Easiest countries in Europe to Get Married in (as a foreigner)

Europe is such a diverse continent in culture, language and also local laws that it can be difficult to follow in order to get married as a foreigner.

Countries below have the simplest marriage laws, so you can decide which one is best for your wedding abroad.

Please note, that although these countries don't require you to be resident, you will need to give some notice in order to marry there. We recommend you use a local wedding planner in each country who can advise on the laws and also help you get the paperwork to the authorities at the correct time. You will always require a witness to prove you have exchanged vows, and often a wedding planner can provide witnesses or act as a witness themselves.

1. Gibraltar

Famous for its "Rock" and Apes, this is the easiest country in Europe in which to get married. Based on UK law, but without the residency requirements, you can marry here after staying for a minimum of 24 hours, and all the documentation is in English, so no need to translate anything.

Gibraltar weddings can take place in a multitude of places, including on top of the famous Rock of Gibraltar, which has featured in many films and has magnificent views over the straight of Gibraltar to Morocco on the other side.

2. Denmark

Simple to get married if you aren't resident, and they accept documentation in English or German as well as Danish, which makes things easier.

If you're looking for a simple wedding then getting married in a town hall in Denmark is one of the best choices, but if you'd like to go the whole hog and have a "fairytale" wedding then Denmark is an excellent place to do so as there are plenty of lovely castles which offer wedding ceremonies.

Can you help us with our wedding license application paperwork in Denmark? We work with a great wedding planner in Denmark called Marry Abroad Simply and you can contact them on www.marryabroadsimply.com to help you with the wedding license and booking your wedding in Copenhagen or anywhere in Denmark.

3. Cyprus

There are a couple of good reasons Cyprus is usually high on the list of wedding abroad countries, it's easy to get married here and it has some great wedding locations (and the weather isn't bad either!). Many of the hotels and resorts here offer wedding ceremonies, so it's perfect if you'd like to bring lots of guests.

Due to its warm, dry climate, Cyprus has a long wedding "season" with resorts usually opening in April and staying open until the end of September. So if you're able to get married in April or September you're likely to have a beautiful ceremony without the weather being too hot. It'll also be quieter in the resort so you're more likely to be able to enjoy your celebrations without too many onlookers!

4. Portugal

Warm, sunny, great food, wide beaches and welcoming people - what's not to love about Portugal?! It's straightforward to get married here, with plenty of flights to the Algarve and Lisbon so your guests can get here easily, and lots of lovely wedding planners and venues across the country. The most popular location to get married abroad here is the Algarve, which isn't surprising as it's a popular holiday location with many stunning locations to choose from.

The charming northern town of Porto is ideal for a rustic wedding set amongst the vineyards, and of course, there's a great choice of wine here, from Port itself to usual strength wine, you won't be struggling to find a wine you like.

5. Malta

This historic island in the Mediterranean may not be one of the first countries which springs to mind when planning a wedding abroad, but it's English speaking, isn't difficult to marry here, and has a warm, dry climate - all top reasons to choose it for your wedding abroad.