Poll~ Legal vs. symbolic ceremony?

[foxytv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gracefulsteph thx for bringing this thread back! my FI and i have made our decision this past weekend to get legally married here in the states. i was hesitant at first but now i'm good about our decision.....to avoid paperwork issues (esp since i'm divorced) and also insurance reasons. but also.....we just want to have a relaxing (as much as it can be) wedding week and not worry that some paperwork may get messed up while we are down there. we've told his parents who were completely fine with it...now i just have to tell mine. and that will be the only ones who know.

we still don't plan on telling anyone ... but we might since it's just document signing. hopefully just the parents and no one else. we don't even need witnesses, which helps.

[JulieG]

We are doing it legally. I do not see the point of just doing it symbolically, we only want to get married once. It would be to hard to decide who can come to the legal part, and when to do it, and I would not want 2 anniversary dates, I am not which one would be the one we celebrate, cause one would be the real date and the other would just be the ceremony date. Too much hassle in my mind. Besides, its really easy to get married in Cuba, no needles or anything.

[foxytv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julesr We are doing it legally. I do not see the point of just doing it symbolically, we only want to get married once. It would be to hard to decide who can come to the legal part, and when to do it, and I would not want 2 anniversary dates, I am not which one would be the one we celebrate, cause one would be the real date and the other would just be the ceremony date. Too much hassle in my mind. Besides, its really easy to get married in Cuba, no needles or anything.

You're lucky it's easy in Cuba. Wish we'd checked out legalities before deciding on the DR ... but everyone is excited about going there.
Our 'document signing' won't count as our wedding date at all, so we won't feel like 2 weddings, since we're truly only having one ceremony. And it saves us close to $1000.

[JulieG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxytv You're lucky it's easy in Cuba. Wish we'd checked out legalities before deciding on the DR ... but everyone is excited about going there. Our 'document signing' won't count as our wedding date at all, so we won't feel like 2 weddings, since we're truly only having one ceremony. And it saves us close to $1000.

My friend got married in the DR last year and it was really easy. They did not have to leave the resort or anything. It was simple. Is it harder for you cause you are American?

[foxytv]

I don't think it's any different ... but the taxes and judges rates went up drastically this year. And, you have to have everything translated into Spanish beforehand and then back again afterwards ... and brides have said it's taken up to 5 months to receive their marriage certificate afterwards. Military guidelines give us 30 days after the legal date to show an original certificate for insurance purposes for me to join Tom's policy ... so we really don't have an option of doing it legally there if I am to get on his insurance. Sucks, but at least we've found a great alternative.

[JulieG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxytv I don't think it's any different ... but the taxes and judges rates went up drastically this year. And, you have to have everything translated into Spanish beforehand and then back again afterwards ... and brides have said it's taken up to 5 months to receive their marriage certificate afterwards. Military guidelines give us 30 days after the legal date to show an original certificate for insurance purposes for me to join Tom's policy ... so we really don't have an option of doing it legally there if I am to get on his insurance. Sucks, but at least we've found a great alternative.

That is totally different then, you should get married in the US first. It did take around 4 to 5 months for her to get her marriage license. She did not have to have it translated into Spanish though, it was not an issue then. Seems kinda odd to have to do that, but I think they are just trying to get more money out of us DW Couples.

[foxytv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julesr That is totally different then, you should get married in the US first. It did take around 4 to 5 months for her to get her marriage license. She did not have to have it translated into Spanish though, it was not an issue then. Seems kinda odd to have to do that, but I think they are just trying to get more money out of us DW Couples.

Yeah, they are sucking us DW'ers dry! Probably should have considered another country after realizing all this ... but we already had our heart set.

[ccsquinty]

for those having a symbolic ceremony....

 

when you did the legal part in your own city, what did you wear? (for the civic ceremony)

[ccsquinty]

that's interesting to know...i thought you HAD TO have a civic cermony...

 

now if i can find someone of notary to make my marriage legal with just signing documents....in Canada...that would be great...

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxytv Thought I'd bring this thread back to life in order to let everyone know that we've secured our 'legal signing' date. It's still a long way away ... Sunday, April 13, 2008 ... but we found a notary who does legal ceremonies here and she will do a signing of the documents 'only' for us for $50. So, we don't have to have any ceremony or anything. Just sign the papers and wait a few more days til we get to the DR for our "real" wedding with family and friends. I'm feeling so good about this decision now since it means we won't be exchanging any vows, etc. Yippee!!!

[jajajaja]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccsquinty for those having a symbolic ceremony.... when you did the legal part in your own city, what did you wear? (for the civic ceremony)

I got legally married in Vegas two months ago. I wore jeans and a cute top. We didn't want it to be sentimental at all so we hired a cab to take us through a drive thru chapel. He then signed as our witness. It was so much fun and a great story. We don't feel married yet because we chose not even to recognize it. I don't even remember the date we got married on. Sometime around Jan 12 I think.