I’ve mentioned a few times how difficult it was to get married in Gibraltar, and some of you have asked about the story. Well, here’s the scoop!
I met my future husband, Tó João (Anthony John or TJ for short), when I was living in Cova da Piedade, Portugal (I was there about five months in that city). After I went home, he was able to get a Visa and came to see me in the United States. He brought a ring and proposed, and I fell head-over-heels in love. It was a story every bit as romantic as any in the best romance novels. Yes, we were two people from different continents who were meant for each other. When his month in the States was over, he had to return to Europe, but we lasted only two weeks apart before he bought me a ticket, and I was on my way back to Portugal to marry him.
Portugal says no!
But once in Portugal, we couldn’t get married! Marriages, divorces, and deaths are all recorded on Portuguese birth certificates, and my US birth certificate didn’t say what my marital status was, so we were denied a license. Tó João also couldn’t get another Visa to return to the US because he’d been there so recently. (Though we later learned there was another option we could have pursued.)
Get married in Gibraltar?
Enter Gibraltar, which is a little (2 ½ miles) British territory at the tip of Spain that is separated from Morocco by a strip of water called the Strait of Gibraltar. Now, Spain would love to have Gibraltar as part of their country, and England was willing to let them, but the residents of Gibraltar always vote not to join Spain. (The last vote was 99% against and 1% for.) Anyway, as most people in Europe know, pretty much anyone can get married in Gibraltar, so that’s where we decided to go.
Upon arriving at Gibraltar, a day before our wedding appointment, we enter the city before 5:00 AM and drive around, scoping out city hall with my husband’s mother, aunt, and grandmother. The place is super crowded and confusing, but we get everything clear in our minds before tracking down an attorney who needs to sign the necessary papers for us. At last we head back to Spain and our hotel, where we’re all in one hostel room with skinny, cot-like beds. We have a lovely dinner and do a little sightseeing before turning in early for the big day.
We almost miss the appointment
The next morning, we get a huge shock when they won’t let us drive into Gibraltar. That’s right. For some reason, that day they’re only allowing residents or people who work in Gibraltar to drive in after a certain hour of the day (6:00 AM, I think). A line of cars backs up for over a half mile, and there seems little likelihood of us making our marriage appointment.
We park along the side of the road like many of the other visitors, determined to hurry the few miles to city hall. Immediately a panhandler accosts us, saying he’ll watch our car if we give him money. Or in other words, we need to give him money or he’ll see that something happens to our car! Because we’re pressed for time, Tó João shoves some escudos at him (this was before the euro), and we start walking—fast.
My future mother-in-law (she’s wearing sunglasses in the picture), who is always brilliant, suggests that I start knocking on the windows of cars waiting to enter Gibraltar to find someone who lives or works there to drive us to city hall. I stare agape at her. I’m an almost 23-year-old in a foreign county, and she wants me to what? When I hesitate, she starts knocking herself, never mind that she doesn’t speak any English like most of the citizens of Gibraltar. But her Portuguese is somewhat understood by an elegant Spanish lady. When I explain in more detail, showing the wedding dress I carry, she says in a decided English accent, “Absolutely! Of course, for anyone who is getting married.” So Tó João and I hop inside the car and are on our way, leaving behind all the women in his family!
More paperwork
The kind stranger lets us off near city hall, and we hurry through the remaining street to get there. When we arrive at city hall, though, something is wrong with our documents, so we’re running back to the attorney to have him fix the papers. That’s right, we’re running through the streets in a bit of a panic, wedding clothes in hand, looking for the address. Fortunately, everything is really close.
Papers corrected, we’re all ready to go, except we both need a place to change! They give us weird looks (I guess we were supposed to come dressed?) and send us to different places. I end up next door in an ancient, medieval-like building of some kind with cement flooring. Totally empty of furniture with water stains on the cement walls. But it works to change my clothes. There’s no bridesmaids or fancy hair dresser. Just me in that room, and no mirror.
Finally, it’s time. I’ve been too busy to be nervous, and I’m sure my hair is a mess, but who cares? My future in-laws have somehow managed to make it to city hall, so they are there to witness the marriage as planned. We exchange our vows and sign the papers. After all of that, we had a moment to catch our breaths as we take pictures in the garden at city hall.
