dallas_texas09

ADAMSGRRL: You're lucky that's all you need! The Dallas Diocese requires recent copies of our baptismal, holy communion and confirmation certificates!!! I was baptized and had my communion in the Philippines, and I was confirmed in Canada! So I've had to contact several churches for recent copies of my sacramental certificates. We were informed that though they need all three certificates, the most important one is the confirmation certificate. I guess it's different at each Diocese?

FROM_NYC: I have hired Ajua Weddings as my wedding coordinator(s) (www.ajuaweddings.com). Like you, I didn't want a wedding at an all-inclusive either. Though all-inclusive resorts offer inexpensive wedding packages, the packages are also very limited. I wanted a more traditional reception -- with DJ/band, dinner, etc. I did not want to have just a sit-down dinner at one of the restaurants located in the all-inclusive resort (which is typically what is included in a resort's wedding package). Though going through a resort's wedding package is the most cost efficient route, it's not something that I was interested in. I wanted to give my guests more specially since they are flying all the way to Mexico for my wedding!!! As for Ajua Weddings, they can plan everything from a beach barbeque to a reception at one of their restaurants. I've been to the Ajua Maya restaurant (one of the options) and their food was fantastic. I actually had dinner there with my fiance and my family on our last visit to Playa del Carmen The coordinator fees depend on your expected number of guests. The more guests you have, the higher the fee. Even with the coordinator fees, their options are very reasonably priced. It's not inexpensive but it's not more than what you would pay at any other place either. Another option that you can look into is getting married at the Xcaret Ecological Park (www.xcaret.com). I'm not sure if you've been to Cancun but if you haven't, I HIGHLY recommend visiting Xcaret. The Xcaret park also has wedding coordinators on-site that can help you with your wedding plans (www.xcaretweddings.com). You can get married on the beach or in the chapel. You can have your reception outdoors or indoors (they have several restaurants on-site and all are awesome....food's fabulous. My favorite restaurant is the La Isla, which is located in a cavern/cave). Even if you decide to not get married at Xcaret, you should still visit the park. It's a great place for a day excursion with your guests -- a definite MUST! Hope this helps!

My supervisor's husband travels to Cancun a lot for business and he recommended this hotel. If you can afford it, go for it! I've checked out the site and the place looks magnificent!

MEXICOBRIDE: Are you planning on having just a civil ceremony or a religious ceremony? A civil ceremony (conducted by the Justice of the Peace) is the ONLY kind the Mexican government recognizes as legal. This is also recognized world-wide...meaning your marriage is seen as legal anywhere you go...be it Mexico, US, or Europe!

Did you want to stick to Cancun for the welcome dinner or are you open to going outside of Cancun (Riviera Maya/Play del Carmen area)?

MKDELA -- no problem! I'm glad I could be of help. You should talk to your local parish. Regardless of where you get married (be it in the US or in Mexico), you STILL have to take the Pre-Cana class that is required by the Catholic Church. That's one of the requirements to have a Catholic wedding recognized by the Catholic church. You normally start the Pre-Cana classes six months before the wedding date. Because you live in the US, you obviously can't do your Pre-Cana classes in Mexico. Instead you do your Pre-Cana classes here in the US with your local parish. Your local parish would be the one assisting you in getting all of your documentations and permissions ready -- such as the Pre-Cana classes, getting permission from your diocese, etc. Once everything has been completed and approved, they will then forward all of that info to the Diocese of Cancun who will then grant permission to the priest officiating your wedding in Mexico. As you can see, a Catholic wedding is much more complicated than a non-religious wedding!!! There are a lot of permissions and classes and documents involved. Your local parish should be able to help you with all of this. Just call your Church and tell them your situation (that you are getting in Mexico at a place that is recognized by the church, etc.). They should be knowledgeable in this situation and should be able to help you out to make sure that you have everything together. They will guide you to make sure you are following all of the rules of the church. I am not sure when you are getting married but you should contact your local parish as soon as possible. This is a lengthy process. You also have to present sacramental certificates -- Baptismal, Holy Communion and Confirmation. These have to have the current date as the date of issue. It can not be the original copies. So definitely contact your local parish asap!

They are based out of Playa del Carmen. They plan any kind of wedding -- civil, Mayan, Catholic, etc. You can visit their site at Playa del Carmen, Wedding Reception, Riviera Maya, Wedding Planner, Coordinator, Wedding Reception. I want a Catholic wedding in a Catholic church (not garden/beach) in Mexico and they're the only event coordinators I've found who are able to plan such a ceremony. I've actually already hired Ajua Weddings. Their site looked great and they have had experience in Catholic weddings. The wedding coordinator assigned to me was also fantastic in answering all of my questions in a timely manner. I did a lot of research and their name came up in several sites so they look pretty legitimate. However, I am slowly getting annoyed since after I put down my initial deposit, my wedding coordinator is not as attentive as she once was. Now I have to wait over a week for a reply...and sometimes the response isn't even as informative as it should be. So I am slowly getting worried. I just want to talk to a couple who has used them and get a feedbacks on the coordinators. I guess I just want reassurance that it will all work out well in the end. On a site note: Xcaret Ecological Park (a MUST if you go to Cancun/Riviera Maya) has a gorgeous Catholic chapel where you can have a Catholic ceremony (also recognized by the Catholic Church). This was actually my first choice but their event coordinators are not very good. I sent an inquiry almost two months ago and I have yet to get a response from them. However, for an additional amount, Ajua Weddings can plan your ceremony at the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel at Xcaret Ecological Park. You can visit Cancun Mexico - Xcaret Park Eco Archaeological Theme Park natural Cancun tour to learn more about the park, and Xcaret Weddings - Cancun Mexico wedding riviera maya spectacular eco park to learn more about their wedding services.

Hello! I would like to know if anyone has ever used the wedding planning services provided by Ajua Weddings. If so, I would love to get some feedback! Thanks!!!!!

I'm on the same boat as you. After much research, I found out that the Mexican government only recognizes a marriage as legal only if it has been performed by the Justice of the Peace. Therefore, a wedding performed by a Catholic priest (or a non-denominational minister) is not recognized as a legal marriage and the couple does not receive an official marriage license. So your two options are: 1) have a civil wedding in Mexico (which is recognized as a legal wedding world-wide) OR 2) have a Catholic AND civil wedding (both can be in Mexico, or you can choose to have the civil wedding in the US). A Catholic ceremony alone is not legal in Mexico. However, though the Mexican government does not view a Catholic wedding as legal, the Catholic Church does recognize it as a Catholic marriage. As for my case I have decided to have a civil wedding in Texas, and have the Catholic ceremony in Mexico. The Catholic ceremony is more important to my fiance and I than the civil ceremony so we are inviting all of our guests to Mexico. As for the civil wedding in Dallas, it'll just be the two of us. To us, the civil wedding is more of a formality than anything else. I hope this helps!

Hello! My name is Catherine. I am getting married in November in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.