Anyone getting married first and not telling guests?

[sungoddess_08]

I wondered the same thing!! ALSO --how long does it take and does it matter (as far as paper work being ready etc.) how close you do it before you leave for punta cana? We leave June 22, so I would like to do it as close as possible to that.

[dlg923]

I think that too much is required to get married in other countries and you should not feel bad about saving yourself the hassle. I bought a planner from barnes and noble and that was one of the many suggestions that made a lot of sense

[VBVB]

From what the Majestic Colonial wedding planner has told me, the little certificate the marriage commissioner gives you on the date you do your 'at-home legal ceremony' is good-enough proof that you've already done the deed.

 

Canadian registries/vital statistics can get you a real-deal marriage certificate (which you have to file for anyways, as far as I understand) in 2 weeks or so..

 

So options to do the legal ceremony the day before you depart for the D.R. or a few weeks before are both there!

[Oryx]

Ok, so this is what the Majestic WC wrote to me in an e-mail:

 

Civil ceremony

 

A civil ceremony is performed by a Dominican Judge. This is legally binding and includes the marriage certificate delivered to your home. This province of The Dominican Republic only has one legal judge so securing dates can be difficult. Please advise us as soon as possible if you require a civil/legal wedding. Please bear in mind that marriage certificate can take up to 3 months to be received. Note: The judge may change the time of the wedding - even after it had been confirmed.

 

The judge may change the time of the wedding?! That is kind of freaking me out. I think we are going to opt for the symbolic ceremony with Pastor Rick York due to this and other challenges...

[sheila2011]

I think we are going to get married here in Edmonton and then do the symbolic ceremony in Punta Cana. Our TA recommended going this route and I think it may be the easiest in terms of paperwork. But we plan to celebrate our anniversary with the date from the symbolic ceremony. We don't plan to make the "paperwork" day special.

 

Then again, we're planning for January 2011, so who knows what I may decide between now and then!

[meggo7]

After finding out how much it costs to get legalization of documents, plus translation fees...it's going to be about $480 (and we're lucky bc my FI birth cert. is already in spanish!! otherwise it'd be over $500!) We are now toying with the idea of doing a 'no big deal' courthouse wedding and acting like it was any other day. That way our DW in Punta Cana will be the real deal to us and everyone else.

 

We just don't know how far in advance to get all this started. When should we apply for a license and plan to sign the papers? We have 4 months, so I think we have time...but I want to make sure! Anyone done this yet?? Glad we arent the only ones thinking this way...we don't want to upset family thats travelling so far for our wedding...but it makes SO much more sense!!!!

[sungoddess_08]

We are doing the courthouse thing too -- I am not sure how far in advance, I have heard of people going the day before they leave!! So that may work for us best if it's possible!

[tracy0716]

We're doing the courthouse too, probably the month before our wedding which is our 3 year anniversary!! Only my mom knows because we need 1 witness and it was her idea. We are not telling anyone else because our DR wedding will be our real wedding. Plus I don't want to hear any complaints from family. If anyone asks I plan on telling them we signed the paperwork beforehand with the wedding coordinator. The only way someone might realize is if they knew the DR rule about being on the island for 3 full days before getting married and watch to see if you sign documents. Getting the documents signed here in the states is just easier and cheaper!!

[momichele]

We are also getting married before hand. We told our moms but are not giving the info out unless asked.

[barbiegirl_27]

We're planning to do it ahead of time, probably later this year to benefit on our taxes. My FI didn't think it through, and basically told everyone that we planned to get married ahead of time. I didn't mind so much, until he asked his friend and wife to witness the legal ceremony here since they won't be able to join us down south.....she replied with a "well the legal ceremony is the most important part anyways." I wasn't happy, since the legal ceremony is just a formality to me. *sigh*