Need advice: Getting married in US before heading to Mexico...

be careful that you will still be able to take advantage of wedding/honeymoon packages when you go away though. If you are legally married you might not get the same deals.

 

That's the only warning I can think of. I will have to produce my marriage certificate to the wedding coordinator to show we *just* got married in order to still get the *free* wedding.

FWIW, my legal wedding in Cabo was zero hassle. I have had no trouble changing my name and haven't had my documents from Mexico translated or apostilled. Just wanted to make sure you didn't think everyone had as much trouble as Tammy!

 

But, with that said, we really wanted our ceremony in Mexico to be the real thing and didn't mind waiting, or the hassle that would go with it. That's just us. If it doesn't matter to you I think the Vegas thing sounds AWESOME! I would love to have done something like that! Especially if you're already kinda going to be there, and you planned to do a civil ceremony here you should definitely do it!

 

By the way, where are the pics of your dress?

Haha, they are hidden! Actually they are in the "post your wedding dress" section, page 155! And it is not the dress I mentioned to you at work a few months back



Thanks for all of the advice guys!! You are all so AWSOME!! I plan to talk it over with our parents and then go from there. I also do not think it will affect any of the wedding planning at Dreams, but thanks for pointing that out Debs, I never thought about that.

I was also wondering for those of you who bought your dress, once you bought it did it make everything seem so much more real? I have been so giddy about this wedding since I bought my dress. Maybe it is because my mom was here for 4 days and we got some things accomplished for the wedding, or maybe because we decided on and confirmed our resort, but I am really getting geeked!!

Can someone post an image of their *real* marriage certificate (a blank one is perfect if anyone has access to one). I'm trying to see what it looks like so I can duplicate one that looks semi-real to take to our Symbolic Ceremony and have our MOH and BM sign as 'witnesses'.

We are planning to go to the JP only about two days before our departure for Cancun. To make our ceremony more special we will not make it common knowledge to all of our guest nor will we consummate or marriage until after the ceremony in Mexico.

I'd say totally go for it . . .

We did ours in CA 2 weeks before Mexico, really only because we wanted the marriage license for our honeymoon perks at both resorts..lol (FYI - Dreams required a copy before they would decorate the room, give us the special dinner, etc. The RIU Ocho Rios did not.) Also we wanted to relax when we got to Mexico and not run around to get the paper/bloodwork done. (and they don't take blood in CA - woohoo!)

As for the dress, I didn't take mine home until less than a week before I left for the wedding so while it seemed more real, I didn't have long to mull over it. When I brought it home FI was gone so I hung it up and stared at it until just before he got home. I didn't see it again until I got to Mexico and showed my friends.

I say go for it!!!!!!! Dan and I are getting married pre-Mexico for the same reasons. Blood tests and Translators?? I don't have time for that. Get married whenever you want. We are having our ceremony in PV next June, but are talking about doing the legal stuff during Spring Break at the local courthouse. If I had the option.. I would drive to Vegas like you are talking about. That's were I got engaged!!! Good Luck on the decision making.. whatever you choose will be great!

Heck no! We are getting married in March and this is our exact thoughts. Ironically we are identical in train of thought here! The only problem is being able to afford the Vegas trip. Every day FI comes home with a print out of new rates...so funny.

 

We already live together, so honestly when we make it technical with our legal ceremony I don't think anything will feel different. When I slip on the dress and have my father walk me down the isle and watch my mother bawl, well that's another story...