Getting married in Gibraltar on a budget

Freshuk

Here's our guide to getting married on a budget in Gibraltar
To give you our background we had already booked a holiday in Benalmedena and over a night of wine thought about getting married whilst we were away, why not I hear you say.


Getting married in Spain for us was out of the question due to having to be a resident of Spain for what we found via the internet was 2years or be marrying a Spanish national ( neither of us qualified ), then after a few more wines we thought GIBRALTAR why not it's part of the UK so uk law should apply, so we started our research and our plans. The rest of our post explains how we saved our money and how we did it.


We were flying from Glasgow, first thing we found, well didn't find, was that nobody flys from Glasgow direct to Gibraltar however as we were already flying into Malaga that's didn't effect us.


Transfers to the UK airport we used easyairporttransfer UK comparison site as we wanted to get to Glasgow airport in style ( chauffeur driven ) and have all the options available to us, all the local companies all had the same price, by accident or design were not sure but can guess.

Ok we're in Malaga now and transferred through to our hotel by our holidays included transfer.


Now we have to arrange to get to gibraltar, we had already researched this and found if you pre book from the uk or through a holiday company you'll pay twice as much as you will if you just book a trip from one of the many shops when you get to your resort. €12 each or £24 each if booked before you go.


Ok here's the important bit for all those looking to get married on the cheap lol


Marriages in the registry office: email them on [EMAIL="marriages.crso@gibraltar.gov.gi"]marriages.crso@gibraltar.gov.gi[/EMAIL] to enquire about available dates, they only do a few each day in the mornings only mon-fri.or phone them on 0035020072289 ..... Our opinion email them then you have a record of what's been said and to whom.
Once you have your date you'll be asked to send copies of your documents Passports, birth certificates, and any divorce decree once they are checked by them they will confirm by email and send you their payment form costs are as follows £67.50 for a special license and £40 for the ceremony and registration ( in the register office ) Total £107.50 After that's received you will receive confirmation of all your booking details by email. That's it your booked to get married.


More important bits: You MUST appear at the Gibraltar registration office ( Secretary's Lane adjoined to the registry office ) no later than 10.30 the day before your due to get married ( tip: get there for 9am because you WILL be waiting in the small room ) you MUST bring your original documents ( the ones you previously emailed ) and fill in a form with all your details. Please note if your getting married on a Monday you must do this on the Friday before. Once everything is checked they will give you some forms that you MUST get notarised and a list of notaries in Gibraltar that will do this, posh word for get it signed by a solicitor who states that all the information you've given is correct. The one we chose was the closest one ( across the road and 15 yards down Charles Gomez & Co. 5 Secretary's Lane 0035020074998 [EMAIL="info@gomezco.gi"]info@gomezco.gi[/EMAIL]) they charge £20 per signature per form so a total of £40 no appointment necessary, other notaries are only £10 per signature if you want to hunt for them from the list, once done it's back to the registration office to hand the forms back in and pay for your certificates £3.50 each. Phew all done apart from the "I do's"


Totals: £107.50 + £40 + £3.50 = £151



Ok so the day of your wedding, TAKE YOUR PASSPORTS, your advised to get there at least 15 mins before, let the security guard on the front desk know your there and find yourself some witnesses ( you NEED two ), it's common practice to get someone passing by or someone out of the next door queue ( registration office ) and it adds to the fun of the whole day in our option. The registrar will invite you in 5 mins before to explain what's going to happen and how the process in Gibraltar is slightly different to the UK, you don't actually say "I do " and the rings come after the kiss.


There you go Getting married in Gibraltar on the cheap


O flowers, can you tell it's the male half writing this, we had quotes by email from 2 florists the one we chose was Gibralflora as they were very quick to respond to emails ( send them your ideas, images etc ) and they delivered to our hotel on time and exactly as we requested. [EMAIL="Gibralflora@gibral-flora.gi"]Gibralflora@gibral-flora.gi[/EMAIL] 0035020042655 Gavin is usually the one who replies to emails.


Cars, we never used any as taxi's are plentiful and arrive within 10 mins of the hotel calling them and there's usually plenty on the taxi ranks, wee tip though if one of the cruise liners are in you'll struggle to get a taxi as they all like to do the tours for the new arrivals.
Pictures, take a walk ( or taxi ) to the Botanical gardens great for photographs and plenty of people around who will gladly take a few pics of your special day.



Hope this has answers any questions you may have had about getting married on a budget in Gibraltar. Mr & Mrs Lyons ( newly weds )

FBaby

A bit too late for us, but great tips, thanks for sharing. Hope you had nice weather!

toot212

Mr/Mrs Lyons
Thanks for all the info we want to do the same next year, just wondering did you make two trips to Gibraltar, i.e one the day before to get paperwork done and then again to get married or did you stay overnight in Gibraltar then go back to Malaga after the wedding or the next day. ALL info much needed as want things to go smoothly.