective of whether the partnership is recognized in that persons homeland.
Gay Poster shutterstock_35189605In order to marry, at least one partner must be a Spanish citizen. However, two non-Spanish citizens can legally marry if they both have legal residence in Spain.
Unfortunately, two non-resident foreigners cannot legally marry in Spain.
There is fear however, that Rajoy and his conservative Popular Party could pose a serious threat to the nation’s same-sex marriage legislation.
Rajoy has said “he supports civil unions for same-sex couples, but does not think they should be called marriages”.
The Popular Party has lodged an appeal against the nation’s 2005 law allowing gay marriage in the Constitutional Court.
This has caused a rapid increase of same sex marriages in Spain due to fear of the legislation being changed.
Gay marriage is recognized in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Sweden.
It’s also recognized in some states of the USA, Brazil and Mexico.
Civil unions and registered partnerships are recognized in Andorra, Austria, Brazil, Columbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Uruguay and some states of Australia, Mexico, United States and Venezuela.

Why choose Gran Canaria for your Same Sex Wedding?

OP Homoseksuelt ægteskab same sex marriage homo vielser bryllup tropisk bryllupGran Canaria is perfectly placed as the ideal locat
ion for a same sex union abroad. The island is renowned for its liberal, open-minded attitude towards the gay & lesbian community and the vibrant gay tourism sector on the island has flourished as a direct result of this. The cosmopolitan and wide reaching gay communities and social scene, coupled with the blissful year-round sunny weather, make Gran Canaria the perfect choice for a same sex wedding ceremony.
You will also find apartment complexes, bars, restaurants and beaches in Gran Canaria, which are focused around the gay and lesbian community.
There are two options for a Same Sex Wedding in Gran Canaria:
1) A Legal Civil Partnership/Same Sex Marriage
If you cover all the previously mentioned requirements to legally marry in Spain, a legal civil ceremony conducted at the Civil Registry Office or Town Hall can be arranged.
Requests can also be made for authorized Town Hall personnel to conduct ceremonies in establishments other than the town hall buildings.
2) A Blessing after a Civil Partnership or Marriage Ceremony
A blessing is a short ceremony that takes place after a legal civil partnership or same sex marriage ceremony, which would take place here or your country of origin.
Unlike a ‘gay marriage’ or civil partnership, a blessing is not legally binding; it’s a way of publically symbolizing your commitment to one another.
Many people view a blessing ceremony as their ‘actual wedding’, as this is the moment they express their love and union to one another in front of their family and friends.

Why choose a Blessing Ceremony?

lips-651339_640You would choose a blessing ceremony in Gran Canaria if you or your partner are not Spanish citizens or are non-residents of Spain, but would like to hold your wedding ceremony on the island. A blessing ceremony is the perfect way to introduce a spiritual or religious element to your celebrations after a legal civil ceremony. Blessings in Gran Canaria can also be conducted in a multitude of venues, from onboard luxury yachts, to country hotels, private villas, or even overlooking a white-sand beach, giving you flexibility and endless options.
If you are looking to express your love and commitment to one another in an open-minded and non-judgmental environment, with sunshine, beautiful beaches, stunning local scenery and a rich local culture alongside, Gran Canaria is the perfect choice for your same sex wedding abroad.
If you would like more information regarding same sex ceremonies in Gran Canaria then please contact me on the following email and I would be more than happy to answer any questions or queries you may have.
Bernadette Garside

Phone:             (0034) 653 642 208

Email:               [email protected]

Website:          www.perfectweddingcompany.com

Wedding Guest List – Survival Guide

Wedding Guest List – Survival Guide

 
The wedding guest list can become one of the biggest areas of stress for a bride and groom when planning their wedding.
It can also cause unnecessary friction between family and friends, causing upsets and strained relationships as a result.
Choosing your wedding guest list is something a wedding planner can’t do for you, although we can certainly offer you advice. Check out my tried and trusted survival tips that will help you come out of the whole process unscathed and with a smile on your face.
 
