We are planning for a destination wedding in the Caribbean (the Dominican Republic). We plan to get married here civilly first and then have our religious ceremony there. Is this normal? I was told the paperwork would go much faster if we did it this way.
Advice, please!
2007-02-07 00:17:37 · 12 answers · asked by Mimi 7 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
I picked the Dom. Rep. because I visit there quite a bit and am in love with the gorgeous island that it is! Crystal clear blue waters and gorgeous palm trees.
2007-02-07 02:34:14 · update #1
I think that is the best way to go. You will have to get your marriage license in advance anyway and at that point you will be married (legally) for all practical purposes. So, taking the extra step to have a quick civil ceremony is no big deal.
Congratulations and good luck.
2007-02-07 00:27:14 · answer #1 · answered by Waldeck 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm about to get married in Punta Cana at the end of March. We were told so many different things some of my friends said tha it would be a good idea to get legally married before going there because it's a pain to have all of the documents translated (which is a requirement in the Dominican) anyway we decided to go through with the real thing when we were there. We used "Wedding Documentation" www.wedo.com.do they do all the paper work for the Dominican weddings, all the requirements are listed on their website.
I do recommend just getting the documents translated and doing the real wedding there, it really wasn't a headache(which I was worried about) and they are extremely fast I think I had all of my documents back within 2 weeks and they can do it in one week if you are really in a hurry. Now that I've done it this way I'm so glad that I did.
When you get back you can send in your spanish wedding certificate and they will translate that for you as well.
I really recommend doing it this way, it just seemed maybe a lil more special cause you are doing it there for the first time instead of with a JP at a courthouse first.
Anyway congrats and have so much fun!!
2007-02-07 14:28:20 · answer #2 · answered by Cold In Canada 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, this will help quite a bit in the paperwork. If you get the actual legal stuff done abroad, it can take months to figure out. I had a friend who did it, but his best man was a lawyer who handled all the paperwork. Unless you can do that, I'd definitely recommend getting "technically" married in the US and then having your gorgeous ceremony abroad.
We had a lot of trouble with our paperwork because our wedding was in another state! I can't imagine how much more there would've been if it were out of the country.
2007-02-07 12:29:58 · answer #3 · answered by hotdoggiegirl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi Lola, I considered Dom Rep as that was were my partner proposed, and it is a relatively reasonable Caribbean destination for others to come to. But we decided against it as our wedding certificate would be in Spanish, and all the additional requirements that are needed with the translation of document to Spanish... So we decided on Jamaica in the end..
So I think your idea of getting married first here, then travelling out there would be a lovely idea....
But you must consider whether you will be having 2 weddings dresses, (which is one of the biggest cost!), do you really want do say your vows twice in such a short space of time?
Is it normal - well its unique, different, and sounds a great idea. Its your special days so do as you wish..
Have a great time, and keep us posted about the decision! Good luck
2007-02-07 10:53:29 · answer #4 · answered by ஐ♥PinkBoo - TTC #1♥ஐ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fine. This is not unusual as in lots of countries you require the civil cermony at the Registry Office before the religious ceremony takes places. I THINK where I live in Scotland (sorry someone correct if I am wrong) it is unusual as if being married in a church or chapel the civil papers etc are all completed by the minister or priest and handed in to the Registry Office within so many days of the marriage. I do not think it is even done this way in England.
2007-02-07 13:31:46 · answer #5 · answered by Ms Mat Urity 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've also thought a bit about this, but I must say. When you are standing in the beautiful Caribbean, saying your vows, don't you want them to be for the very first time?
And who cares about some paperwork! It's your wedding!!!
Congrats!
2007-02-07 08:35:23 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is perfectly normal as a guy that I work with had his court marriage here, but then went to Thailand for the ceremony itself.
2007-02-07 08:43:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That would make it go alot smoother. Some places you have to reside there for so many hours before getting your marriage license, so doing that you can spend more time there after your wedding instead of before!
2007-02-07 09:33:42 · answer #8 · answered by sundragonjess 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it does speed up the process as legally you will already be married. Now my question would be as to why you have choosen the Domican Republic
2007-02-07 08:27:29 · answer #9 · answered by Mike 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that sounds really nice... good luck with it, my auntie had two weddings but hers was the other way around, she went to Greece for a little wedding Rhodes town hall and when she can home she had a proper do (she had the same dress) in a little church.... but she likes attention.
good luck with your wedding! :)
2007-02-07 08:26:30 · answer #10 · answered by smiley 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