Congratulations! You are getting married!

Thanks for stopping by here! This blog is dedicated to anything to do with weddings, but more specifically weddings in Gibraltar. Because of its proximity, we will also have news on venues in Southern Spain, and offer you some tips and helpful advice. Happy planning!

Tuesday, 15 March 2011

Special offer from Hour Weddings!


As Springtime approaches -yes its next week! - we are stepping up our wedding bookings and want to offer couples who are considering getting married in Gibraltar, an extra incentive!

Get married in Gibraltar with Hour Weddings, book one of our packages - from the John & Yoko wedding package to the Licensed to Wed package - and receive a gorgeous wedding cake worth £120 ABSOLUTELY FREE! (our cakes are gorgeous - just have  a look at what our cake experts can do for you - for up to 10 people.

Need more convincing? Well, we are working closely with our favourite hotels in Gibraltar and we can promise you a double room with breakfast for under £100!  Getting married need not cost the earth in Gibraltar - and at Hour Weddings, we are here to show you how to get the most out of your budget!

Yes, Spring is on its way, and we are getting excited! Join in the fun and book your wedding with us this month to avail yourself of these great deals...:)

Note: the Wedding cake offer is not applicable for the "No Frills Attached" and "Runaway Bride & Groom" packages.

Wednesday, 2 March 2011

If you are thinking of having your wedding in Gibraltar....

....consider wedding planners "Hour Weddings" for your wedding. They have a broad selection of unique venues in their books - from the rustic charm of a traditional Spanish cortijo, to the splendour of a 5 star luxury hotel in Marbella. And for weddings that are just in Gibraltar, Hour Weddings have negotiated special rates with the top hotels and venues there, and are able to promise you competitive prices which include a complete wedding planning service for you.



Getting married abroad is not an easy thing to do, no matter what others may say, the stress involved in not knowing which florist to contact, which caterers to hire, or even getting all your paperwork in order before the wedding, is something that you can easily avoid if you have someone there - a competent local wedding planner - to advise and assist you all the way. Monica Coumbe from Hour Weddings has been organising weddings and events since the beginning of 2007, and has built up an excellent reputation among her clients and suppliers, both of whom value her attention to detail and ability to be available at all hours. Take a look at the testimonials on the website, they are all from happy couples everywhere!

Need more convincing? Head to the website for tips, ideas and inspiration. With 10 wedding packages available for you to choose from, it couldn't be simpler to organise you wedding in Gibraltar!

Thursday, 24 February 2011

blogging about destination weddings...


I have had to take an absence of leave in my blogging activities lately as I went to Jamaica for a 2 week holiday. Thats's a busy wedding location! Beautiful, warm, with gorgeous beaches and lovely hotels where you can enjoy an all inclusive holiday. I must say, I was impressed. I was even witness to a beach wedding at the hotel I was at, and as the couple exchanged vows, Bob Marley's iconic song "One Love" came on the loudspeaker as the guests clapped. A little bit cheesy, I thought at the time, but hey, it wasn't my wedding!  There were about 8 guests, so it was pretty intimate. And yet, just around the corner, by the beach bar, there was loud rock music playing while guests enjoying the all inclusive board, indulged in pitchers of Appleton Rum and coke!  Personally, whilst I can see the appeal for a beach wedding in Jamaica, let's be honest, it is a long way away for your family and friends to travel too - the average fare for a economy flight from London is £600. That is a big investment for many these days!

Which brings me back to my favourite wedding destinations - Gibraltar and Southern Spain. Whilst we may not have the Caribbean sea,. the Mediterranean Sea is, in itself a lovely alternative. And whilst you may not be able to get married at the beach in Gibraltar, you can do so in Spain, in so many lovely unspoilt locations, which your wedding planner can help you find. Flights to Gibraltar and Malaga are frequent and well priced. Hour Weddings can arrange transfers for you from any of the airports nearby to your final destination. And with outstanding villas now available for short lets, with swimming pools, and located by the beach, why would you want to go anywhere else?

If you were proposed to this Valentine's Day, have you thought of where you would like to get married? If you were thinking of a destination wedding, think about Gibraltar perhaps. Keep reading this blog and we'll find ways to tempt you!