How do I cut my wedding guest list without feeling guilty?
Most of us would love to invite everyone we know to our wedding to share this joyous occasion with us. However for the majority of bride and grooms, this isn’t realistic.
 
How do you cut down your 200 wedding guest list into you 100 guest budget?
 
Firstly, sit together with your fiancé and organize your guests into 2 groups, the “Must haves” (group A), who are family and friends that must come to the wedding and the remaining guests into “The not so must haves” (group B).
 
Begin to make your way through group B asking the following questions, ‘How close are we to this person?’ ‘When was the last time we saw them?’ and ‘Would their attendance to our wedding affect our enjoyment of our big day?’
Once you have honestly answered these questions, move onto the next area.
 
wedding invite wedding planning destination wedding gran canariaMaybe you could consider, making the wedding adults only, asking your parents to limit the amount of their personal invites (unless your parents are contributing to the bill), limit the amount of work colleagues or business associates you invite, and invite single people without a guest. Leave off distant relatives you can hardly ever see, the same should go for old school and university friends.
Also don’t feel pressured to invite people to your wedding because you were invited to theirs.
They had their reasons and possibly the budget to be able to do that, you don’t.
 
How do I let people know children are not invited to the wedding?
Although some parents would jump at the chance of having a day or evening out without the children, some might be offended or unable to attend without them. Understanding needs to be on both sides here.
It is also quite common for bride & grooms to only allow the children closely related to them to attend the wedding; if this is the case you must explain that to your other guests instead of saying no children are allowed.
Here are some methods you can use to transmit the right message effectively.
 
Tell your wedding party, parents, close family and friends what the situation is and ask them to spread the word.
Writing on the invite “adults only” is not an option, but stating clearly on the invite who is invited is. According to wedding etiquette, the names of the people on the invite are the only people invited to the occasion (i.e., Mr & Mrs John Smith).
 
wedding ring wedding planning guests listIf you state on the invite “Mr & Mrs John Smith and family” it generally means the children are invited too. I would recommend however, that the name of each person be stated on the invitation individually, so its meaning is not open to interpretation by the guest and will not encourage them to invite family members other than those stipulated.
 
In the event that you do have an RSVP for more than you invited, then it’s acceptable to make a polite call to them, explaining that the number of guests you invite is restricted due to budget constraints.
Try not to make exceptions. Other families will probably notice and might take offence.
 
Should I allow single friends to bring a guest or date?
Of course it is only polite to enable single people to bring a guest to your wedding so they don’t feel uncomfortable in the event they don’t know anybody. However, if your budget won’t permit this luxury you can take each situation on a case by case basis.
If any of your close family or friends are unmarried but in long term relationships, you might want to add their partner to the guest list.
You can then invite your single friends and explain your budget constraints to them – good friends will understand. Equally, if the invite is declined due to the financial constraints of coming alone, and not sharing accommodation or transport costs etc, then you must also understand.
 
What if invited guests don’t RSVP?
Never assume guests are not coming if you don’t receive their RSVP. I know it can be a little time consuming for you, but call or drop them an email to double check.
 
It could be that the RSVP got lost in the post, or they thought they had replied but hadn’t. They may have even verbally confirmed their assistance with your fiancé or a family member who forgot to let you know.
It’s always better to be sure exactly who is turning up on your wedding day, than for people to turn up and face the embarrassment of not being catered for.
 
How far in advance should I send invites to guests?
Save the date Wedding Planning Destination Wedding Guests List Gran CanariaThe general rule is that invites should go out four to six weeks before the wedding. I however find this a little bit last minute for people to prepare so I’m a big fan of sending out a “Save the Date” invites or email up to one year in advance, especially if you’re having a destination wedding or inviting guests from far away to your local wedding.
 
You want to make sure they don’t book anything else around that date which causes them to miss your wedding. So in addition, you can then send the invites out approximately 2 months before the actual wedding date.
 
Remember to be polite and understanding when transmitting any message that you feel might offend.
Also don’t forget that it is your wedding, so stand your ground on your decisions and don’t be swayed by difficult guests who try to persuade you otherwise.
 
