The short version:
Unless you are a resident, you cannot legally get married in a Church or in a civil ceremony in Fuerteventura. As a non-resident, you can, however, partake in a Wedding Blessing Ceremony.
The longer version:
You can only marry in a civil ceremony if have been a Canary Island Resident for over two years and you must provide paperwork from your Ayuntamiento proving that residency. Up until recently, the exception to marrying in church, was for Roman Catholics; unfortunately the diocese of Las Palmas has recently decreed that only Catholics resident in the province of Las Palmas may marry in a Catholic Church within the region. It is not known if this decision is long-term, or if the diocese will revert back to allowing legally-binding Catholic weddings for non-residents in the future.
There are, however, plenty of alternatives for those wanting to celebrate their wedding in Fuerteventura, with many couples opting for a discreet civil or church ceremony back in their country of residence, and then flying out for their “Fuerteventura Wedding”. Many couples choose not to tell family and friends about the ceremony back home (with the legal minimum of 2 witnesses) and treat the wedding in Fuerteventura as their ‘true’ wedding – using that date to celebrate future wedding anniversaries.
Ceremony Options
Religious Wedding Blessing
Having conducted the civil or religious ceremony back home, you can receive a wedding blessing from an English-speaking Chaplain/minister which usually includes the signing of a register (not legally binding). You will be given a certificate with the date and place of celebration in Fuerteventura, as a memento of the ceremony. It is possible to receive a blessing from a Chaplain in the Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Corralejo, however, this does require more advanced booking, since the church has to be ‘booked’ for the event.
Non-religious blessing
For those with no religious affiliations or for those wanting to personalise their vows or the service, there is the option of a non-religious blessing, presided over by an English-speaking Celebrant. This may include the option to sign a non-legally-binding register and receive a certificate with the date and place of the celebration in Fuerteventura. A civil (or religious) ceremony will need to have taken place back home first.
Civil Partnership
Just as with other ceremony options, you will need to have conducted the civil ceremony back home, before you can celebrate your marriage in Fuerteventura with a symbolic ceremony.
Vow Renewal
Whether it’s been one year or 50 years, renewal ceremonies can be a great way to celebrate time together as a married couple and to enjoy something you may have missed out on first time around.
Commitment Ceremonies
For couples that choose not to go down the legal or religious route, a Commitment Ceremony is a great way for couples to celebrate their love and commitment to each other.
Symbolic Extras to Personalise your Ceremony
Sand Ceremony
One way to personalise your wedding in Fuerteventura, is to include a sand ceremony. This is the symbolic mixing of two or more coloured sands, poured into a vase, glass case or shadow box and kept as a memento of the day.
The participants alternate in pouring coloured sand into the receptacle, to create a layered effect. You can also use a third sand colour, to symbolise your unity. There is also scope to include more than three colours of sand, so couples can include their children or perhaps a family member.
During the sand ceremony, couples may choose to have music playing, a poem read or say some words whilst pouring the sand.
Rose Ceremony
Another popular symbolic addition to your wedding is the Rose Ceremony; the giving and receiving of two single red roses.
The giving of roses is often conducted towards the end of the ceremony and is the first gift that you give to each other as a married couple.
The rose ceremony is very flexible, roses may be handed over by the chaplain/celebrant, parents or perhaps your children.
An alternative approach is that each rose is given to the mother-in-law as a symbol of the joining of families, or to your partner’s children, as a symbol of becoming a new family unit.
Wedding Locations
Beach Weddings
Fuerteventura has some of the best beaches in Europe. So it’s not surprising that many people want to get married on the beach. A beach wedding is best organised with the assistance of a Wedding Planner, as there’s a lot of paperwork required.
For a beach wedding, permission is needed from all of the following:
The Ayuntamiento (local council)
The Cabildo (local government)
Costas (Spanish Coastal Authority)
A large beach ceremony was recently shutdown on the Jandia Peninsula because the organisers had not obtained permission from Costas – which is necessary as all beaches are public property. It should be noted that this was a very unusual occurrence and only came to light when an official asked for paperwork, as a large gazebo, a generator and whole host of other paraphernalia was brought into the natural park area.
Hotel
Hotels up and down the island offer wedding services, from small ceremonies to large parties including wedding breakfasts, evening entertainment etc. Many hotels have dedicated wedding co-ordinators and/or work closely with wedding planners, helping to source everything that you need.
Three of the hotels featured in our Luxury Hotels in Fuerteventura article offer Wedding Services (Gran Hotel Atlantis Bahia Real, Elba Palace Golf and Vital Hotel and the Sheraton Fuerteventura Beach, Golf and Spa Resort.) Bear in mind hotels island wide offer wedding packages, so look into where you’d like to be situated – it’s a big island and it takes around 2 hours to drive from north to south. For more information about the main tourist resorts on the island, click here. With so many amazing beaches, you could also hire the photographer for a second day ‘beach shoot’. That way you don’t have to worry about keeping guests waiting while you have beautiful photographs taken in some of the island’s most stunning locations.