Monday, 17 January 2011

Cruises and weddings in Gibraltar - a sweet combination!

Did you know that Gibraltar is one of Europe's most popular cruise stop destinations? For decades, Gibraltar has welcomed visitors from all over the world arriving on luxury cruise ships for the day. On these days - which is almost every day in summer - Gibraltar's streets turn into a mass of colour and activity; as shoppers enjoy the great bargains to be had in Gibraltar's duty free shops, and visit the sites that make Gibraltar so famous worldwide.





With so many cruise liners arriving on a daily basis to our shores, it is no wonder that some of its passengers like the idea of getting married whilst on holiday. Gibraltar is a great destination wedding venue. With easy legislation that can be arranged in advance, it is possible for loved up couples to embark on a Mediterranean cruise and arrive in Gibraltar for the day, and leave as a married couple!  All that is required is a little planning ahead, with the help of wedding planners Hour Weddings,  and a short visit to Gibraltar to finalise the details prior to your cruise.
Last year, one of our couples did just that. Arriving in Gibraltar just before midday with their entourage of relatives and friends who were also on board the Legend of the Seas, they were whisked off to the Gibraltar Botanical Gardens to have their wedding ceremony, followed by a cocktail reception. Then, after having visited the top of the Rock for some amazing pictures, they were driven back to their ship just before it was ready to depart! It was a gorgeous day, and Monica was there throughout to make sure they had what they needed. The couple, who had arrived as Mr and Miss, departed as a very delighted Mr and Mrs!
So, if you are in the midst of planning your wedding and are looking for something different, how about making your wedding a cruise with a difference? We would be happy to provide you with options, including a list of cruise liners that are heading our way this summer.
Bon voyage, ahoy there and all the rest, matey!

Sunday, 2 January 2011

Have a James Bond wedding in Gibraltar!




When Sean Connery – a.k.a. the original James Bond – got married in Gibraltar in 1973, he was very much part of the wave of famous personalities that came to the Rock to get hitched in a quiet and quick ceremony.

When his marriage ended in divorce, and he decided to tie the knot again, he came back to Gibraltar for that one too! What a treat for the people at the Registry! They still talk about it – 30 something years later! 
Round about the same time, another James Bond - Sir Roger Moore actually - honeymooned on the Rock of Gibraltar. Clearly a connection is being drawn here….

Weddings and honeymooners come to Gibraltar for various reasons – could it be the James Bond connection?  After all, did you know that the starting action sequence of “the Living Daylights” was shot on location in Gibraltar? It was stunning car chase down the Rock, with a climatic parachute drop onto a luxury yacht below! Its’ quite unbelievable – but great anyway! 

This is the beauty of getting married in Gibraltar. In a way, you can have it all, the backdrop, the drama, the fantastic climate. And yet a Gibraltar wedding is easy to enjoy. With everything close by, the extraordinary venues, and the lovely hotels, its easy to imagine why famous people came to exchange their vows in Gibraltar. Of course, with the legalities being relatively simple to process, a wedding ceremony need not be costly or tedious. It can be almost as exhilarating as that car chase down the Rock with an equally amazing ending!

Wedding planners Hour Weddings have been helping couples to get married in Gibraltar for nearly 3 years now. With their handy wedding packages, it’s now a real breeze getting your paperwork sorted out and planning a memorable wedding in Gibraltar. And if James Bond movies are your thing, why not create a James Bond theme in Gibraltar? Monica Coumbe, Managing Director at Hour Weddings is able to charter a yacht for your party. Or you could hire a speedboat and arrive at a marina in Gibraltar and head to the Registry – a short 5 minute walk – and exchange your vows. Then head off to the Top of the Rock for a stunning wedding reception at sunset.  The choices are limitless, the imagination endless. 

When the wedding is over, and the honeymoon begins, you could then head off to Tangiers, across the Straits of Gibraltar, where the beauty of Moroccan awaits you and your loved one. It’s all very Bond –like, you see? 