Hopefully we’ve covered the main guest list issues you may have. If however, you want more advice or information on how to organize your guest list or any other aspect of your wedding
don’t hesitate to contact us on the email or telephone number below.
 
Bernadette Garside
 

Phone:             (0034) 653 642 208

Email:               [email protected]

Website:          www.perfectweddingcompany.com

Destination Weddings – 13 Top Tips

Destination Weddings – 13 Top Tips

Organizing a destination wedding, blessing or renewal of vows ceremony can be much more complicated than organizing an event in your local area. Here are a few tips that can help you along to ensure your day runs as smoothly as possible.
OP Blessing Ceremony outdoor ceremonies spain gran canaria wedding planning planner

1 – Get Help

If you haven’t already, check out the local wedding planners to see what services and packages they offer.
Organizing a wedding in your local area can be daunting enough but in a different country can be a minefield.
A Wedding Planner will shoulder the burden of researching, interviewing, and securing local suppliers especially if the said suppliers do not speak your language. They are also the behind-the-scenes fairy godmother, vetting special requests such as hair and beauty, dry cleaners, and so on.
They also get everyone where they need to be on time and ensure that you have a “go to” person to send your guests when all the itinerary queries get a little too much.

2 – Itinerary

Unlike a wedding in your local area, guests are dependent on you once they reach the destination. Create an itinerary of pre and post wedding events along with an itinerary of the day, important contact numbers and addresses. This will avoid them asking you when & where they need to be and will help them in the event they get lost or delayed.

3 – Pre-wedding visit

You’ll need to take a trip to the destination to visit local venues and suppliers such as the church, reception venue, hotels for you and your guests, rehearsal dinner venue and local suppliers such as florists, photographers and hair and beauty salons.
Food tastings and hair and beauty trials can be organized in this trip or a second trip may need to be made depending on the size and complexity of the wedding and the arrangements. You can also take advantage of organizing activities (golf, spas and excursions) for everyone while they are in the destination.
  Wedding Gran Canaria Wedding planner Bryllupsplanlegger (1)__1447949014_83.43.200.18

4 – Supplier checks

If you’re hiring a supplier without any experience of their work, ask for a portfolio of pictures and references from previous clients who held a similar event as yours.

5 – Build up a relationship with your suppliers

Building a relationship with your suppliers is paramount. They are not local businesses that you can pop in and see whenever you wish, so stay in contact with them as much as possible with updates and thank you emails or calls.
A little goes a long way; the level of service they offer you can make or break your wedding day so building a rapport can help you deal easier with any issues that may occur or even help you negotiate little extras.

6 – Bring your own professionals

Don’t be afraid to fly in your own pros for important aspects of your day such as hair, makeup and photography.

7 – Inform guests of the destination

Before you invite your guests to join you on your very special day, give them a well informed explanation of your destination of choice to enable them to politely decline should finances be tight. Gran Canaria is great destination for your wedding, blessing or renewal of vows. Flights and accommodation are available to accommodate all budgets and tastes. It’s a great holiday destination, enabling your gues
ts to combine your wedding with a fantastic holiday for all the family. It’s only 4 hours from most European countries and it’s known for its all year round sunshine, making it the perfect winter and summer wedding destination.

 OP religious blessing ceremony wedding - copia

8 – Be realistic

Try not to be too upset if some of your closest friends or family cannot attend. Although you are footing the bill for the wedding, the cost of travel, accommodation and car rental costs can mount up. Your chosen destination might be the perfect holiday for you; but it may not be the type of holiday that they want to take.

9 – Dress to impress not stress!

Take into account the climate when choosing that perfect wedding dress. Choosing a satin ball gown to get married in the summer sun may have you more stressed than impressed.
Check out the average temperature and weather conditions for the chosen month in the local town where you plan to get married. Remember, temperatures can vary from resort to resort so don’t just take the temperature rating for the capital of the country if you’re to marry in a totally different area.

10 – Relax & enjoy!

