Any 2011 brides?!!

I read somewhere that you have to be in Mexico 4 days before you get married for it to be legal. As well as bring 4 witnesses with you. Is this correct info or outdated? I do not know how i would get 4 witnesses to come down early with me.

You have to be there 4 full days before if you are legally marrying in Mexico. So your travel day will not count. The 4 witnesses there that long is also true. If you do not have any, typically your resort will "provide" them for you, but it will cost you a pretty penny.

There is a lot of extra things with translation and legalizing paperwork because it is international. FI and I have decided to get married at the courthouse here before we leave and not tell anyone. I can get everything filed in the states before we leave so that once we return home, it will be processed and I can take care of changing my name. This will save us a LOT of time and money. No one will know the difference in our wedding ceremony.

Yipee! 8th April 2011 at Dreams Riviera Cancun

I considered getting married here first and not telling anyone, the only thing with that though is our anniversary date is truely different then what everyone thinks.... : (

The requirements in Mexico vary by state and resort. Some websites have stated that bloodwork and x-rays are required for a legal wedding, however I have not found a resort that mentions the x-ray in its requirements. Most resorts require 3 days of residency before they will provide a legal ceremony, others ask for more. My resort, for example, requires bloodwork and three days residency. They will include the day of arrival in this residency as long as you arrive before noon. Most resorts do require four witnesses for the same duration as the couple's residency. The best way to get the facts is to have your travel agent contact the wedding coordinator at your resort or just send an email yourself. The resort has to provide this information to you if they offer legal ceremonies.

I am most worried about the translations and paperwork and the length of time and money it will take for all of this. However i really want the whole experience of walking down the aisle to him and saying our vows for the first time.

You can call your anniversary whatever you want it to be. We will do a "legal day" here but in street clothes and no ring exchange. It will be strictly paperwork. The day of our ceremony will be our true anniversary date because that is when we want it.

There are multiple threads on this forum addressing how long it actually takes for people. Maybe you can find a review from a bride who did each at your resort and get their personal opinion on the situation. I have just heard through this forum that legally getting married in Mexico is a LOT of extra work and money, but all who do it say they found it worth it. It's all personal preference really. I broke everything down to FI, explained the price difference, and he is on board with "legal day" here first. We want as little headache as possible.

I think my FI and I have decided on doing a "legal day" here first, but I was wondering about not doing the ring exchange and first kiss. Do you just tell the judge that you do not want to do it.. How does it work? Thanks girls!

Hi Everyone- Hoping to be a May 9th of 2011 bride at Dreams Cancun. We have yet to finalize the date, but working on it. We are also planning on doing the paperwork legally at home and then using our Mexico wedding as our "real" date. It just seems like it would be so much easier that way. I would assume the Judge would be familar with the situation and you can strictly fill go through the process and skip the kiss/rings.

I just signed the contract for Playacar Palace for our May 20, 2011 wedding! So as of now we've got:

 

Church (Catholic Ceremony) - BOOKED!

Photographer - BOOKED!

Wedding Planner - BOOKED!

Hotel - BOOKED!

 

It's starting to get real!