Back to Portugal and then to US
Then it’s six-hours to drive back to Portugal, where we drop off the ladies (our backseat drivers), and head to our own hotel. Alone at last!
The next morning finds us, bleary-eyed, at the US Embassy in Lisbon, applying for a Visa. It ends up taking us three weeks to make it back to the United States. A week later, we get married again, this time in church with my family present.
So much drama, but definitely worth it. And twenty-eight years, seven children, and one grandchild (this August) later, and we are still happily married. While I wouldn’t exactly recommend that anyone get married in Gibraltar, it worked for us.
Copyright 2017 Teyla Rachel Branton
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Michele Rolfe
WOW! Glad it all turned out well for you! My husband, George, & I live on Oneida Lake, in NY. His friends from work have boats, so we rented a pontoon boat & got married on my sister’s boat in our little Bay IN THE RAIN! LOL All the boats tied up to each other for the vows, then we came back to my Mother-in-Law’s garage (3 doors down from where we live now) for our reception. As soon as we got home, the rain stopped & the sun came out! We have been married 18 yrs this past Aug.
Teyla Rachel Branton
In the rain? That’s a story to remember! Funny how something can be amusing now but at the time was maybe a bit traumatic! Congrats on the 18 years! Thanks for the comments!
Kathryn Morris
Thank you for sharing your wedding story.
Teyla Rachel Branton
You’re welcome. And thank you for reading!
Doug Krawczyk
My wife and I were scheduled to be married in September of 1971, but Uncle Sam had other ideas and I was to report for my new duty station in August with no possibility of being home for our wedding..what a mess..but my Sweetheart threw a wedding together in 2 weeks and we were going to be married in her family garden, it rained and we finally had to move inside and get married in the living room…48 years later still on our honeymoon, with 5 children and 8 grandbabies
Teyla Rachel Branton
Wow, what a story. Congratulations! Thank you for sharing!
Tina Cameron
That is awesome, a story to tell again and again. I’m going to share your story with friends and family. Congratulations!!!
david lombardi
my gene is the “clean” gene. I’m married for 55 years and I do most all the cleaning. My wife is a fabulous cook. I do the cleaning, sometimes the mess takes longer to clean then to prepare the food. I would also like to say that I like your imagination. Keep writing and I’ll keep reading.
Teyla Rachel Branton
Hi David! What a wonderful gene! Sounds like the two of you are great together. And YES, cleaning always does seem to take longer than cooking, lol! Thank you for posting!
Jean
Thank you for the books.
Teyla Rachel Branton
You’re welcome!
Trish Elliott
What a adventure out had in getting married. Enjoyed the story and so happy you are blessed and have much love and your family sounds like it is very important and your love reflects in your books!
My husband and I are childhood sweethearts. I went to school with hmachleder and we were best friends that fell in love!! When I was in 8h grade he sent me 30 Valentines!!!! He is romantic and is my best friend. We got married after I finished nursing school and he served in the Marie’s and then Navy. We got marred went was 18 yrs and he was 20 yrs old. We have been married for 47 years!! Still best friends and he is the love of my life!
Theresa
The day I got married I should have paid attention to all the warning signs. First off, it was supposed to be a double wedding at the local courthouse with my husband and myself and his best friend and one of my friends.
While driving to the courthouse we got pulled over and apparently my husband’s best friend had a warrant out for his arrest so he was carted off to jail. We then got to the courthouse and we’re stopped by the police once again when we tried to pull in the parking lot due to someone calling in a bomb threat. We sat outside across the street for nearly 3 hours before we got the all clear and we’re finally married. When we came outside one of the worst storms of the summer was raging.
Since we didn’t have a lot of money for a honeymoon we decided to spend the weekend at a nice local hotel. 10 minutes after we checked in my mother and father-in-law showed up! We had literally just seen them at the wedding. They stayed for over 2 hours!
After almost 10 years of a miserable marriage since my husband was an alcoholic, I finally called it quits and walked away from the marriage. The only good thing to come of the whole fiasco were two wonderful sons!
I am 45 now, happily single and am owned by several rescue cats and a German Shepherd.
Teyla Rachel Branton
Oh, my! That is so sad, but I am glad you are free and have your wonderful sons. Good for you that you had the courage to make changes!
