Eloping in Girona, Spain

Most of us only dream of going to Europe, let alone eloping or getting married there. As a child I used to think Europe was just like the fairytales they came from, beautiful, old, historic, and far, far away. Well, my dream to photograph an elopement in Europe came true this past summer. And none other than in the beautiful city of Girona, Spain. Just a little over half an hour train ride outside of Barcelona, you will find this small but beautiful city filled with so much life! From the busy cobblestoned streets lined with the local market stalls to the stone stairs leading up to the Cathedral where they filmed a scene from Game of Thrones, it's no wonder this small city is a hidden gem.

Walking along with my couple, we were constantly greeted with well-wishes from passerby's and finding spots to capture their love through my lens was not only so incredible and fun, but a tour in itself. The city boasts so much beautiful architecture, and the friendliness of its people were just amazing. Not to mention the food! Founded in 79 B.C., this old city is proudly Catalan and the food and tapas are second to none! Believe me, I ate my fill of tapas.

HOW TO GET TO GIRONA...

You can get to Girona by the high-speed train from Barcelona train station or you can drive there. For me, I was able to take the high speed train (the Renfe) from Barcelona Sant's train station and arrive into the Girona train station within 30 - 40 minutes. It was a short walk to my meeting place in the Old Town and then we were on our way!

WHAT IS THERE TO SEE IN GIRONA?

Our first stop was in Old Town Girona. We walked a short distance from our meeting spot to the bridge called Pujada Del Ponte de Pedra, which you can see is the first picture above. The lighting that morning was just incredible!

From there, we headed up the narrow streets, passing so many cute little shops to the Girona Cathedral where they filmed a scene from Game of Thrones. The white exterior is not only breathtaking, but definitely gives off that medieval vibe. It made for some epic staircase moments for my couple as well. Walking up the steps we were able to find a spot that was not yet crowded as it was still early morning, and we stopped to take in the view as well as take some amazing shots in front of these beautiful green side doors of the cathedral. (see picture above)

While we didn't do too much walking and touring during our elopement shoot, that's not to say that that's all there is to see in Girona. The view from the famous Port de les Peixateries Velles, which was constructed by Gustave Eiffel himself, yes, the man who designed the Eiffel Tower; also gives an incredibly beautiful view of the city with its multicolored buildings. The Plaça de la Independència is also a beautiful square where you can grab a drink, relax, shop, or people watch. And if you walk a bit further, you can walk along the city walls called the Muralles

de Girona, from where you can view the entire Old Town. And if you head to the lookout towers, you can see even better views.

All in all, I would definitely say that Girona is one of my top beautiful places in Spain to elope. Not only is it easy to get to, it has so many beautiful places to offer and is not as crowded compared to the bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona. The endless hidden locations for photos, the kindness of the people, and the vibrancy of the city will leave an everlasting memory in your heart forever. If you ever want to get married or elope there, then let's go!

xoxo - MAI