How to Plan a Destination Wedding in Mallorca
Congratulations!! Your partner has popped the question and now it’s time to start planning your wedding! Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting things, and planning destination weddings is brilliant because not only are you planning a wedding but you also get to plan a mini break for you and your nearest and dearest.
Mallorca, one of the three Balearic islands, is truly magical and a wonderful place for a destination wedding. It has beautiful beaches with glistening turquoise water perfect for a beach wedding, lush countryside further inland where you can say I do in a big manor house, stunning villas and beautiful mountains. Not to mention the great climes that will be the cherry on top of your destination wedding. So where do you start with planning your destination wedding? We’re here to help you and organise your dream destination wedding in Mallorca…
When is the best time to get married in Mallorca?
Mallorca is blessed with beautiful weather for a good portion of the year. The most popular time of year to get married in Mallorca is between April and October with June and September being the most popular months with the temperatures being most comfortable in these months. August and July can get very hot, so if you and your guests don’t mind by all means soak up the sun and get the SPF at the ready, but consider a late afternoon ceremony so that you and your guests aren’t in the blazing heat at its peak.
Best spots for a wedding in Mallorca
Cap Rocat is a beautifully grand fortress in the middle of a 30 hectare nature reserve and by a 2km stretch of protected coast. It’s private, secluded and has been transformed into the beautiful venue it is today by architect firm Antionio Obrador - having received prestigious awards. It’s a truly luxurious oasis and is one of the most stunning locations to have your destination wedding, and get some incredible wedding photos.
A spectacular clifftop setting with views overlooking the vast expanse of twinkling mediterranean sea, you couldn’t ask for a better backdrop for your wedding. Say “I do” as the sun sets on the Tramuntana Terrace and dance the night away in the Jumeirah Ballroom with your guests. It’ll be a night to remember that’s for sure.
A picture perfect wedding venue set amongst the olive groves with a UNESCO world heritage backdrop, this venue offers a whole host of celebration options for the perfect destination wedding. From a wedding breakfast amongst the olive trees and lemon groves or cocktail receptions in the lush gardens as the evening draws in. Or you can take it up a notch and take your guests on a sunset cruise to bring in the evening's celebrations. Plus with a variety of pools, a spa, tennis courts and four restaurants your guests will be more than entertained.
If you’re wanting your wedding to double up as a luxury holiday then meet Son Veri… Set in the Tramuntana mountains overlooking Palma Bay, you can’t get more luxurious and charming than Son Veri. If you’re wanting a private villa wedding then this is the venue you need, complete with a private tennis court, heart shaped infinity pool with views over Palma bay, acres of olive trees and flowers and palm trees galore, what more could you ask for?
The venue has a range of terraces, expansive lawns, an impressive outdoor kitchen and BBQ although we recommend hiring a private chef for the ultimate wedding experience here.
This boutique hotel is nestled in the countryside between Llucmajor and Cala Pi and is the answer to couples searching for an elegant country house venue. The interiors are a perfect blend of lavish meets rustic, perfect for anyone looking for a free-spirited boho style wedding.
If you’ve dreamed of getting married in a castle then Castell de Bellver tops them all, complete with a moat. The castle overlooks the entire city of Palma, the port and the mountains in the distance, what was once a well preserved 14th century royal fortress still stands strong as ever today! The whole castle is entirely round and offers incredible 360 degree views of the city.
Lush greenery, beautiful blossoming trees and flowers decorating the gardens the stunning venue has various wonderful settings for rustic al fresco banqueting and cocktails that can cater for up to 350 people so if you’re having the party of the century and need somewhere to house your guests then look no further. There’s a really magical atmosphere about this venue that will make for the most perfect, glamorous celebration.
Ideas for activities in Mallorca
With your guests travelling from far away they’ll be excited about being in a new place so you might want to consider some pre and post wedding activities, here’s a couple of ideas for your itinerary:
Beach BBQ
Tapas/Paella Evening
Nikki Beach
49 Steps Mallorca
Sunset Cruise
Hire a boat/yacht
Pool party
Having pre and post wedding celebrations is a great way to get your guests to mingle with one another and to really create some lasting memories, it’s one of the best parts of a destination wedding, you get to really stretch out the celebrations and spend real quality time with your guests over the course of a few days rather than the stress of trying to interact with everyone in one day.
