How to Plan a Wedding in Spain from the USA or UK — Complete 2026 Guide
- 12 hours ago
- 5 min read
You're in New York, London, Sydney, or Singapore. Your wedding is on the Costa Brava. Here is exactly how it works — from the first call to the last dance.
The question we get most often from couples planning from abroad is simple: how does this actually work when we're not there? The answer is that at Casamiga, we have structured our entire service around exactly this question. More than 80% of the couples we work with plan their entire wedding from abroad, visiting Spain only once or twice before the wedding day itself. Here is the step-by-step process.
Step 1: The First Call (Before You Commit to Anything)
Your first conversation with Casamiga is a video call — typically 45–60 minutes — in English. We discuss your vision, your guest count, your approximate budget, and your preferred dates. We ask questions you haven't thought of yet, and we tell you honestly what's possible within your constraints.
At the end of the call, we typically have enough information to recommend 2–3 venues and outline a realistic budget range. No commitment at this stage. We respond to all initial enquiries within 24 hours and can usually schedule a first call within 48–72 hours of your enquiry.
Step 2: Venue Selection (From Abroad)
Most of our couples select their venue without visiting Spain first. Here's how we make that work:
We know every venue intimately. We've worked at all of our partner venues multiple times. We can tell you exactly which table layout works best at Convent de Blanes, where the golden hour light hits at Jardines de Santa Clotilde, and what the smell of Marimurtra's garden is like on a May morning.
We provide a detailed venue comparison document — personalised to your guest count, ceremony type, and budget — within 48 hours of our first call.
Virtual tours are available for all our partner venues. We can also arrange in-person visits if you're visiting Spain — we'll coordinate viewings of 2–3 venues in a single day.
Step 3: Locking the Date and Venue
Once you've selected a venue, we negotiate and confirm availability on your behalf, review all contract terms (in Spanish, translated for you into English), and advise on which clauses to negotiate. We then manage the venue deposit payment timeline.
This is a moment where having a local team matters: Spanish venue contracts contain specific conditions about caterers, external suppliers, noise curfews, and liability that are easy to overlook without Spanish-language expertise. We check all of this before you sign.
Step 4: The Legal Ceremony Question
Most of our international couples choose one of two paths:
Symbolic ceremony in Spain + legal marriage at home (most common): You complete your legal marriage at a registry office in your home country before or after the Spain celebration. The ceremony in Spain is fully personalised, emotionally complete, and legally recognised in your home country as your marriage date if done before.
Legal civil ceremony in Spain: Possible for non-residents, but requires documentation — birth certificates, single status declarations, translations, and apostilles — typically starting 6–9 months before the wedding. We manage this entire process in English. Not all venues are authorised for civil ceremonies; check our venue guide for which ones are.
We guide every couple through this decision and manage all paperwork in either case.
Step 5: Building Your Vendor Team (All Remote)
Once the venue is confirmed, we begin assembling your vendor team. We have established relationships with photographers, videographers, florists, caterers, musicians, and entertainment providers who are experienced with international couples and accustomed to working with English-speaking planning teams.
All vendor presentations, tastings, and consultations can be conducted by video call. For the most important decisions — catering tasting, floristry consultations — many of our couples make one visit to Barcelona 4–6 months before the wedding to meet key vendors in person. This is entirely optional; we can manage the full process remotely.
Step 6: The Timeline and Logistics Plan
Casamiga creates a master wedding day timeline, typically 3–4 months before your wedding. This includes:
Arrival schedule for all vendors
Guest transport logistics (airport to hotel, hotel to venue, venue to hotel)
Ceremony and reception timing
Contingency plans (weather, vendor delays, any last-minute changes)
This document is shared with you and updated until everything is confirmed. On the wedding day, our team manages all logistics directly — you never need to coordinate with vendors or troubleshoot problems on the day.
Step 7: Your Wedding Day
Our on-site team is present from vendor setup through to the end of the evening. We manage every element: ceremony flow, catering coordination, timeline management, unexpected issues, and the final vendor departure. You experience your wedding day as a guest. We handle the rest.
Flying Your Guests from the USA and UK — Practical Information
From the USA: Direct flights from New York (JFK), Miami, and Los Angeles to Barcelona El Prat (BCN) with airlines including Iberia, American, Delta, and Level. Flight time approximately 8–10 hours. BCN is 35–90 minutes from our partner venues, depending on location.
From the UK: Multiple daily flights from London (Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted), Manchester, and Edinburgh to Barcelona (BCN) and Girona (GRO). Girona airport is the most practical for Costa Brava venues — 45–50 minutes to most. Ryanair, easyJet, and Vueling fly this route from multiple UK cities.
From Singapore: Singapore Airlines flies direct to Barcelona (approximately 13 hours). Alternatively, connections through Doha, Dubai, or European hubs.
We provide a guest travel information document for all our couples — shareable with guests — covering flights, airport options, hotel recommendations, and transport to the venue.
How Many Times Will I Need to Visit Spain Before My Wedding?
The honest answer: most of our couples visit once, typically 4–6 months before the wedding for a venue walkthrough and vendor meetings. Some visit twice, some not at all before the wedding day. We design the planning process to be entirely manageable remotely, with video calls, shared documents, and our team as your local eyes and ears throughout.
Ready to start? Please tell us your preferred dates, approximate guest count, and where you're based. We'll respond within 24 hours with venue options and a first call slot at a time that works in your time zone.
English-speaking team · Video calls in your timezone · 24h response
Frequently Asked Questions — Planning a Wedding in Spain from Abroad
Do I need to speak Spanish to plan a wedding in Spain?
No. Casamiga handles all communication with venues, vendors, and authorities in Spanish. Your communication is entirely in English. We provide translated summaries of all contracts and documents for your review.
How far in advance should we start planning?
For peak season (May–October) weddings, 12–18 months is the recommended lead time. This allows enough runway to secure your preferred venue and vendor team without last-minute compromises. Some of our venues (Marimurtra, Castell Empordà) require 12 months minimum. Contact us now for 2026 availability — selected dates remain, but the window is closing.
Can same-sex couples get married in Spain?
Yes, fully. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Spain since 2005, one of the first countries in the world to legislate it. Spain imposes no restrictions on the nationality, gender, or religion of couples wishing to marry. Our team warmly welcomes all couples with the same service, professionalism, and celebration.
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