Invited to a Wedding in Mallorca? A Guest's Guide to the Trip

So the invitation says Mallorca. Not bad at all. A wedding abroad is really a short holiday with a big party somewhere in the middle of it, but it does need a bit more planning than a hotel an hour up the motorway. A few things are worth sorting out before you start booking.

Book flights early

Look at flights the moment you know the date. You can fly direct to Palma from most airports in the UK and Ireland, but in summer the prices climb quickly, Fridays and Sundays especially. If the wedding's on a Saturday, flying out on the Thursday tends to be cheaper, and you won't be rushing either.

Have a think about luggage before you book. The budget airlines don't mess around, and once you've packed a wedding outfit, proper shoes and your beach stuff, a cabin bag is full. If your suit or dress creases easily, one checked bag shared between two of you is usually money well spent.

And if you're staying out in the countryside and driving there yourself, try to arrive while it's still light. Unlit country lanes in a hire car you've had for twenty minutes, straight after a flight, is not how you want the weekend to start.

Know what the weather will be like

Weddings on the island mostly happen somewhere between May and October, and that covers quite a range of weather.

May and June are warm without being too much, and things are still green. July and August are hot, sometimes really hot, and even at five in the afternoon the sun has some bite to it. September still feels like summer, with the sea at its warmest, though the evenings get a little fresher. October is milder again, and you might catch a shower or two.

Look at the forecast a few days before you pack rather than weeks before. Islands do their own thing.

Where to stay

Start by finding out exactly where the venue is. People are often surprised by how big Mallorca is, and plenty of wedding venues are out in the countryside, half an hour or more from Palma.

If the couple has arranged a deal with a hotel, it usually makes sense to take it, because transport to the venue is often included. If not, it's really between two choices. Either you stay close to the venue, somewhere quiet like a rural hotel or finca, or you base yourself in Palma and get a taxi or transfer on the day. Palma's more fun if you're staying a few extra days, but find out what the taxi will cost first. Coming back from the countryside late at night can add up.

Don't leave booking too late. Summer weekends go quickly, and the nice little places near the popular venues are the first to disappear. Going with a group of friends? A villa between you can work out cheaper than separate rooms, and it's a good laugh too.

One more thing, look at where places actually are on the map, not just at the photos. Near the beach and near the venue are, in Mallorca, very rarely the same place.

Getting around

To see much of the island you'll want a car. There are buses, but getting to smaller villages and beaches on them takes a while. In summer it's worth booking ahead, and going for a smaller car than you'd normally pick. Some village streets and mountain roads are narrow, and parking in the old towns can be a pain.

Read the rental conditions before you turn up. The fuel policy, the insurance excess, whether they'll take a debit card or only credit. That's usually where the arguments at the desk come from.

On the actual wedding day, leave the car where it is. There'll be wine, it'll be a long night, and you'll be glad you're not the one driving. If there's no bus back organised by the couple, team up with a few other guests and book a taxi ahead of time. You can't count on one just turning up out in the countryside at two in the morning.

What to wear

Dress for the heat first and worry about the rest after. Light fabrics, a suit that breathes, and something for your shoulders if the ceremony's in a church.

Shoes are a bigger deal than you'd expect. A lot of fincas have gravel paths, lawns and old uneven stone floors, and thin heels sink straight into all of it. Block heels or smart flats will make the night a lot more comfortable.

Pack a light jacket or a wrap as well, because evenings out in the countryside can get surprisingly cool, even in summer.

Men, a linen or lightweight wool suit will be much easier to live with than a heavy one. Weddings often begin quite formal and relax as the night goes on, and the jackets tend to come off once the dancing starts. Do check the invitation, though. If it says black tie, they mean it, heat or no heat.

Budget for more than the flight

Going to a wedding abroad costs more than going to one at home, so it's good to have a rough idea up front.

On top of the flight and somewhere to sleep, there's the car or taxis, food for the days around the wedding, and maybe a hairdresser or barber if you'd rather not get ready in a small hotel bathroom. Eating in Palma and the busier tourist spots isn't cheap in high season. The smaller places in the villages are often better value, and you'll eat just as well.

If money's tight, a shorter trip is better than not going at all. The couple knows they're asking a lot, and they'll really value having you there.

