Gibraltar Elopement Guide
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A small British territory in the sun, at the most southern point of Spain, Gibraltar is a true paradise for weddings. You can get married there legally, without bureaucracy, and your marriage certificate in English is recognized worldwide. Same-sex marriages are also legal and Gibraltar welcomes the LGBTQ+ community.
Meet Your Local Gibraltar Expert
Jeanette Obytz – Med Weddings
Jeanette is the owner of Mediterranean Weddings. She loves working with couples to hold their hand through all of the details they need to sort out when getting married in Spain or Gibraltar.
Jeanette has been planning and organizing beautiful weddings and events in Gibraltar and surrounding areas for over 21 years.
Why You Should Consider Gibraltar For Your Elopement
5 Reasons To Consider Gibraltar For Your Elopement
Get legally Married in the sunshine! With mild to hot weather all year round you can get married in Gibraltar any time of the year. And we are lucky to have a wide range of truly beautiful venues to choose from!
1 – The formalities are simple.
You only need one day of residency and, with an apostille, your wedding certificate in English is internationally recognized. You can find planners who do all the administrative and planning work so that you can relax and enjoy your stay.
2 – Gibraltar is easy to get to.
Gibraltar has been named “Britain in the Sun”: the residents are very friendly and welcome tourists with everyone speaking English. There are numerous bars and restaurants in Gibraltar which offer a fantastic choice of Mediterranean cuisine along with a British influence. Some say the best fish and chips are in Gibraltar!
3 – There is so much to do in Gibraltar.
The Rock is full of history and has many attractions to offer during your stay. Just to name a few: do the historical Rock Tour and meet the monkeys, catch a boat trip to observe the dolphins in the bay,…or you can just enjoy the sunshine on the beach or by the pool! Gibraltar also offers a good shopping experience and duty-free on luxury goods. The official currency is the pound, with the euro accepted everywhere.
4. Gibraltar is the perfect start to your honeymoon.
Whether you choose to stay in Gibraltar or visit Spain, you are in the right place for sunshine, amazing beaches and fantastic food.
5. Even Celebs Get Married Here
Celebrities John Lennon & Yoko Ono and Sean Connery eloped in Gibraltar.
Planning Your Trip To Gibraltar
How To Get To Gibraltar
Getting to Gibraltar is easy, with direct flights from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Bristol (only 2.5 hour).
It’s also only one one-hour drive from Malaga airport, or alternatively, there are some bus services from Malaga airport to the Gibraltar border, via the town of Estepona. If you hire a car from Malaga airport, your hotel will help you with parking.
How To Travel Around Gibraltar
Most places are within walking distance in Gibraltar. Taxis can be pre-ordered and there is a reliable bus service around the Rock. If you arrive by car, it is often preferable to request parking with your hotel for the length of your stay. The city center is pedestrianized and provides a great shopping experience along with bars and restaurants. You can also walk easily to one of the two marinas and dine by the sea.
What’s The Best Time of Year To Elope in Gibraltar?
Simply, all year long! The Registrar marries couples 12 months of the year.
Thanks to its Mediterranean climate it is never cold in Gibraltar. Spring and Summer are hot and sunny, while Autumn and Winter are cooler but still with plenty of sunshine. Being surrounded by the sea, Gibraltar escapes summer heatwaves.
Spring and Summer in Gibraltar: The weather is warm in April and getting hot by June. March gets the occasional shower, however, by April-May, we expect sunshine all day long and summer temperatures to last till September. July and August are the hottest months in Gibraltar, this is the time for beach and sunshine lovers. It is perfect for an outdoor wedding location, by the sea, or in the exotic gardens.
Autumn and Winter in Gibraltar: While September is still hot and summery, October and November are cooler, especially at night. We can get a bit of rain in November. Winter is never cold with temperatures rarely below 15 degrees celsius but nights are fresher. There is still plenty of sunshine with the occasional shower. It is best to plan for an indoor venue with outdoor photography opportunities.
Trip planning resources for your visit to Gibraltar
To know more about Gibraltar, visit the official tourism website: https://www.visitgibraltar.gi/
Booking.comHow to get married in Gibraltar
It is very easy and straightforward to get married in Gibraltar.
The legally binding ceremony is in English and simple. The officiants are friendly and welcome foreign couples. The registration is one working day before the actual wedding day, we only have the one-day residency requirements.
