Legal Ceremony after Symbolic Ceremony

[LeXiee]

Has anyone done the legal ceremony after the symbolic ceremony??

 

Just I thought I had... some people seem to feel a little guilty doing the legal stuff before the ceremony.. so how about doing the legal stuff after the symbolic ceremony?

 

I was going to do the legal stuff before we leave... but now debating doing it after, since the Wedding Coordinator does not need a wedding certificat to do the Symbolic Ceremony.

[DanielleNDerek]

I'm getting married in Punta Cana too! I was thinking about doing the same thing because I would feel guilty about doing the legal thing before the ceremony. I've been trying to convince myself, that I won't consider it my marriage ceremony but more of like getting my license. But I still feel weird about already being married before going to the Punta Cana. I'm not sure what I'm doing, a civil ceremony in DR or symbolic. I'm glad you asked this questions, can't wait to see everyone's answers.

[monicabrandon2008]

I thought about doing that too. We are going to end up doing it before we leave for Mexico but either way will work fine. I have read somewhere that someone did the legal when they got back because they wanted the first time they said I do to be on the beach. So whatever you prefer.

[LeXiee]

I'm really liking the idea of doing it after... but I'm a little worried that last minute the WC will say she needs to see the wedding certificate?! Could this happen?!

[nat4crim]

I recently looked into the legalities of a civil ceremony and found out even when you get married at City Hall there are vows involved. I don't want to take any kind of vows before we have our real wedding in Mexico. Also, you need to have 2 witnesses and I'm thinking even if we stress this is not the "real" wedding I'm sure we will be congragulated making it more than what I want it to be. Also, I think I would feel weird getting married in jeans but if I wear a nice dress then that is making the ceremony into something I don't want it to be. So then my last concern was whether we would get the complimentary honeymoon package without a legal document and I checked with the resort. All I need is a wedding invite to get the package YEAH!!! So we have decided to wait until we get home to do our civil ceremony. Our guests will be none the wiser. We our asking our wedding coordinator to get us something to sign so people think its legal. In my mind, legalities aside the day I say my vows on that beach in Mexico is my real wedding. And on the plus side, maybe I can get away with wearing my dress again at the civil ceremony

[starchild]

Our reasons were purely superficial - our resort required proof of marriage to get the honeymoon amenities so we married civilly before the "real" wedding in Mexico. Good thing we did because they weren't bluffing - when we got to Dreams they wouldn't even set up the amenities until they saw the license...seriously! No biggie without amenities, but never again in life could we be the honeymooning couple so we wanted them all.

 

We chose standard vows at court and saved the personal ones for Mexico. We grabbed my brother and a friend, dressed regular, took a few shots, and got married...lol After we went out for beer and Mexican food. BTW we had a 3rd wedding (church) and to us Mexico still feels like the day it was sealed. The court wedding was special and meaningful, but IMO nothing will detract from the magic that is your DW. Before or after makes no difference in how you feel from my experience.