Who gets invited to legal ceremony?

We aren't making a big deal about the legal ceremony, as we are planning to focus on the wedding in the DR as our day. We haven't arranged for the legal ceremony yet, but we are hoping to do it the day before we fly down to the DR and I think we are only going to have the MOH & BM. I haven't discussed it too much with my FI yet, so we might include our parents as well.

Hopefully everything works out for you. My cousin went to Cuba to get married and it was only them and another couple, so you could still elope to the DR if someone else can come as well. Or you can get the resort staff to witness, our friends did that even though there were 32 people there for the wedding.

Ah, you're from "The Rock"! I can't wait to go there some day for a visit. I've lots of friends from there. A beautiful place with the most wonderful people.

It's tough with people being spread across the country, half of my family is out in Alberta and won't be able to make it. Eloping wouldn't be so bad if that's what you are thinking of, believe me, I wish we had done that. Between all the family issues, both mine and his, it would have been so much easier. You two could always go somewhere beautiful have the resort supply 2 witnesses and have a gorgeous day.

you know, if your family and closest friends cant really afford to go to the DR, you could always do something nice and lowkey with them back home and then you and hubby go to DR to elope on your own

Well FI has now said that even if it's just him and I on the beach, we're getting married in the DR next Jan!

And that if it is just him and I, then we won't do the legal stuff here, it'll be the "real deal" down there.

So at least he's ok with eloping too

it was just us and our cab driver. hehe- we ran off to Vegas about a month before the wedding.

We didn't tell anyone except my parents and my sister that we got married early. No one else needed to know and we only told my parents since it was their idea. They wanted us to save the money. My sister lives with us so I don't think I could keep the secret from her.

It was such a great time though. I totally recommended it. Find a drive thru chapel and have fun!

I think its completely up to you and tell them what you just told us. That you dont want it to be a big ordeal but if they would like to be there for the legal ceremony they are more than welcome.

I actually told FI that his parents couldn't come. Because we're doing it on a weekday, and I don't want to deal with inviting my mom, and my dad and his wife. So the answer for us was to make it as low-key as we could. In NYC, it has to be witnessed by someone who has known you for at least 6 months. So one of my best girlfriends and one of FI's oldest friends will be there. Then we'll grab dinner at some pub or diner and call it a day.