Sharon
Your warm and caring heart show in your family, your writing and I am sure your whole exuberance for life. It is what draws me to your writing and more importantly to you as a person. That little grandbaby is so lucky to be surrounded by such love.
Teyla Rachel Branton
Thank you, Sharon! I appreciate you saying so. It means a lot to me!
Tina Kirkland
Amazing story, and congratulations on finding your true love.
Teyla Rachel Branton
Thank you! I do feel fortunate.
Irene S.
Thanks for sharing your wedding story. What a memory for you to look back on.
Teyla Rachel Branton
It is a great memory . . . now 🙂
Andi Barrett
Beautiful story, it shows that what’s meant to be will happen
Teyla Rachel Branton
Thank you! I appreciate that.
k
A wonderful heart-warming story! I’m happy you shared, Rachel. : ) (ps love the gloves! dress is gorgeous!)
Teyla Rachel Branton
Thank you! We bought the dress and gloves in Portugal. I didn’t really have a veil but didn’t miss it either! Sorry for the late response. The first set of comments went to a different page and I didn’t see them until today!
k
Totally okay!
Meenaz
I’m so happy for you! Such a beautiful and romantic real story! May you and your family be always blessed, full of joy and happiness.
Teyla Rachel Branton
Thank you! I really appreciate that. And sorry for the late response. A few of the posts went into a different folder and I didn’t see them until today!
Sheila H
The saying, “anything worth having isn’t easy”, is living proof of your story! I’m so happy for you n your entire family. I love reading your books (especially Rachel’s clean romance) n how your family is changing, growing, trials, updates etc. Thank you so much for sharing your talents!
Teyla Rachel Branton
Thank you, Sheila! I appreciate your comments. And sorry for the late response. A few of the posts went into a different folder and I didn’t see them until today!
Shirley Ann Speakman
Hi Teyla
What an amazing story to tell your children. I’m British and I know that we would never give up Gibraltar it is so English there and the people are very patriotic.
Teyla Rachel Branton
Thank you! I agree that Gibraltar will never become Spanish, and with Spain holding onto territory near Morocco, who are they to complain? And sorry for the late response. A few of the posts went into a different folder and I didn’t see them until today!
Karin Krige
Lovely story. Even more special after 28 years and all the children. Makes one believe in romance.
Teyla Rachel Branton
Thank you! I do believe in romance, but it does change over the years. Nicely so, I think! And sorry for the late response. A few of the posts went into a different folder and I didn’t see them until today!
Cathy
Teyla that is such a wonderful way to get married! I myself got married in Wales, but getting into England with my iron skillet and measuring spoons and cups, was a 3 hour interview as they didnt believe I couldnt spend anytime without them!….I am so thrilled that ya’ll’s marriage has worked out for you and what a story to pass down to the Kids and Grandkids!!
Teyla Rachel Branton
Thank you, Cathy! That is so funny about the spoons and the cups! And sorry for the late response. A few of the posts went into a different folder and I didn’t see them until today!
Cathy Davidson
Hey Teyla, must be a wrong Cathy or my mind has gone bonkers, but I dont recall saying anything about spoons and cups…lol
Cathy Davidson
Oh my gosh, my mind IS bonkers…lol…the iron skillet is what nearly got me…they couldnt understand why I would travel with that, especially if it was just a visit! lol….My bust….:o)
Teyla Rachel Branton
It is kind of funny traveling with an iron skillet. But I brought a can opener to Portugal, lol!
Cathy Davidson
That is so funny, but if you think about it, so many things ARE canned, so its one of those best things to take on a trip! :o)
Terry Sullivan
I enjoyed the story of your wedding in Gibralter. But, my heavens! with all those problems; it’s a miracle that you were ever married there at all. There must have been an angel flying overhead, the whole time, to have ever gotten it straightened out in time.
Take care.
Teyla Rachel Branton
Thank you Terry! I think you’re right. And sorry for the late response. A few of the posts went into a different folder and I didn’t see them until today!
David Lombardi
I got the cleaning gene. my wife and I been married for 55 years and she is a fabulous cook. Thats her part and mine is to clean the mess and sometimes I’m cleaning is more Time spent then her cooking. By the way. I love your immagination. Keep writing, I”ll keep reading.