Spain vs. Portugal: where should we elope?

Legal wedding in Portugal

One of the best things about getting married in Portugal is that it provides minimal to no requirements at all for non-residents. You can have a legal wedding ceremony anywhere you want, and the venue does not need to hold a special wedding license. If you want a sunset wedding along the Algarve coast, no problem! Legally-binding beach weddings, which is one of the top reasons to get married in Portugal, are allowed here. You only need to secure one requirement - a maritime police license which can be secured easily.

Symbolic ceremony in Spain

Having a legally-binding wedding in Spain can be a bit complicated because of the strict Spanish legal requirements. Unlike in Portugal, the Spanish government does not allow non-residents to have a legal wedding ceremony here unless one of you is a Spanish national or at least a resident for two consecutive years. However, that’s not a huge obstacle to picking Spain as a wedding destination. Why? Read our tip below so you will know why the difficulty of having a legal wedding in Spain is almost a non-factor.

Algarve wedding

The 1860-kilometer western coastline of Portugal is dotted with some of the most amazing beach elopement venues in Europe. If you’re dreaming of a sunset wedding with a perfect ocean view in the background, consider the long stretch of golden coastline in Algarve. You can tie the knot in a boutique hotel, a luxury resort, or an elegant villa along the coast. Some of these venues offer beachfront spaces or restaurants with glass walls as ceremony spots so you can have a perfect view of the North Atlantic ocean while reciting your vows.

Elope to the South of Spain

Málaga and Cadiz are top spots for beach weddings in Spain. They’re both located in southern Spain along the Andalusian coastline with serene turquoise waters, Carribean-like shores, and scenic views of rock formations and waterfalls. The island of Ibiza, on the other hand, is a dream come true for brides and grooms who are in love with boho-, mountaintop-, and minimalist-themed beach locations with crystal clear waters. Here at the south of Spain, you will not only get married with a stunning beach backdrop, you can also visit historic sites hidden in thousand-year-old villages for your honeymoon.

Portugal’s Sintra historic venues for elopements

Travel to Sintra if you want an adventure wedding in a mountaintop palace surrounded by woodlands. In this romantic Portuguese city, there are so many historic places where you can tie the knot. There’s a special and popular historic spot which poets, artists, and architects long to see because of its splendid library and beautiful works of art! In the same romantic city, you’ll find historic venues with chapels for a religious ceremony and spacious ballroom halls. Most of them offer a scenic view of the ocean for a more dramatic ceremony.

Spain’s historic elopement spots

If you want to experience Spanish history at its finest, visit century-old churches and huge museums in the country. Like France, Spain is dotted with unique religious wedding venues that are unparalleled anywhere else in Europe. These religious sites are perfect for solemn wedding ceremonies, especially for the Roman Catholics who want something grand for their ceremony.

Spanish Catholic churches are prominent because they are some of the oldest ones in the world. They’re scattered in regions like Andalusia, Madrid, Altea, Mallorca, and Barcelona. Aside from old churches, you can also get married in old Spanish vineyard venues, historic fortress ruins, or age-old castles. Here’s a full list of our wedding venues in Spain for your reference.

Marry in Portuguese quintas

One thing you have to know about quintas is that they’re privately-owned estates that have served the needs of Portuguese families since time immemorial. The Portuguese converted hectares of lands into huge estates with spacious family residences and vineyards or farmlands. They are often located away from buzzing cities and crowded beaches, offering tranquil views of the Portuguese countryside.

It’s a perfect setting for laidback elopements in the midst of a farm, surrounded by rolling hills and nature-rich lands. Imagine reciting your vows with views like these and spending your honeymoon in this peaceful place.

Spanish vineyards for weddings

Winemaking is at the heart of Spanish history and culture, and vineyards are some of the best outdoor elopement spots here. You may have heard that Spain is popular for amazing wines made in Spanish vineyards and wineries that have been standing for hundreds of years.

Choose from among the huge selection of vineyards and wineries that also guarantee an authentic destination wedding experience. An amazingly rustic winery in Haro that dates back to 1859, a winery and museum elopement venue in Andalucía, and a vineyard, hotel, and spa in Salamanca are some of the best ones we know. You can literally have an intimate ceremony inside the bodegas of these venues.

Portuguese cod on your wedding

If it’s your first time traveling to Portugal, you must not miss out on their Portuguese cod or "bacalhau". Cod in Portugal can be dried and salted or fresh and unsalted. No matter how it was prepared and served, they all make wonderful traditional dishes that you can only taste in this side of Europe. The Portuguese have around 1000 recipes for cod, which is a testament that it has been around for many many years. You definitely should make it part of your wedding dinner.

Elope with Spanish tapas on the side

As a wine-making country, tapa in Spanish cuisine certainly makes sense. Tapas are appetizers or snacks served with cocktails, but as the years go by, tapas have also become part of a full meal.

For us, the best way to enjoy tapas is to pair them with wine while talking the night away. They may be served cold with olives and cheese or hot such as fried seafood. We’ve seen intimate weddings in Spain where the couple, together with their small group of guests, spent the night having dinner in the restaurant of their venue, enjoying tapas until the wee hours of the night… with special Spanish wine of course!