Why Gibraltar is Europe’s best destination for an Indian wedding

For anyone wishing to get married with a nod to their Indian heritage, Gibraltar is a wonderful wedding destination. With straightforward paperwork requirements and a vibrant Hindu community, Gibraltar is the perfect European location for celebrating an Indian wedding.

Certainly, weddings in India are traditionally a large, colourful and spiritual affair with extravagant dress, music, dancing, rituals and feasting to mark a couple’s nuptials among a throng of celebrants. But whether you’re planning a large event or an intimate ceremony, here’s what you need to know if you’re planning an Indian wedding in Gibraltar.

First things first – the entry requirements

Couples do not need to be residents in Gibraltar to get married or enter a civil partnership. One night’s stay is all that is required prior to the ceremony.

Indian passport holders will require one of the following before they gain entry to Gibraltar:

• A UK residence permit issued for 12 months or longer
• A multiple-entry Schengen visa that has at least seven days validity remaining on it
• A UK Biometric Residence Permit or a UK multiple-entry visa issued for six months or more

Please check the latest Covid-19 testing and vaccination requirements before you travel.

Gibraltar and its Hindu community

You can see evidence of the Hindu peoples who live in Gibraltar on the streets of the city, in the restaurants that dot the peninsula, and in places of worship and historical significance.

The largest community of Hindus are those of the Sindhi sect who have been present in Gibraltar since the mid-19th century. Most were merchants who arrived from colonial India to the British territory. Their numbers swelled after the Partition of India in 1947.

Gibraltar’s Main Street and its other shopping thoroughfares have a number of stores run by Sindhi families. There are also some fantastic Indian and Pakistani restaurants on the Rock. Some are particularly notable for hosting many wedding night meals every year. The Gibraltar Hindu Temple is the main place of worship and the hub of the community on the Rock. It is located in the centre of town on Engineer Street.

Ready to pick your muhurat date for a Gibraltar wedding?

We’ve already noticed that for 2022 weddings, there aren’t many muhurat dates that fall on a Saturday or Sunday. So, if you’re sticking to Hindi tradition and wish to wed on the most auspicious days in the calendar, that may work in your favour. It likely means there will be more availability at Gibraltar’s most popular wedding venues on the other days in the week, including the Registry Office, Botanical Gardens and the Sunborn Hotel.

So if you’re thinking about a Hindu wedding ceremony in the Mediterranean, why not get in touch with our fab team of Gibraltar wedding planners to begin planning your big day?