A Fuerteventura Wedding, one couples Experience

The couple had been together for 6 years, when they visited Caleta de Fuste together for the first time in 2001. They both loved the place and decided to buy a property here, which was finished in February 2004. A text message saying "Will you marry me" arrived out of the blue one day, and of course she accepted and the wedding plans began. As a Register Office is not too romantic a venue, it was decided that they would get married in Fuerteventura.

Finding a venue

An initial enquiry to the Elba Sara Golf Hotel, revealed that it wasn't possible to hold the wedding ceremony there, however, the hotel on this occasion, would endeavour to help with the arrangements.an interpreter was found and the preparations began.

Obtaining documentation

To begin with, as they were both divorced, they had to take the divorce documents to the Register Office to get a certificate of no impediment, the certificate alone cost £120. The documents all had to be taken in person to the Foreign office in London to get the stamp of Hague Apostil. Next, in March 2005,a visit to the British Embassy at Las Palmas, to collect the Spanish Certificate of No Impediment was required, the trip was very quick within the hour they were back at Las Palmas airport for the Binter Canarias flight to Fuerteventura. The next day all the Spanish translation of documents were ready, and in person with the interpreter, visited the Court house in Puerto del Rosario to ensure that all the papers were correct. They both came out to Caleta de Fuste at Easter to file the papers at Jugazado de Puerto del Rosario and request the wedding date.

Setting the date

They asked for the date of 1st of August for the wedding as friends had already booked their flights and accommodation. After deciding that Antigua had a prettier venue for the ceremony, they then had to go to Ayuntamiento de Antigua to request the wedding file be transferred to there. Six weeks later they were given confirmation that the paperwork was in order and the wedding could go ahead. The date and venue were finally agreed, 1st August 2005 at 4pm.

The wedding details

The rest of the wedding was sorted out in England, as the dresses, balloons, confetti, table plan and cards were all made in England. The flowers (roses) and photography including a video were arranged with people in Puerto del Rosario, the Rolls Royce was hired from the hotel, the Mercedes was loaned from a friend living in Caleta de Fuste, and they hired a coach from Maxorata for the guests.

It is quite interesting getting the paperwork together, 3 trips to Fuerteventura, legal fees cost approximately £600.The Elba Sara hotel provided wonderful cocktails and tapas, a three course meal, wedding cake and an inclusive bar free until midnight at a fraction of what you would pay at a hotel in England. Fifty guests attended. The overall cost of the Wedding was £7000; for that standard it would have cost around £20,000 in England, which made the whole thing cost effective.

The big day arrives

They had a marvellous day but that wasn't the end of the work. The marriage certificate should have been given to them the next day, but it was a holiday in Spain,and as they were in England they collected this in October. They had to get a copy of the registry book entry, and have it translated into English by an approved translator, in order to change the brides name on her documents in England. In Spain ladies do not change their name on getting married. You get a book called a Libro de Famillia to record the details of your children. You need something similar when moving over here with children who will be attending school.

The wedding itself was a great success and everything ran to time.

Near Caleta beach The happy couple