Mr. Lovebird and I are getting legally married at City Hall in New York before our wedding in front of friends and family in Cancun. I think it was the lawyer side of me talking since I don’t want the hassle of having a Mexican marriage certificate, which I would have to get translated and Apostilled each time I would need it. But the ultimate deal breakers were the blood tests. Me no likey needles…
Here’s the information you need to know if you want to get legally married in Cancun from the U.S. Department of State:
How do I get married in Mexico?
As in the United States, each state in Mexico determines its marriage (and divorce) procedures. You should contact the office of the Registro Civil in the jurisdiction where you plan to get married for complete information about the requirements. There are also unofficial sites that also provide useful information on marriage procedures in Mexico.
A marriage that is properly executed in Mexico is valid in the United States (unless the marriage would not be legal in the United States).
Cancun is located in the state of Quintana Roo. Unfortunately, that site is completely in Spanish so I had to look at unofficial sources. I found some helpful info from this Travel Ucatayan on civil marriages, religious & mayan marriages, marriage certificate, and required documentation, so you might want to check it out.
I wonder… those of you who have considered having a non-U.S. destination wedding, did the other country’s marriage requirements sway your decisions in any way?
oh, and we’re honeymooning in cozumel and tulum… yay for the mayan riviera!
We are from Wisconsin, and getting married in Germany this September. For the marriage to be legal in Germany, we have to be married by a judge here first. We are a little bummed, but we don’t think we’re REALLY married until the ceremony overseas. Are you involving family and friends when you get married at City Hall? We don’t want to have everyone know, but at the same time, how do you not celebrate the day at all? Small, intimate party for two? (Doesn’t sound bad actually)
We got married in the Cayman Islands. They make it extremely easy for foreign visitors to get married, which was a huge bonus. With some planning, you can even get married the day you arrive, which is great for cruise passengers who otherwise might have to have their ceremony aboard the ship.
I feel for you epilgreen- Italy requires a civil “state” marriage before you can do a religious marriage (sometimes the Church can act on behalf of the state as well, but this is tricky, especially if either person is foreign). This is the case for a lot of European countries- Germany, France, Italy etc. In most countries the couple opt to do the civil about a week before the “real” wedding.
We’re opting for over a year before so we don’t have to deal with all of the residency stuff right around the time we’ll be bogged under with wedding things.
We’re not really telling a lot of people we’re doing it this way either (I know you Bees can keep secrets!). That being said, we are having four people with us when we sign that document and get a lot of official looking stamps on it. They are the FILs, FSIL & FI’s BIL. The later two will act as our witnesses (they’ll also be in the wedding). To celebrate the occassion we’ll head out to lunch afterwards.
Oh, and FI and I treated ourselves to some lovely new duds for the occassion (ok, spoiled ourselves more like it…. I got a fun, pretty, not-at-all weddingish Cavalli silk shirt dress, and that alone is making me a lot more excited about this aspect of “culture” sharing). Basically, what I am so uneloquently trying to say, is even though we’re not 100% thrilled with the whole ‘civil first’ thing, we’re making it special and ours…
I´m from Chetumal, capital of Quintana Roo, lol, such a small world, hope u have an amazing and beautiful and blessed wedding day
Mrs. Lovebird, New York/Cancun
Age and Occupation: 25, Attorney
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Medical Student
Engagement Date: September 22, 2006
Wedding Date: July, 2008
Venue: Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa
About Me: Born and raised New Yorker planning a destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico and a traditional Chinese banquet in New York City. Got proposed to in Cancun, so it’s only fitting we are going back to get married. I love trivia, board games, bargain shopping, asian dramas and eating yummy food!
I’m an american getting married in Montreal, Quebec. While it’s completely fine for me to get married here, there is no possibility of legally taking my husband-to-be’s last name. That bums us out, but thankfully I can take it socially. Just all legal documents, medical things, credit card bills, etc., must remain in my maiden name. I still don’t know what that means when we inevitably move away from here.