Getting Married in Spain from Ireland: The Legal Bit, the Real Wedding and a Masia in Girona
A wedding abroad has become a real alternative for Irish couples: a few days in the sun with the people you love most, a long dinner under the trees and a party that does not have to end when the hotel bar closes. Spain is the obvious choice, with short flights and long evenings. ☀️
This guide explains how Irish couples get married in Spain, the legal steps at home, what a wedding abroad costs, and how it works at Hotel Vall Amagada del Molí, an exclusive use 1789 masia in Girona, between Barcelona and the Costa Brava.
Can Irish citizens get legally married in Spain?
For a civil marriage in Spain, at least one partner must normally be a Spanish citizen or have been a registered resident in Spain for around two years. Most Irish couples living in Ireland do not meet that rule.
There is a second point that catches people out: a church blessing abroad is often a purely religious ceremony without legal effect, so it does not make you legally married when you come home. And the Irish General Register Office does not normally register marriages that take place outside the State.
The route most Irish couples take
The legal marriage in Ireland. A short civil ceremony with a registrar, with two witnesses, before or after the trip.
The real wedding in Spain. A symbolic ceremony with your own celebrant, your own words and all your guests, followed by dinner and the party.
Irish wedding guides describe this as a popular option for couples marrying abroad, and it gives complete freedom on time, place and language.
Three months' notice with the HSE
To marry legally in Ireland you need a Marriage Registration Form from the HSE Civil Registration Service. You must give your local civil registration service at least three months' notice, starting from the date of your marriage notification appointment. Appointments can be hard to get, so book early, especially if you want the legal ceremony close to the date of the wedding abroad.
EN: A symbolic ceremony on the meadow, with the 1789 watermill behind. CA: Una cerimònia simbòlica al prat, amb el molí de 1789 al fons. ES: Una ceremonia simbólica en el prado, con el molino de 1789 al fondo.
What a wedding abroad in Spain costs
Wedding abroad prices vary hugely. These are 2027 prices at Hotel Vall Amagada del Molí, where every wedding includes exclusive use of the venue and accommodation:
Midweek Wedding, 3 days: from €7,750.
Weekend Wedding, Friday to Sunday: from €8,500, with a minimum total spend of €25,000 including food, drinks and the weekend package fee.
Extended Weekend, 4 days: from €11,500.
Food: a paella night about €52.50 per person, a family style barbecue about €62.50, a sit down dinner from €85.
Drinks: packages from €15 to €19 per person per hour, from cava and house wines to a premium open bar. Own drinks are not permitted.
Because everything is in euro, Irish couples avoid the currency risk that couples from the UK face.
Why a masia in Girona suits an Irish wedding
Everyone under one roof. Up to 42 guests sleep at the hotel, in fifteen rooms from Standard rooms to suites with freestanding bathtubs, so the party can carry on after dinner.
Up to 100 guests for the ceremony and dinner, with nearby country houses for the rest.
A rain plan with character. The stone walled lobby and the covered stretch tent mean an Irish rain dance is never required.
A long weekend, not a long day. Arrive Friday, celebrate Saturday, brunch together on Sunday.
Room for your traditions: a claddagh ring, an Irish blessing read by a grandparent, a session with fiddle and bodhrán after dinner, or a handfasting, which has roots in Ireland too. See the guide to a handfasting ceremony in Spain.
EN: Wedding dinner under string lights in the stretch tent. CA: Sopar de casament sota garlandes de llums a la carpa. ES: Cena de boda bajo guirnaldas de luces en la carpa.
EN: The pool terrace, a favourite spot for welcome drinks. CA: La terrassa de la piscina, un lloc preferit per a la benvinguda. ES: La terraza de la piscina, un lugar preferido para la bienvenida.
Getting there from Ireland
Dublin to Barcelona: direct flights all year with several airlines. Barcelona El Prat is about an hour and a half from the hotel.
Girona airport: about 35 minutes from the hotel, worth checking for seasonal routes.
By train: the high speed train from Barcelona Sants reaches Girona in about 38 minutes.
Transfers: the hotel arranges airport transfers and shuttles on request.
Turn the wedding into a holiday
Girona's old town is half an hour away, the Costa Brava beaches about 45 minutes and Barcelona around an hour and a half. Around the hotel there are the volcanoes of the Garrotxa, medieval Besalú and the cliff village of Castellfollit de la Roca. The day after the wedding the hotel can organise a live fire paella lunch, a bodega wine tasting or a guided gravel ride on Cervélo bikes.
EN: Girona Cathedral, half an hour from the hotel. CA: La Catedral de Girona, a mitja hora de l'hotel. ES: La catedral de Girona, a media hora del hotel.
Frequently asked questions
Is a wedding in Spain legal in Ireland?
A legal Spanish civil marriage is valid, but Irish couples who do not live in Spain usually cannot have one. Most couples marry legally in Ireland and hold a symbolic ceremony in Spain.
How much notice do you need to get married in Ireland?
At least three months, counted from your marriage notification appointment with the HSE Civil Registration Service.
Is a church blessing in Spain a legal marriage?
Not on its own. A religious blessing abroad is often purely ceremonial, so you need a legal marriage as well.
How much does a wedding abroad in Spain cost?
At Hotel Vall Amagada del Molí, exclusive use with accommodation starts from €7,750 midweek or €8,500 for a weekend, with a €25,000 minimum total spend at weekends including food and drinks.
How far is the venue from Barcelona airport?
About an hour and a half by car. Girona airport is about 35 minutes away.
Next steps
Read the weddings page, ask for the wedding brochure, or read about wedding venues in Spain. To arrange a call or a visit, email frontoffice@vallamagada.com or send a WhatsApp to +34 872 290 725.
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