This Is How Different Getting Married in the Canary Islands Can Be
When I look back at the weddings and ceremonies I have experienced over the past few months, it is sometimes hard to believe that they all took place on the same islands. There was a small ceremony in the sand, a wedding with family and friends right by the sea, a sunset ceremony, a couple exchanging their words completely on their own, a ceremony in the middle of the Atlantic, a celebration at a beautiful wedding venue, and other couples who wanted exactly what many people imagine when they think of a big wedding: lots of guests, elegant outfits, beautifully set tables, music, food and a long party afterwards. And that is exactly what I love about my work. There is no single right way to get married. There is only the wedding that feels right for you.
Maybe your wedding is just about the two of you
A wedding does not automatically need a guest list. Some of the most intense ceremonies I experience happen when there is practically no one there except the couple. No audience, no fixed wedding programme, no expectations from anyone else. Just two people, their story, a special place and that one moment. Maybe you are standing barefoot by the sea. Maybe you have found a quiet spot somewhere on the island. Maybe you have deliberately planned the day as part of a journey, with your ceremony becoming one special moment in an experience that belongs entirely to the two of you. A wedding for two can be beautifully simple and, precisely because of that, incredibly intense. Not smaller. Just more personal.
Or you bring your favourite people with you into the sand
The complete opposite can be just as beautiful. Sometimes you do not even need chairs. A few blankets in the sand, flowers, the people who matter most to you, the sound of the Atlantic in the background – and suddenly a simple stretch of beach becomes a place you will probably remember for the rest of your life. Over the past few months, I have been lucky enough to experience exactly these kinds of moments. Relaxed, heartfelt and without the feeling that a wedding has to follow a predetermined schedule. You sit together, you laugh, sometimes there are tears, the wind joins in and somewhere in between, the most important thing happens: two people tell each other what they mean to one another.
A wedding with family – when the sunset becomes part of the ceremony
A wedding with family does not have to be a large event either. Sometimes it is just a handful of people who have been chosen very deliberately: parents, siblings, children or your closest friends. And when the sun slowly begins to sink towards the Atlantic and the light becomes softer, the atmosphere changes all by itself. There is no need to artificially make these moments bigger. Often, it is enough simply to give them space. That is exactly why I love ceremonies where the surroundings are not merely decoration. The place becomes part of the experience. The light is part of it. Sometimes the wind is too. And even a little sand in the wedding dress is allowed to be part of the story.
And why should you always get married on land?
One of the things I have loved discovering over the past few months is just how many possibilities appear when you stop thinking of a wedding only in terms of a traditional wedding venue. Why not get married on a boat, for example? In the middle of the Atlantic, your perspective changes completely. The coastline becomes smaller, there is water all around you and suddenly even a very intimate ceremony feels like a great adventure. And you really do not need much. A couple, a few favourite people, some personal words, perhaps some flowers and a little fabric that will probably do exactly what it wants as soon as the first gust of wind arrives – and the Atlantic.
Barefoot on the beach can be just as right as a dress, a venue and a big party
This is especially important to me: an individual wedding does not automatically mean that everything has to be small or alternative. Maybe you have always dreamed of a big wedding. A beautiful venue, a long table surrounded by family and friends, a wedding dress and suit, flowers, music, dinner, wedding cake and a dance floor that does not empty until very late at night. If that is what you dream of, then that is your wedding. The Canary Islands offer wonderful possibilities for this too, for example on a private finca or at a professional wedding venue. After all, personality does not come from avoiding traditions. It comes from choosing the traditions that genuinely feel right for you.
A private finca creates a completely different atmosphere
Between a spontaneous ceremony in the sand and a large event venue, there are countless possibilities. One of them is celebrating on a private finca. It can quickly feel as though you have created your own little world for a day. The ceremony might take place in the garden, later everyone eats together, children run around, eventually the music starts and as afternoon slowly turns into evening, nobody has to go anywhere. Especially for couples spending several days in the Canary Islands together with their guests, this can be incredibly beautiful. The wedding then feels less like a single item on a schedule and more like a shared experience.
Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote or Tenerife – but first, think about you
Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Tenerife are among the most popular islands for couples who want to get married in the Canary Islands. And of course, they are all different. But before getting lost in landscapes, venues and wedding ideas, there is another question I much prefer to ask: How do you want to feel on that day? Not: What do people normally do? Not: Which wedding looks best on Instagram? Instead: Do you want peace and intimacy? Do you want adventure? Do you want your family close around you? Do you want to celebrate with your friends until late into the night? Do you want to jump into the sea together in the morning and get married in the evening? Or do you want just one person beside you and to forget the rest of the world for a few hours? For me, that is where the real planning begins. I have put together a separate overview of the differences between the islands, their landscapes and the possibilities for your ceremony here: Weddings and ceremonies in the Canary Islands.
The pictures really tell the whole story
When I look at the photos taken over the past few months, I do not simply see different versions of the same wedding. I see completely different stories. A ceremony in the sand. Me as the celebrant standing in front of a large wedding party. People laughing together beneath a decorated arch. Two people exchanging their vows right by the sea. A small wedding on an endless beach. A ceremony on a boat. And a beautifully prepared venue where every detail has its place. It is exactly this variety that fascinates me. Because it shows far better than any wedding brochure just how much is possible in the Canary Islands.
And I probably have not seen everything yet
Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of accompanying so many different couples, families and weddings. And yet I still do not feel that I could ever say: This is what a wedding in the Canary Islands looks like. People are far too different for that. And thankfully so. Maybe the next wedding will take place high up in the mountains. Maybe it will be another very small ceremony by the sea. Maybe 80 guests will gather on a finca. Maybe five people will be on a boat. Maybe it will be something I have not even thought of yet. That is exactly what makes this work so special to me. I am not here to help people celebrate just any wedding. I get to help them discover what their wedding can look like. And that is a joy every single time.
How do you want your wedding to feel?
If you already have an idea – or simply know that you want something a little different – tell me about it. Together, we can explore which setting, location and type of ceremony truly suits you. Discover weddings and ceremonies in the Canary Islands here.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ):
What types of weddings are possible in the Canary Islands?
From an intimate ceremony for two and a beach wedding to a celebration with family and friends, a ceremony on a boat or a large wedding on a finca or at a professional wedding venue, there are many possibilities. What matters most is not following a fixed concept, but finding the setting that truly suits you.
Which Canary Island is particularly suitable for getting married?
Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Tenerife are among the most popular islands for weddings. Each island offers different landscapes, atmospheres and possibilities. Which one suits you best depends on whether you are dreaming of a beach, volcanic scenery, a finca, a special venue or a more intimate atmosphere.
Can you get married in the Canary Islands with just the two of you?
Yes, absolutely. Small ceremonies for two can be incredibly personal and emotional. Whether by the sea, in a quiet place somewhere on the island or as part of a special excursion, a wedding does not need a large guest list to become unforgettable.
