Church Wedding Mallorca | Getting Married in Paradise
How to Plan a Mallorcan Church Wedding…
A ceremony on the idyllic and beautiful Balearic island of Mallorca is high on the wish list for many bridal couples seeking the perfect destination wedding venue for their special day. Church weddings in this magical part of the world are becoming increasingly popular as the redtape surrounding legally valid church wedding ceremonies is becoming a little clearer and a little easier to navigate. Which is great news for those who have their hearts set on a traditional ceremony in a church of their faith. It is also becoming easier to arrange a service with an English speaking priest.
Obviously different churches across the island have different methods, each with a unique set of checklists which need to be observed in order for the marriage ceremony to take place; in order for the marriage ceremony to be official.
If you (or your partner) are of the Roman Catholic faith, it is possible to have a legally recognised wedding, conducted by a Catholic priest at a church on the island of Mallorca – without the need for a separate civil ceremony beforehand, and without being a Mallorcan resident. Often (but not always) this will be in Spanish. As we say, it is becoming a little easier now to arrange for marriage ceremonies to be conducted by English speaking priests.
It is however, imperative to check up on the exact paperwork requirements for your chosen Mallorcan church with your own local priest in your own local church. We cannot stress this part enough, especially as reception venues, caterers, hotels, photographers, and all of the other important wedding providers need to be booked up in advance! Your priest will be able to advise on exactly what is needed for the ceremony to take place in the Catholic church in Mallorca though.
Typically, the sort of paperwork that needs to be sent to the Mallorcan diocese where you intend to hold the marriage ceremony is as follows:
- Copies of your birth certificate or ID card
- Copies of your passport
- Certificate(s) of your/your partner’s single/divorced/widower status that has been issued by your local parish
- Letter of freedom (a separate certificate for bride and groom)
- Baptism and confirmation certificates
- Permission from your home parish church that you may wed overseas
- Marriage preparation course certificates
It is best to start the process very early with your own local church as these things do take time… Whilst all the above boxes do need to be ticked, nowadays, arranging a church wedding in Mallorca is by no means insurmountable. Sunshine Weddings Spain are at hand to help with all of the finer details of preparation leading up to the big day, and we love nothing more than a beautiful and traditional church wedding.
For those of Anglican faith, it is also possible to have an English church blessing service in Mallorca via a special ‘Sacrament of Marriage’. These are mainly carried out in churches in Palma and Port de Pollença. However, the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church have close and peaceful ties, meaning Anglican-rite marriages and blessings can also take place in other churches on Mallorca. After exchanging vows, newlyweds are given a marriage certificate and the marriage is registered in the Chaplaincy of Holy Matrimony.
Bridal couples from Sweden and Norway can also legally marry on the island since it has a small number of Swedish and Norwegian churches.
After the ceremony, the island offers a wealth of spectacular venues to host newlyweds, their families and friends. From rustic countryside fincas to stylish beach clubs with endless and panoramic views on the sparking Mediterranean sea, luxury villas to stylish and chic hotels.
The Sunshine Weddings Spain team looks forward to arranging many more memorable church weddings in Mallorca in the coming wedding season!