One advantage of marrying on an island or in a tropical destination is its relaxed and laid back atmosphere.
Keep an open mind on slight punctuality differences and minor mishaps; they can even make for some of the best memories.
Also take into account that supplies available on islands can be limited so slight differences in the products you order may occur. Flowers are a great example of this; their availability differs from season to season.

OP Religious blessing ceremony gran canaria wedding planner

11 – Packing your suitcase!

Be sure to pack lots of strapless tops if you’re wearing a strapless dress or wedding gown and slap on the suntan cream. You would be surprised how much you can catch the sun by just walking to the local supermarket in the
morning. You don’t want noticeable strap marks or post sun burnt peeling skin on your wedding pictures.
Also don’t forget to leave ample room for your wedding gown and contact your airline to get advice as to how your gown will be transported so you can pack it accordingly. It’s very disappointing to get to the check in desk carrying your perfect wedding dress only to find that it needs to be checked in with your suitcases or will be thrown in the overhead compartment with other passengers bags.
Always pre arrange for your wedding dress to be steam when arriving at your resort, 9 times out of 10 it will get slightly creased in transit no matter how much care you take.

12 – Wedding gifts

Organize for all wedding gifts are sent directly to your home address. If you do happen to have some gifts brought to the destination, arrange for family and friends to take them home with them to keep until you come back from your honeymoon. Alternatively pack an extra bag to bring them home yourself just in case.

13 – Welcome Your Guests

It can be customary to leave a wedding basket of destination essentials for your guests that have travelled a long way to share your special day with you. It can include samples of local cuisine or artisan goods, sun cream, local wines or spirits and can be adapted to your own budget. Coupled with a thank you note, it’s a lovely way to show your appreciation to your guests for taking the time and effort to come and stand alongside you on such a memorable day in your life.
If you’re interested in Gran Canaria for your perfect destination wedding, blessing or renewal of vows ceremony,
contact me, I’m more than happy to answer any questions or queries no matter how large
or small.
Bernadette Garside
Phone:             (0034) 653 642 208
Email:               [email protected]

