The church and venue are around 40 minutes from Madrid by car. We will be organizing buses that pick up all of our guests in front of "Bar El Brillante" in Atocha at 5:15 PM and take you to the church. When the ceremony ends, the buses will take you on the 5-minute drive to the venue. After the reception, the buses will drop you off at the same spot. There will be an earlier and later bus to take people back to Madrid. When you RSVP, please let us know if you plan by going by bus. If you don't want to go by bus, you can always rent a car and drive to the venue yourself. We don't recommend this option because a car is more of a hindrance than a convenience the days you are sight-seeing in Madrid.
In general, Spanish weddings tend to lean towards the more formal side. Men normally wear a suit and tie, and women wear a cocktail length or floor length dress. The venue is outdoors, so we recommend that ladies don't wear stiletto heels. Keep in mind that we will provide flats for the women when the dancing starts, so don't worry about bringing a change of shoes!
To allow all guests to relax and enjoy themselves, we have chosen to make our special day adults only. We thank you for your understanding.
Madrid is a very walkable city that's full of transportation options. There is no need to rent a car when you can get everywhere by taxi, uber, metro, bus or on foot. If you are going to other cities in Spain, the best option is always by train as they are comfortable, efficient and take you from city center to city center. You can always travel by plane, bus or car as well.
Yes, Spain is an incredibly safe country and is a great country for solo female travelers. The only thing to watch out for are pickpockets, especially in touristic areas of Madrid and Barcelona. When you sit down at a bar or restaurant, don't leave your phone on the table and keep an eye on your bag. Also, be more cautious if you are riding in a crowded bus or metro.
The biggest difference is the timetable. Spanish weddings are typically longer than American ones. We will have a short Catholic ceremony (in Spanish), followed by a cocktail "hour" that will definitely go longer than an hour. There will be LOTS of food, so make sure to pace yourself. And even though cocktail is in the name, it will be mostly beer and wine. The dinner, in general, may be much longer than what you are used to. Enjoy the time to relax before the dancing starts. After the meal, dessert and coffee will be served while you are still sitting. Then we will head to the dance floor with open bar. It will last until 4AM, so we recommend taking a nap the day of the wedding if you really want to enjoy!
As we all know, the situation can change quickly, but right now borders are open and it's easy to travel between Spain's autonomous communities. To enter the country, US citizens must be vaccinated and have received the last required dose of their COVID-19 vaccine no less than 14 days, and no more than 270 days (9 months), prior to arrival. This means if you got your second dose before September 2021, you will need to show that you got a booster shot at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain. You will also have to fill in a Health Control Form and present a QR code when you land. Your airline should give you all of that information. Some regions of Spain make you show proof of vaccination to enter bars, restaurants, theaters, etc. We recommend that you carry your vaccination card with you just in case.
Embrace the Spanish culture! First and foremost, get used to Spanish mealtimes if you really want to experience Spain. Lunch starts at 2PM and dinner begins at 9PM. If you go before then, you are sure to be in a restaurant full of tourists. Not sure how to make it to 2PM? Have 2 small breakfasts! At 9AM, grab some coffee and a pastry, and at 11AM try a slice of Spanish omlette (tortilla de patatas). Lunch is the biggest meal of the day and can easily last 2-3 hours on the weekend. Don't expect quick and attentive American service! You may have to flag down your waiter to get their attention, but you also won't be rushed so they can turn tables. After lunch, have a siesta so you can enjoy the evening! Dinner is lighter and is a great time to order bigger portions (raciones) to share. Another tip is to learn some phrases in Spanish, especially if you are planning to go to cities that aren't Madrid or Barcelona. We hope you enjoy this amazing country like we do!