Getting legally married before going to Mexico. Should we tell our parents/families? Keep it a secret?

[lorcas]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shan0487 

Simple is how I wanted it to be as well.  The day we will celebrate is 11.23.12 in Mexico not 12.27.12 when we legally got married (we did it backwards and got legally married after Mexico).  Believe me my husband took full advantage of saying "well we aren't married yet" for that month that we weren't- got old real fast lol.

 

Anyways- we were planning on just going to the courthouse on our lunch break and then it ended up turning into our parents and siblings, and grandparents at our house with the family paster marrying us.  I cooked dinner for everyone and my husband's grandma brought an ice cream cake.  We both wore jeans and it was very casual- so it did not end up being just the two of us but was very casual and how I wanted it to be- so it worked out!

 

I feel like my FI would take advantage of the "not married yet" part haha. We'll be legally married before our wedding, so too bad for him. Missed that opportunity 

 

Originally Posted by agm04 

I almost want to have someone random there as the witness instead of a friend or family member when we do it, specifically because I don't want it to feel important!

 

I read a story somewhere (possibly even on here) of a bride and groom who literally asked random people in the courthouse to be their witnesses!! Also read another where they asked a coworker and their wife who they had never met to be witnesses. I think that's kind of neat!

[lorcas]

We will be getting legally married a couple of days before we leave for Mexico, here in Baltimore, MD. Originally we wanted to get married in Baltimore anyway. We both moved here after college and fell in love with the city and each other. Since it is so darn expensive to get married here, we decided destination was the next best thing. (Turns it, we love the idea even more now.) But anyway, the legal marriage will be just paperwork, but still symbolic to us because of the location. Then the wedding will be us sharing our love with all those we love

[kitkat863]

We got legally married about a month and a half before our wedding in Mexico. We would have only done it about 1 week before we left but my husband needed my health benefits! His mom and stepdad knew about it but I didn't tell anyone in my family, and  I never will. My family was not very accepting of the whole destination wedding idea and they had already said that they thought it was stupid for someone to get legally married here before the wedding in Mexico. My husband and I don't view our legal ceremony as anything; our wedding day was the day we said our vows in Mexico. It was basically just paperwork that needed completed. My resort was able to do everything to make it look legal and my family never thought twice about it. They gave us bandaids to put on our arms to make it look like we had our bloodwork done and had us sign a certificate during the ceremony. They said this happens a lot. I hate that we had to lie about it but it was for the best. 

[flo628]

We got legally married about a month and a half before our wedding in Mexico. We would have only done it about 1 week before we left but my husband needed my health benefits! His mom and stepdad knew about it but I didn't tell anyone in my family, and  I never will. My family was not very accepting of the whole destination wedding idea and they had already said that they thought it was stupid for someone to get legally married here before the wedding in Mexico. My husband and I don't view our legal ceremony as anything; our wedding day was the day we said our vows in Mexico. It was basically just paperwork that needed completed. My resort was able to do everything to make it look legal and my family never thought twice about it. They gave us bandaids to put on our arms to make it look like we had our bloodwork done and had us sign a certificate during the ceremony. They said this happens a lot. I hate that we had to lie about it but it was for the best. 

That's awesome. I'm surprised but not surprised that this happens a lot. I love that the resort helps you out like that!!

[kitkat863]

Originally Posted by flo628 

 

 

That's awesome. I'm surprised but not surprised that this happens a lot. I love that the resort helps you out like that!!

Yea they are pretty used to it! Even my photographer said that most of the brides do that. I hate that my family has no idea but I just knew that they wouldn't be very accepting of it. I also didn't want a big deal made about it!

[Make2dayAmazing]

This is something we have been debating, whether to get legally married here either before or after

[Bigleap35]

Now to decide if we want to get legally married before or after. I am leaning towards ..after

[nursemorgan]

It really is just about the paperwork, especially if your ceremony is what is important to you and is what you will be making special for the two of you! 

 

@@chickky311 what did you end up doing? Did you get legally married before the destination wedding?

Does anyone have any details about obtaining a marriage license in the states vs getting one in the islands? Is there a better/easier/less stressful way to do it? Or are they both about equal?

[beccafries]

We are thinking of getting married right before we go to Mexico... I believe the date you legally got married is

your wedding date/anniv..... so if we married May 20 at home...then ceremony May 25 in mexico.

May 20 is our Anniversary....   thats the day we celebrate ..thats the day we say we got married.

 

I rather for all documentation on wedding video etc.... reflect May 20  if I can....so everything has 1 date.

so I will def tell videographer to put May 20th on everything if they will

 

Just my thoughts.... 

[talicea7812]

im doing 2 ceremonies.

 

we are telling ppl that the mexico wedding is legal.

 

when we come home we are doing it in a church & telling ppl we want the marriage blessed.  we will still consider the mexico wedding our real wedding date