Mexico and the Caribbean islands are some of the greatest, most romantic destinations on earth for a wedding. There are a few practical considerations that go along with having a destination wedding though. One of the main decisions is whether to be legally married in your destination or to officially say “I do” before you travel and have a symbolic wedding in your destination.

Most destination weddings are symbolic, ceremonial celebrations. It’s much easier to get married (for real) in the U.S. Most couples opt for a small wedding ceremony at home and then hold a formal celebration in their dream destination. Symbolic ceremonies are simple to arrange and allow more time for planning your dream wedding instead of wading through paperwork and municipal rules. 

The best part? Your wedding guests will never know the difference between a symbolic and legal ceremony!

If you decide to get legally married in a foreign country, there are some requirements you should be aware of.

KNOW THE RULES FOR LEGAL WEDDINGS

For legal weddings in Mexico, a blood test is required, and you’ll pay extra for paperwork and judge’s services. Paperwork such as birth certificates and passports need to be submitted ahead of time as well.  If you’re divorced or widowed, those documents will be also be required. Those documents need to be translated into Spanish too. The wedding department at the resort can assist with much of this. Similarly, the ceremony will be performed in Spanish for it to be considered legally binding. 

If you’re looking for a simpler route, Jamaica has fewer hoops to jump through for a legal ceremony. It’s far easier to legally wed there than most tropical destinations. There is minimal paperwork and only a few additional fees.

KEEP IT SIMPLE WITH A SYMBOLIC WEDDING

The easiest option is to have a legal wedding at home and a symbolic ceremony in your destination. You’ll save money, paperwork, and wedding planning will be less stressful.

If you’re interested in a destination wedding drop me a line at kate@katestravel.com. I’m happy to answer any of your destination wedding questions!