Booking a pre-wedding trip
Booking a pre wedding trip is a great idea if you have the ability to do so. Checking out the venues and deciding on your dream location, meeting with any potential vendors and just getting a feel for how everything will come together will help so much when helping you plan your big day. You’ll get a feel for how you want your wedding photos to look, what you want to do with the venue and decoration and it’ll ensure you’re 100% happy and certain with everything you’re choosing so you feel at ease.
The legalities of getting married in Mallorca
The majority of couples have a civil ceremony in their home country and then head to Mallorca for a symbolic ceremony - these ceremonies can be held anywhere so there are no limits on your celebrations. You must just double check that your venue or church (if you're having a religious ceremony) is legally approved to perform marriages. They can be as wild and imaginative as you like! Spain allows same-sex couples to get married and this has been the case since 2005!
Civil ceremonies are only available to those who have lived in Spain for at least two years and require a passport, birth certificate, certificate of residence and certificate of your partner's marriage status. Roman Catholics may get married in Mallorca even if you’re not residents but you will need to be organised and start the process in good time at your local church who will help you with any paperwork such as verifying your ID, birth certificate, marriage status, certificate of baptism and confirmation and your local parish’s permission to get married abroad as well has marriage preparation courses.
Who will be on your guest-list?
Deciding on the guest list can be super tricky with destination weddings as you can’t have as many guests as you might usually have. Write down exactly who you and your partner want at your wedding to get an idea of numbers, this will help you to inform what size venue you’ll need and also what your budget might end up looking like but bear in mind that with destination weddings that not everyone will be able to attend.
Once you’ve decided on your final guest list, write your save the date invitations with all the details about the venue, how to get there, a description of the area, hotels and apartments that are nearby to suit a range of budgets and how much taxis and flights will roughly cost so guests can decide if they will attend or not.
Set A Budget for your Wedding
These are all the things you need to consider when planning your destination wedding in Mallorca:
Venue: Make sure the venue is perfect for you and your partner and if you can then definitely pay Mallorca a visit beforehand to visit venues in person! Do you want a wedding by the beach with cocktails at sunset, a glamorous villa wedding or a wedding in the countryside fields? Pick somewhere you both love and you’ll remember forever!
Catering: Food is one of the best parts of a wedding and Mediterranean food is to die for. Seafood, tapas, paella - it’s mouthwatering stuff. Check with your venue if they provide catering or if you’ll need to find your own catering company to fuel everyone!
Lighting & Decoration: Decorations have the power to influence the atmosphere of your wedding. What kind of vibe are you wanting to create? Do you want it to be airy and romantic with fresh white linens blowing in the sea breeze with a Mediterranean touches? Are you having a sophisticated wedding in a villa with a chic monochrome theme? Get pinterest at the ready and start thinking about potential decor you’d want.
Music & Entertainment: It’s not a party without some music. What vibe of music do you want to go for? A string quarter, opera, or are you happy with a DJ?! Consider the cost of hire, travel and extra vans for equipment in your budget.
Photography: Wedding photography is one of the most important aspects of the day as after all the planning, prep and hard work that goes into planning a destination wedding in Mallorca you’ll want to be able to look back at all the amazing memories captured on your special day.
Make sure you pick a Mallorca wedding photographer or a Mallorca wedding photographer and videographer that understands your vision and knows exactly what you want out of your wedding photos. At AD Media UK we capture weddings all over the globe, why not take a look at some of the weddings we’ve captured and get in contact if you’re in need of a Mallorca wedding photographer or Mallorca elopement photographer!? We’re super passionate about documenting couples journeys, especially destination weddings.
Hair & Makeup: When thinking about hair and makeup, consider what will last all day and look good, even in the hot climate of Mallorca. Will you be picking a local vendor or will you be flying someone out from your home? Maybe you’re a skilled MUA and you’re doing it yourself! Decide exactly what you want and any costs that might crop up.
Travel Costs: Take all your travel costs into account, look at flights, transfers, taxis and then any other travel costs for yourselves and your guests that need to be accounted for in your budget. Remember, sneaky things like extra suitcases for all the wedding attire and equipment can impact costs depending on how much you’re bringing. Make sure you discuss any travel arrangements with everyone.
Final notes…
Fly out to Mallorca a couple of days before your wedding so you can get settled, finalise any last minute plans and go over all the final arrangements AND the most important thing of all, have some fun and spend some serious quality time together before you take that first step into married life. Before you know it, you’ll be honeymooning together - you might even want to consider having your mini-moon or honeymoon in Mallorca right after your wedding celebrations.