The wedding in Gibraltar was the best decision we could have made while planning our big day. In the beginning, we wanted to get married in Sicily, the place where we met and lived at that time. I’m a Lithuanian citizen, he’s American. After visiting multiple civil marriage offices combined with tons of paperwork and calls, we dropped everything and searched on Google “where a couple can get married easily in Europe”. And the answer came instantly – Gibraltar. We did not think long. The answer was right there. A Wedding in Gibraltar it is.
Wedding planning with Rock Occasions
Our first step was finding a wedding planner in Gibraltar. After extensive Google search and clients’ reviews, we picked the Rock Occasions. Then started an emailing back and forth with them about all the formalities: digital copies of documents we need to send them, what kind of wedding package we’re thinking to get, what additional services we would like to book etc. Communication with Rock Occasions representative was smooth.
We wanted a selfish wedding ceremony – that is, just two of us and no one else. No relatives, no friends. Just running away and having a hassle-free private celebration. We picked an All-in-One Mons Calpe Suite package. All main wedding registration fees were included in this package price, together with a complimentary drink, bridal bouquet, transportation arrangement, 1-hour photoshoot, wedding ceremony rental place for 1 hour, and even two witnesses if a couple needs them (and we did). Additionally, we ordered a hair and make-up artist, a wedding cake, and 1 extra hour with a professional photographer.
We needed to arrange our arrival to Gibraltar and accommodation there on our own. We booked our flight to Sevilla, Spain, and drove a bit more than two hours to Gibraltar. And for accommodation, we chose to stay in the Rock Hotel.
Arriving in Gibraltar: paperwork and sightseeing
According to British law (Gibraltar is an overseas British territory), a couple who’s seeking to get married there, needs to arrive in Gibraltar at least 24 hours before the ceremony. Once we came there, we checked in the Rock Hotel and got a hotel-issued document that indicated our arrival time and room reservation period. Hotels’ administration is familiar with this British law and easily provides this document at the time of check-in.
Then, we needed to meet a lady from the Rock Occasions with whom we were emailing before. We met in a coffee shop to fill some papers, and present hard copies of previously sent digital copies. At that time, there we more couples who came there for the same reason. Later, all of us went to a certain registry office where ladies from the Rock Occasions did most of the job. We provided a couple more signatures and we were free to go. Before leaving, I gave the wedding planner a USB key with the songs that we picked for our wedding ceremony. All paperwork took less than two hours.
We had the whole day ahead of us in Gibraltar for sightseeing. We were a bit nervous about tomorrow but we tried to leave all the panicking for the wedding day. Firstly, we visited the Gibraltar Nature Reserve to see the famous apes. I had a false impression, that we would need to look for these monkeys but it was another way around. These little bastards were stealing food and any small items from people, jumping on the tour group cars, banging the hoods in demand for food. Just for the record, one of these hooligans literally ripped off a banana straight from my hands.
Later, we visited the impressive Saint Michael’s Cave. This cave is crowded with stalactites and stalagmites of every shape and size. The most spacious area, called Cathedral cave, is transformed into an underground concert hall. Around 400 spectators can enjoy various performances there.
The last place we visited before leaving the Rock, was the Great Siege Tunnels. In the late 18th century British dug multiple tunnels out of the limestone on the northern side of the Rock. At that time united France and Spain forces tried to take Gibraltar away from Great Britain. Long story short, digging these tunnels was a tactical maneuver that helped to maintain Gibraltar in British power. Now a long stretch of these tunnels, with some wartime exhibitions along the way, is accessible for tourists. We ended our evening in the amazing steak restaurant Paparazzi Steakhouse.
The wedding day in Gibraltar
Our ceremony was in the afternoon so I had plenty of time to get nervous. Ladies from the Rock Occasions demanded that it’s essential to eat in the morning no matter if I feel hungry or not. So I listened to them and had a nice breakfast with my still at the time fiance / future husband.
