Planning Your Dream Barcelona Wedding? Read This First

If you’re searching for a European wedding destination that offers cosmopolitan charm, world-class museums and parks, and the most amazing cuisine, then it’s time to say hola to Barcelona! This incredible city, the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, is the perfect choice for a European wedding. With a warm Mediterranean climate, a Barcelona wedding is a delight for couples who want to enjoy the inviting beaches and coastline, dance the night away in one of the city’s amazing bars and restaurants, or just want to soak up that glorious summer sun. 

Known for its art and architecture, a destination wedding in Barcelona is also a top choice for combining your celebration with museums, afternoon art gallery visits, and mornings spent admiring the unique architecture of Gaudi, dotted throughout the city. 

Your wedding here is going to be so romantic and exciting for you and your guests, with world-class Catalan food and wine the proverbial icing on the cake! Being such a large city, it’s also easy for your guests to fly into Barcelona from just about anywhere, particularly Europe or North America. 

When you and your beloved get married in Barcelona, it’s going to be an unforgettable adventure, filled with fun, romance, music, and vibrant energy! Here’s everything you need to know about planning a wedding like no other in Barcelona, a city that will hold a place in your heart forever. 

What Is The Wedding Season In Barcelona?

While the city is known for its pleasant climate, what’s the best time of the year to get married in Barcelona? Generally, May through October are some of the most popular times for weddings, but please know that July and August can get very hot! 

If you love the heat and are considering a beach wedding in Barcelona, then you might be all about the summer months, but if you prefer something a little cooler, spring and autumn are beautiful times to wed.

Barcelona has some spectacular gardens, such as Parc de la Ciutadella and Park Guell, so a spring wedding will bring colorful blooms, not only beautiful to look at, but great for your wedding photography too!

Winter and autumn can still be quite pleasant, and also offer fewer crowds, so an off-season wedding in Barcelona can still be spectacular — when deciding on a wedding date, it really comes down to your personal preferences. While the city enjoys a mild climate year-round, the highest chances of rain are between October and November. 

A wedding in Spain is always going to be a winner though, no matter what time of year! Each season brings beautiful photography opportunities too. 

Can Foreigners Get Married In Barcelona?

Yes, Spanish and non-Spanish citizens are able to legally wed in Spain, but the caveat is that at least one person in the relationship must have Spanish residency. This requires two years spent in the country. Then, you can apply with the Spanish Civil Registry for a civil wedding or you can organize a religious wedding.

However, you can certainly still plan your dream wedding in Spain, even if you’re just visiting from overseas! What many couples do is have a legally binding ceremony either before or after their Barcelona wedding, with their wedding in Spain being symbolic. 

Don’t underestimate the power of a symbolic wedding though! It can still be completely magical, a romantic way to make a lifetime commitment to one another, not in the eyes of the law but in your own hearts — which is so important! 

So, what do you need to get married in Barcelona? If your wedding is symbolic, then no paperwork will be required from the Spanish government’s perspective. You will need to book in your venue though, with many incredible options in Barcelona, from opulent luxury to low-key beach vibes. 

You might want to consider hiring a wedding planner though, as they can play a vital role in helping you set up your event from overseas. Popular wedding venues can also get booked up very far in advance, so having someone local to assist can make it easier to lock in your ideal date quickly. 

From recommending Barcelona wedding venues to connecting you with local musicians or caterers, they’re honestly worth their weight in gold, as a talented planner can save you tons of time (and stress!). 

Things To Do In Barcelona 

Barcelona is so alive, an exciting and diverse city that offers so much! Imagine contemporary nightlife, cuisine, and art, along with plenty of fascinating history, so you and your guests are sure to love your time here. 

Because Barcelona is so famous for its cuisine, one great idea is to host a welcome dinner for all of your guests in one of the city’s best restaurants, ideally with a private room. There are seriously so many places to enjoy here, from fine dining to casual eats, but I encourage you to connect with the foodie culture of the city by trying some of its most famous dishes, including fideuà, croquetas, and escalivada — accompanied by a local Catalan wine, of course! 

In summer, you’ll definitely want to plan a day at a local beach as well. Barceloneta is the city’s most famous, but other amazing beaches include Bogatell and Mar Bella, and you’ll also find lots of Barcelona beach wedding venues to choose from. 

Last but not least, one of the best things to do in Barcelona is to explore its iconic architecture! And as your Barcelona wedding photographer, always thinking about aesthetics, I promise we can take some amazing couples portraits outside some of the city’s most famous buildings, which you’ll love! To name a few, you’ll want to visit La Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, and the Cathedral of Barcelona. 

As your photographer, I’d be glad to come along on some of your excursions, capturing fun and candid shots of you and your wedding party enjoying the sights and sounds of the city. 

