Civil Ceremony at home before?

[lindsayraz]

Hey everyone! I'm planning on getting married in Jamaica and am a little confused about the 48 hour requirement. 

 

Some people I know who got married in Mexico opted to just get legally married at home first, in a civil ceremony at city hall or whatever. Then they just had a "fake ceremony" (I guess you'd call it?) for their wedding in Mexico. That was in order to avoid the paperwork, translations, costs, etc.

 

So I have been reading that you need to be in Jamaica for 2 business days before you can get married. Does that apply if you have already been married at home by a justice of the peace? Or do they even allow that?

 

Thanks ladies! I'm completely new to the forum and to destination weddings, so I appreciate your help and patience!!!

 

I know this is also a question for my Wedding Coordinator, but she has yet to get back to me and I'm very anxious to book and get the date set!

[cbritto]

In Jamaica, you actually only have to be there 24 hours before a legal ceremony, but the recommend being there two to three days in advance. We were thinking about doing a civil ceremony at home, but for the resort we are getting married at in Jamaica it only costs an extra $150 to have a legal ceremony done, and we were already planning on being there 4 days before the wedding, so we just decided to do it legally there. If you choose to do a symbolic ("fake") ceremony, because you already did your civil ceremony at home, then you don't need to be there 24 hours ahead of time. As far as I know, all of the resorts will allow you to do a symbolic ceremony if you already did the legal ceremony elsewhere. Hope this helps!

[lindsayraz]

It sure does help, thanks!!!  And you totally helped me nail down the terminology too lol, couldn't think of the right words. Legal vs Symbolic. Awesome, thank you!

 

Do you know the paperwork involved with a symbolic ceremony? I'm sure it's minimal...

[torilynnsmith]

We will be doing a "legal" ceremony at home and having a "symbolic" ceremony in Punta Cana.  There is no paperwork involved but we do need to provide the resort with our marriage license (I am assuming this is to avoid any "fake" weddings or abuse of the wedding packages) other than that we have hired a pastor to perform our ceremony so it is more personal and intimate and thats it!!!!

 

Good luck!!!

[lindsayraz]

Great, I think I'm going to look into doing a legal ceremony at home. Just to avoid the extra paperwork...

[Coco YUL]

We are doing the legal ceremony at home for 2 reasons...

1st to avoid the paper work and extra money...

2nd so people who can't make it for our DW will still be a part of the celebration...