SSNM

dream : aspiration

I believe it is a lawyer that performs the civil ceremonies in Costa Rica, or at least makes them legally binding. The requirements are relatively simple and you should have no problem if you have your birth certificate and a passport. They will probably want to know things like your occupations but nothing involved like a blood test. The declaration of being single is new to me for Costa Rica and may just be the above person's specific resort/hotel requiring it.

romance : chocolate

Quote: Originally Posted by yaker33 So my mother finally spoke to me after like a week and she just tells me how upset she is. That im her only daughter and she wants to basically parade me around infront of everyone. She told me noone is coming, how can i get married without my brothers there?? The best part is is that my one brother lives in California (my whole family is in NJ) and when he gets married I guarantee everyone will fly out to see it...but me!! Nooooo!! No one can put $50 a month away for two years!! Shes making me feel like I shouldnt feel this way about my own wedding!! Am i supposed to give in and have a wedding here in teh states just to make her feel happy?? What about me then!! I thought planning a wedding was supposed to be fun! Im miserable right now!! She alwasy does this to me!! Im so excited to get married in the caribbean but my own mother finds some way to ruin that for me!! Yaker, if your mother so badly wants you to marry locally then tell her to pay for it. Furthermore, if you give in and do what she wants you will regret it and probably feel very bitter towards her (I know I would; I wouldn't even talk to my mom if I was forced to have a wedding to her suiting). Geez, I am getting so mad just reading all of the crap people are going through planning their own wedding. I wish someone would come to me and tell me some of the things that you guys have been told -- I would put him/her right in their place; "b*tch, be thankful I thought of your enough to send an invite." Seriously, if it is that much of an imposition DO NOT COME! Why don't people just get it? Seriously, unless you are the bridegroom, your presence is really not mandatory. ...whoa that was a lot of pent up anger...so glad I got that out!

I am planning my wedding for 13 months from now, but seriously I am considering just doing an elopement before the year's end; I tried to tackle the task of STDs and almost cried after 5 minutes. I can't find a reliable TA and I don't want to wait another 365+ days to be married to my hubby. It certainly is stressful! However, I am a firm believer of you get out what you put in and all you guys putting in a lot of blood sweat and tears into your wedding will no doubtly have an amazing event to remember.

Hmm...it seems to me that they tried to invite people to their wedding via facebook and so they requested addresses to send actual invitations -- the OP didn't respond, but in fairness they are roommates so she shouldn't have to. Then they (someone) sent shower invitations, probably because the shower usually precedes the wedding. It sounds to me that you are invited, they just chose a less orthodoxed way of doing it. They also probably figured that since you guys live together, that a mailed invite was not necessary (I wouldn't send an invitation to my mom, after all). I would just ask her straight up if you are invited because you never got an invitation to the wedding. Let her say yes or no. If she wants to be wierd about it, the seriously that is her problem. People need to learn to be clear.

Geez, this is annoying. I am sorry you are experiencing this. To be fair, I don't think a lot of people understand how weddings work. I certainly didn't before starting to plan mine. No one really understands that weddings are not like house parties and you can't just decide to show up oh a whim. I would seriously let people know that if they don't tell you their intentions within the next couple of days you are not counting them. As for your sister in law, she messed up and so she will have to bear the brunt of it and pay the extra. If you are feeling charitable, you can offer to loan her the money and she pay you back. I wouldn't pay the whole thing because this is a result of her slacking off on booking.

Thank you for this list; much appreciated

Welcome ashore BDW!

Welcome ashore BDW!

Welcome ashore BDW!

men : my FH

That sounds interesting...do let us know when you get an answer!

From what I researched, I don't think Costa Rica has the best All-Inclusives. Jamaica and the other caribean islands seem to do the all-inclusive thing better. Costa Rica masters the boutique hotels and is nice if you are looking for that very intimate, quaint wedding and they have many options for back drops (waterfalls, rainforests, volcanos). You are at the Paradisus so you are probably at the best AI in Costa Rica anyway so you don't have much to worry about. Personally, I think if I were going to Costa Rica, I would stick with what they do best and maximize that.

Quote: Originally Posted by kdnicholer21 I have a question because I was originally going with the Royal package with 40 people and i might end up having 60 people instead. If I go with the free package will they still do the decorating for 60. Like I plan to get the white chairs ($50), will they ask for money to set all of that up. And as far the dinner (semi-private) will it be a problem to have all 60 people there. The 60 people package is like $2200, will I spend that much in BASIC upgrades. Ill send chandelyn a email and one i receive her answer ill let you all know what she said. If you have advice please give it! Don't they charge extra for white chairs anyway, or is that just for the chair covers? I believe the brown chairs come with the packages at ROR. If the white chairs are free then they will accomodate for your group for free. If not, then it is whatever the per person charge multiplied by 60 people. As for the semi-private dinner, if it is like the Dominican Republic, they should accomodate the semi-private dinner for everyone in your group so long as it doesn't surpass the maximums for the restaurant (I think TA Maureen said the max was 50 people at one of the restaurants there). You would have to clarify with the WC.

Hey just wanted to say thanks for organizing! It was really nice to meet you guys and hang out and just talk about weddings, life, and all the absurdities that come with it. I hope we do it again soon! Cheers!

Michael Jackson : Legend

No problem! Glad I can clarify

Wow, that is crazy! Thanks for clarifying that, Fernando.

I think the consulate legalizes while a lawyer (or notary public) notarizes. If you are lucky to live close enough to the D.R. consulate office that you could just walk it in, then you do not need the notarization (since they will see your documents themselves and know it is the real deal). If you are sending them to the consulate via mail, then you will have to get them notarized first and then send it to them for legalization.

WEDO is a service that will do your paper work for you and they are legal AS LONG AS they get your documents legalized IN THE COUNTRY YOU LIVE. I think the confusion is in the fact that WEDO is American-based and so if they sent your documents to the D.R. consolate in America when your country of origin is in Canada, then your documents would not be valid for a marriage license in the D.R. As long as WE DO is sending your documents to the proper consulate for legalization (i.e. the consulate in the country you hold your citizenship; which I am sure they do), then there will be no problem.

lol...I told my sister this story and she said she would have mc'ed and wrote a long, comemmorative speech on how blessed they are to be able to pull off a wedding on such short notice given that they sent her invite a mere 3 weeks before the date. I was cracking up! She's bold to ask you to do that, if she asked someone like my sister, she would be so shamed she'd wish she'd eloped!

I'm still planning to go...if I am not sick like a dog tomorrow (I feel that I"m fighting something). Hope to see you 2morrow!

higher learning : over achiever

Yeah, I would be put off if I was in your shoes. But as everyone said, just respectfully decline and be done with it.