Civil vs. Symbolic Ceremonies?..

What type of ceremony are you bride and grooms having? I've never heard of these options until now, and maybe I'm making this out to be more difficilt than it really is.. But can someone help me see which one is better to do.. ?   I live in Alabama, my fiance lives in Georgia and we are looking to be married in Punta Cana.  Thanks!!
 

Civil ceremony

A civil ceremony is performed by a Dominican Judge. This is legally binding and includes the marriage certificate delivered to your home. This province of The Dominican Republic only has one legal judge so securing dates can be difficult. Please advise us as soon as possible if you require a civil/legal wedding. Please bear in mind that marriage certificate can take up to 3 months to be received. Note: The judge may change the time of the wedding - even after it had been confirmed. The ceremony will be performed by the Judge in Spanish and translated by one of the wedding coordinators.

For assistance with legal documents please contact the Dominican Embassy / Consulate in your country or visit: www.wedo.com.do

Symbolic ceremony

Is performed by your wedding coordinator and is almost identical to the civil ceremony except it is not legally binding. This is far less complicated than the other two options as you do not have to organize, translate and bring legal documents to Dominican Republic. You have to get legally married in your country before your stay with us and we will just need you to bring us a copy of your marriage certificate / license. You can also bring your own Minister to perform the ceremony.

We are getting married in Mexico but intially considered Punta Cana.  Our travel agent told us getting a legal marriage done in the Dominican is very difficult and if we were going to have our wedding there, she advised a legal ceremony in the states first.  Perhaps a bride who actually got married in Punta Cana would have better advice but I've heard the same thing from a couple different places including a different travel agency.  It's one of the reasons we decided on Mexico.  We are doing a legal ceremony there.

Ahh.. Thanks for the info!.. I guess it really wont matter either way.. A marriage is a marriage to me.. )

I informed my fiance that we won't be married in my eyes until the ceremony.. He said does that mean we can get married tomorrow?.. lol..  but I guess if we go the symbolic route we'll just go right before we leave for PC.. If we getting married in the states does that mean we have to do the small ceremony thing? and go over the vows? Or would we just signs the papers? ..   I never thought this would be soo difficult and confusing..

Maybe someone else will also share opinions.....

Hi Bubbles! I was just facing the same issue b/c the only date the resort had left for three months was available for symbolic ceremony only. But once we looked into the rules & to-do's to be legally married in Mexico, we said it was WAY easier to get the legal stuff done here in NY. [Mexico requires certain days in advance to be there, blood work, documents, translators, and the list goes on!] I read that the legal marriage in the US can be as fancy as a whole ceremony with rings, OR just sign the papers and leave. [You have to check what your state allows you to do, some brides said they had to exchange rings] We'll probably go to city hall right before we leave and just sign the papers. That way it doesn't take away from the "real" wedding down in Mexico! Our anniversary date will be the day we have the ceremony in Mexico in front of all of our friends & family =)

Hope this helps!

Hi Bubbles. Congrats!!!

We are doing a symbolic wedding. It's just easier. We are going to the justice of peace and signing the papers here. We consider it as us just getting the legal work out of the way. We will not be exchanging rings, going out to eat or anything. We might even just do it on a lunch break. We are not telling anyone of our plans either. Just grabbing our one witness and calling it a day. Our wedding date will be the day we are standing in front of our friends and family exchanging vows.

Thanks Ladies!! That helped a lot!!! Getting the legal part out of the way is a great way to put it!.. )

I too think we will keep that all to ourselves and plan a day to go to the courthouse.. Hopefully we can just sign and leave.. and then have our special day with friends and family in Punta Cana..  

Now for an odd question.. If we live in different states.. How does this work??.. Or does it matter?  Guess I have more reading up to do than I thought.. but hopefully someone else on here has experience with this. )

Bubbles - I'm sure you can find out any legal issues or formalities online, check on your city hall page or government page.

I'm sure it lists requirements for all types of situations. I cannot offer any advice since my FI and me are both in the same state! I'm sure you'll find the answers you need =)

Originally Posted by JennyBenz 

 

Bubbles - I'm sure you can find out any legal issues or formalities online, check on your city hall page or government page.

I'm sure it lists requirements for all types of situations. I cannot offer any advice since my FI and me are both in the same state! I'm sure you'll find the answers you need =)

 Thanks Jenny!.. I will try looking there. )

That is the terrible part of deciding....all the rules in the different countries!