- The documents required are passports, full birth certificates, and proof of stay delivered by your hotel.
- If previously married you require original decree absolutes and previous marriage certificate for the bride
- All documents must be in English. If your original documents are in a foreign language we can arrange an official translation in English.
- It is possible to get all paperwork pre-approved by the registry office so that you can make your travel plans with complete confidence. This is where working with a planner (like us) can help 🙂
- The original documents are presented at registration, usually the day before the wedding.
- You will need two witnesses above the age of 18 who understand English. If it is just the two of you, we will provide 2 witnesses free of charge.
LGBTQ+ Marriages in Gibraltar
Gibraltar welcomes LGBTQ+ couples and same-sex marriages and civil partnerships are legal. Gibraltar is a very safe and welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community. The annual Pride is a huge event in Gibraltar.
Top Gibraltar Elopement & Wedding Locations
How to choose perfect location for your elopement
Gibraltar offers a great choice of venues for wedding ceremonies and celebrations, inside and outside. Depending on the season, we have mountain views, seaviews, tropical gardens, buildings steeped in history and of course you can also get legally married inside our St Michaels cave. Truly unique!
5 Top Elopement Locations in Gibraltar
Take a look at some of the gorgeous venues we have here in Gibraltar:
- Botanical Gardens
- A luxury yacht
- St Michael’s Cave
- Mons Calpe Top of the Rock
- Mayor Parlor
How much does it cost to get married in Gibraltar
Planning your wedding is one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life. Think about the size of the party, your budget, and what really works for you. It is your decision on how big a wedding you want. When you choose intimate elopement in Gibraltar you can still have a luxury wedding without a large expense and you can travel further on your honeymoon.
Prices start from £725 / $922 including all paperwork checks and registration, attendance and witnesses at the ceremony.
Gibraltar Luxury Elopement Costs
The average luxury elopement in Gibraltar costs £2,254 / $2,869 *, broken down as follows (not including travel to/from Gibraltar:
| Planner | 350.00 |
| 3 nights accommodation with breakfast for two. 4 star hotel surroundings. | 534.00 |
| Bridal hair and makeup | 270.00 |
| Transfer from your accommodation to the ceremony area | 0.00 |
| Ceremony at the Registry office, Monday to Friday ceremonies. | 345.00 |
| Notary | 30.00 |
| A glass of bubbly for the bride and groom after the ceremony | 20.00 |
| Dinner Reservation, 3 course meal, drinks included | 120.00 |
| Photography 2 hours attendance, photoshoot after the ceremony included | 500.00 |
| Bridal bouquet and buttonhole | 85.00 |
| Your budget in £££ | £2,254.00 |
Gibraltar Affordable Elopement Costs
The average cost of a mid-range elopement in Gibraltar costs £1,451 / $1,838:
| Planner | 350 |
| Ceremony at the Registry office, Monday to Friday ceremonies. | 345 |
| Notary | 30 |
| 2 nights accommodation | 356 |
| 3-course meal celebration, including drinks | 120 |
| 1 hour photography, photo editing and digital access | 250 |
| Free Witnesses attending if required | 0 |
| Registrar for the ceremony | 0 |
| Your budget in £££ | £1,451 |
*note : all pricing is based on current summer 2023 prices
Biggest Planning Mistakes Couples Make When Eloping In Gibraltar
Not using a local wedding planner to pre-arrange all your documents checks and appointments. The marriage office in Gibraltar strongly advises requesting the services of a local wedding planner to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day and all documents provided are pre-approved. A wedding planner will also guide you in choosing the most suitable venue depending on the time of the year and the size of your party, making all the arrangements for you.
What’s The Benefit Of Hiring Local Vendors in Gibraltar?
Gibraltar is small but it offers a great choice of venues for ceremonies and receptions. All vendors are locals and very experienced in weddings. In fact, nearly 90% of couples getting married in Gibraltar come from abroad so it is important for Gibraltar to offer a wide range of local trusted suppliers for an international clientele.
Contributor:
Name: Jeanette Obytz
Business Name: Med Weddings
Based in: Gibraltar
Business Type: Wedding & Elopement Planner
Website: https://medweddings.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Medweddingsgibraltar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medweddingsandevents/
