My husband and I are getting married at the Hilton in Los Cabos in July. When we started out planning, the hotel planner told us that in order to have a legal ceremony, it would have to be in Spanish. Since we wanted it to be in English, she told us that people do it a lot and just get quickie married legally at home. So we were planning on it just being my husband and I, but I let it split at a family dinner and my dad almost had a heart attack that he wasn't going to be there on the day that I "legally" got married. So then we ended up having all of our parents (both are divorced-we have two step-mothers.) So we called the court house and they said we could get married there during the week for only $10 but it was certain hours only. And since we wanted our parents there and they couldn't take the day off, we had to go with a retired judge ($200.) The court house gave us a bunch of names and numbers and we found one. We coordinated dates and times and came up with a time and place. We got married in my mom's living room on a Saturday morning. I thought it was going to be very awkward and business like, but once the judge started talking about marriage, I lost it. I composed myself by the time I had to speak my vows, but it was much more of a big deal than I thought it was. Afterwards we all went to breakfast at our favorite spot (very informal.) My mom tipped off the waitress so she brought out blueberry pie at the end of breakfast as our "wedding cake" and it was very sweet. Afterwards, my husband went to work. So it was very nice, necessary but meaningful. It's a secret between us and our parents, and our actual anniversary will be our July date in Mexico. But like some have said before, it takes a load off. Plus, you can get a head start at name changes and such. You have to change your social security card (free) by going to your local office with your marriage certificate ($11) and driver's license. They send it to you in the mail in 7-10 business days. The license was easy too ($15) but note that you have to get your picture taken again. I actually did this yesterday and have had a cold all week, and looked horrible so alas, for the next 10 years it will be bad, but oh well. Then for work, I had to send the scan of my social security card to change my corporate email and work documents. I'm still researching how to change bills and such. You can get an amendment in your passport that will add a page to show your old name and new name, but only if you got your passport in the same year you get married. Since I got my passport last year, I have to get a renewal which will only show my new name and since my tickets are issued in my maiden name, I have to travel with my marriage certificate. Hope this all helped. Sorry for rambling on.