Villas
For a more rustic and personal wedding, you can also hire out a villa and combine the wedding ceremony, photography session and wedding breakfast. Most villas can be rented for a week or more, allowing you to combine your wedding with your honeymoon and allowing family and friends to stay and celebrate with you.
Mirrie aston
Im looking for a non religious blessing on the beach. Any advice?
Avril McCarthy
Can you send me some ideas for renewal of wedding vows,ie beach,hotel grounds/ gardens,for summer 2019 just two of us no guests with the costs please.
Sharon Mackellarmoore
We are interested in renewing our wedding vows in fuertervrntura
Can you supply some venues ideas rec
Many thanks Sharon mackellar moore
angela rae
price for a civil blessing after being married in uk 2019
Celeste
How much is a civil ceremony in corralejo please?
Andrea
Looking for a wedding for 50 people. In October 21 . Would like costa Caleta
Monica TOPPAZZINI
Hello Andrea,
my name is Monica and I am a Wedding planner based on the island. Did you find help for your wedding on Fuerteventura?
Debra Chandler
Hi Monica
I am getting married in the UK on 31st January & wish to have a blessing in Fuerteventura on our honeymoon in February 2020, we will be staying in Caleta de Fusta, would you be able to point us in the right direction & help with the blessing?
Cherie Townsend
We are looking to renew vows next September. We are stopping at the jandia princess and would love to do it on the beach at the hotel? Any advice.
Rebecca
Hay did you manage to sort this?
Adam
Hello,
I am looking to a civil partnership on the beach. We would like only a short ceremony and only the bride and the bridegroom are going to take part. We would like some photos too.
Could you send me some ideas with prices?
With thanks and regards,
Adam
Clare
Hi we are coming to Caleta de Fuste, 19th December for two weeks, staying at the Caleta Dorada, I would love to renew our wedding vows while there, doesn’t have to be at the hotel. Can you advise on what I would have to do, cost, etc? Thanks Clare
Tracey
I’d love some info also
simon
Does any one know of a Photo Booth for hire on the island? Monica could you help with this? It’s for a Halloween party on the 1st of November, Google is baron with hits so trying the wedding party route.
Thanks for any help anyone can give.
Elizabeth
Hi i am looking for a non religious civil service for just the 2 of us due to marry 24th aug 2020 would like a little cemory for me and my bride and our daughter who is 16 would like a boat if possible any suggestions date would be monday 15th march 2021
Many thanks
Emma Marshall
Hoping to have a blessing in may 2023, is anyone able to help atal
Taylor
Hi I would like a symbolic wedding ceremony on the beach in October this year. Could I have some quotes please
Gerald
Hi,
what are the most beautiful villas you could recommend that have enough space for a party with 100 people?
Thanks!
Gerald
Matthew Marett
I am looking to a civil partnership on the beach. We would like only a short ceremony and only the bride and the bridegroom are going to take part. We would like some photos too.
Could you send me some ideas with prices?
Shelley Holden
Hello, looking for a wedding planner in fuerteventura wedding for 40 person
Thank you
Kimberly Richardson
Hello, I am looking into more information/prices on the commitment ceremonies please?
Trevor Stockhill
Hi
We are travelling to caletta de fustre on the 8th Nov 2023 and were wanting to renew our wedding vows whilst we were there.
We are there for 10 days so not too bothered which day.
We want just a simple service with no guests.
Could you let me know if this is something you could sort and possible costings please
Charlene Cosgrove
Hi, I am looking at booking our wedding vows in Fuerteventura, H10 Ocean Suites, Corralejo, 6 people, very small and intimate for 28 May 2025, we would like a little ceremony on the beach if possible and then a meal at the hotel for the 6 of us, we are not religious
Elizabeth Hogan
Hi hope you don’t mind me asking have you had any replies `as we are in a very similar situation
Ro
Hi looking a wedding ceremony for four at the end of august 2024, has anyone got any info of how to book etc
Margaret keane
Hi, my son and his partner are looking to have some kind of ceremony in fuertventura during the first 2 weeks of July 2024, maybe the sand ceremony or the rose one could you send me some information.
Thank you margaret
Caitlin McQuade
Hello! I have booked a weeks stay in Fuerteventura. The hotel we are staying at doesn’t host small intimate weddings. So we would be looking at finding a close by destination, to host our symbolic Beach ceremony with a total of 11 attendees.
We only wish to do the ceremony with some photos.
I’m hoping this is possible.
Thanks in advance
Lisa Tutty
Hi, we are looking for a beach wedding blessing for just the bride & groom to attend next April – would this be something that you could accolade please?
Elizabeth Hogan
Hello we are looking for a symbolic weddding blessing in corralejo there will only be 6 people us and our parents, we would also like an all inclusive hotel please hopefully you can help