Considering a destination wedding? Don't just limit yourself to Caribbean countries; a European destination wedding can also be magical. Barcelona in particular is becoming increasingly popular among couples who are looking for an original wedding location. The city, located on north-eastern Spain's Mediterranean coast, has a year-round sunny climate providing an excellent setting for the bride, groom and guests to enjoy their event to the fullest.
Barcelona is almost like a living museum because of its famed architecture and culture, and had Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso spending important periods in the city. But golden-sand beaches are only 10 minutes from the city center, offering all the charm of a beach wedding.
The most usual format for the ceremony is an ?exchange of vows?, as it isn't possible for the couple to officially marry in Spain unless one of them is resident. However, if either the bride or groom is Catholic, they can have an official church wedding, which can be arranged for foreigners.?
An approximate cost estimate for organizing a wedding in Barcelona would be between ?90 and ?150 per person, plus the cost of the ceremony and any other extras the bride and groom choose to add. Original added touches for the wedding could be some typical Spanish traditions, such as offering the bride's bouquet to the Virgin Mary in a church, or throwing rice over the bride and groom to wish them prosperity.
Destination weddings, meaning weddings held in a vacation location away from the couple's home town, have gained in popularity in recent years. Today, this hip alternative allows a couple to combine the best of an adventurous honeymoon with a more traditional ceremony, and sometimes save money in the process.
Some destination weddings just involve the eloping couple, others include a few close friends and family, and still others are full blowout affairs with multiple parties over a long wedding weekend
Here are some essential questions concerning your wedding location you may want to ask.
How far in advance should the wedding location be reserved?
It should be done as soon as possible, particularly if you?re getting married in April-August (popular wedding months). A general time line is 12 months before the wedding date; if you don't have this much time, you might need to be flexible on choice of date or venue.
How to find a wedding location in your home area?
First, you'll want to narrow down what kind of space is right for your wedding (outdoor, estate home, hotel, community setting, religious, etc.) Then try contact your local tourism board, who can give you a list of these types of places near you. You also can try the Internet - there are lots of great web resources. Many wedding magazines, including Bride's and The Knot publish local versions of their magazine that include lists of wedding locations. Lastly, a wedding planner can be of enormous help. If you hire someone just for the job of finding a location for you, it shouldn't be too expensive, and they may have resources and ideas that you've never thought of.
How much can a wedding location cost?
You should ask to get the total costs in writing before you give a deposit. While all costs may not be finalized (e.g. you may not have decided on the menu yet), ask them to confirm there will be no further over-head charges, staffing charges, parking fees, tips or gratuities, corkage fees, or other expenses. Don't forget about last minute payments - such as a change of venue due to rain, etc.