vow renewal vs legal ceremony?

[Amy715]

Hi everyone! I was set to do a legal ceremony at Dreams Cancun but now I am having second thoughts (due to the extra costs/procedures -- I will also be in the process of moving/starting residency after the wedding). Now I am thinking about getting married first in the states and then having a vow-renewal ceremony. Did anyone do this at Dreams? Did it affect your wedding package? Did you have to bring your marriage certificate or license with you? My pastor will be coming with us and is performing the ceremony in Cancun - I guess I will have to check with him to see if it would be legal for him. I am a little confused but I just wanted your opinions! thanks!

[MikkiStreak]

We're thinking about doing the same thing because of all the requirements for a legal ceremony in Mexico. My concern is that if we miss that one day of the week to watch the wedding ceremony, or have issues with the medical exam/blood tests, then they won't let us get married. To have that "surprise" happen after we've gotten down there is a risk I'm not sure I'm willing to take since other people are attending the wedding. Plus, I don't like the idea of having to use a translater for the wedding (I think it's a requirement for legal ceremonies, but I might be wrong).

 

I would be curious what the policy is for this also. Most resorts only offer 1 vow renewal package, which has minimal features and means you have to pay for a lot of "extras" to make it more like a wedding. And paying for those "extras" a la carte is more expensive than paying for one of the wedding packages through the resort...

[Christine]

I think most people had their legal ceremony at home either just before or just after. Ann is getting legally married on her honeymoon in Hawaii, isn't that awesome to have a mexico wedding and a hawaii wedding.

[Jen]

We're considering doing the same thing....just haven't decided on before or after.

[SarahMc]

We're doing a legal wedding at Dreams, but in Cabo. From what I understand, the price doesn't change whether or not you have a legal ceremony or not (we're actually on a free package, but you can upgrade). I don't know if all the Dreams resorts are the same or not. Maybe since your pastor would be coming you could negotiate something if they don't need to provide an officiante (sp).

 

From what I've heard all civil (legal) ceremonies are performed in Spanish with a translator.

[*JillD*]

We're getting married at dreams cancun and we are getting married before we go, its just easier and less expensive. But we will still do a package, we will just have a non-legal ceremony or a symbolic ceremony, can't remember exactly what its called.

[Amy715]

Hey Jill! Are the wedding packages the same for a non-legal ceremony? I already put down a deposit for a legal one so I hope I wouldnt have to change anything.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by jilly76 We're getting married at dreams cancun and we are getting married before we go, its just easier and less expensive. But we will still do a package, we will just have a non-legal ceremony or a symbolic ceremony, can't remember exactly what its called.

[*JillD*]

Yes, at least thats what I've gotten from the WC, we told her we were going to do a non legal ceremony ( we don't want to do a vow renewal, just a symbolic ceremony) and she said that was fine. The package includes the services of a judge or minister and a religious ceremony is not legal in mexico.

[lambert13]

As far as I know the packages are the same no matter what type of ceremony you have at dreams. The difference in cost comes from the price of the blood tests, translation of documents, marriage license, witnesses, etc. If you are not doing a legal ceremony none of those extra things should apply. The package prices do not include any of that stuff anyway.

[MrsV-to-be]

I'm I correct in assuming that if you are not doing a legal ceremony, you won't have to be in Mexico 3 days prior? Or does the 3 day rule still apply?