Renewal of Vows vs. Legal Ceremony...help!

[Yari]

I was just talking to my FI this morning about this very topic. We are going to get married at City Hall one day before we leave. To me it is just paperwork and our "real" wedding day will take place in Las Caletas.

 

I am not going to tell anyone, except for my mom...since I already asked her for advice.

[PlayaNovia]

We're also doing the legal marriage (just paperwork to me as well) in the states, and the renewal in Mexico. We're not telling anyone. Honestly, I don't think it would matter to people if we DID tell them...but FI thinks they might feel "cheated". Whatever!

 

But, do whatever you are most comfortable with and what is easiest/most affordable, etc.

[*JillD*]

we already did our legal ceremony, it took about 3 minutes at the town hall, lol!

 

One word of advice, if you plan to do your legal ceremony the day before you leave, just be sure to find out what the requirements in your state are. I know we had to apply for our marriage license and then wait 3 days I think.

 

We haven't intentionally told anyone, well I should say, I haven't. FI was telling his friends before it even happened, big mouth. I didn't want to tell anyone because October 19th is our wedding day, I couldn't even tell you the exact day we did the paperwork, I know it was in July. But we have explained to some people why we did it this way and they understand how much of a PITA it is.

 

I still don't really feel married, I say stupid things all the time like, when we get married, and FI corrects me, "we're already married"

 

The ceremony from what I can tell is still basically the same, just not legal in mexico.

[Copita]

Am doing this, too.

Just make sure you schedule to have your marriage done because one day is really pushing it (especially if something should arise with whoever you made the apopintment with). I would do it about a week before. That gives you extra time should something come up AND you will ahve time to get it notarized/stamped.

Yay!

Also, most resorts offer a "renewal of vows' package which is less expensive than a regular 'wedding package' and includes everything the same minus the judge and paperwork Look into it!

 

[meandpaul]

We are having the legal ceremony done in Jamaica so I cant help you with which to do. But to offer a suggestion, if you are given a wedding planner, tell them what you are doing and surely they will cooperate to keep you secret.

[CarrieRN]

I was at a destination wedding ceremony in Riviera Maya and the ceremony was no different than a legal wedding ceremony. Witnesses signed a marriage certificate and none of the guests were the wiser. My FI and I decided (or I finally convinced him) that we will do the legal stuff here a week before we go.

[newprincessbride]

I'm so glad this thread came back to life. I have been debating this very subject in my head. I also felt my guest would be cheated in some fashion, but after reading all the post, it makes more sense to have the legalities occur in the States.

 

Thanks ladies

[Copita]

Hey, chica!

We are doing just that. Legal/civil ceremony here and the symbolic/religious blessing in Punat Cana. It eliminates a LOt of paperwork and translations and legal fees (not to mention, the resort even has a separate "renewal of vows' package which is cheaper than the 'wedding package).

I am criminally good at keeping secrets so it will not be an issue for us.

I think this is a great idea if you want to do it. I get married July 5th in Punta Cana! Close to your date! Hooray for us Punta Cana brides! Not sure if you've ever been there but it is LOVELY!!!!!!!!

 

[ACDCDCAC]

We were trying to decide on Mexico or Hawaii as our DW spot, and we finally dedided on Hawaii for a couple of reasons. Doug really really wanted the legal marriage certificate to actually say "Maui", or "Puerto Vallarta", or wherever we choose, instead of just plain old "Seattle". We also are having Doug's oldest brother (and best friend) get ordained online (!) and be our officiant. In order to have a "beach" location named on the certificate, AND still have Trevor marry us, we decided to go with Hawaii so it would all be legal. Also we wanted to avoid the hassle of the waiting period and blood test, etc. Hawaii does not require this.

 

We are having the big "Wedding" at home with about 175 guests, about 165 of them will NOT be privvy to the info that we are actually not getting married until a week later in Hawaii. We don't feel bad about hiding this info, for one because its OUR business how we do it, and for another because when we talk about the at-home ceremony we call it "The Wedding", which it is, and there is no need for anyone to know it's not an actual legal "marriage".

 

We also have so many people that either could not afford to, or are too elderly, or for whatever reasons couldn't make it on a big trip out of town. So we like the idea of being able to include them and have people like my 88 year old Grama be able to see me get married. It's really the act that counts, and the legality of it is just that, the legal matter.

[Can'tHardlyWait]

Our WC at Occidental suggested doing the renewal of vows pacakge to save us money since we are bringing our own Rabbi. We had our legal ceremony in Boston in July, which we called our "Marriage Day" ... we told our immediate family but decided against telling anyone else. We really want our friends to get the "full experience" in Mexico