I want to bring my own minister

dlou · 07-16-2007, 09:53 AM

My brother-in-law is an ordained minister here in the US...I would like for him to marry us in Punta Cana next year. Is this even legal? And how would I go about it? Would we have to do the civil ceremony here then the symbolic ceremony in PC? I would prefer to just do it all in PC, but I'm not sure if that would make the marriage legal since he's not from DR. Does anyone know anything about this?

Tlseege · 07-16-2007, 10:17 AM

I don't think that's legal there... but I am just making that up.
However, if it ISN'T legal, perhaps your brother-in-law could translate the officiants words? Again, not sure if your ceremony would be done in a different language.

dlou · 07-16-2007, 10:29 AM

Well my BIL doesn't know spanish so him translating the ceremony is not really an option.
Maybe they would let him do the symbolic ceremony and then we could just do the civil part before we leave...But I'm not sure about this one, cause I don't want all our guests to know that we got "married" before the actual ceremony and if my BIL does it, then my whole family will know.

jpkw · 07-16-2007, 11:34 AM

My step-brother married us & it meant so much to have him performing the ceremony in Mexico. I especially love our video and hearing him speak since it made the ceremony mean that much more - it was really heart-felt and special.

We got 'officially' (legally) married in CA by my brother before we left (but we didn't tell anyone). My brother signed the marriage certificate because he is ordained but then he also got his deputy of marriage license in order to sign our certificate. He said we could dot an I or cross a final T on the license in Mexico after our destination ceremony so that we felt that it was really official in Mexico. Even though the legal part was done prior in the US, we still think our real wedding date is the day we got 'married' in Mexico. I think you should definitely have your brother perform your ceremony in Mexico, it will be really special.

Jen

CourtneyV · 07-16-2007, 11:37 AM

My uncle will be officiating our ceremony too. That is one of the most important parts of this wedding for me, I've known he'd officiate since before I knew Aaron! lol. Anyways, he can perform the ceremony, but it won't be legal.. so I'll have him sit in/be a witness when we arrange for the legal part ahead of time. That's the only way I can see it happening in Mexico. We've chosen not to get legally married before we go, but that's also an option, if he legally married the two of you before you went and also performed the ceremony in the DR.

Tlseege · 07-16-2007, 12:57 PM

I thought of the not knowing Spanish thing... and here's my thinking. Typically you get a print out (in English) of that they will say, so he can easily read the ceremony. Plus, where you don't like parts, you can have him change it in English, although it'll still be legal in Spanish!

I don't know if that'll work, but it sounds great in my head!

dragonfly · 07-16-2007, 01:16 PM

I don't believe it is legal in the DR, just do a quick ceremony on US soil before you leave no one needs to know, it will save you ton's of money also. The legal part in the DR is expensive, and then you have all the translation costs.

dlou · 07-17-2007, 12:34 PM

Yeah I didn't think it would be legal to do it officially in DR. I guess I'll just have him do the symbolic ceremony in DR and then do the civil ceremony before we go. Thanks ladies!

foxytv · 07-17-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonfly

I don't believe it is legal in the DR, just do a quick ceremony on US soil before you leave no one needs to know, it will save you ton's of money also. The legal part in the DR is expensive, and then you have all the translation costs.

This is accurate.

However, if you do it this way and just have a Symbolic Ceremony in DR, I am almost certain that he can officiate the entire thing (without having to worry about a DR Officiant) and that way it will be in English and you can save money on the Officiant fee (because you still have to pay the non-denominational Officiant for the Symbolic Ceremony in DR).

I think it's a great idea! Do the 'paperwork' before you get to DR, then have him take care of the Symbolic part and I think you've got tht best of both worlds!

cmmdee · 08-24-2007, 06:24 AM

You are doing exactly what I'm doing.
We are getting married civilly/legally here and then having our symbolic ceremony there. We are bringing our pastor down with us from church to conduct the ceremony.

If you marry here first, it will already be legal. You will just have the symbolic ceremony there.

:) GOOD LUCK!