DESTINATION WEDDING EXPERTISE: SYMBOLIC VS CIVIL CEREMONY
Here you are, feeling like an absolute princess. The man of your dreams has popped the question to you and you of course said “YES!” You’ve talked options and made the amazing choice to pack your bags and head for sun and sand to say your “I do’s”, you may even have your resort and destination picked out which is a huge step in the right direction. Now that the hard part of making those decisions are over, you may be asking yourself what could possibly be next. Not to worry, we assure you that planning a destination wedding can be fun every single step of the way. We know that destination weddings are unfamiliar to many couples, and that’s where we come in. We’re the well-traveled friend with the well-worn passport here to make planning a destination wedding fun, stress free, and unique to you as a couple!
Now that it’s time to dive into the wedding planning, the first choice you will make after selecting the date will be to decide what type of wedding ceremony is best for you. The two main choices are “symbolic” or “legal/civil”. The requirements and details vary by destination and even by resort, so let us help break this down for you based on what experience you are looking for.
1. You want your destination wedding to be a cultural experience.
Our suggestion: Civil/Legal Ceremony
We know that often times couples decide on a destination wedding to do something more unique and to have the ability to put their own spin on things. If you’re looking to have a totally authentic cultural experience tied into your wedding, a Legal ceremony may be best. In Mexico and the Dominican Republic, legal wedding ceremonies are generally performed in Spanish by the Justice of the Peace, and then are translated simultaneously by the resort’s professional onsite wedding coordinator.
Planner Insider Tip: Take the cultural experience one step further by having a mariachi band in Mexico, or reggae band in Jamaica, perform during cocktail hour to keep the destination vibes as authentic as can be.
2. You want to have to do as little as possible once you arrive in destination.
Our suggestion: Symbolic Ceremony
For a symbolic ceremony, there is little that needs to be done upon arriving in destination. In comparison, a legal/civil ceremony can require a few extra steps once you arrive. For example, in Mexico in order to have a legal ceremony performed it is required that both the bride and groom have a blood test done. The government does blood testing to check for blood type, HIV, and STI’s. The good news is that the blood test is done right onsite at the resort by a medical professional.
3. You want to have a friend or family member perform the ceremony.
Our suggestion: Symbolic Ceremony
Symbolic ceremonies offer a little more flexibility due to the nature of not being a government officiated marriage. If you’re looking to have Uncle Joe marry you and your future spouse, we suggest looking into the symbolic ceremony. Legal ceremonies absolutely must be performed by a representative of the state or country that you are in at the time of marriage. With a symbolic ceremony, the wedding is not seen as legally binding by the country in which you are in, so anyone is able to perform the ceremony.
4. You want the wedding date to be the only wedding date.
Our Suggestion: Civil/Legal Ceremony
Legal ceremonies offer the ability to have everything legal taken care of all at once in destination. It’s important to note that a legal ceremony will require you to gather legal documents in advance such as your passport, birth certificate, and copy of divorce decree (if applicable), and send them to the resort at least 3 months in advance. We suggest making sure that you have the requirements from your specific resort to follow their policies carefully. The paperwork will be processed to have the wedding officially recognized within the destination, but it is the responsibility of the newlyweds to follow up with their local courthouse on processing any documents in order to obtain a wedding certificate for their homeland. Already hitched or looking to have the courthouse ceremony before? If this is the case, we then suggest looking into a symbolic ceremony since the legal stuff will already be taken care of.
5. You want to be able to customize your wedding ceremony to add a few “quirky and unique” parts that represent your love.
Our Suggestion: Symbolic Ceremony
Although legal wedding ceremonies allow you to write your own vows, we know that you may want to put a more creative spin on things. A symbolic ceremony will not have to adhere to government laws and gives you the ability to incorporate elements that are distinctly you as a couple. A symbolic ceremony is best for couples that want to have a knot tying ceremony, sand ceremony, or to take a selfie at the altar.
Planner Insider Tip: Do you have an intimate wedding celebration in mind? Looking for DJ alternatives at your dinner and reception? We suggest using the audio equipment at your ceremony to your advantage if you still want to have your first dance together. A perfect time to have that first dance moment would be right after the ring exchange!
6. You’re looking for the absolute best excuse to be in destination as soon as possible.
Our Suggestion: Civil/Legal Ceremony
In all destinations, it’s a general requirement by both the government and the resort for the couple (and their witnesses) to arrive in destination three to four business days before the ceremony date if a legal ceremony will be performed. Symbolic ceremonies generally require two to three days before the wedding. As always, we suggest getting the official requirements for your specific destination. A legal ceremony can simply be the best way to get the party started as soon as possible!
In the end, we suggest speaking with Anna Maria to learn more about the specifics of each resort and destination. Countries and resorts vary by their requirements for both symbolic and legal ceremonies, so we think it’s best to lay out all of your options before making a final decision. We know that this is the first time many couples are getting married in another country, none the less their first time getting married at all! We’re here to help and make the process as easy as can be. Have a specific destination in mind and want to learn more about marriage requirements and the differences between ceremonies ?