About the gift

Gifts are a bit awkward when you're flying, so check the invitation or the wedding website first. A lot of couples marrying abroad ask for a contribution to the honeymoon or money rather than presents, mostly because nobody wants to bring a toaster home in hand luggage.

If you do want to give them something, keep it small and light, or post it to their home before or after the trip.

What to expect on the day

Weddings in Mallorca tend to start later than the ones you're used to. The ceremony is often late in the afternoon, once the worst of the heat has passed. After that there's a long cocktail outside with drinks and small bites while the sun goes down, and dinner usually doesn't start until it's dark.

Have a decent lunch. Really. If you normally eat at six, waiting until nine for dinner can be tough.

The music usually goes along with all that. At the ceremony it tends to be something live and fairly gentle, maybe a single instrument. During the cocktail there's often more live music, maybe a guitarist or a violinist booked through a local agency like  Mallorca Wedding Entertainment, and then later the party properly gets going. These days a lot of weddings on the island mix a DJ with a live musician, say a wedding saxophonist in Mallorca like RudolfSax jumping in with short sets over the DJ's music. Don't expect people on the dance floor before eleven, and don't expect them to leave early either.

So go easy at the start. Between the late ceremony, the long cocktail and the wine at dinner, you could be on your feet for eight hours or more. A glass of water every now and then helps a lot, especially after a hot afternoon. Your feet will hold out longer, and the next morning will be kinder to you.

Travelling with children

If your kids are invited, think about the timing before anything else. Ceremony at six, dinner at nine, party after that. That's a very long day when you're five.

An afternoon nap makes a big difference, if you can manage one. Pack snacks (more than you think), and decide in advance what you'll do when they've had enough. Some couples sort out a babysitter or a quiet room somewhere at the venue, so it's worth asking them. And if your hotel is close by, it's often simplest for one of you to take the little ones back early while the other stays for the dancing.

Make the most of the extra days

If you've got a day or two either side of the wedding, use them. The island has a lot more to it than the venue.

Palma's old town is nice for just wandering. Have a look at the cathedral, follow whatever little street looks interesting, and then stop for a lunch that goes on far too long. With a bit of extra time, head up to Bellver Castle, on foot or by taxi if it's hot. The view over the bay from up there is worth it.

The old wooden train from Palma to Sóller is slow, and that's kind of the charm of it. It winds up through the mountains, and once you get to Sóller there's a tram that takes you down to the port for a swim or a drink by the water.

If you've rented a car, drive out through the Serra de Tramuntana to Valldemossa and Deià. It's a twisty road, so take your time, but you get stone villages, terraced hills and the sea below you most of the way. Try to go early in the morning or later in the afternoon, when the coaches have either not arrived yet or already left.

The beaches on the east coast are mostly small coves with really clear water. Get there early, though, because in summer the well-known ones are packed by mid-morning. Take water with you and wear shoes you can actually walk in, since some of the best coves are a bit of a hike from where you park.

Over there midweek? Have a look for a local market. Lots of the inland towns have one a week, with fruit, cheese, olives and bits of local craft, and it shows you a side of the island you won't see from a sunbed.

A few local habits

In the smaller towns, shops sometimes shut for a few hours in the afternoon, so don't plan on picking anything up in a village at three o'clock.

People eat later than at home. Lunch at two and dinner after nine is completely normal, and some restaurants won't even open for dinner before eight.

Tipping isn't the big thing it is in some places. Rounding up, or leaving a bit extra when the service was good, is nice, but no one's going to chase you down the street.

Learn a couple of words of Spanish. "Hola", "gracias", "por favor" is enough to start with, and people do appreciate it. In the villages you'll probably hear Catalan as well, which is the island's other language.

A few small things

Wear sunscreen, and that includes the wedding day. An outdoor ceremony in the late afternoon sun can catch you out more than you'd think.

Have a bit of cash on you for taxis and the small cafés in the villages.

Bring your charger and a power bank. Maps, photos and a hundred WhatsApp messages will finish your battery long before the night's over.

And if the couple has a welcome drink the night before or a beach day after, make the effort to go. It's often the only proper chance you'll get to talk to them, because on the wedding day itself they'll be pulled in every direction.