There is a new wedding package offered by Hour Weddings that gives you the chance to have a wedding with all the excitement of a James Bond movie without the price tag! check it out here


10 Reasons why you should get married in Gibraltar



If you’ve just been proposed to, or have just proposed to the love of your life, and been accepted (!) you are probably right now thinking - OH HECK WHAT NEXT? It’s a well-known fact that planning a wedding is as stressful as moving house, having a baby, starting a new job - all those things that get those jitters going, and the butterflies flapping in your belly.
If the only thing you’ve ever organised before is a BBQ in your backyard, then planning your wedding is going to be a challenge and a half. But before you go screaming back to your fiancĂ© (e) that it was all a big mistake, hold on! It really isn’t that difficult, you know. These days, all you need is a good location, great weather, and a sympathetic locally based wedding planner to help you make it happen.
A Wedding abroad - away from home - is a wonderful way to bring together all your loved ones in one place where they can also enjoy a little holiday for themselves. The best weddings are the ones where all your guests wish they could do it all over again, because it was such a perfect day. Not many places can guarantee that kind of effect.


Here are at least 10 reasons we can think of why Gibraltar is a brilliant location for a destination wedding.….


1. It’s easy - A wedding made in Gibraltar is an uncomplicated affair to organise with regards to the legalities. For decades, couples have come to the Rock to tie to knot. You can book your wedding with 24 hours notice even, if you want! After that is done, the paperwork is easy, and with an Hour Weddings co-ordinator by your side, we can help you sort it out with the minimum fuss.
2. Short flights - Flights to Gibraltar and Malaga are very frequent from most major destinations, and affordable for your guests- if you are coming from the UK then the journey to the Rock is just two and half hours long.
3. Lovely venues - Nowadays the Gibraltar Registry allows weddings to take place in other venues as well as the Registry, which means you can have a very romantic wedding in one of the many beautiful locations that are licensed to perform marriage ceremonies. Take for example, Gibraltar Botanical Gardens - a beautiful location abundant with exotic and rare flora, inspired by the Italian gardens of the past. Or you could get married in the charming and luxurious Rock Hotel, with its fantastic views overlooking the Straits of Gibraltar. Or you could go for something totally different and get married at the top of the Rock! This is a stunning location that is hard to beat for that wow factor!

 If you prefer, you can also choose to have your wedding ceremony in Gibraltar then head across the border to one of the many fantastic venues available to host your wedding celebration. From the rustic charm of a finca, to the imposing yet beautiful rural monasteries, to an elegant restaurant in Puerto Banus, to a five star luxury hotel on the Millionaires strip – the range is endless, and with the help of your planner you WILL find the right place for your special day.
4. The weather! - With wonderful weather for most of the year, you needn’t worry about how your day will turn out, especially if you pick a date from March to September!
5. Experienced local wedding planning service - Hire a competent wedding planner like Hour Weddings – Gibraltar’s leading wedding and event organiser.  The experienced team can organise a wedding package to suit your individual requirements - whether your budget is limited or lavish. Or if you want just a little assistance and support on the day, they can handle that too, so that you can really enjoy your special occasion.
6. Location -The unique location of Gibraltar makes it possible for you to choose to take off for your honeymoon from Gibraltar to Spain, or Morocco, a popular destination – with flights to Marrakech from Gibraltar, you couldn’t pick a more romantic getaway.
7. Cost  – Given the current financial downturn, it is wiser today to spend your pounds and not convert to Euros. Gibraltar is a British colony, its main currency the pound sterling. It makes sound financial sense to pick Gibraltar as your wedding destination. Simple!


8. History – Follow in the footsteps of famous names like John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and Sean Connery. In his heyday, he tied the knot here on the Rock. And John and Yoko caused quite a stir when they decided to get married in Gibraltar!

9. Cruise stop – You could always plan your wedding on the Rock with a honeymoon cruise in mind – fly to Gibraltar, get married, then board one of the many luxury liners that come to Gibraltar every summer. Now doesn’t that sound wonderful? We can arrange that for you!
10. A very warm welcome - Finally, there is only one more reason we can think of – the people in Gibraltar are just great! You can be sure that you and your guests will be treated to Gibraltar’s famous Mediterranean hospitality.
Yes, Gibraltar is a wonderful wedding destination. And if you need help organising your day, well there is a growing number of wedding planners available to lend a hand. Hour Weddings have set the bar high and are worth contacting for some advice.So, consider Gibraltar as your destination wedding venue, and "imagine all the people" who will be delighted with your decision!