From Beach To Ballroom: Types Of Weddings In Barcelona

Barcelona offers a lot of diversity when it comes to types of weddings. Being a large, cosmopolitan city, you can find just about any type of venue here, including private wedding villas in Barcelona, five-star hotels, ballrooms, and locally-owned restaurants. 

However, Barcelona really stuns when it comes to super luxurious romance that feels like stepping into a movie — there are a few grand castles just outside the city, mentioned below, that you can hire for private use to create an exclusive celebration just for you. These weddings are truly a fairy tale come to life, especially if you’re imagining a large celebration. 

You can also do a low-key, relaxed wedding here very well, with plenty of rustic hotels, bed and breakfasts, or local eateries to hire out for a private event. 

And if you love the outdoors, you also can’t go wrong, with plenty of beaches and parks where you can say your vows, immersed in the beauty of nature. 

The Best Wedding Venues In Barcelona

There are so many places to get married in Barcelona! Here are a few of my top wedding venues near Barcelona, each offering amazing Spanish cuisine and hospitality. 

As your destination wedding photographer in Barcelona, I know that we can capture amazing photos in all of these locations — images that will not only showcase the uniqueness of your love, but also the beauty of Barcelona and its surrounding countryside. 

I can’t wait to hear about which venue you choose!

Castell Sant Marcal

Castell Sant Marcal is one of the most luxurious wedding villas in Barcelona — it’s a literal castle! It’s only a 20-minute drive from the city but feels a world away, transporting you back in time to the 13th century. Both the interior and exterior spaces have been beautifully restored, creating Barcelona’s most impressive and grand wedding venue, with room for up to 600 guests. 

A Castell Sant Marcal wedding is truly a dream come true, and with decades of premium event experience, it’s guaranteed that your romantic wedding will unfold just beautifully. The venue’s spacious manicured European gardens, surrounded by opulent foundations and manicured hedgerows, are an ideal spot for a formal lunch, while Under the Chestnut Trees is another truly magical outdoor location, a gorgeous courtyard with twinkling lights illuminating the trees, just next to the castle itself. 

For indoor options, both the historic Cellar and the property’s bright and inviting Greenhouse are excellent choices for your reception. With so many spaces to select from, you and your guests can spend time in quite a few different areas of the property, which is a great way to showcase the beauty of Castell Sant Marcal. 

Your wedding photos here will be classic, formal, and romantic, with the castle acting as the perfect backdrop for true love!

Castell Emporda

Looking for wedding locations in Barcelona that offer both luxury and rustic country chic? In that case, I think you’ll love Castell Emporda, a lovingly restored stone castle. A popular wedding venue between Barcelona and the French border, the owners of Castell Emporda are all about creating an approachable and livable space where guests can enjoy Spanish culture without excessive formalities. It’s also private, offering a casual level of luxury, where you can just unwind and be yourself. 

You can host your ceremony outdoors in the olive garden, taking in all of the natural beauty of the landscape, or indoors in the historic Remei Chapel. There’s also a gorgeous terrace for an outdoor reception, or several inside options as well. This wedding destination will impress with its relaxed luxury, ancient stonework, and a funky blend of both traditional and modern design. 

With 57 rooms on site, a Castell Emporda destination wedding is also really convenient for your guests, as they can stay at the property without needing to worry about transportation and it’s a top choice for a small wedding in Barcelona. 

With two swimming pools, local Spanish cuisine, and plenty of relaxing outdoor space where you can watch the sunset with a glass of wine in hand, your guests will find a few days here to be seriously relaxing! 

El Moli de la Torre

El Moli de la Torre is a charming rural hotel that’s environmentally and pet-friendly. It’s one of the top small wedding venues in Barcelona, especially for couples who love exploring nature and want to connect with their guests in a tranquil setting. 

Your El Moli de la Torre wedding celebrations are going to be so joyous and bright, with beautiful outdoor spaces for both your reception and ceremony. Surrounded by rolling hills and lush greenery, the beautiful stonework of the mill and the traditional Spanish architecture feels like a rural escape, even though you’re only a short drive from Barcelona! 

​​There are lots of fun outdoor activities to enjoy here, like bird watching, cycling, trekking, and even Segway tours through the Tenes Valley. Today a gorgeous historic stone building, it was originally a mill and farmhouse, hence its location right on the Tenes River. 

El Moli, the hotel’s restaurant, is also a stand-out for its use of local and organic ingredients and seasonal menus, designed to showcase the flavors of the region. 

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If you’re ready to get started, please reach out to me anytime! We can start planning your destination wedding photography in Barcelona, Italy, or anywhere in the world — I can’t wait to hear more about your beautiful love story and to help bring your wedding vision to life.