Tyler got ready first and left the room for me. The Spanish make-up and hair artist came to my hotel room precisely at the agreed time. It took approximately two hours for her to get me ready. And then it was time for Tyler and me to go to the cable car station and meet our wedding planner there. We were asked if we would like to go there separately, so the groom wouldn’t see the bride before the ceremony. We’re not superstitious at all, so we decided to go there together. In fact, it had a certain symbolic meaning for us: we are already going through life holding each other’s hands. Why we should go to our wedding separately?
There was an enormous line of tourists to get to the cable car. It was July anyway – the peak season for tourism. Luckily, “skip the line at the cable car“ was included in our wedding package, and we got at the top of The Rock in no time. Away from tourists, a small private room with a spectacular panoramic view was prepared for us. A lady from the civil marriage office was already there, together with a photographer.
Our wedding ceremony. Smiles, hugs, congratulations, and a glass of champagne for us.
After the ceremony, it was time for our additional hour of the photoshoot. David Rodriguez Photography took care of our photo session. First of all, we posed on The Rock of Gibraltar. That day was so sunny, so bright and even today, looking at our wedding pictures, I can feel the same atmosphere.
Due to the heat, we changed our second photoshoot place from the botanical gardens to Europa Point Lighthouse. In the beginning, we still had doubts if it was a good idea since from the pictures the botanical garden looked so beautiful. But in the end, we decided that Europa Point Lighthouse will work for us as well. Right at the water, the mild wind refreshed us. The day after our wedding, we visited these botanical gardens just to see what we missed. And we missed nothing. Europa Point Lighthouse was definitely a more picturesque place for a wedding photoshoot.
The last photoshoot place was at the marina, abord the luxurious Sunborn yacht hotel. A spacious shiny lobby was one of the hot spots for local photographers. After the photo session, a newlyweds dinner and cake were waiting for us in the Barbary restaurant.
It was almost evening after our dinner. Even though we were tired it was way too early to get back to our hotel. Damn, it’s our wedding day! And then, I got back to my usual self, took my red high heels in my hand and we walked straight to a bar at the marina to get some cold fresh beer.
Not everything was perfect, or a human factor
I cannot stress more how we were glad for choosing a getaway wedding in Gibraltar. However, like in any aspect of human life, one can’t avoid mistakes. There were 3 of them:
1) Remember how I mentioned a USB key with our wedding songs that I gave to the wedding planner? So the lady forgot to bring it to our ceremony. In the beginning, I was angry, then sad, and at the end I just let it go. We had just an hour for our beautiful ceremony and I didn’t make a drama out of it.
2) The hair and make-up artist I would evaluate 7/10. She did a decent job but it was far from perfect. For my whole life I have problematic skin and on such important occasions masking pimples is essential. She failed to do that. Again, I didn’t look like a monster, my hubby even said a looked stunning, but I could compare her with other make-up artists that I met in my life, and she just couldn’t beat them with her skills.
3) Well the real disaster was our mini wedding cake. It was red velvet but it tasted nothing like it. The cake’s color was weird and it was dry. Tyler was upset because that cake was his surprise for me, and it failed. But hey, it was just a cake. Fewer calories to hour bodies. Anyway, we complain about this particular cake to Rock Occasions and just offered to look for some better baker.
Wedding in Gibraltar in a nutshell
Holding our Wedding in Gibraltar was one of our best decisions. Choose a the right wedding planner and you will have a hassle-free wedding. We chose an All-in-One Mons Calpe Suite wedding package from Rock Occasions. Additionally, we purchased a hair and make-up artist service, a wedding cake, and an additional hour for the photoshoot. Transportation to Gibraltar and accommodation we arranged ourselves. We flew in Sevilla, rented a car, and drove to Gibraltar. According to British law, a couple needs to be in Gibraltar at least 24 hours prior to the ceremony. Even though our wedding in Gibraltar was just for the two of us, you can always make it bigger and invite people to your special day. As long as your budget lets you to do so. I’m sure wedding planners will help you to organize everything until the last detail.