7 OP Anfi Heart Shaped Island Weddings Abroad Outdoor Wedding Ceremony Blessing Reception Celebrations - copia - copia

Civil Ceremonies – The legal paperwork

In a former blogpost on “How to get married in Gran Canaria”, we explained that in order to legally marry in Gran Canaria via a Civil Ceremony, one or both of you need to be a resident on the island.
heart-631757_640I’m now going to go into greater detail as to the legal paperwork required in order to go about this.
As we have a multi-national readership we’re going to cover all nationalities as the necessary paperwork varies between countries.
If you follow this step by step guide, organizing the paperwork for your Canarian wedding isn’t as daunting as what you might initially think.
First you need to make an appointment to transmit all the necessary paperwork at the Civil Registry Office in your borough. They will give you a list of all the paperwork you need to bring to the appointment with you. It’s important you collect this list from them as processes and requirements may change from year to year.
As the appointment can take between 2 to 3 months to take place, it is advisable to make the appointment first and then prepare all the necessary paperwork.
legal paperworks wedding abroad destination gran canaria spain canary islandsAppointments can be made at the Civil Registry offices by calling between 09.00h and 13.00h Monday to Friday.
It’s also important to remember that Spanish is spoken in all official offices on the island so if you do not speak Spanish you are required to take a translator along with you.
If all the paperwork is correct by the date of your appointment, it takes around one month to receive the authorization to marry.
Once receiving the paperwork, it is then valid for up to
6 months so bear this in mind when setting a wedding date.
Citizens of France, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy, Portugal, Holland, Dutch Antilles, Switzerland and Turkey need to present:
1) Certificate of capacity to marry from your country
of origin (according to the Munich signed agreement 5 of September 1980), you can contact your consulate for more
information regarding this document.
2) An International Birth Certificate or an original Birth Certificate in its own language with the Hague Apostille Stamp and a legal translation into Spanish.
3) A Certificate of registration on the electoral role in your borough (municipio) “Certificado de Empadronamiento” in Gran Canaria.
4) The original and photocopy of your passport.
For citizens of other countries including the UK and Ireland you need a few more documents:
1) The original legalized and translated Birth Certificate (issued within one year of the wedding date).
2) A Certificate of being on the electoral role in Gran Canaria for at least 2 years, or a Consulate Certificate accrediting your residency for the last 2 years whether in Spain or another country. At least one of the couple wishing to marry must be registered on the electoral role here in the borough where they wish to marry and this must be proven with a “Certificado de Empadronamiento”.
3) A Consular Certificate accrediting the publication of the EDICTS (proclamations/bands) of civil marriage in Spain (if this applies to the law in your country).
4) A Certificate of marital status, applied for via your consulate or the appropriate authorities in your country.
5) The original and photocopy of your passport and residents certificate (the green A4 paper or the older plastic ID card).
6) A witness with their original and photocopy of their passport, DNI or residents certificate.
7) If you are divorced you need your legalized and translated marriage and divorce certificates.
8) If you are a widow, you need your legalized and translated marriage certificate and partners’ death certificate.
It’s important to remember that all the documentation that is not in Spanish needs to be translated by a “Traductor Jurado Oficial” (Official Sworn Translator) and legally authorized by the corresponding authorities.
More information can also be obtained from your corresponding embassy or consulate or visit our website www.perfectweddingcompany.com
If you have a Wedding Planner, they will help you with all your paperwork, the legalization and the official translation of all documents.
Gran Canaria is such a beautiful island to get married on. It’s well worth taking the time to organize the legal paperwork and celebrate your special day with your family and friends in
this magical place!
CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICES
San Bartolomé de Tirajana – 928 72 32 18
Las Palmas – 928 32 53 89
Telde – 928 13 87 38
If you have any questions or want more information about weddings abroad, please do not hesitate to contact us, we love to talk weddings!
Bernadette Garside

Phone:             (0034) 653 642 208

Email:               [email protected]

Website:          www.perfectweddingcompany.com

How to get married in Gran Canaria

If you’re thinking about getting married in Gran Canaria, you’re probably thinking ‘How exactly do we go
about this?’
Let us explain…

Non-Residents

There are two options available to non-residents in Gran Canaria; one is to be legally married via the Catholic Church and the other is in the form of a blessing, which would follow-on after a civil ceremony back in your home country.
Legal marriage via the Catholic Church
  • One of the couple must be of the Catholic faith.
  • Both persons must not have been married previously.
  • If you choose this option you will need to arrange a meeting with your local Parish Priest, a minimum of 6 months prior to your preferred wedding date.
  • Relate your plans to your Parish Priest; he will then forward the relevant information to your local Diocese.
  • This information will then be transferred to the Diocese here in Gran Canaria.
Religious Ceremony (blessing) in Gran Canaria
  • In most cases a small civil ceremony service is conducted in the couple’s home country, often with only 2 witnesses.
  • A religious or spiritual ceremony is then conducted in Gran Canaria and is considered as the actual wedding day by all involved.
  • There are many advantages to choosing this option; in particular, your legal paperwork will be in English. This avoids translation and legalization issues.
  • This tends to be the preferred option, as it allows the couple to tailor-make their wedding ceremony, location and overall theme. It offers you and your guests the utmost in flexibility and allows you to create the wedding of your dreams. It is also generally viewed by the wedding couple and their guests as their ‘true wedding day’, the one which they will remember for years to come.

Residents

If one of you is a resident here in the Canaries you can legally marry here via the civil registry office or town hall. We’ll be entering into this in more detail in the next edition of the Canary News.

Same sex marriages are also legal on the island. As with heterosexual marriages one of you needs to be a resident. If not, a spiritual union can be organized following a civil ceremony in your own country.
Your wedding ceremony is going to be one of the many highlights of your day so finding the best option for you is vital.
We can help you with all the paperworks and we will be guiding you through the process. If you have any questions or if you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Bernadette Garside
Tel nº: 653 642 208
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